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Travel Medical Insurance, International Travel Insurance, Cheap Travel Insurance, Travel Health Insurance, Travel Insurance Online Travel Supplier Home Flash Demo Why World Access Customized Programs Request More Info. Tour Operators Cruise Lines Online Travel Agents Vacation Rental Property Managers Customized Programs With more than 20 years in the travel insurance business, we have a long history creating successful customized programs for a variety of travel suppliers like cruise lines, tour operators, online travel agencies and more. Benefits include a wide range of products and services, including: Trip Cancellation / Trip Interruption Protection Emergency Medical and Dental Benefits Travel Delay Coverage Missed Cruise Connection Coverage Baggage Coverage Baggage Delay Coverage Emergency Medical Transportation Coverage Trip Inconvenience Benefit Travel Accident Collision/Loss Damage Insurance Vacation Delay Coverage Travel Assistance and Hotline Services To make sure your insurance program is successful, we also offer additional features according to your needs, including: Dedicated 800 lines Marketing and Collateral Support Sales Incentive Programs Commission Protection Service Guarantees Training and support For more information contact us sales@accessamerica.com Brief Benefit Descriptions Baggage coverage provides reimbursement for lost, stolen or damaged baggage. Baggage delay insurance provides reimbursement for clothing, toiletries and other essential items if luggage is delayed for at least twenty four hours. Collision loss/damage insurance for rental cars covers the costs of damage to, or theft of, a rental car. Emergency medical and dental insurance pays for the cost of treatment associated with medical or dental emergency incurred while traveling. Emergency medical transportation coverage arranges to medically transport a patient to an appropriate medical facility or to return home in order to receive care. Medical assistance services include medical referrals and case management services for travelers requiring medical care. Referrals are made to qualified local hospitals and English-speaking physicians, dentists, and other medical providers. The service includes maintaining contact with local physicians to ensure proper care is rendered and regular contact with family members. Missed cruise connection provides reimbursement for the additional costs to "catch up" to a cruise if the cause of delay is an accident or bad weather. Travel or vacation delay provides reimbursement for meals and accommodations when a trip is unexpectedly delayed. Travel accident provides cash payment for accidental loss of life or limb while traveling. Trip cancellation protection provides reimbursement for non-refundable trip payments and deposits if a trip is canceled for illness, death or other specific unforeseen circumstances. Trip interruption protection provides reimbursement for non-refundable trip payments and deposits if a trip is interrupted for illness, death or other unforeseen circumstances. Trip inconvenience provides a cash payment for an inconvenience experienced by a traveler, including hospitalization, involvement in a traffic accident, victim of a crime, loss of a passport, or delay in the delivery of sporting equipment. 24-hour emergency medical and travel assistance hotline provides the traveler with a broad range of services in the event of a travel or medical emergency including: medical referral and monitoring, legal assistance, emergency message center, emergency cash transfer, arrangement of medical evacuations or repatriations, emergency translations, pre-trip assistance and emergency ticket and prescription drug replacement. 2004 World Access Service Corp. All Rights Reserved. Contact Us : Privacy : Security : Satisfaction Guarantee : Site Map Home | About Us | Contact Us | News | Site Map | Help Our Products | Get a Recommendation | Get a Quote | Why Buy? | File A Claim | Travel Agents | Travel Suppliers Covered Suppliers | Privacy | Security | Satisfaction Guaranteed
Russia Travel Resources >
Russia Travel Guide - Dining and Drinking You are here: About > Travel > Eastern Europe for Visitors > Russia-Belarus-Ukraine > Russia Travel Resources > Travel Essentials - Russia > Russia Travel Guide - Dining and Drinking Travel Go Eastern Europe Essentials Best of Eastern Europe Map of Central/Eastern Europe Photo Gallery Country Profiles Discount Travel Websites Articles & Resources Planning Your Trip Ways to Travel What to Do in East Europe Maps for Eastern Europe Czech-SlovakTravel Hungary Travel Poland Travel Russia-Belarus-Ukraine Romania-Moldova Travel Baltic Travel Balkan Travel Culture and Holidays Photo Galleries East Europe Travel and Language Books Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Eastern Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses Search Eastern Europe for Visitors Stay up to date! Email to a friend Print this page Suggested Reading All Travel Guides Russia Travel Guide Profile of Russia Most Popular First Christmas Tree Europe map Best of Eastern Europe Croatia Naturism and Nudism Discount Travel Websites What's Hot Krakow Photo Gallery Profiles of Eastern Europe Moscow City Profile Czech Republic Photo Gallery - Charles Bridge and castle Sofia's Religous Buildings Related Topics Hotels / Resorts / Inns European History Architecture Air Travel Europe for Visitors Dining and Drinking - Russia From Apply Now , Your Guide to Eastern Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Russia Travel Guide One of the pleasures of travel is reveling in the food and drink of the local cuisine. Russia has plenty to offer in this respect, whether you opt for traditional Russian fare or meals representative of other CIS countries.
