Practical Travel Information

• Entry and transit requirements depend, among other things, on your nationality, purpose of travel, and route.
• Keep your arrival point, accommodation address, and the first leg of your journey together in one place.
• Keep important addresses, booking details, and contacts available offline too.
• Allow time for luggage and getting your bearings when making connections or arriving late.
• Payment options, mobile service, and available services vary by country.

Organize your passport, any required visas or permits, insurance documents, and booking confirmations by destination and leg of your trip. Entry and transit requirements may depend on your nationality, purpose of travel, and length of stay. Keep any information you need somewhere you can access without email; for arrival, this also includes the accommodation’s full address.

If your trip has several legs, make sure it is clear which ticket and supporting document belongs to each one. Keep booking references and contact details together. If you are travelling with others, distribute important trip details so that all the information is not stored on just one phone.

Plan your long-distance journey, the trip from the airport or railway station to your first accommodation, and your onward connection the next day as one continuous itinerary. The Getting There and Transport section covers air, rail, bus, and local transport. Note your departure point, transfer point, and a suitable alternative. Leave time between arrival and any fixed appointment for luggage, getting your bearings, and possible delays.

If you arrive late, the address, check-in time, and a reachable contact are especially important. When choosing accommodation, consider how far it is from the railway station, city centre, or your planned excursion destination. On a multi-stop trip, also factor in the length of each leg, your luggage, and the early journey to your next destination. In Moscow, the information on Moscow airports can help you identify your arrival point; in Saint Petersburg, the details about railway stations offer a useful starting point for planning the journey from your train’s arrival to your accommodation.

Decide how you will pay for your first journeys, local transport, and meals, and what alternative you have. Cards, cash, and digital payment services are not accepted everywhere in the same way; the specific conditions vary by country and provider. The Money and Payments section covers the different payment methods. Keep a reserve separate from your everyday spending money, and don’t keep all your cash and cards in one place.

Save your accommodation details, meeting point, first connection, and important contacts as readable text. A downloaded map can help you find your way; make sure the address and departure details are also available in a readable format. A few phrases for asking directions, paying, or getting help are often more useful on the go than long lists. Language and Communication takes you to the relevant topics.

Your preparations and route depend on your mode of transport, border crossing, arrival time, and access to help. Find general preparation advice under Staying Safe. On longer journeys, plan a break, bring enough drinking water and any necessary medication, and note your destination and return route. It is also useful to have important phone numbers and the address of your first accommodation on paper.

How do I organize documents for a trip with several legs?

Sort tickets, booking references, and required documents by leg of the trip. That way, when making a connection, you can find the details for your next journey without mixing up documents from different legs. Keep the address and contact details for your first accommodation somewhere separate and easy to reach.