Russia Travel

* GoToRussia.Ru * When you wish to visit Russia :: Information, tips, guides, routes, cities, excursions, etc. Visa To Russia Online Tourist invitations; Business Visa Visit: www.VisaToRussiaOnline.com Call: +7 095 7413870 ABOUT RUSSIA: HISTORY TRAVEL TIPS RUSSIAN EMBASSIES ENTRY Requirements VISA CURRENT PRICES PHRASE BOOK FAQ ABOUT MOSCOW: HISTORY ARRIVING BY PLANE MEETING AT SVO CUSTOMS ARRIVING BY TRAIN METRO FOREIGN EMBASSIES WHAT TO SEE MAPS AND PLANS Travel Tips What to pack. The days of having to bring your own bottled water and toilet paper have gone long time ago, although you may still find them useful in regional cities. Now it is possible to easily find basic food, bottled water and toiletry items in many places around Moscow. However, the following are items some tourists prefer to bring for themselves. 1. Bring your own toiletries and pharmaceuticals. Although there are many stores carrying western medicines, you may not be able to read the Russian or European labels. 2. Comfortable, waterproof and warm, (if winter) boots or shoes. It is frequently wet in Moscow from snow or rain, and you will probably walk a lot. 3. Umbrella. 4. Adapter for small appliances like hair dryers. Russia has the same 220 watt currency as Europe and electrical sockets take round two prong plugs. 5. Travel alarm clock. 6. All phone numbers and addresses you will need. 7. Enough cash for your entire stay. Bring clean, crisp, new bills. 8. Travel money holder/conceiler. Pickpocketing is not uncommon, especially in the center of town and incrowded markets. 9. Photocopy of passport and visa. 10. Warm hat, coat, clothes and gloves in winter. 11. Camera and film, of course. 12. Leave your expensive jewelry at home. You don't need to be conspicuous. 13. Locks for your luggage. Make sure to secure all your baggage with heavy locks. Money Currency: Rouble (Rub) = 100 kopeks. Notes are in denominations of Rub 500, 100, 50, 10. Coins are in denominations of Rub 5, 2 and 1. Currency exchange: The ruble is the only legal tender. It is illegal to pay for goods and services in U.S. dollars. According to the Rusian law foreign currency should only be exchanged at official bureaux. Bureaux de change are numerous and easy to locate. Large shops offer their own exchange facilities. You may see many individuals there who would offer you better exchange rate. Please, be careful and under no circumstances exchange money from them. It is advisable not to change large amount of money at a time unless you really need a lot of Roubles. Exchange rate is unpredictable and may change very fast even during one day. All dollar bills must be recent and clean. The Russians are all concerned about getting stuck with an outdated bill that will no longer be honoured, even though this is also a violation of currency laws. Contact us to get more info on today's best exchange rate quotes. more about money... Credit cards Major European and international credit cards, including American Express, Visa and Diners Club, are accepted in the larger hotels and at foreign currency shops and restaurants. Some ATM'S in Moscow are now accepting EC cards together with your PIN number - if you want to get roubles. Compared to most other possibilities of getting roubles, this is a cheap (compared to credit cards) and time saving (compared to travellers cheques) method. Depending on the Russian bank that maintains the cash machine, you may be charged a 1% - 4% commission fee, on top of what your credit card charges. Travellers Cheques Are a big hassle in Russia. Very few places take them and you pay a premium to cash them. If you're not willing to go all cash, credit cards are much better. AMEX traveler's checks may be cashed at the American Express office at Sadovaya Kudrinskaya 21a in the center of town. Expect to pay a 3% commission for cashing the checks. Selected Russian banks will also cash them for a fee. Banking hours 0900 am - 0500 pm Monday to Friday. Some of bureaux de exchange are open 24 hours. Public Holidays Jan 1 - New Year, Jan 7 - Russian Christmas (Orthodox), Mar 8 - International women’s Day, Apr 15 - Russian Orthodox Easter, May 1-2 - Spring and Labour Day, May 9 - Victory in Europe Day, Jun 12 - Russian Independence Day, Aug 22 - National Flag Day, Nov 7 Constitution Day. Calling home? Calling abroad from ALL Russian hotels is a rip-off. For example, to call USA would cost you about US$ 5 per minute, Australia - US$ 8 per minute. To make sure you pay your phone bill most of the hotels require a deposit of a quite a large amount of money or your credit card information. Without it you won't be able to dial an outside line. There is a solution, however. In our office you can obtain pre-paid phone cards of a few Russian telephone companies (US$ 5, US$ 10, US$ 20, US$ 25 and US$ 50) and call from your hotel or home for as low as 25 cents a minute to the USA and Europe. All you need is a touch-tone phone. Some of the hotels in Moscow and in St.