What Not to Eat
You can eat well in Russia at any budget. However, because some people get sick when they travel and eat unaccustomed food, this situation can happen in Russia also. So, because you don't want to spend time being miserable in your hotel room from a stomach problem, it's wise to be careful, just to be on the safe side. Some suggestions:
Don't drink tap water. Drink only bottled water. It comes with or without gas. When you order bottled water at restaurants, make sure the waiter brings you an unsealed bottle (not an open bottle that could have been filled with tap water). Of course, if you order water with gas, you won't have this possibility.
Brush your teeth with bottled water, not tap water.
Avoid salad bars (vegetables washed with tap water).
If you buy fruit, wash it with bottled water, not tap water. You get the picture with tap water.
If you order a coffee or tea, be aware you might be drinking tap water, but it's boiled.
Avoid food from sidewalk stands.
Enjoy all thoroughly cooked food.
I should note that I have broken all the suggestions above throughout Eastern Europe and not suffered consequences. I love going to cafes for coffee and eating ice cream from sidewalk vendors. But again, you may opt for the safest route than take a chance spending your precious visit too sick to enjoy it.
Restaurants
Moscow and St. Petersburg have a proliferation of well-known chains, including McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut, Burger King and TGI Fridays. But try to sample other food, as both Moscow and St. Petersburg can offer so much more. Check the English language newspapers such as the Moscow Times for listings of restaurants.
For restaurants in Moscow and St. Petersburg, also see these lists:
List of all types of restaurants in Moscow, from the Moscow City website
St. Petersburg restaurants Almost 500 restaurants listed.
Fodor's picks for Moscow restaurants
Fodor's picks for St. Peterburg's restaurants
Cuisine
Russian cuisine does wonderful things with meat, cabbage, potatoes, and dough (both bread and pastry). Well-known dishes include :
borsch (beet soup)
pelmeni (boiled dough pockets filled with meat)
beef roll (finely chopped meat and spices rolled in fine pastry)
chicken kiev
draniki (potato pancakes)
golubtsy (cabbage rolls filled with meat and rice, covered in a tomato broth)
There are many other dishes, with beef, pork, poultry and fish, as well as potato salad, pickled vegetables, mushrooms, caviar, and wonderful dark bread.
Don't forget dessert: bliny, ponchiki (doughnuts), kulich (rum cake) and ice cream.
Payment
In top restaurants you will likely be able to pay with credit cards. At smaller cafes and restaurants, you will probably have to pay with rubles.
Drinking in Russia
We'll get to the vodka later but first, know that Russians love to drink tea (chai). With samovars boiling away in offices and train compartments and lots of other places too, Russians drink tea all day long.
Vodka is a popular drink, and comes plain but also flavored: lemon, cranberry, herbs. It's hard to keep up with a Russian drinker so you may not want to try.
Beer (pivo) is also popular. Russian brands include Tinkov pilsner , Baltika, Stepan Rizan, Nevskoye, Klinskoye, and Tolstiyak. A low-alcohol beer is called kvas.
Russia also produces wine, with three million acres of vineyards. Russian wines aren't for everyone, as they can tend to have concentrated fruity flavors and some are rather sweet. While you're in Russia, you may want to try the wine of former Soviet republics, such as Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine. Popular white wines are the Anapa Riesling, Tsinandali, and Gourdzhuani. Reds are Saperavi and Mukuzani.
