Fast Visa and Hostel question

I think its ok. You just need the invitation to get a visa. It shouldn't matter where you stay as long as you have a valid visa.

Yes, fine. The visa doesn't need to be activated in any way, but you do need to be registered within 3 working days of entering Russia. I would check the cost of registering at the new hostel. It may be that the original hostel would have done it for free/less on the basis that you have paid for visa support from them, but I imagine that most hostels charge extra for registration anyway.

...reg costs at the Napoleon are a bit steep at 600R...they also attempt to impose this on you whether you need it or not...still a good hostel though...

There is no visa activation but you are required to register in each town in which you spend more than 2 nights not including weekends.

I am not positive that you will find it easy to register by staying at a different hostel. You really need to check with Napoleon Hostel as to whether they are willing and able to register you if you don't get your invitation from them. Some of the hostels are tightening up on registration and only registering those people who obtained invitations from them.

Registration costs the hostel about 120 rubles plus the time and effort on some staffer to go to the local post office and fill out the forms. I would ask them why they are charging more than 4 times the cost of the form. Even if you add in the cost of transportation to and from the PO, it should not be quite this much.

Ruth

I stayed at Home from Home hostel for a couple of days this summer. They were registering all and sundry who walked through the door. Even people who walked in just to get registration. And why not? They were charging 500 rubs a pop!

Good choice on changing the hostel - i've just spent 3 nights at the TSH and i'm not impressed. Sure you could do better.