-Petersburg and almost all hotels in all other cities in Russia do not have touch-tone phones. But you still be able to use those cards if before you leave home you buy a bipper (cost about US$ 5 in the USA). With the bipper all you have to do is to dial a number shown on the card and then use the bipper to enter your access code and destination phone number. Please, contact us for more information. To call USA from Moscow for as low as 13.5 cents a minute you can use Net Phone Card. Follow this link to check it out. Or just click on the Net Phone Card banner on our first (entrance) page to go there. You can also use it to call from anywhere to anywhere. Computer equipment The State Customs Committee has stated that there are no restrictions on bringing laptop computers into the Russian Federation for personal use. The software, however, can be inspected upon departure; and some equipment and software have been confiscated because of the data contained in them, or due to software encryption, which is standard in many programs. HIV Testing Requirement Any person applying for a visa for a stay of more than three months must present a certificate showing that the individual is HIV negative. The certificate must contain the applicant's passport data, proposed length of stay in Russia, blood test results for HIV infection, including date of the test, signature of the doctor conducting the test, medical examination results, diagnostic series, and seal of the hospital/medical organization. The certificate must be in both Russian and English and valid for three months from the date of medical examination and blood test. For information concerning entry, exit, and HIV requirements, travelers can contact the Russian Embassy, Consular Division, 1825 Phelps Place, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20008; telephone (202) 939-8918, or the Russian consulates in New York, San Francisco or Seattle. Medical facilites Medical care is usually far below Western standards, with severe shortages of basic medical supplies. Access to the few quality facilities that exist in major cities usually requires cash payment at Western rates upon admission. The U.S. Embassy and consulates maintain lists of such facilities and English-speaking doctors. Many resident Americans travel to the West for virtually all of their medical needs; such travel can be very expensive, if undertaken under emergency conditions. Therefore, travelers may wish to check their insurance coverage and consider supplemental coverage for medical evacuation. Elderly travelers and those with existing health problems may be at particular risk. The cost of a medical evacuation from the Russian Far East can be as high as $50,000. It is helpful to carry a letter, in Russian, from your health care provider, describing the nature of any personal medication that you carry into Russia. Further information on health matters can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline (404) 332-4559, or via the CDC home page on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov/. Bring with you all prescription drugs. Tap water is not to be drunk without first boiling. A good mosquito repellant is recommended for summer. Areas of instability Travel to Chechnya, North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Dagestan, and the areas surrounding Chechnya is extremely dangerous due to political instability and frequent kidnappings. Two U.S. citizens have disappeared in Chechnya and remain unaccounted for. In addition, public gatherings and demonstrations occur frequently in Russia, particularly in Moscow. Although such demonstrations are usually peaceful, travelers are urged to exercise caution when in areas where large groups are gathered. Passports and visas Carry them with you at all times. When you are out walking and you see some motley looking guys with black leather caps and jackets with dark gray uniforms, these are the police. They listen for English language being spoken and they will love it if they stop you and you are without your passport and visa. If you don't have your visa and passport, they will escort you to the nearest jail and try their best at expropriating whatever funds they think they can get out of you. Usually, the fine (bribe) is $50 and there won't be anything we can do for you to get you out of it. If the cops haul you in and you do have your visa and passport, call us immediately and we will rescue you. Your visas, if registered through us, will be in perfect order. Don't pay them anything if, once again, you have your visa and passport in your possession. Air travel Air travel within Russia is often unreliable, with unpredictable schedules and difficult conditions, including deterioration of the quality of service. Russian based airlines certified to operate internationally meet higher standards than domestic-only air carriers and fly to most domestic destinations. Traffic safety and road condition Inclement weather and lack of routine maintenance of roads and vehicles make road conditions throughout Russia highly variable. Drivers and pedestrians should exercise extreme caution to avoid accidents, which are commonplace. Many accidents involve drunk drivers. Traffic police sometimes stop motorists to extract cash "fines," and bandits occasionally prey on travelers. Crime information Crime against foreigners is a problem, especially in major cities. Pickpocketings, assaults, and robberies can occur frequently and at any time or place. 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. Groups of children are known to assault and rob foreigners on city streets or underground walkways. Foreigners who have been drinking alcohol are especially vulnerable to assault and robbery in or around nightclubs or bars, or on their way home. Robberies may occur in taxis shared with strangers. Travelers have found it safer to travel in groups organized by reputable tour agencies. