Off to somewhere cold this winter!
Oct. 7th, 2004 11:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fluffymarkYay shiny! ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
alektoeumenides is fab. She has invited me to spend the New Year in Moscow with her. Because Russia is such an incredibly silly place to go at that time of year, I have to say yes. And you know, snow is pretty much guaranteed. It all sounds terribly exciting, because I’ve never been anywhere as cold as that before. Yay. *bounce*
BUT of course, theres the usual visa hassle of getting access to Russia. This I can now cope with, I thought. So I pootle along to the Russian Consulate Website and suddenly spot this - “Entry to Russia may be refused and airlines may not carry passengers holding passports with less than six months validity”. Which has never been a problem before, but my passport expires in February. So it now is a Problem. I’m guessing this means I have to apply for a new passport NOW. And I’m then confused about whether to apply for the visa using the old passport (with the less than 6 months validity left) or the new one (which won’t be valid until February). I’m guessing it should go in the old one, and then I carry both passports with me - is that right? Does anyone here know?
The visa invite itself may also be complicated. Usually this is arranged at the hotel/hostel I’d stay at, like it was when I visited St Petersburg in May, but I’d be staying at Val’s flat. So the only way to get an invite is to find a hotel which is willing to invite me without me having to actually stay there, or force someone in Moscow to go through the real pain or arranging a private invite.doseybat I know you said yesterday that you think your family could arrange something - don’t if it’s going to be a major hassle, but I’m going to need some help from somewhere for this one.
And while I’m asking questions, one for all of you people who regularly travel to/from Russia, who do you get your plane tickets from? I’ve never booked a flight that wasn’t a budget airline before, so I don’t know how “proper” airlines work. Um. *makesuselessnoises*
alektoeumenides is fab. She has invited me to spend the New Year in Moscow with her. Because Russia is such an incredibly silly place to go at that time of year, I have to say yes. And you know, snow is pretty much guaranteed. It all sounds terribly exciting, because I’ve never been anywhere as cold as that before. Yay. *bounce*BUT of course, theres the usual visa hassle of getting access to Russia. This I can now cope with, I thought. So I pootle along to the Russian Consulate Website and suddenly spot this - “Entry to Russia may be refused and airlines may not carry passengers holding passports with less than six months validity”. Which has never been a problem before, but my passport expires in February. So it now is a Problem. I’m guessing this means I have to apply for a new passport NOW. And I’m then confused about whether to apply for the visa using the old passport (with the less than 6 months validity left) or the new one (which won’t be valid until February). I’m guessing it should go in the old one, and then I carry both passports with me - is that right? Does anyone here know?
The visa invite itself may also be complicated. Usually this is arranged at the hotel/hostel I’d stay at, like it was when I visited St Petersburg in May, but I’d be staying at Val’s flat. So the only way to get an invite is to find a hotel which is willing to invite me without me having to actually stay there, or force someone in Moscow to go through the real pain or arranging a private invite.
doseybat I know you said yesterday that you think your family could arrange something - don’t if it’s going to be a major hassle, but I’m going to need some help from somewhere for this one.And while I’m asking questions, one for all of you people who regularly travel to/from Russia, who do you get your plane tickets from? I’ve never booked a flight that wasn’t a budget airline before, so I don’t know how “proper” airlines work. Um. *makesuselessnoises*
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-10-07 05:06 pm (UTC)Re the airlines, you can either go to a travel agent, or book online. Some travel agents haven't heard of Aeroflot, which is a *lot* cheaper than any of the other airlines that fly into Moscow, so beware if they only quote British Airways prices. As for Aeroflot, it is possible to book directly from it's web site -- there is an English version, so it's not that difficult.
no subject
Date: 2004-10-08 02:09 am (UTC)Russian visa agencies sound fab - do they really do everything, saving the haddle of obtaining an invite? Yay. Would be willing to pay for that. I don't suppose you could remember which one you used when you visited bat?
Last time I flew to Moscow cheapest was Aeroflot, but that was 1999, and I was wondering if anything had changed since then.
Yay wonderful Sarah for having lots of answers to my pathetic questions. :)
Hello Mr Fluffy
Date: 2004-10-08 02:33 am (UTC)"You can renew your existing standard 10 year British passport once it expires, is full or is shortly due to expire. You will need a standard application form, your current passport, two, identical recent passport photographs and payment. Your form will not need to be countersigned (section 10) or the photographs certified if you can still be recognised from the photograph in your current passport. A new valid passport will be issued. Please note that your old passport will be cancelled. Please be aware that this may invalidate any visas in the passport. You are recommended to contact the issuing authorities to confirm whether an unexpired visa in a cancelled passport remains valid."
Hope thats helpful.
Love
Penny
Re: Hello Mr Fluffy
Date: 2004-10-08 02:09 pm (UTC)*huuuuuuuuuugs*
Am also very much looking forward to visiting your new place in a couple of weeks. :)
Info...
Date: 2004-10-08 02:58 am (UTC)You usually *do* have to send off your old passport. But check. Maybe time things so that you don't send your old one...find out asap.
As for getting a visa - well, you can get an agency to do the whole thing (there's one almost opposite the Consulate - Intourist (http://www.intourist.com) - that do it. Allegedly.
Most youth hostels will register your visa for you. So it might be worth asking them.
Alternatively, you can try a few agencies:
http://www.waytorussia.net offer a range of services, but I've never tried them.
http://www.visahouse.ru are not the cheapest but they're very reliable (and well known for it) and they'll do everything for you (for a fee of course, but as they charge in dollars, it's not actually that bad). Aside from queing at the Consulate (gr).
Airlines to try:
http://www.aeroflot.ru (not bad prices)
http://www.britishairways.co.uk
http://www.transaero.ru
The last two are kind of handy because they go to Domovedovo airport (which has slightly better travel connections to central Moscow) while Aeroflot only goes to Sheremetevo. Unfortunately, *no one* has heard of Transaero, so you'll have to call them to get an idea of prices (they don't tell you on the website). But I've heard they're cheap.
The first two will probably charge you somewhere between 200 to 300 quid for a return flight to Moscow. Ouchy.
Re: Info...
Date: 2004-10-08 02:19 pm (UTC)Am going to get a passport form and fill it in, and send it off as soon as I get back from Poland, then I'll get an agency to arrange a visa for me. I have too much money now. ;)
May also need to wait until new passport before booking flight, as they may need the passport number. That would be annoying. Still, it sounds like I should be able to get a new passport by mid-november, which leaves easily enough time for it. :)
You have to feed me lots of sirki and get me very very fat. *grins*