Moscow Experience

East meets West in a city of contradictions and bureaucracy

Advantages: The history. The sights. The people. The architecture. The vodka.
Disadvantages: The bureaucracy. The traffic. The cold.

Moscow is a city that seems to do its best to deter me. My travels have always been on business and I doubt if I had been paying for the trip myself I would have bothered to fight the bureaucracy of applying for a visa and paid the astronomical hotel bills. And when I finally arrive I normally end up with a taxi drive stuck in the horrendous traffic for a couple of hours with a driver who at best either just smells or wants to constantly smoke but ...
...I actually find myself missing Moscow when I arrive home? Maybe its remembering entering the resurrection gate and seeing Red Square for the first time. Or perhaps turning a corner and finding the snow topped onion dome of a hidden cathedral. Or more likely that the cold front of the Russian people quickly melts after a couple of Vodkas to find a warm a friendly people who just happen to be living in a city that is always too busy trying to catch ...

Pookie_Rabbit 01.12.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: exceptional
Review of Moscow (Russia)

Pushcairs, Mashookas And Tubes

Advantages: Very regular, efficient public transport system
Disadvantages: No provision made for babies and young children

I have just returned from a 4 day visit to Moscow, a city I have wanted to visit for a number of years now. We have the privilege of being shown round by a South African guide, which was helpful because without having somebody who knows the city, it can be quite daunting. The biggest challenge faced was how to carry around a 10 month old baby. Many parents wonder whether it is really viable to take such a young child abroad with them. My response ...
...Moscow, but also challenging. I went during February, when the winter is at its most severe. The Russians generally keep their children inside at that time of year, so we found ourselves as one of the few people on the tubes and mashookas with a baby and a pushchair. There are no ramps for the pushchair, but we found that it was possible to use two people to carry the pushchair with baby inside up and down the steps, and one person could get the ...

AfricanProtea 09.03.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Getting around in Moscow

Moscow - Must Go.

Advantages: A unique cultural experience which you will never forget. A high "WOW!" factor.
Disadvantages: Without local knowledge or a grasp of the language, it could possibly be pretty intimidating

...a lot to say about Moscow and I won't be able to say it all here, naturally - but I'll do my best to give an informative glimpse of this fantastic city. I can't comment on hotels because we're lucky enough to have friends who own a flat in Moscow, and that's where we stayed. Let me try to tempt you, anyway! I guess the first thing to say is that the currency is a little confusing - in the sense that you're never quite sure whether to use US dollars ...
...we managed to get around Moscow quite easily and very safely. What's more, we felt part of it; we'd dipped into the culture of the city. The number of times that drivers on their way home from work would turn around and head in the opposite direction just to give you a lift was staggering. Interestingly, the one time we used an "official taxi" the stench of marijuana was just unbelievable! It went some long way towards explaining the driver's somewhat ...

andymcf 01.11.2002 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Moscow in general

Russia by Coach

Advantages: No waiting, parking, no airports, no lost baggage
Disadvantages: Need early morning starts sometimes due to length of journey

This year we both decided to travel to Russia from the IK via Shearings travel. I would recommend this trip to anyone. Use their luxory Gold Voyager service and get the best. All hotels on route were more than satisfactory but do not expect the English breakfast all the times. You may have to eat as they do. The journey out is very interesting with great pieces of information from the drivers, easy to make friends with all on the coach. The places ...
...buildings are out of this world. You can see why Russia and some of the other ex Soviet states have very little money. The street vendors offer a great service at roughly a third of the shop prices but be careful if changing money. At no time did we feel threatened or intimidated when we walked round. The underground rail system is to be used and seen to appreciate the splendour and great service. You will also see the povery side of things as well ...

golpher-4 24.10.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Moscow (Russia)

Moscow is great city!

Advantages: Very easy to get anywhere, cheap public transport, easy to use Moscow underground
Disadvantages: at rush hours crowded

Moscow underground: - very cheap, now single costs only 15 rubles (1 pound = 50 rubles) - trains are frequent, every 3-4 minutes - most stations are very well decorated - trains have much more room then London's trains but a little more noisy Buses, trams, troleybuses: - cheap, single is also only 15 rubles - but have more confusing routes then underground Minibus: - cheap - fast - maximum 11 passengers Taxi: - cheap - traffic jams - ...
...just stick your arms out and a car will stop - everyone can be a taxi - could be not safe at suburbs for single women - you should negotiate price before get in - if you do not know correct price you will be overpriced - to get from both international airports (Domodedovo and Sheremetevo) cost about 1,300 - 1,500 rubles ...

barm 06.01.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Getting around in Moscow