WHEN IN VOLGOGRAD

Volgograd river station

SOME INFORMATION THAT MIGHT BE USEFUL IN RUSSIA

LANGUAGE

Learn vital Russian phrases and words. They could be very helpful in Russia.
Most of the hotels in Russia have English-speaking personnel.. You may be lucky to find a Russian who can speak English to help you find the way etc.
English is the most popular foreign language in Russia. Next come German and French

AIR COMPANY & CHANGING FLIGHTS IN MOSCOW
Use Russian air company AEROFLOT both for international and home flights which could be very useful for coordination of your flights.
The major international airport in Moscow is SHEREMETYEVO-2(SVO-2).The nearest airport to change for internal flights is SHEREMETYEVO-1(SVO-1).
Use SVO-1 to get to Volgograd if possible. Other airports are rather distant in Moscow.
There is a frequent shuttle bus to get you to the SVO-1 in 15 minutes. The fare is 4 rubles. A taxi is 20-30 dollars...Taxi drivers are too much insistent in SHEREMETYEVO-2
SVO-2 and SVO-1 use the same airfield so you will just get around the same place
If you have several hours to wait for your next flight you 'd better do that in SVO-2 which is more comfortable and you can use you English more frequently
Registration usually start 1,5 hour before the flight. If you use a smaller aircraft like Jak-52 registration starts 1.00 hour before departure.
If you are late for your flight for some reason turn to the airport administrator for help.
If your flight had been cancelled or delayed and you are late for your next flight you can demand the nearest flight without extra payment.
Exchange some 100-200 USD on arrival at exchange office in the airport to become comfortable
There is a left-luggage/KAMERA KHRANENYA/ office on the ground floor of SVO-2.One piece of luggage will cost about 1,5 USD
Flight to Volgograd takes only one hour and a half. One way fare is about 70-80 USD
Meals served on the flight

VOLGOGRAD/CHOOSING HOTEL/PAYMENTS

The distance from the airport of Volgograd to the downtown is about 25 km. In the daytime you can take a route taxi or a shuttle bus to take you to the downtown. You can also try to talk a taxi driver into 200-300 rubles to take you to a downtown hotel.
There are several hotels in the downtown to accommodate you. The best known are VOLGOGRAD and INTOURIST located on the same square about 400 meters from the Volga river.
These hotels accept credit cards to pay for the services including meals. The preferred cards are MasterCard, Visa and American Express.
You cannot use hard currency CASH legally for payments. That must be first exchanged at the exchange offices. Present day rate is about 28,5 rubles per 1 USD /year 2004/
Best money to exchange are AMERICAN DOLLARS and EURO
Some big stores accept the same credit cards as the hotels
Best money to use in Russia is rubles
Dollars are also eagerly accepted as tips
Prices are equal for foreigners and Russians. Not in museums (usually doubled)
Pick any of the two hotels on the same square with similar services and accommodation prices:

Hotel "Volgograd"
http://www.hotelvolgograd.ru
Email: volgahot@hotelvolgograd.ru (for some reason they prefer reservation made either by fax or phone)

Phone:(8442) 408030,408031
Fax:(8442) 408 033

(8442) Volgograd area code.
Request all the digits necessary at your local telecom provider.

Hotel "Volgograd" will also provide you with a voucher (visa support form) for 25 Euros

Prices for a single standard room vary from 40 to 60 Euros per day

Hotel "Intourist"
http://www.volgaintour.avtlg.ru
(8442) 302302
There are some more hotels you can use: Yuzhnaya or Oktyabrskaya

PUBLIC TRANSPORT/FARES

Volgograd is about 75 km long but it is rather narrow on the right bank of the Volga river which will be your reliable compass
There is a thick network of public transport in Volgograd. That includes suburban trains ,trams ,trolleys, buses , route taxies and regular taxies
Route taxies is the most convenient and cheap transport in the city. You can find dozens of routes to take you anywhere. Fares vary from 3 to 15 rubles usually.
Tram, trolleybus and van fares vary from 6 to 15 rubles
There is a small ship to take you to the settlement of Krasnoslobldsk with a sandy beach on the left bank of the Volga . The intervals are 0.5-1 hour. The fare is 12 rubles per person. The central ferry is at the river port. See the picture on top of the page./There is a beach on the right bank too:2-3 miles from the downtown up the river/
Best trains connecting Volgograd and Moscow are #1 and #15 if you decide upon this transport

PRICES

Due to permanent inflation the prices change all the time. Here are some of them to give you the general idea of the average price level
Milk-12rub/liter,Meat-80-100 rub/kilo,Bread-5-10rub/loaf,1,5 liter cola-17 rubles,newspaper-3-10 rubles, Internet access-30 rubles/hour, theatre show-15-150 rubles, cup of coffee-10-25 rubles

USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Long distance calls normally must be paid when checking out from your hotel
Most of the street phones are initiated by a special plastic cards you can by at any post office
Long distance calls are available from the street phones if you use IP cards
Make sure your cell phone can be used in Russia. Otherwise you can use IP cards or ask
Free calls for
Ambulance -03
Fire brigade-01
Militia/Police-02
Telephone directory-09
It is hardly possible to explain anything if you do not speak Russian when you use the numbers.

SAFETY

Volgograd is rather a safe place. For best results return to your hotel before midnight.
Do not get involved into conflicts especially with drunk people
Avoid going to strange people's houses without leaving an exact address or telephone to your companions or hotel administration
Restaurants and cafes are safe places unless you make doubtful acquaintances
Have you name and address of your hotel clearly printed in Russian if you need help
Turn to a policeman or any person in uniform for help or information
Buy a telephone card to call to your hotel
Cell phones must have an international connection to be used in Russia
Keep your medical insurance and identity documents on you
A Russian-speaking guide would be best for your safety and comfort

Our customers NEVER had any major problems on the tours

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