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Bookmark & shareWhile you will always need a couple of day's cash on hand, credit cards are becoming more accepted in Moscow and St Petersburg, anywhere else is a gamble. ATMs (bankomat), linked to international networks such as AmEx, Cirrus, Eurocard, MasterCard and Visa, can now be found everywhere in Moscow and St Petersburg; they're common in big cities and towns, and sometimes in smaller towns too, but should never be relied upon in the latter. Using a credit card or the card you use in ATMs at home, you can obtain cash as you need it - usually in roubles, but sometimes in dollars, too.
- Name
- Russian Ruble
- Symbol
- Rbl
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Changing Your Money
It's best to take your money as many ways as you can. Clean, new US dollars cash are easiest to change; it's possible to change travellers cheques (most easily in Moscow and St Petersburg), but it can be a headache. You should also be able to get a cash advance on your credit card in the big cities, but it will be difficult elsewhere. Exchange bureaus and banks will always give better exchange rates. Every town in Russia has a Western Union agent.
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Tipping
Tipping is standard in the better restaurants (count on leaving 10%); elsewhere 5% to 10% of the total is fine. Tipping your guide is an accepted practise. Generally the equivalent of a few dollars a day would be a good tip. Small gifts, such as a bottle of skin cream, a box of chocolates, or a cassette or CD are appropriate if the service has been great.
Currency
Average Room Prices |
|||
| Low | Mid | High | Deluxe |
| Rbl800-1600 | Rbl1600-5000 | Rbl5000-8000 | Rbl8000+ |
Average Meal Prices |
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| Low | Mid | High | Deluxe |
| Rbl200-550 | Rbl550-850 | Rbl850-2000 | Rbl2000+ |
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