Send Money Online To Russia Before You Visit To Make Your Vacation More Relaxing

Russians use the ruble, which is equal to $.031676 USD

. Be sure to check this number closer to your trip, as it changes often. Whether you are visiting Moscow, St. Petersburg, or Siberia, you will find several places that will convert your American money to Russian rubles. This includes hotels, stores, and airports, such as Sheremetevo, Domodedovo, and Vnukovo airports in Moscow, and Pulkovo 1 and 2 airports in St. Petersburg, to name a few.

Remember that Russian stores and shops do not accept US dollars, and to get it changed to rubles, you will need your passport. Exchanging money on the street is not advised, but Russia does offer many banks and official areas where it is safe and inexpensive to do so. Also, be aware that the ATMs in Russia accept Cirrus or PLUS cards, as well as American Express, Visa, and MasterCard. Expect to be charged 1 to 4% just for the convenience of using it. However, it often beats taking in a lot of cash and having to pay to exchange it. Any bills you do bring should be at least $20, and be in very good condition, as many Russian banks will not accept bent and ripped bills for exchange.

One of the most traditional ways to transfer money is through a bank. You can use your local bank to perform a wire transfer to banks that exist in Russia, such as Alfa Bank or Moscow International Bank. HSBC charges $30 for customers to send money online to Russia within 3 to 5 days to another branch, and $45 to send it to a completely different bank. Clearly, this method could get expensive if you need to transfer more than once during your trip.

If you want access to money the second you get to Russia but do not want to buy rubles before you leave, as you will have to declare it at the border, there is an alternative that is cheaper than transferring through a bank. You can send a prepaid debit card to your home in the U.S. and take it to Russia. Anytime you have access to the Internet or a phone, you can transfer funds to the card from your bank account. It works in Russia like it does in the U.S. Larger Russian cities have plenty of ATMs and shops that accept cards, so this is a cheap option considering that it only costs $5 each time you make a transfer, no matter the amount.

You also have the option of using a company as an agent to send money and pick it up once you get to Russia. You could go to the company while in the U.S., pay a small fee, and have money sent to a location within 5 days. As long as you are at that location in Russia within that time, usually at the company's Russian branch, bank, or store, you can pick up the money. However, you will likely have to pay another fee to pick it up, and though it typically isn't much, this can certainly add up. It might still be better than declaring all your money at the border, though.

Your choice will depend on your timeframe and budget. If you do not like using debit cards in the U.S., you will likely opt for something other than a prepaid debit card. If you do not trust most banks, especially those that you are not familiar with, transferring money through a bank might be unappealing to you. Finally, if you prefer to rely on technology over a company as an agent, you will likely opt for the alternatives that let you use the phone or Internet to send money.

by: Peter Frampton

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