I kept it tight-around 120-150 RON/day. That covered a dorm bed, street food like mici or covrigi, and train travel between towns. Public transport in...

That’s Dynamic Currency Conversion. Basically, the ATM wants to convert the money for you using their trash exchange rate instead of your bank’s. Alwa...

Outside the major cities, cash is king. In Sochi, I flagged down a cab and the driver literally laughed when I showed my card. He pointed to a tiny st...

In Moscow, I used the Troika card for metro and buses-super convenient. Paid cash at the machine to load it. Some stations have card options, but fore...

The hostel I stayed at near Kurskaya in Moscow only took cash-even though their site said card accepted. Guy at the front desk apologized and pointed ...

Honestly? It’s hit or miss now. My US card worked at Sberbank ATMs in Moscow, but only after trying three others. Got 100,000 RUB max per transaction....

Amex is basically a brick in Russia right now. Couldn’t use it at stores, hotels, or ATMs in Moscow or Kazan. Even some Mastercard terminals didn't wo...

Yeah, that’s been a problem since sanctions. Western cards (especially Visa or Mastercard issued outside Russia) often don’t work anymore. My US Visa ...

Don’t bother with the airport counters unless you’re desperate. Rates at Sheremetyevo were brutal. I changed just enough for the Aeroexpress train, th...