St. Petersburg and rubles question

[tufbuf]

Hello. Just want to know if anyone brought rubles to Russia. DCL website says it is illegal to bring it in and out of country but I'm getting mixed info in different websites. How did you buy souvenirs in SPB?

Thanks!

 

[Chirple]

I exchanged US money onboard (not the best rate but the most convenient). I brought enough roubles to buy lunch for us (2 adults) and our tour guide. I set aside roubles to tip our driver and guide. At the souvenir shop, I used both roubles and euros.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Hello. Just want to know if anyone brought rubles to Russia. DCL website says it is illegal to bring it in and out of country but I'm getting mixed info in different websites. How did you buy souvenirs in SPB?

Thanks!

Ok I have been before and going again in a few weeks, you can take notes in that is not a problem, taking out there is a restriction. It is best to take them as not all places take cards.


Direct from Anastasia Travel: As for the Rubles, usually you can pay by credit card. For lunches I would allow about 700-1000 Rubles per person per day, as not all the cafes accept cards. Souvenirs you can buy using your card or USD or Euros - they are usually accepted by souvenir shops.

I purchased the expensive dolls by credit card, there is a duty free shop at the cruise terminal which is accessed ship side pre border control so you can go anytime. It's a good place to price up the costs of things so you know if you are being ripped off or not.

Snacks, cans of coke post cards light lunch best in local currency.

Tourist sights will take $ Euros and cards for entrance but please keep an eye on your cards and wallet 24/7.

The ship can covert currency but it's a poor company date you are better off getting it in advance or if travelling from Dover get it in the UK in London in the Post office or Travelex.

 

[toffeecushion]

Can you use euros in the duty free shop?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Can you use euros in the duty free shop?

In the duty free shop yes. That's very internationally oriented as they gave ships in every day.

 

[aggiedog]

We got some rubles on the ship. We paid by credit card for pretty much everything. We were on a private tour so asked our guide to take us to restaurants for lunch and dinner that took cc's. The rubles were for a few, small purchases - an ornament at the Hermitage (which took cc's but cash was faster), etc.

 

[tufbuf]

Can you give me an idea how much small items cost like the ornament in Hermitage or let's say magnets?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Can you give me an idea how much small items cost like the ornament in Hermitage or let's say magnets?

It is very very cheap there, far cheaper than the USA. The amounts quoted previously were from a Agent in St Petersburg.

A matryoshka doll is expensive however, they all have different prices to the artwork and the size.

 

[Mommb]

If you do plan to exchange currency for rubles on the ship, try to do it early in your cruise. I was at Guest Services for an unrelated issue the night before we arrived in Russia, and the ship had run out of rubles.

I was able to use Euros at several small souvenir shops, and a credit card at larger ones and at a restaurant. Be aware that if you pay in Euros, change may be given in rubles, so use the smallest bill or coin possible (unless you want rubles in change).

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

If you do plan to exchange currency for rubles on the ship, try to do it early in your cruise. I was at Guest Services for an unrelated issue the night before we arrived in Russia, and the ship had run out of rubles.

I was able to use Euros at several small souvenir shops, and a credit card at larger ones and at a restaurant. Be aware that if you pay in Euros, change may be given in rubles, so use the smallest bill or coin possible (unless you want rubles in change).

Yes and your limited to about 1,000 to take back out that is very small


However, in Real Russia, you can expect to pay the following:

• A loaf of Bread — 25 Roubles
• A trip on the metro — 28 Roubles
• A bottle of beer — 50 Roubles
• A bottle of Vodka — from 300 Roubles
• A short Taxi Journey — 120 Roubles in the regions
• A cafe snack — 200 Roubles in the regions
• A meal for two in a good Restaurant — 3,000 Roubles

xxxxxxx EUR GBP RUB USD
1 EUR = 1.000 0.709 61.250 1.117
1 GBP = 1.410 1.000 86.370 1.575
1 RUB = 0.016 0.012 1.000 0.018
1 USD = 0.895 0.635 54.845 1.000

 

[wickedpixie13]

If you're on a private tour, you could also ask your driver to take you to an ATM. We used an ATM a few years ago without problems, but we weren't on a Disney excursion or cruise.

 

[tufbuf]

It is very very cheap there, far cheaper than the USA. The amounts quoted previously were from a Agent in St Petersburg.

A matryoshka doll is expensive however, they all have different prices to the artwork and the size.

Can you give me a range please? We like matryoshka dolls and bought them in Croatia, Hungary and the Czech Republic, all made in Russia so we want to get one from Russia as well.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I googled it as its a while since we purchased ours in St Petersburg

Pay around 600-700rub for an average sized (12cm tall) doll with 10 pieces
pay 800-1000rub for a larger sized doll with 15 pieces
pay 150rub for a traditional 5 piece doll (about 11cm tall),

watch for the paint, should be smooth.

Two types hand painted, should be signed and factory made, check what your getting.

Tips

View the dolls in the port terminal duty free shop to get an idea of prices- get an idea of what they have and prices, There are so many its like asking what is the length of a piece of string, quality and if man made or machine made the size and how many dolls all have an affect, I know people have spent $100, $200 on them.

 

[HookedonMagic]

Can you give me a range please? We like matryoshka dolls and bought them in Croatia, Hungary and the Czech Republic, all made in Russia so we want to get one from Russia as well.

We used Euro in SPB. We saw dolls priced from 4€ for little 5pc souvenirs to well above 100€ for elaborate beautiful collector's dolls. Obviously, it depends on quality, size, number of dolls, etc. Prices at the Terminal shops were consistent with what we found throughout the city.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

We used Euro in SPB. We saw dolls priced from 4€ for little 5pc souvenirs to well above 100€ for elaborate beautiful collector's dolls. Obviously, it depends on quality, size, number of dolls, etc. Prices at the Terminal shops were consistent with what we found throughout the city.

Yes and that's my advice, use the cruise ship terminal duty free shop as a guide for the current prices and then shop around, you can always come back and buy it in the terminal before you leave and it is safe there.

 

[southerngirl528]

Oh man, I thought this thread title was, "St Petersburg and RUBIES Question"…..!!!!! Dang! I had all sorts of sparkly red gems dancing through my head…….

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Oh man, I thought this thread title was, "St Petersburg and RUBIES Question"…..!!!!! Dang! I had all sorts of sparkly red gems dancing through my head…….

As long as it was that and not Rabies.

 

[southerngirl528]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! True DAT, Disney Fantasy!!!!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]