Getting Russian roubles

[Isochronous]

Wanting to get some roubles in cash before travelling to Moscow as back up to the 28 Degrees card. Just checked the www.americanexpress.com.au/fx4you website and it seems Amex in Australia don't offer Roubles. Nor do my usual forex people at Everforex. Is it really that hard to get Roubles in Australia? Would I have better luck withdrawing HKD from a 28 Degrees card in Hong Kong when I stop over and doing an exchange there?

 

[Doug_Westcott]

I would think you would be better to take US Dollars or Euros and exchange for Roubles when you get there.

 

[Katie]

Last year, I just used an ATM at the airport when I arrived (Domodedovo). That was fine.

 

[NM]

I expect Russian Roubles, like some other former Soviet country's currencies, is a closed currency, which is supposed to restrict trade outside the country. So its likely that the official currency traders will not supply it.

As suggested above, take US$ and you will be able to exchange it easily at many places. This is what I have always done when visiting Ukraine, where the local currency is not supposed to be taken out of the country.

 

[drron]

Most places did not exchange $A when we were there so $US is preferable.The airport rate was much lower than town,the departure terminal bank had a better rate than the one in the arrivals hall.
In the city our hote(the National opposite the Kremlin)gave just as good a rate as any bank or currency exchange.

 

[bigjobs]

it's a closed currency as mentioned. take US dollars and they will be accepted.

 

[Isochronous]

Thanks for the advice, that makes sense. Is A$ accepted in Beijing or would I need USD there too?

 

[Wezza]

I assume Mastercard debit cards will work through Russian ATM's? I arrive in Moscow on April 14.

 

[Katie]

Wezza, I used a Visa or Mastercard debit card no worries in the ATMs I used. If you have a chip card, you will need the pin. I had big hassles in the food store in GUM when I tried to use my Visa chip card that I don't have a pin for. Their machines just can't handle it.

 

[Cynicor]

If you or a friend are travelling through Singapore prior to the trip, Mustafa FX do roubles, and a tonne of other currencies. You may need to go at 1100, or close to it, as this is when they stock up on cash from memory. Go too early or too late and they may be sold out from the day before/already.

 

[Wezza]

Wezza, I used a Visa or Mastercard debit card no worries in the ATMs I used. If you have a chip card, you will need the pin. I had big hassles in the food store in GUM when I tried to use my Visa chip card that I don't have a pin for. Their machines just can't handle it.

Ah thanks for that! Yeah I have the pins for both my debit & credit cards.

 

[k_sheep]

Hmm topical, I'm off to Russia on the trans siberian in May. Will have to acquire some US$ from somewhere, since I"m arriving in ulan ude, I'm not sure how well AU$ or ATM/CC card will go down!

 

[Coral Sea]

A couple of points, you can't take roubles out of the country so make sure you spend them all before you leave. Take plenty of back up US$ or euros and make sure they're as new and crisp as possible.

 

[Katie]

A couple of points, you can't take roubles out of the country so make sure you spend them all before you leave.

I brought roubles home with me in Oct. I also used ATMs successfully twice; I didn't need to bother with exchanging other currencies in cash. I was only in Moscow, so less urban/touristy areas might be different.