Tours to Russia from Kostanay: prices

Cash rubles are prepared at home, cards from Kazakhstan do not work in Russia.

What to consider before a trip to Russia from Kazakhstan?

The trip begins with simple but mandatory things. Next we will look at what to put in the backpack and wallet before departure from Kostanay.

Money, cards and cash rubles

Rubles for a trip to Russia are better prepared in advance, while still in Kazakhstan. Cards from Kazakhstani banks Visa and Mastercard do not work in Russia, and exchanging tenge for rubles at local banks is reluctant and at an unfavorable rate. The practical way is to take dollars or withdraw rubles from a card at home, and on the spot exchange in small amounts as needed. In large cities, cash is useful for taxis, markets and small cafes where the terminal may not work. Part of the amount should be kept in small notes: large ones do not always have change. Russian apps Mir Pay and RuStore are installed separately, and the usual Google Play and Apple Pay are limited in the country, so the phone as a wallet will not back you up on holiday. When planning a trip, set aside cash for the first two days until you sort out the exchange.

Communications and apps on the spot

Communications and apps should be prepared before departure, otherwise the first hours in Russia will go to technical trifles. Russian cards and wallets such as Mir Pay are installed as a separate file, and the RuStore store is opened manually from the website. A Kazakhstani SIM in roaming works, but traffic becomes more expensive, so holidays in Russia are more convenient to start with a local SIM or a pre-purchased package. Offline maps of Sochi, Moscow and Saint Petersburg are downloaded at home: in the Caucasus mountains the signal disappears. Taxi and transport apps are also installed in advance, because payment with a card from Kazakhstan does not go through there. For the trip, two or three programs are enough, the rest is extra weight in the phone.

How to get to Russian cities from Kostanay?

The choice between plane and train decides how much time will go on the road.

Direct flights and flights with a connection

Tickets for summer and New Year dates are taken in advance, so holidays in Russia are planned months ahead.

Long-distance trains and ticket purchase deadlines

Long-distance trains sell tickets 90 days in advance, and to southern destinations in summer they are taken in the first days of sale. Platzkart and compartment to the south in July-August go faster than expensive seats, so the date of the start of sale is marked in the calendar. Tours to Russia with a train are chosen by those who do not want connections and are ready to spend time. For the return trip, tickets are taken immediately together with the outbound ones, otherwise only a side seat will remain.

When to go to the south and to the mountains

The season in the south of Russia lasts longer than it seems by the calendar. In the Caucasus mountains, altitude and wind decide everything, not the month.

Beach season at Black Sea resorts

The swimming season at the Black Sea resorts of Russia opens in June and lasts until October, but comfort depends on the month. In Sochi the water warms up earlier than in Anapa, but in August the beaches are crowded and hot. September gives a warm sea and mild weather, and holidays in Russia at this time are cheaper. In June the water is invigorating, but the beaches are freer and hotels are cheaper. Storms are more frequent in late autumn, then swimming is replaced by walks and excursions. For families with children, July and August are the smoothest, although prices in these months are maximum. Tours to the sea are taken with a margin in dates, because the weather at the coast is changeable.

Summer and winter in the Caucasus: weather and operation of ski lifts

In the Caucasus mountains in summer it is hot during the day, and at night the temperature drops to +5 °C, so the backpack needs both shorts and a jacket. In Dombay, Elbrus region and Arkhyz, the infrastructure of ski lifts and cable cars differs, and part of the slopes is closed in strong wind. In winter in the Elbrus region and Dombay they ski from December to April, and Arkhyz keeps snow until May. In summer the same cable cars carry tourists to observation decks and to trails. Morning in the mountains of Russia is usually clear, and by noon the weather worsens, so the ascent is planned earlier. Windy days occur even in the middle of the season, and then the ski lifts are stopped. Holidays in the mountains should be built with a spare day for bad weather.

What to see in cities and at resorts

The cities of Russia give museums and the metro, the mountains give slopes and ski lifts. The program depends on what you want from the trip.

Capitals: metro, museums and walks

In Moscow and St. Petersburg, the metro is the fastest way to get around, and rush-hour traffic jams are comparable to those in Almaty. In Moscow, it is worth going down into the metro for the stations themselves, and then walking through the museums and embankments. In St. Petersburg, summer brings white nights and festival season, so hotels are booked two to three months in advance. Kazan adds a kremlin and an embankment to this, and two days are enough for it. Tickets to popular museums in Russia are bought online, otherwise a queue will form at the ticket office. Between cities, it is convenient to travel by night train: you board in the evening and are already there in the morning. Tours of the capitals are conveniently built as a Moscow — St. Petersburg chain.

Sanatoriums, mountain slopes and equipment rental

In the Caucasian Mineral Waters, sanatoriums accept guests on treatment packages, not just for accommodation, and arrivals have fixed dates. Therefore, holidays in Russia with treatment are planned in advance, adjusting the dates to the arrival. In Dombay and Elbrus region, the slopes are of varying difficulty, while Arkhyz has more wide slopes for beginners. It is cheaper to book equipment rental online before departure; on site, the choice is smaller and more expensive. Even experienced skiers take a helmet and protection: the slope in Russia can be hard after a night frost. An instructor for the first day saves strength and nerves, especially at an unfamiliar resort. Ski tours are more worthwhile for a week; short trips barely cover the travel costs.

How to prepare for a holiday

Preparation decides whether the trip will be calm or hectic. Let's gather the everyday little things that are most often forgotten at home.

Apps, communications and payment on site

Taxis in large Russian cities are ordered through apps, but payment with a Kazakhstan card does not go through there; cash is needed. In Russia, tips in cafes are usually left at 5–10% of the bill if they are not included in the receipt. Communications are maintained through a local SIM card or a roaming package, and maps of Sochi, Moscow and Kazan are downloaded offline. Apps for ski lifts and schedules will come in handy in the mountains, where the signal is unstable. Holidays in Russia are calmer when the phone has both a map and a reserve of cash. Start tours by checking that your wallet and phone are ready for local rules.

Packing: clothes for the mountains and the sea

Clothes are packed for the route, not for the average temperature across the country. At the sea, a swimsuit, light clothing and one warm sweater for the evening are enough. In the mountains of the Caucasus, a jacket, hat and sneakers with grippy tread are added to shorts. A raincoat takes up little space but saves you in the mountains and on the coast. Sunscreen is needed both on the beach and at altitude, where ultraviolet is harsher. Take your own first-aid kit with painkillers and plasters: treatment for an injury on the slope is paid. Holidays in the mountains require warm socks even in summer.

Briefly

• Tours to Russia from Kostanay are planned in advance, especially for summer and New Year dates.
• Cash rubles are brought along: Kazakhstan cards do not work in Russia.
• Trains sell tickets 90 days in advance; southern destinations sell out quickly.
• The beach season on the Black Sea coast runs from June to October.