Planning to go to Moscow: dangerous place?
 

I was planning a vacation in Moscow in September. But after reading the travel guide book "Rough Guide to Moscow" I am not so sure. The guide paints a rather pessimistic picture of Moscow:

* Most expensive city in the world, after Tokyo (suprising!)
* Gangs of street kids waiting to mug tourists at the station
* Have to bribe a friendly hotel porter to watch your hotel room doesn't get robbed when you are out.
* Public transport from the airport is at best chaotic; taxi services are mafia-run scam artists
* Tourists are charged ten times what a local person is, for the same product/service
* AIDS epidemic nearly as bad as that in Africa
* Much mentions of mafia
etc...

I'm sure this paints a pretty bleak picture. Any comments from people who have visited Moscow -- and survived to tell the tale?

I don't know if he reads this alot, but Igor from Jizzhut has been there a few times I believe.

Just dont start any problems and you will be alright just like any other big city.

i am told id be safe beyond belief if i ever go over..of course id be going with people who live there


not moscow though..i imagine as long as you dont have a sign that screams american..you will be fine

What does that same book say about NYC, or some other city that you may have visited. I mean it could be accurate, or it could be blowing shit out of proportion.

I mean if it says something similar about NYC then certainly its all a bunch of B.S., gotta take things with a grain of salt.

Better leave the airhorn and foam cowboy hat at home then?

well shit, what kind of tourist book IS that? I mean it is titled "Rough Guide to Moscow" - I wouldnt expect it to list anything good

for the average American with a loud, goofy voice, obnoxious laugh, bouncy clown walk, stupid clothes and a general presence that screams "Fuck me please, i am the perfect victem because i am the ultimate clueless idiot" - i would say its very dangerous and i have lived there and am fluent in Russian.

Face, its like any other city you would visit in the world, if you gave me 30 minutes, I would have Moscow sounding like paradise if I had to spell out everything evil about Chicago.

If you have a local contact in Moscow, call them and have them show you the city, they will watch your back like you would for them when visiting your hometown.

Just don't dress and act like a tourist, and people won't go out of their way to try and scam every last dollar you have in your money belt. :thumbsup

Exploring any exUSSR city all by yourself can be dangerous of no doubts. But if you have a guide from locals that you can trust to you will be fine most likelly. Though Moskow really IS expensive.

a 2 hr transit stop at that shereneve-whatsit airport was depressing enough for me...

Russia is pretty much run by the Mafia. :2 cents:

Well every big city has it's own crime. So has NY, Amsterdam etc.

And when you list them in a row, it always looks dangerous :)

My partner has recently visited Moscow, and he told me it was GORGEOUS. So much nice things to see. And the food and service is amazing...

And as far as robbing rooms. I thought he stayed here
http://www.kempinskimoscow.com/en/index.php No robbing at all:)

A lot of famous singers and political people stay there as well...So I think you are pretty safe there:)

BTW look at the view of the rooms

http://www.sexforsure.com/master/master11.php?id=601370 (we shot this in our room of the hotel)

Andre

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Wow, looks like the place is very dangerous.. I wouldn't go ! :2 cents:

there is not even an airport with such name...

Moscow is expensive compared to the rest of russian but like any other big city here... don't pay in us dollars... Also don't take taxi right away after u get of the plane.... They gonna charge u 10 times more... Don't dress like u wipe ur ass with 100 dollar bills u will be asking for trouble...
If u have somebody local there then u are in safe hands...

What the book said is very overrated... same chance that simular thing will happen in any other big city...

:helpme

ok, it starts with "shere". as for the "whatsit" part...have you not heard of that expression, or do you live a little too far north in canada? ;)

I used to work for ben & jerry's and I remember they tried to start up there after the fall of communism and they got fucked hard by the russian mob! Funny shit.

I hate Moscow. So big city.