Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bacasper]

Anyone got one?

Also, any decent recommendations for hotels in Moscow and St. Pete? It seems like anything much under $200/night is garbage. Must I really spend a total of $3000 to spend 7-10 days there?

[soviet_man]

When in Москва́ soviet_man reccomends:

http://www.godzillashostel.com/
$60 US for private room or $25 for a dorm.

Hotels: forget them. $200US a night is the minimum and it is no good value!

[bacasper]

That sounds great, thanks!

Now, you got something to go with that in St. Petersburg?

And what about the train Moscow - St. Pete? How is First Class compared to Second?

[soviet_man]

On Russian trains:
1st class usually has 2 beds per compartment.
2nd class usually has 4 beds per compartment.
3rd class usually is everyone's beds out in the open (no compartments).

Prices Moscow-St Petersberg will vary, but anywhere between $40-100 US depending on which class. 2nd class if fine for most people.

St Petersberg, I would try budget hotel, such as Engecon Hotel with a public bathroom. Maybe around 2000 roubles (US $80). It is little bit cheaper than Москва́, but not much.

[Pligganease]

If you want a Lonely Planet and can't find one anywhere else on the cheap, check What the Book...

www.whatthebook.com

[RufusW]

Moscow's the most expensive city in the world isn't it?

[bucheon bum]

and why is that? I just read an article yesterday about two dudes who traveled from Vladivostok to Moscow overland, and they said Russia was the most expensive country they had ever been to. I mean I realize there is some serious money in the country, but not like the majority of the country is loaded.

[soviet_man]

During the past 10 years, the GDP of Russia has skyrocketed.

Wages for the average worker went from about $100US per month in 2000, to about $600US per month now in 2008.

At the same time, Russia's industry and agriculture was left to stagnate.

So as Russian middle-class purchasing power increases (but not the supply of production or distribution), so has costs for everyone across the board.

There is also a very high level of corruption and organised crime at every level of society, which keeps prices high.

But more generally, Russia is not well set-up for tourism outside of a handful of places like Moscow, St Petersberg and Sochi. In Moscow, few hotels have been built since Soviet times and many old ones have been knocked down.

[bucheon bum]

Yeah, that's what I gathered: it was due to corruption and the fact that there is a LOT of wealth concentrated there in Russia.

The article I was referring to