While in Russia

If someone is meeting you (a transfer service or a friend), you will see them at the exit gate. If your transfers are booked with us, your driver will be waiting with your name on a sign. You will also see a number of people offering taxi service. This service is ridiculously expensive ($100-$200 dollars) and we don’t recommend using it.

Note that if your flight arrives late or there is a delay of any kind, our driver will wait two hours from the scheduled pick-up time. You can request a longer wait by calling the support line number that we will provide. Such extensions will be billed at an hourly rate.

It is your responsibility to confirm the flight schedule prior to departure. Please immediately inform us of any changes so adjustments can be made.

If your flight is delayed after you have already departed for your trip (flight delays due to weather conditions, missing a connecting flight, etc), immediately call the support line number upon landing so we can rearrange the transfers.

Tips are common in Russia but are usually smaller than in the US. For a good experience in a restaurant, a 10% gratuity is considered a generous tip.

Giving a tip to a guide or driver on a private tour
If you have booked one of our private tours and would like to give some gratuity to your guide, the recommended amount is $25 for every 8 hours of work. If your guide worked with you for 4 hours, the recommended amount is $15. If you would like to give a tip to your driver, the recommended amount is $8-12 for 8 hours of work.

Please note, it is always at your own discretion to leave a tip or not. We do not require our customers to tip on any of our tours or cruises. We recommend a certain percentage only if you are satisfied with the service and feel comfortable leaving gratuity.

Also note, on a land tour you will have the same guide for your entire stay in each city.

Giving a tip to a guide and drivers on a small group tour
If you have booked one of our small group tours, the recommended amount for a tip is the same as on a private tour. If there are 10 travelers, each can contribute from $5-8 for 8 hours of work by the guide. We recommend that someone collects the money from the rest of the group and presents it to the guide.

Giving tips on a river cruise
On river cruises, there will be a special box at the reception desk to leave a tip for the crew. In other words, you don't need to tip while on the cruise. Our general guideline for tips is to leave from $10-15 per day depending on how much you enjoyed your cruise.

Tip: You can tip in dollars, Euros, and rubles.

Russians are more European than Asian. They have a European value system and a common history with major European countries. It was only a few centuries ago that Russia began to expand its borders to Asia, and its cities in Asia still look like European cities.

Russians have had a very troubled history and deeply value their heritage and independence. Russians were usurped by the Mongols for 100 years and became the largest empire on earth by defeating the Mongol hordes. Various European countries attempted to conquer Russia (Teutonic knights, French, German), without success. Russians continue to give a tribute to the sacrifices made by those who so steadfastly defended the motherland.

Tip: If you want to provoke a heated discussion, tell a Russian that the US won World War II.

Some people have referred to Russians as homo soveticus (implying that they have a different value system), but that is not true. You will be surprised how similar their lifestyles are to yours.

Though most Russians understand English, learning a few words of Russian will help prepare you for your trip.

Hello – Privet
Yes – Da
No – Nyet
I will be back (just kidding) – Ya vernus' (shutka)
I have a hotel reservation here – Ya zakazal nomer
I am looking for my driver – Ya ishu moego voditelya
Where can I make a phone call – Kak mne mojno pozvonit’
Can you please call this number for me – Naberite etot nomer
I love this! – Obojayu eto
I love you – Ya vas luybluy
It’s a pleasure to meet you – ochen' priyatno poznakomitsya
This meal is delicious – ochen’ vkusno
What is a good restaurant nearby – Kakoi horoshiy restoran est' ryadom
How much – Skolko
This is too much – Dorogo
This is not expensive – Ne dorogo
I will pay you half – Beru za polovinu
Thank you – Spacibo
What is your email address - Kakoi u vas email
This is my email – Vot moi email

This is a common concern, but Russia is incredibly safe. It is not a third-world country and the turbulent 90s are long gone. Russia has a functioning police force and a civilized, friendly population. Your entire trip will have the luxury of a private vehicle, a driver, and a personal tour guide. You will also have our support line number and the US Embassy number at all times. Should you run into any problems, you can always call and we will do our best to resolve the issue.

Russia is safe for travel, but there are basic precautions that you should take when visiting any country. First of all, do not carry your passport with you – leave it at the hotel or on the ship. Carry a copy of your passport and visa. If you are encountered by a Russian police officer (which is rather unlikely) showing the copy of your documents will suffice.

Be careful with your money and credit cards. Where there are tourists, there are pickpockets. This happens in every major European capital. The chances that you will encounter a pickpocket are 1 in 100. Some basic precautions are:

Don't let anyone spot you flashing your wallet and money.
Beware of the people around you and don’t let anyone walk into you. This is how pickpockets work.
Don’t carry more than $100 on you.
Split your money and credit cards and keep them in different pockets. Divide them between you and your companion. 
Zipped or buttoned inside pockets are best for storing valuable things – they are the hardest for pickpockets to reach.

If someone does steal your money or cards follow these steps:

Notify your guide immediately. If the guide is not available, you can call our support line available from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. (CET) on weekdays and weekends. Call your bank and credit card company to block the cards that have been stolen. If you need money, we will organize a cash delivery to you.

The first cultural difference that you will notice is that Russians seem to less friendly. In public, Russians are very reserved. It is considered rude to speak loudly or to look at people for more than two seconds. These social norms do not apply to you, of course, but you should be aware of them in order to not misinterpret the people around you.

Another thing you may notice is that when people give you change after a purchase, they put it on a little plate, even if you open your hand. This practice is one of the mysteries of Russian culture.

A convenient custom is the "people's taxi" which means you can stop almost any car on the road and use it as a cab service. The price is negotiable each time.

Borsht and beet soup are two of Russia’s most familiar dishes. Most of Russia’s national food, in fact, is made of familiar ingredients, which makes it easier for you to order in restaurants. We recommend exploring Russian food while you are there – you might be surprised at the delicious concoctions you discover!