Visiting Russia - Where to stay

For your first trip to meet your girlfriend, don't expect her to invite you to stay with her. There is a good chance that she lives with her family and, hospitable though Russians are, it may become a little awkward in a small Russian apartment.

If you're on a budget, there are many small hotels and hostels that are perfectly adequate. If money's not a problem, then the Grand Hotel Europe or the Astoria will certainly create an impression on your lady friend.

Think: what impression do you want to create? Do you want her to think you're made of money? If you're staying in a flash hotel, she'll expect you to spend lots of money on her during your visit. It's not greed, it's simple Russian culture - you share what you have with your closest ones. If you make it seem that you have bags of cash, she'll be offended if you count what you spend on her.

If you explain that you have no money becuase you chose an expensive hotel, she might think you're selfish, that you spent a lot of money on your own comfort without thinking of her. Again, this is not greed and it's not unique to Russian character.

If you are invited to stay at a family flat, remember to bring gifts. This is a Russian tradition - Russians do it when they go visiting friends. Suitable gifts might be flowers for her mother, chocolates or a nice cake, a bottle of wine (if you know there are no alcoholics in the family) and maybe some small presents if there are children in the household.

Bring some pictures from home if you like, but don't bore people to death with them. Avoid making references to money, avoid comparing standards of living, and whatever you can smell in the apartment block stairway, don't talk about it!