Tipping
Tipping has not yet become an expected norm in restaurants around Russia, although at better restaurants and cafes, you will find that patrons will do so. However, a normal rate has not been really established yet, so many people leave between five and ten percent, or more depending on the service. At not so fancy restaurants or cafes, you can round up the bill. Some restaurants will add service to your bill, so check first before you tip, and feel free not to tip at all if you believe the service doesn't deserve it. If there is a cloakroom where you need to leave your coat, there may be a sign telling you the amount to release your belongings. Otherwise, leave a few rubles or a dollar. Russia Travel Guide Index
Profile of Russia
City Profile: Moscow
City Profile: St. Petersburg
Before You Go
Need to Know
Money Matters
Intercity Travel
City Transit
Driving
Health and Safety
Lodging
Dining and Drinking
Communications
Shopping
Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Krakow Photo Gallery Profiles of Eastern Europe Moscow City Profile Czech Republic Photo Gallery - Charles Bridge and castle Sofia's Religous Buildings
London vacation rental London
London Accommodation - Vacation Rentals in London London Accommodation - Vacation Rentals London - We can be found here! London Accommodation - Vacation Rentals in London Search for London Accommodation Or How to reserve a London vacation rental London accommodation and vacation rentals london. We specialize in offering private holiday apartments and holiday flats. To be in a European city in aprivate residence offers an opportunity to experience accommodations that are filled with personal charm, fine antiques, and wonderful art -all in outstanding locations. About Us Search for London accommodation vacation rentals london Frequently Asked Questions Sample Itinerary for those wanting to travel and rent We offer specially selected London vacation rentals - apartments, houses, and cottages to holiday travelers and to business people. We firmly believe thatprivate holiday flats are the superior alternative to sterile and oftenexorbitantly expensive hotel rooms when looking for accommodation in London . EXPERIENCE AND RELIABILITY are the keys to our success. The owners ofthis company began working with private vacation rentals in 1985 when theydecided to rent their own properties. As the demandfor these flats grew, friends began to offer their properties for rent through our company. Sixteen years and thousands of reservations laterwe continue to experience rapid growth and now manage over 300 privateflats. This is due to the teamwork between great owners, excellentclientele, and a staff that cares and works hard to organize successfulstays for our clients. A UNIQUE COMPANY, We have well over twenty-five years experience intravel planning, property management, and working with groupstraveling to Europe. Because we have offices in the United States aswell as in various cities in Europe, you are assured the bestcoordination possible. We work together from a very extensive anddetailed database that allows staff, owners, and clients to view andedit various details concerning availability and reservation details. London Accommodation and Vacation Rentals Links of Interest Municipal Government City Government UK public sector information on the Internet The Housing Corporation Click For More info for renters rented accomodation Need a place to stay while traveling? holiday apartments holiday flats
Russia Travel Resources >
Russia Travel Guide - Health and Safety You are here: About > Travel > Eastern Europe for Visitors > Russia-Belarus-Ukraine > Russia Travel Resources > Travel Essentials - Russia > Russia Travel Guide - Health and Safety Travel Go Eastern Europe Essentials Best of Eastern Europe Map of Central/Eastern Europe Photo Gallery Country Profiles Discount Travel Websites Articles & Resources Planning Your Trip Ways to Travel What to Do in East Europe Maps for Eastern Europe Czech-SlovakTravel Hungary Travel Poland Travel Russia-Belarus-Ukraine Romania-Moldova Travel Baltic Travel Balkan Travel Culture and Holidays Photo Galleries East Europe Travel and Language Books Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Eastern Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses Search Eastern Europe for Visitors Stay up to date! Email to a friend Print this page Suggested Reading Russia Travel Guide Most Popular First Christmas Tree Europe map Best of Eastern Europe Croatia Naturism and Nudism Discount Travel Websites What's Hot Krakow Photo Gallery Profiles of Eastern Europe Moscow City Profile Czech Republic Photo Gallery - Charles Bridge and castle Sofia's Religous Buildings Related Topics Hotels / Resorts / Inns European History Architecture Air Travel Europe for Visitors Health and Safety - Russia From Apply Now , Your Guide to Eastern Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Russia Travel Guide With a little foresight and common sense, you can stay safe and healthy while traveling in Russia. Read on to learn what you need to know.
Crime and Violence
The U.S. State Department recommends that travelers avoid the Caucasus region of Russia, particularly Chechnya, because of continued unrest and violence.
Like other European cities, occasionally there are acts of terrorism in large Russian cities. In October 2002, terrorists seized a Moscow theater and held its audience captive for several days before Russian Special Forces stormed it. More recently, a bomb went off in the Moscow subway. Travelers should be alert for unusual behavior, unattended luggage in public areas, and other possible indicators that something out of the ordinary is in progress.
The U.S. State Department also has this important information to share:
As a visitor to Russia, be alert to your surroundings. In large cities, take the same precautions against assault, robbery, or pickpockets that you would take in any large U.S. city. Be aware that women and small children, as well as men, can be pickpockets or purse-snatchers. Persons carrying valuables in backpacks, in back pockets of pants, and in coat pockets are especially vulnerable to pickpockets. Keep your billfold in an inner front pocket, carry your purse tucked securely under your arm, and wear the shoulder strap of your camera or bag across your chest. Walk away from the curb and carry your purse away from the street. The most vulnerable areas include underground walkways and the subway, overnight trains, train stations, airports, markets, tourist attractions, restaurants, hotel rooms and residences -- even when locked or occupied. Para. Members of religious and missionary groups have been robbed by people pretending to be interested in their beliefs.
