Russia: Is it really safe for tourists?

Go explore Russia: Why? Woah? Really? Is it safe?

When you tell your friends and family that you're leaving for, or were in, Russia for your holiday, you're going to be bombarded (and I choose this word carefully!) with "Why?" "Woah" "Is it safe?" and much more. Well, I came back from a Russian holiday last month, and already can't wait to go back next year! Here's why...

Before we (my wife, our 11-year-old and yours truly!) headed for Russia earlier last month, whenever I told a friend that I was going where I was going, the reaction was almost always "Russia? Why?". Yes, not, "Russia, Wow!" but "Russia, Why?" Why before, hell, after our return, the reactions have been priceless. From family to friends to colleagues, even my son's Orthodontist...everyone is pretty much bewildered, when we told them that we had gone for a holiday to Russia!

Sharing some of the questions that have been thrown at us since our return, along with my answers:

"Is it safe?" 

Yes, absolutely. There are no gun-totting Russian gangsters roaming the streets of Moscow or St Petersburg, or any city for that matter!

"Must be very expensive, no?" 

No. It's quite cheap actually, especially when you compare it to Europe. It's like being in a grander Europe and spending almost at Indian prices!

"Just why did you think of going to Russia?" 

Because we looked at Russia through the eyes of history, and chose not to believe the Western propaganda!

"People are not really friendly there, are they?" 

Well, actually they are quite friendly. That is if you don't expect them to follow the Western way of showing their friendliness! They do it in their own way and are very very warm!

"How do you enjoy in a place where the people don't speak English at all?" 

That was true, maybe a decade ago! Today, a large majority of the 25-and belows on the streets of the big cities in Russia are very much speaking in English. The percentage of English-speaking Russians involved in tourism and hospitality is extremely healthy too!