You should know that the immigration form that was given to you upon arrival in Russia has to go with your passport. You should have it stamped at the hotel so that your registration will be complete. You also need to have it stamped again if you change hotels and when you go to other cities in Russia. The form will be checked at the airport on your departure and also by law enforcement officials while you are in the city.

As a general rule, you should check travel advisories given out by your embassy. You can check them in newspapers and your embassy’s website. You should also check visa requirements and the types of vaccinations and inoculations you need before you travel to Russia. One of the travel necessities that you should not forget is taking out a medical insurance that will take effect as soon as you leave for your trip to Russia until you come back to your home country. Keep in mind that although Russia is getting modernized, its medical facilities are not yet in the same level as those that you are used to in your home country. Be sure all your vaccinations are up to date, especially for Hepatitis A and B, tetanus and tick borneencephalitis. The latter is necessary if you are planning to hike outside of the city limits. Communication may also be a problem, as regular Russian hospitals may not have staff that will be able to speak in English. Although Western-style medical faculties are available in Russia it may be difficult to locate them in case of emergency, so be sure that you are in the best of health before you travel to Russia and also make sure that you take all your medications with you.

While it is advisable to carry only a copy of your travel documents with you as you travel around a foreign city and leaving the original copies in the hotel safe, it is best to carry your passport/visa, other travel documents and identification cards with you as you explore the busy cities in Russia. The local police prefer to look at original documents and might charge you a fine if you show them photocopies. However, to avoid losing your original travel documents, be sure to keep a set of copies of them in your luggage, and with the hotel. Likewise, store the original documents in different locations, in your bag, hidden wallets and purses.

One of the things you should avoid is getting into an altercation with drunks and even with people who are not drunk. Discrimination in Russia is still high. While the mentality is changing, it is proceeding at a very slow pace, so it is best to not draw too much attention to yourself as some Russians still display discrimination towards foreigners, Asians, Blacks, Jews, women, homosexuals, persons with disabilities. Be polite all the time and it will better if you travel with a group rather than go exploring on your own. It does not happen frequently in the larger cities of Russia such as Moscow and St. Petersburg but it does occur.

Before you venture out of the hotel, get a copy of the city map and have the concierge point out places that you should definitely avoid and places that are safe to go to even if you are alone.

While credit cards are accepted in the big cities of Russia, the most accepted cards are those issued by Visa and MasterCard. It is better to use cash when you travel to Russia. Traveler’s checks are all right but you may find it hard to exchange them for cash. Debit cards do not work well in Russia. However, it will be best to carry only what you will need for the day just to be on the safe side. ATM machines are widely available especially in the metropolitan areas of St. Petersburg and Moscow. Go to a reliable and authorized money exchanger to have your US dollars or whatever currency you are using to rubles. One thing to keep in mind – make sure that your currency bills are crisp, new, current issue, without folds and tears or you may encounter difficulties in exchanging them to the local currency even from banks.

It always pays to heed warnings and safety tips when traveling to other countries. While in some countries drinking water from the tap is fine, this is not the case when you go to Russia. Even for the big cities like St. Petersburg, it is not advisable to drink tap water, as the water pipes in the city are as old as the city. You can use tap water for your bath but buy bottled water for drinking and brushing your teeth.

Be very careful when crossing the streets while in Russia because for them cars have the right of way and they can become aggressive and accost you when you take a wrong step while crossing the road or even while walking along the sidewalk, which some impatient drivers may use as a road if they are held up by traffic buildups.

If you like to wear a watch while exploring, make sure that it is something inexpensive so as not to attract the eyes of snatchers. Otherwise it will be best not to wear any jewelry at all. Leave all valuables in the hotel safe. Likewise keep you money on different parts of your person and only have your spending money stored in your easy-to-access wallet or inside your pockets.

Always be aware that you are in a foreign land and that the public security standards in your own country do not apply to other countries. In Russia, hazards on the sidewalk may be unmarked; there may not be barriers on heavy machineries operating in the middle of the road and construction scaffoldings are quite flimsy so be very aware of your surroundings while touring the city and the rest of the country.

It is best that you wear soft rubber soled shoes when touring Russia. These types of shoes will provide better traction on wet roads and slippery sidewalks and over icy patches. Leather soled shoes are not advisable to wear while exploring. Reserve them for indoor functions.

Russia is known for its vodka, however, not all Russian vodka are the same or even the genuine article. Bootleg Russian vodkas have been known to cause death as some of them use sawdust, medicinal disinfectant and shoe polish as ingredients. Make sure that the vodka you drink is from a legitimate store and is properly labeled.

As always, avoid traveling at night and keep to main sidewalks, avoid Gypsy cabs and be very alert and aware of your surroundings at all times, especially at the Gostiny Dvor Metro Station in St. Petersburg that is known to have a number of petty thieves.

These are just some of the Russia travel safety tips that can help you while visiting Russia. With some common sense and an understanding of these travel safety tips, you can have a more wonderful time touring Russia. Remaining safe is your priority while in a foreign country and with these Russia travel safety tips to keep in mind, you can enjoy your stay in Russia as pleasant and as enjoyable as you want it to be. This and the other sections of our Travel Guide Russia have been written for your convenience as a handy reference while you tour Russian’s beautiful cities.