This will be a post about basic things you want to know about St.Petersburg before you go out for a drink or two.
1. Tips
Gratuity is almost never included, but is very well expected. Unfortunately you cannot put the tip on the card (you can in just a couple of places, we'll use a special #tiponthecard label for them). Tipping policy in Russia would be about 10%. You get the check, you pay and then you leave some cash. If you pay with a card it's best to leave a note(s), not coins, if you pay in cash you can leave the change.
2. Credit cards
They take credit cards almost everywhere in St.Petersburg, even in those shady 24-hour corner stores. Though sometimes they have some "connection" problems that can be solved by trying a few times more.
3. Can I pay with US Dollar in Russia?
No, you cannot, it is against the law. The only stores that take Dollar or Euro cash in St.Petersburg are Souvenir shops.
1. Tips
Gratuity is almost never included, but is very well expected. Unfortunately you cannot put the tip on the card (you can in just a couple of places, we'll use a special #tiponthecard label for them). Tipping policy in Russia would be about 10%. You get the check, you pay and then you leave some cash. If you pay with a card it's best to leave a note(s), not coins, if you pay in cash you can leave the change.
2. Credit cards
They take credit cards almost everywhere in St.Petersburg, even in those shady 24-hour corner stores. Though sometimes they have some "connection" problems that can be solved by trying a few times more.
3. Can I pay with US Dollar in Russia?
No, you cannot, it is against the law. The only stores that take Dollar or Euro cash in St.Petersburg are Souvenir shops.
4. Smoking and buying cigarets
A recent law banned smoking in public areas. So you cannot smoke in restaurants and bars in St.Petersburg. You will have to step outside for a smoke or use an outdoor terrace/patio if available. By the rule of thumb, if you see ashtrays on the table - it's smoking area, if not - then it's smoke-free. We'll also mention a #smokingarea in our review.
Buying cigarets is tricky. You will not see packs on display in any of the stores. Even if they have them - you will have to ask for a specific brand and type. You can also take a look at the list of items available - plain text in Russian. The shop assistant is not allowed to just name or show them for you, you can only ask yes/no questions with them. One pack of cigarets costs around 80 ₽ / 2$.
Electronic cigarets are a gray area. You can go ahead and smoke them to see if anyone comes over to ask you to put them away. You will definitely get glances, thought.
5. Bridges
In summer the bridges go up at night in St.Petersburg. It is a stunning view and a major tourist attraction. Please make sure you are where you wanna be when it happens. Most of the places we will be talking about are located downtown (kind of mainland), so if you are staying on one of the islands you might wanna head home before 1 am or you will have to stay up until 5 am. We are hoping the city will come up with a way to solve this situation soon (like maybe using underground at night? I'm just saying).
6. Gypsy cabs
Someone may suggest you get a gypsy cab - you should decline. They are overpriced and plain dangerous. Uber and GetT (GetTaxi) services are available in St.Petersburg - much safer and ultimately convenient.
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