Where can I get roubles?

DMC · Post by **DMC** » Fri May 15, 2009 5:18 pm

I'm off to Russia for a quick visit next week. Can I get roubles at Helsinki airport? Or should I wait and change money when I get there?

**Sponsor:**

EP · Post by EP » Fri May 15, 2009 5:52 pm

From any bank or Forex.

Oombongo · Post by **Oombongo** » Fri May 15, 2009 6:51 pm

I usually change my currency at forex

Kai · Post by **Kai** » Fri May 15, 2009 7:52 pm

The best place is !!!SPAM WORD!!!. you will save enough to pay for the whole holiday,

EP · Post by EP » Fri May 15, 2009 8:02 pm

Since when has F-O-R-E-X been a spam word?

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Fri May 15, 2009 9:32 pm

Since its been used as a day trader system name (as opposed to the yellow money change booths)

Mook · Post by **Mook** » Sat May 16, 2009 1:02 pm

It's funny, but I was sure that you could only get hold of Roubles in Russia.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Sat May 16, 2009 4:12 pm

Back in the "good old days" they indeed were a non-exportable currency.

DMC · Post by **DMC** » Sat May 16, 2009 8:48 pm

Pursuivant wrote:Back in the "good old days" they indeed were a non-exportable currency.

Last time I went (20 years +) roubles were not exportable. I checked the net before posting and found that roubles are available in the UK but only by prior arrangement as they are not a currency by the money changers or banks. I didn't find anything about the situation in Finland. Good to know roubles are available here as it will be 6am when we arrive; not the best time of day to find an open bank. Thanks to all for the information.

DMC · Post by **DMC** » Sun May 17, 2009 3:26 pm

I am just going for a 2-day working visit so I don't need to convert my life savings.

chickensexer · Post by **chickensexer** » Sun May 17, 2009 9:31 pm

They have a thing in Russia, called ATM. It's a box that gives you roubles after you stick your bank/credit card into it. In Moscow airport there's one of those ATM things right before the exit to the arrival hall, on the left. In other places there are ATMs, too. Just remember that AmEx is close to useless there, other major cards are fine.

Mook · Post by **Mook** » Sun May 17, 2009 9:58 pm

except that it's Russia, so you might be a little concerned about getting your card skimmed.

chickensexer · Post by **chickensexer** » Sun May 17, 2009 10:23 pm

Mook wrote:except that it's Russia, so you might be a little concerned about getting your card skimmed.

Suuuure. Most probably, by bears who drink vodka and then dance on the Red Square with Matryoshkas, who are actually KGB agents in disguise... And yeah, while you are still here - don't leave Kehä III limits if you don't want to be eaten by carnivorous moose.

Mook · Post by **Mook** » Sun May 17, 2009 11:37 pm

chickensexer wrote:don't leave Kehä III limits if you don't want to be eaten by carnivorous moose.

Perhaps you're not terribly observant, but I happen to come from somewhere outside ring III...

anyhow... my brother's card has been skimmed in both England and Malasia and I hear that the (Russian) gangs were modding the ATMs here to skim. So tell me, how the @#$% can you tell if an ATM is genuine in Russia or not? I mean, it's not as if you can even read what's written on the @#$%?

chickensexer · Post by **chickensexer** » Tue May 26, 2009 6:25 pm

Why wouldn't your brother be able to read big ol "ENGLISH" out of first screen popping up when you stick in your card? And how big is a probability of gangs "modding" an ATM INSIDE the official airport arrival zone? Or in a bank? Or in a foreign-tourist-safe-heaven fancy hotel?

I've been to Russia quite a few times, not my favourite place by any count but never had my card skimmed there. And on opposite, I know people with their cards abused over interet, and it traced to Latvia, loyal EU pet and all that. My own card had been "skimmed" in the States. So, you never know...

Now, I'm not saying Russia is a safety paradise in any way but at some points that paranoid mythology about it does start looking just as stupid as carnivorous moose outside Keha III.

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