Money Issues

HOW MUCH MONEY SHOULD I BRING WITH ME?

The way that you travel is different than probably everyone else on one of the trips. There is no way to say an amount that works for everyone.

In Russia, food (restaurants) and drinks (bars, night clubs) are cheaper than Sweden. In some places you can get extremely cheap things to eat and drink, and then 200m down the street, you can pay 500% more. That is one paradox about Russia that causes problems! With a little looking, you can easily find inexpensive places to eat.

Many other things in Russia - gifts, souvenirs, CDs, DVDs, statues of your favorite USSR Communist Party Chairmen - are inexpensive. If you find a flea market, you can bargain for things as well, although, the prices of CDs and DVDs are usually final.

WHAT CURRENCY CAN I USE ON THE TRIPS?

The Swedish Kronor OR Euro on the Viking Line ferry journeys, the Euro in Finland, and the Russian Rouble in Russia.

An example exchange rate to the Euro is:

Monday, 16 August, 2010

1 Euro = 38.3020 Russian Roubles

Interbank rate +/- 4%

That is of course the "official" bank rate - rates in St Petersburg and Moscow may vary between 35-40 Roubles per Euro.

An example exchange rate to the Swedish Krona is:

Monday, 16 August, 2010

1 Swedish Krona = 4.03492 Russian Roubles

Interbank rate +/- 4%

To get the exchange rates for other currencies, see also:

http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic

SHOULD I CHANGE MONEY TO ROUBLES BEFORE THE TRIP?

Sure, if you want to! The exchange rate in Russia may be better or it may be worse, but since none of you will probably be changing 5000 EUR, the difference in the exchange rates may be about as much as one large beer in a restaurant.

WHAT FOREIGN CURRENCY SHOULD I USE TO BUY ROUBLES?

We suggest Euros, but you will be able to change Kronor at the exchange window in the hotels.

Also remember that you will be paying for your optional programs on Day Two of your trip (during the drive from Turku to Helsinki, or the Finnish-Russian border depending on your trip), in Euros. Furthermore, if there are any stops in Finland on the way to and or from Russia, you will only be able to use Euros to buy anything. Swedish Kronor have not been an accepted currency in Finland since 1809, and Roubles were last used in Finland in 1917!

WHERE CAN I EXCHANGE MONEY IN RUSSIA?

There are places to exchange money all over the place, but they often require some form of identification (your passport). There is a currency exchange window in the lobby of the hotel in St Petersburg and in the hotel in Moscow.

ARE THERE BANK MACHINES IN RUSSIA?

Yes, all over the place.

These machines allow you to withdraw Roubles with your Visa or MasterCard, or a bank card (Cirrus, Maestro or Visa Electron, for example) that works in foreign countries (that depends on your card - check with your bank). Also, make sure that you know what your card's PIN is!

CAN I TAKE TRAVELLLERS CHECKS WITH ME?

Do not take travellers checks with you. They are difficult to cash and in some case rather expensive to cash.

IS IT SAFE TO USE A CREDIT CARD IN RUSSIA?

Just as safe as anywhere else. However, you will find that in some places, it is not that widely accepted. Larger, more expensive stores will take credit cards, and smaller stores or markets may not.