Thread: Help and advice wanted for travelling to Russia

Hi. I`m a British guy who is planning to visit Togliatty. Is it really such a dangerous city? I read that many journalists have been shot by gangsters there but i am not intending to mess with the mob I would appreciate any safety tips for travelling to Russia. I have read that violent crime and gangs is a problem for foreigners. But that could be said for most countries. To be honest i am a bit afraid of Russia and would appreciate some useful advice. Thank you very much.

Best wishes,

Adrian

Originally Posted by Englishguy

Hi. I`m a British guy who is planning to visit Togliatty. Is it really such a dangerous city? I read that many journalists have been shot by gangsters there but i am not intending to mess with the mob I would appreciate any safety tips for travelling to Russia. I have read that violent crime and gangs is a problem for foreigners. But that could be said for most countries. To be honest i am a bit afraid of Russia and would appreciate some useful advice. Thank you very much.

Best wishes,

Adrian

The mob is interested only in people with large sums of money. And their 'business' is usually connected with the VAZ factory. I doubt you're planning to buy a Lada so just try to avoid to demonstrate the contents of your wallet (in bars or somewhere else in public). Just pay attention to those things every experienced tourist should be aware of in a foreign town.

I actually recently made a topic about this matter - TATY (who lived in Russia for a year) advised that it's best to just go and not worry too much about what you've heard from peoples' past experiences.

I've never been myself, but if you use your common sense and try your best to make yourself not look like too much of a (rich) foreigner, you shouldn't have that much trouble.

Don't read the horror stories.
I'd say of the 50 or so British students I know of who lived in Russia last year, none of us were robbed and two (non-white students) got beaten up by skinheads in Moscow. So basically, if you're white, don't worry.

I went and just made sure that I stayed with my girlfriend when we went out....

I don't wear jewelery anyway but I took off my watch and only carried the minimum amount of money I could get by on. I also never wore any branded clothing or anything that would advertise the fact that I was a Westerner. As a result, I had a lovely time and thought it was a beautiful country. I plan to go back later in the year if all goes well?

My advice would to be that you go and just use your common sense!

Mark

In fact I live in Bristol and it can be just as, or more, dangerous here after dark!

Originally Posted by Englishguy

Hi. I`m a British guy who is planning to visit Togliatty. Is it really such a dangerous city? I read that many journalists have been shot by gangsters there but i am not intending to mess with the mob I would appreciate any safety tips for travelling to Russia. I have read that violent crime and gangs is a problem for foreigners. But that could be said for most countries. To be honest i am a bit afraid of Russia and would appreciate some useful advice. Thank you very much.

Best wishes,

Adrian

Englishguy, this is really funny. The most known "heroes" of the Togliatty gangster wars of 1990's are now in *your* country. Even more: judging by some late events, they are doing there exactly the same they did in Russia 10 years ago.

So, why are you so worred going to Togliatty? Now it's much safer for you, than just staying at home.

Originally Posted by Scorpio

Englishguy, this is really funny. The most known "heroes" of the Togliatty gangster wars of 1990's are now in *your* country.

there are plenty of rich russians to rob too. use your common sense, dont give you wallet to hookers and dont let the militsiya catch you pis$ing on anything and all will be fine