Foreigners who have been drinking alcohol are especially vulnerable to assault and robbery in or around nightclubs or bars, or on their way home. Some travelers have been drugged at bars, while others have taken strangers back to their lodgings, where they were drugged and robbed. In many cases in which a credit card was stolen, thieves used them immediately. Victims of credit card or ATM card theft should report the theft to the credit card company or bank without delay.
Robberies may occur in taxis shared with strangers. Travelers have generally found it safer to travel in groups organized by reputable tour agencies. Travelers are advised to be vigilant in bus and train stations and on public transport. Crime aboard overnight trains has occurred. On some trains, thieves have been able to open locked compartment doors. Always watch for pickpockets in these areas.
Never hitchhike or accept rides from strangers. Be wary of persons representing themselves as police or other local officials.
To avoid highway crime, travelers should try not to drive at night. Never drive alone at night. Never sleep in vehicles along the road. Do not, under any circumstances, pick up hitchhikers, who not only pose a threat to your physical safety, but also put you in danger of being arrested for unwittingly transporting narcotics or narcotics traffickers in your vehicle. Your vehicle can be confiscated if you are transporting marijuana or other narcotics.
Violent, racially motivated attacks on people of color and foreigners have become widespread in Russia. Many of these attacks target university students, particularly those of Asian and African origin, but older tourists have also been targeted. Travelers are urged to exercise caution in areas frequented by "skinhead" groups and wherever large groups have gathered. Incidents of violent crime directed against homosexual men have also been reported. Four foreign men reported to have been gay have been murdered since 1999.
It is not uncommon for Americans to become victims of harassment, mistreatment and extortion by law enforcement and other officials. Authorities are concerned about these incidents and have cooperated in investigating such cases. Try to obtain the officers name, badge number, and patrol car number, and note where it happened, as this information assists local officials in identifying the perpetrators. Report crimes committed against you by persons presenting themselves as police or other governmental authorities to the U.S. embassy or the nearest U.S. consulate.
Next page: What to do if your passport is stolen. Also information about sex in Russia and medical emergencies.
Russia Travel Guide Index
Profile of Russia
City Profile: Moscow
City Profile: St. Petersburg
Before You Go
Need to Know
Money Matters
Intercity Travel
City Transit
Driving
Health and Safety
Lodging
Dining and Drinking
Communications
Shopping
1 2 Next Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Krakow Photo Gallery Profiles of Eastern Europe Moscow City Profile Czech Republic Photo Gallery - Charles Bridge and castle Sofia's Religous Buildings
London vacation rental London
London Accommodation - Vacation Rentals in London London Accommodation - Vacation Rentals London - We can be found here! London Accommodation - Vacation Rentals in London Search for London Accommodation Or How to reserve a London vacation rental London accommodation and vacation rentals london. We specialize in offering private holiday apartments and holiday flats. To be in a European city in aprivate residence offers an opportunity to experience accommodations that are filled with personal charm, fine antiques, and wonderful art -all in outstanding locations. About Us Search for London accommodation vacation rentals london Frequently Asked Questions Sample Itinerary for those wanting to travel and rent We offer specially selected London vacation rentals - apartments, houses, and cottages to holiday travelers and to business people. We firmly believe thatprivate holiday flats are the superior alternative to sterile and oftenexorbitantly expensive hotel rooms when looking for accommodation in London . EXPERIENCE AND RELIABILITY are the keys to our success. The owners ofthis company began working with private vacation rentals in 1985 when theydecided to rent their own properties. As the demandfor these flats grew, friends began to offer their properties for rent through our company. Sixteen years and thousands of reservations laterwe continue to experience rapid growth and now manage over 300 privateflats. This is due to the teamwork between great owners, excellentclientele, and a staff that cares and works hard to organize successfulstays for our clients. A UNIQUE COMPANY, We have well over twenty-five years experience intravel planning, property management, and working with groupstraveling to Europe. Because we have offices in the United States aswell as in various cities in Europe, you are assured the bestcoordination possible. We work together from a very extensive anddetailed database that allows staff, owners, and clients to view andedit various details concerning availability and reservation details. London Accommodation and Vacation Rentals Links of Interest Municipal Government City Government UK public sector information on the Internet The Housing Corporation Click For More info for renters rented accomodation Need a place to stay while traveling? holiday apartments holiday flats