Now, that you know the total cost of marrying a Russian lady (previous post), it will pay to do a little homework. Let’s look for the ways you can have a good time in Moscow with your Russian bride without breaking the bank.
I am sure a trip like this does not need to be extremely expensive. You can have just as good a holiday spending $5,000 as you would spending $10,000.
The rule is simple: “Stay where the Russians stay, eat where the locals eat”. At the same time, mind another rule: “There are ways to minimize expenses, but there is no way to do this “cheap”. The life of your pretty Russian lady has a lot of “cheap” sides, so make a small holiday out of your visit, like taking her to the Bolshoi etc.
Below are top 5 tips on how to save money in Moscow.
Hotels.
If you want your every whim attended to, then by all means spend away down at the “foreigner” hotels. But, if you feel no need to impress with your western cash, then Moscow can be a very reasonable city to stay in.
Reasonable hotels can be had for $40 for a single, $50 – $60 for a double. There are dozens of these old Soviet era clean and comfortable hotels outside the city center. This is where the Russian businessmen stay as opposed to the other hotels that are set up to fleece foreigners with $200 – $300 rooms.
Smaller hotels usually will not have room service but they do have a TV, good security and a restaurant with $10 – $15 meals. These places usually come with a free breakfast.
Dining.
~Moscow has very cheap dining. Sounds suspicious? The secret is that the dining is cheap once you get outside the city center area. A good meal can be had for $10 a person. And I mean a good meal in a very nice little cafe. Add another $5 – $7 if you want a bottle of Georgian red wine with your dinner.
I am not saying you should be a cheapskate! Take your girl out to some fine dining. But, why not eat most meals in modest restaurants like you would usually frequent at home?
~If you have an apartment, buy your food and prepare meals there: much more romantic. Don’t do it always, only sometimes.
~Make new friends and get invited to dinner.
Transport.
Taxis are safe, but extremely expensive. If you use a taxi definitely get a price first. Don’t talk to the driver in order not to show you are a foreigner. Let your Russian lady do it, she can ask for a good price.
The Metro is much faster than taking a taxi since the streets are generally gridlocked for most of the day and evening. And yes, the Metro is safe and clean. Stepping into the Metro will get you to your destination in less than half the time for the very low price.
Public transport (busses, minibuses, trams, trolley buses, Metro) is generally very cheap, including a highly developed net of suburban trains which will bring you to any destination, any day a week from 6a.m. to 12p.m.
Walking doesn’t cost anything and again can be very romantic depending on the scenery.
Gifts.
Again, buy gifts from small local shops.
Meet her in her city.
Unless your girl lives in Moscow, why meet there anyway? If your girl lives in Rostov why not meet her there? You’re going to get a much better sense of her surrounded by her family and friends, eating a meal in her flat, allowing her to show you around her city, than you will in Moscow where you’re both strangers.
If you are successful in your search for a Russian wife, spend your money wisely and give this woman what she needs and deserves. Again, there are ways to minimize expenses, but there is no way to do this “cheap”.
Do you agree? Disagree? Please leave a comment.
Tags: About Ru Women by tamione
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