I'm traveling to Moscow in June. I have a US passport and my friend has an Irish/EU passport. We both need tourist visas. They cost £115 each from the Russian Embassy, but, I think I remember reading that when you book a hostel or hotel, they will arrange the tourist visa for you? Is this accurate? Can anyone give me some advice on the best steps to take?

Hotels/hostels do not issue visas, they can provide the Letter of Invitation necessary to acquire a visa. They can also take care of your Russian registration when you get there.

I have one tiny bit of advice: Do not purchase airline tickets until your Russian visa is safely in hand.[b][/b] One may only apply for a Russian visa a maximum of 90 days in advance of arrival. One may only apply for a Russian visa in one's home country.

If you will be traveling to Moscow in June you cannot submit the visa application before March. Russian embassies and consulates all operate as little fiefdoms, they make their own rules to suit themselves in each entity. You never know what will happen or what kind of visa dates they will issue, it's all a matter of whimsy.

Many people who don't wish to jack with the Russian embassy/consulate madness choose to go through a visa agency. It costs a little more but is often worth the expense.

Wait...I live in London, but I am a US citizen. Do I have to fly to the US to get a Russian visa? I can't get one from the consulate in London? Same with my friend who is traveling with me. She's an Irish citizen. Does she have to go to Ireland?

According to my understanding of the current Russian visa rules, one may apply for a visa in one's own country OR in a country where the applicant has the right to reside for more than 90 days.

Whatever document you have that allows you to live in the UK is a document that will need to be shown in order to apply for a Russian visa in England.

I don't know about your Irish friend. Ireland may slide by as part of the UK.

Just FYI, British expats living in Russia like to avoid the London Russian embassy on visa runs whenever possible as it has a terrible reputation for having the absolute worst service and most hassles. Some of them use the embassy in Edinburgh as a more palatable alternative.

Again, you may want to consider a visa service. Check back and let us know how it all goes.