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. If you receive a replacement for your lost or stolen U.S. passport in Russia, your exit visa must also be replaced, with assistance from your sponsor, so that the passport number written on the visa matches your new passport. This requires a Russian police report. The Department of State's pamphlet "A Safe Trip Abroad" provides useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad. Additional information on the region can be found in the brochure "Tips for Travelers to Russia and the Newly Independent States." Both publications are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402. Crime Against Foreign Businesses: Extortion and corruption are common in the business environment. Organized criminal groups target foreign businesses in many cities and have been known to demand protection money under threat of serious violence. Many Western firms hire security services which have improved their overall security, although this is no guarantee. Small businesses are particularly vulnerable. Over the past several years, several American business people have been attacked, kidnapped, and even killed. U.S. citizens are encouraged to report all extortion attempts to the Russian authorities and to inform consular officials at the U.S. Embassy or nearest U.S. consulate.In general, when staying in Moscow avoid walking through dark, unknown, deserted streets in the evening; check your pockets and purses, while walking along the crowded streets, do the same in big stores and market places. The crowded public places (i.e. close to railway terminals, Arbat, etc.) are full of Gypsies (people, mainly women, wearing pictures skirts and shawls), who may tell you your fortune by hand, playing cards, etc. Of course, not all of them are thieves or pickpockets, try to get rid of them as soon as possible. When visiting somebody don't get into lift cabin with persons you don't know. It is also advisable to have a telephone number of your tourist agency or a close friend, whom you may always call in case of need or emergency. Embassy location & registration All American citizens who reside in Russia for three months or longer are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy or at one of the U.S. consulates. Americans who will remain for shorter periods may also register and inquire about updated travel and security information. Registration allows for quicker replacement of a lost or stolen passport, as well as contact in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located in Moscow at Novinskiy Bulvar 19/23; phone (7)(095) 252-2451; fax (7) (095) 956-4261. After hours emergencies: phone (7-095) 956-4422. U.S. consulates are located in: St. Petersburg: Ulitsa Furshtadskaya 15; phone (7-812) 275-1701; fax (7-812) 110-7022. After hours emergencies: phone (7-812) 274-8692. Vladivostok: Ulitsa Pushkinskaya 32, phone (7-4232) 268-458 or 300-070; fax (7-4232) 300-091. After hours emergencies: (7) (4232) 471-644 and (7) (4232) 287-290. Yekaterinburg: Ulitsa Gogolya 15a, 4th floor; phone (7-3432) 564-619; fax (7-3432) 564-515. | TOP | HOME | Ask your questions on our discussion board GoToRussia.Ru © 2002-2005 Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy --

Germany Travel > Baden

Baden Baden Germany Travel Planner You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors > Germany Austria Switzerland > Germany Travel > Baden Baden > Baden Baden Germany Travel Planner Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses Search Europe for Visitors Baden Baden Map James martin Stay up to date! Baden Baden Map James martin Email to a friend Print this page Baden-Baden Essentials Getting There - Airport Shuttles Spas and Prices Baden Wine Route Around Baden-Baden Porsche Museum and Factory Tours Touring the Upper Black Forest Rebland Wine Region Baden-Baden Resources on this site Baden-Baden Links Baden-Baden Region Map Most Popular Europe Map - Distances Between Cities in Western Europe Europe's Best Nudist Beaches Europe Picture Galleries Italy Pictures Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the Firs... What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Related Topics France for Visitors Greece for Visitors United Kingdom / Ireland for Visitors Eastern Europe for Visitors Italy for Visitors Baden Baden Travel Planner -- Germany From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Oct 30 2005 A spa (and wine) town in the Black Forest has it all! Celebrities come to Baden-Baden to get themselves into hot water and then get pummeled after. You might be surprised at how affordable a spa visit is in this town whose name is "bath-bath"--we'll tell you how just about anyone can get the treatment . Location of Baden Baden Baden Baden is 60 km northeast of Strasbourg, France in the Black Forest region of Germany, in the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg. Besides Strasbourg, other close by, worthwhile cities to visit are Freiberg, Baden Wurttemberg, Rothenberg, Hiledelberg and perhaps Stuttgart for the Porsche museum or a Factory Tour (the factory is actually in Zuffenhausen, a few miles north of Stuttgart.) How to reach Baden Baden By Train - The Baden Baden train station is a stop for high speed and regional trains. The main lines are Basel (Switzerland)/Hamburg, Basel/Rhineland, Basel/Berlin and Paris/Vienna via Stuttgart and Munich. By Car - Motorway A5 Basle to Frankfurt, A8 when traveling from Munich to Karlsruhe, Federal Highway B3 Kiel/Basle, B500 in France / Black Forest / Switzerland Motorway Exit "Baden-Baden." By Plane - Baden Airpark is 15 km out of the city. There is a daily flight to/from Berlin Templehof as well as charter flights by Eurowings, Hapag Lloyd, Hamburg International, Air Europa, Sun Express. You can take a train from larger airports at Frankfurt, Karlsruhe, and Basel (Switzerland). Airport Shuttle - You can book a seat on a small bus from international Airports at Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Strasburg, France for 135 Euros round trip. Baden Baden Hotels An oft recommended hotel in Baden Baden that isn't too expensive and is centrally located next to the opera house is the Schweizer Hof , Lange Str. 73, 76530 Baden-Baden. For you luxury buffs, the only place to go to mingle with the rich and famous is the Brenner's Park Hotel and Spa . Heidi Klum loved it. Kelby Carr, your France for Visitors guide, recommends the Hotel Beeg , on Gernsbacher Straße 44-46. which "had all the necessities, nice bed, a small armchair, TV, etc. The best feature was definitely the location, though. You could walk out the front door, walk along a sidewalk and be at the Caracalla spa." (The Hotel Beeg sounds nice, but I usually go for something smaller.) Find these hotels in our Baden-Baden Links. Spas Spas have been famous at Baden Baden since the Roman Era. The two big spas, Caracalla and the Roman-Irish spa, are quite affordable. A three hour visit to Caracalla will cost you 13 Euro, 10 three hour visits will cost you 113 Euros. A single admission ticket excluding soap and brush massage (3 hours) at the Roman-Irish Spa will run you 21 Euros, a three and a half hour visit including soap and brush massage will cost you 29 Euros. At either spa you can park nearby for two hours free, then for a Euro per hour thereafter. For all the info on prices and other options, see the linkbox on the upper right Wine Baden Baden is in the Ortenau region, in good position for wine production. The Baden Wine Route will lead you and your car through the best of the region, while the Ortenau Weinpfad (wine trail) running parallel has over 100 kilomters of hiking trails and vantage points. For more on these opportunities, follow the Baden Wine Route link in the box on the right Cuisine There is, of course, the famous Black Forest smoked ham, and the locally made Gansewurst, a sausage made from smoked goose, is worth a try. Lunch is light, there's a coffee and cake break in the afternoon, then a late dinner. Some of the food has French influence here, and the local black forest game is legendary. Weather The moderately priced Belle Epoque Hotel in Baden Baden has a five day forecast . 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Northwest Airlines Promotions & Products Current Promotions " Fare Promotions WorldPerks Travel Offers WorldPerks Partner Offers Vacation Package Offers New Routes nwa.com Direct via RSS NWA Products " Business Services " Biz Perks Event Travel " Welcome to nwa.com. Please log in to access your account information. Logout of WorldPerks-- Add RSS Feeds Vacation Package Offers Whether it's a weekend escape or a two-week adventure, at NWA WorldVacations, we make your vacation planning easy. Plan your next custom vacation package online with NWA WorldVacations: Create a package to meet your needs. Reserve your airfare, car, hotel and activities all in one place. Earn WorldPerks Bonus Miles with the purchase of air and hotel packages. Check out these great WorldVacation Offers: Hit the Slopes with NWA WorldVacations Ski Packages Celebrate the Chinese New Year in Hong Kong from $1054 Lower rates with Alamo and National SkyTeam Europe Pass--the best way to visit Europe View all WorldVacations Offers CyberSaver Packages make spontaneous weekend getaways affordable and easy! We combine our own last-minute flight deals with discounted hotels, cars, and more from the industry's leading travel suppliers, resulting in tremendous savings. Book your CyberSaver Package anywhere between 14 days and 3 hours prior to departure and enjoy your getaway! Get Away This Weekend For Under $300 with CyberSaver Packages View All CyberSaver Packages Need ideas? Sun & Beach Under $300 Romance Top Sellers International Food & Wine CyberSaver Packages Terms and Conditions Prices shown are roundtrip in USD for one adult based on double occupancy and include all applicable taxes and fees. We have set aside an adequate number of rooms and aircraft seats, but they may go quickly. Prices may change. The price listed on the site is the most current. The only price changes you may experience from those listed on the site will be from options that you decide to change, such as your travel dates, number of travelers, departure city, and your choice of flight, hotels or other items. Rest assured that the total price of your travel package will be updated and displayed to you prior to purchase. Also, remember that you may incur other charges while traveling that are not included in the package price, such as hotel extra-person or extra-bed charges, resort fees, gratuities, hotel energy surcharges, parking fees, telephone fees, room service, movies, mini-bar, or rental car insurance, gasoline, and other incidentals. All packages have limited availability. Text Only Version Add RSS Feeds © Northwest Airlines 2005