BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi,

Two completely different questions, usually I can sort stuff out with Google but these two are giving me a headache. If you can help, cheers!

1. What's the best / cheapest way to obtain a visa for India as part of a RTW trip. I'll be in India around Feb 09 (I have the exact dates, just not on me now). There seem to be so many sites offering to get visas it's just confusing, it seems they've outsourced it but I'm not sure whether to skip all that and just go to the consulate here since I'm not leaving for a month and a half yet.

2. Apparently for Russian visas they want to know where I'll be every single night of my trip there, nice eh? So no couch surfing in russia.... who can recommend a good hostel in central Moscow? I've seen a few online but to me it all seems like their reviews are typed by the owners of the places hah!

Thanks a lot,

Sam

1. Where will you be before heading to India? I did my Indian visa in Islamabad, Pakistan. Probably one of the more expensive places to get it at around 50 bucks. The process was a hassle but at the same time an experience in itself. I'm sure you can get the Indian visa wherever you'll be before heading to India. No need to book it ahead and pay yet another person who wants to make money from it.

2. This is the complete opposite situation. Yes, technically, you're supposed to have hotels/hostels booked for Russia. Technically. But practically nobody really cares all that much. I would recommend to get the services of a an agent to get you your Russian visa. They'll sort everything out (LOI, visa, sponsorship if you want a business visa, etc.). It's a bit pricey - but, in my opinion, it's worth it for Russia.
I got a 3 months Business Visa through an agent. That included an invitation and sponsorship from a company I had never heard of. After that, I just flew to St. Petersburg and that's it. I spent three months there without a single reservation.
The only thing to remember is, technically, after 3 days in one place, you (or your hotel) has to register your visa with OVIR. People say it's no big deal - but I still avoided it by not staying longer than three days in one place.
As for a hostel in Moscow - look up the LP. There's a YH a 20 minute train ride from the circle line. It's decent enough and by far the cheapest place you'll find in Moscow. Also, book ahead! (I usually don't reserved hostels ahead - but for Moscow I'd recommend it.)

If you have more questions, shoot (or PM me).
a.

Awesome reply, thanks so much that was really helpful!!

I'm going to go check out these things, I'll let you know how I got on.

Thanks again!
Sam

Right, the next problem is that there doesn't seem to be a way for me to sort the visa 90 days before I need to use it (and this applies to China too).

I want to get it done now but because I won't actually get there till December I can't do anything about it at the moment, do you think there's a way around this? I just tried to phone the Russian Embassy in London but after a brief play of some comedy Borat style music someone picked up the line and then hung up.... niiiice! :P

In Oct-Nov when I should be applying I will be in Europe somewhere... the company I'm booking with says I'll have to come back to the UK for a few weeks but that's absolute rubbish, there's no way that can be the only way around it - people must go to Russia as part of long trips all the time and they don't have to fly back home just to sort out their visa.

That's right, I remember the three months rule. But it's not really a big deal. I think I received the passport back within two weeks - for the business via, I think the tourist visa is faster.
It is pretty difficult to get a Russia visa outside your country of residency. Like I said, the best way is to go through an agent, they'll be able to do things you won't.
Can you give me a quick run-down of your itinerary so that I can tell you what I'd do when and where?

Roughly:

September - November: France, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Romania, Poland, Finland.... very roughly, in that order, no dates set.

December 1-20th: Egypt / Jordan

Dec 23-Jan 8ish: Russia

Then China, Nepal, Delhi, South America etc etc etc till the money runs out!!

Edit: I can come back to the UK after Finland... but to be honest I'd rather not.... coming back home in the middle of your round the world trip? That just spoils it!!

Frankly, the easiest thing for you to do is work your plans around.

Get your Russian visa at home, fly to Russia. Then you can work your way back through Finland, Europe to Egypt. Probably better not to be in Russia in winter anyhow.

Then fly to Hong Kong - you should be able to get a Chinese visa quite easily there.

Yeah I think that's what it's going to have to be - I was all pysched to leave in just over a month as well! Damn it!!

You should still be able to leave in a month. Companies like this one will help you out. Have a look around who offers the service and see if you can find out how reliable they are. Once you found a suitable company, you'll be fine.

In Moscow, if you want to stay in the centre then go for Hostel Moscow 1905. Godzilla's is still under construction and seemed pretty disorganised...

Thanks Chris, sorry I've been away.

I ended up putting Europe to the end of my trip and Russia will be the second place I visit so I'm at home now and I can get the visa hopefully in a couple of weeks (as it'll then be within three months).

Just to clarify (since I've read a number of different sites saying different things).

I want to stay three nights in Moscow, three in St. Petersburgh, two overnight trains (moscow - st. petersburgh and back) and the rest of my trip will be on the transiberian.

Do I need an invitation from hostels in moscow and st. petersburgh and one from my trans siberian company? What about the nights where I'll be on a train overnight?

I looked at the company you linked elAdi, I'm probably going to give them a ring. I assume what you meant is they can just bypass all that and give me one generic invitation?