Can I use my Visa Card and/or Travelers Cheques in regional Russia?
Credit cards are not widely accepted in stores apart from those in Moscow and St. Petersburg. However, there are bank machines in all cities in Russia where you may withdraw money from your credit or debit card with your PIN number. Without a PIN you may withdraw money on your credit card from local banks but normally a commission of 2% is charged. You may use the following Travelers Cheques: VISA, American Express and Thomas Cook. The bank commission on these cheques is around 3%. It should be noted that most banks are unfamiliar with Traveler’s Cheques and therefore cashing them is an ordeal. In any case you should have some ready cash on hand in US Dollars / Euros when you come to Russia. Please note that you might have problems exchanging bills dated earlier than 1991 and sometimes than 1998.
