Russia - Anyone been there?

SuzyZ · Jun 8th, 2008, 11:11 PM

Going to Moscow and St. Peterburg in early August. Does anyone know anything about the bag market over there? I hear there is a LV in Red Square, really curious. TIA

Longchamp · Jun 8th, 2008, 11:30 PM

Yes I've been there twice both cities in summer and winter. Shopping for luxury goods not the greatest unless you're buying a russian sable!!!

Don't laugh-- I got a TDF coat at less than 1/2 the price I would have paid for here about 5 years ago.

In Moscow just to the left of Red Square is a "state department store" called GUM--you have to go there. The building is beautiful, I think it's an old train station. If you don't know the metro or train stations in Moscow are all ornately decorated.

GUM has high end luxury stores, mid range stores and great souvenir trinkets---which I love to go through!!!

Then right across the square is Lenin in state--it's just different the way everything is set up there on REd Square.

St Basil's cathedral, the one with onion domes is at the far end of red square, right down from Lenin and GUM.

SuzyZ · Jun 8th, 2008, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longchamp

Yes I've been there twice both cities in summer and winter. Shopping for luxury goods not the greatest unless you're buying a russian sable!!!

Don't laugh-- I got a TDF coat at less than 1/2 the price I would have paid for here about 5 years ago.

In Moscow just to the left of Red Square is a "state department store" called GUM--you have to go there. The building is beautiful, I think it's an old train station. If you don't know the metro or train stations in Moscow are all ornately decorated.

GUM has high end luxury stores, mid range stores and great souvenir trinkets---which I love to go through!!!

Then right across the square is Lenin in state--it's just different the way everything is set up there on REd Square.

St Basil's cathedral, the one with onion domes is at the far end of red square, right down from Lenin and GUM.

Oh thanks so much Longchamp!! I'm so anxious for info. like that!!!!

Longchamp · Jun 8th, 2008, 11:36 PM

Funny story, souvenir sellers are everywhere on Red Square, there's some vendor just selling T shirts. This T shirt seller was just bugging my husband incessantly to buy some T shirts.

My husband said "No thanks I bought a bunch of those after I saw him in concert"

Guy looks at him and tells my husband he was too young to have seen Lenin--then of course my husband replies--he was one of the beatles wasn't he???

LOL-- guy runs away laughing!!

Filifjonka · Jun 8th, 2008, 11:53 PM

yes, I've been to Russia/Moscow many times.
I like the luxury shopping -- any imaginable brand is available there. in addition to the centre, check out the Luxury Village in a small town on the Rubljovka road. it is amazing, I totally loved it.
PS -- lots of great restaurants, and if you are a sushi lover, this is the peculiar thing in Russia & Ukraine: great sushi is in almost every restaurant menu, no matter on what the restaurant specializes.

Vegas Long Legs · Jun 9th, 2008, 02:16 PM

When is the best time of year to travel to Russia? Looking for pleasant weather, not hot & humid or cold & snowy.
TIA!

Filifjonka · Jun 9th, 2008, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegas Long Legs

When is the best time of year to travel to Russia? Looking for pleasant weather, not hot & humid or cold & snowy.
TIA!

May-Sept is the best bet, and in case of long autumn, Oct also. after that -- it is is really cold & wet/snowy.....

La Vanguardia · Jun 9th, 2008, 05:23 PM

I've been to Russia and I went in September for three weeks. I find it a good time to go.

For luxury-goods shopping though, the prices are a lot more expensive than Western Europe or the USA so I wouldn't recommend it unless you're buying Russian designers and products.

The Red Square in Moscow is absolutely beautiful and the architecture in St. Petersburg is amazing. In St. Petersburg, I walked around almost everywhere and visited the Hermitage so many times, especially because some special rooms are only open on certain times and days. If you want a bit more history, visit Pushkin, Novgorod, Sergiyev Posad, Suzdal, Vladimir and the surrounding areas.

Vegas Long Legs · Jun 9th, 2008, 06:28 PM

Is a week in Moscow & a week in St. Peterburg too long? What else would you visit in these locations?
My DH has a bad back & has a low tolerance for getting on & off trains carrying luggage. God bless him.

SuzyZ · Jun 10th, 2008, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Filifjonka

yes, I've been to Russia/Moscow many times.
I like the luxury shopping -- any imaginable brand is available there. in addition to the centre, check out the Luxury Village in a small town on the Rubljovka road. it is amazing, I totally loved it.
PS -- lots of great restaurants, and if you are a sushi lover, this is the peculiar thing in Russia & Ukraine: great sushi is in almost every restaurant menu, no matter on what the restaurant specializes.

Great news about the sushi, I love it!! Thanks so much!

cheburashka · Jun 11th, 2008, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzyZ

Going to Moscow and St. Peterburg in early August. Does anyone know anything about the bag market over there? I hear there is a LV in Red Square, really curious. TIA

There are also two Hermes boutiques, 3 Cartier boutiques and a Marc Jacobs boutique. It's the most expensive city in the world, so there are plenty of luxury shopping, but like others have mentioned the prices are a lot higher than in Europe. Native Russians just go to Europe to shop for luxury goods.

GirlFriday · Jun 11th, 2008, 08:29 AM

I would say spend a few days in Moscow and most of your time in St. Petersburg. Moscow has lots of luxury shopping at ridiculous prices though. St. Petersburg is just gorgeous.

jillybean307 · Jun 11th, 2008, 01:36 PM

Hey! I'm living in Russia right now for the next three months. Half of the time in St. Pete's and half the time in Moscow. It's AMAZING! I'm so in love with St. Pete's, it's even more incredible than the last time I lived here.

Yes, there's a ton of luxury shopping, but it's ridiculously expensive. I've done the conversion over to U.S. dollars at the LV store and at Babochka (they sell Gucci & Dior, Chloe, etc.) and it's totally not worth it to buy it here.

Vegas- One week isn't too long at all. I lived here for 3 months 5 years ago, and I'm here for that long now, and I can honestly say that I won't see everything I want to see. There's just so much amazing stuff.

If you want suggestions, PM me or check out my blog, I've been writing about the whole experience. I have pictures here, if you want to see: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/563763617gKLxxE

La Vanguardia · Jun 11th, 2008, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegas Long Legs

Is a week in Moscow & a week in St. Peterburg too long? What else would you visit in these locations?
My DH has a bad back & has a low tolerance for getting on & off trains carrying luggage. God bless him.

Definitely not because there are so many museums to visit. There are also some time nearby towns (especially in St. Petersburg) for sightseeing. Pushkin, for instance, is only around 30 minutes away and there you can visit the Tsarkoe Selo Palace.

Filifjonka · Jun 11th, 2008, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegas Long Legs

Is a week in Moscow & a week in St. Peterburg too long? What else would you visit in these locations?
My DH has a bad back & has a low tolerance for getting on & off trains carrying luggage. God bless him.

I would recommend 2-3 days in Moscow, the rest in St. Pete -- Ermitage, churches, etc -- it is totally gorgeous in there.

enjoy!

Jun 8th, 2008, 11:11 PM	#1
SuzyZ Francophile Joined: Nov 2005 Location: Miami Posts: 3,001	Russia - Anyone been there? Going to Moscow and St. Peterburg in early August. Does anyone know anything about the bag market over there? I hear there is a LV in Red Square, really curious. TIA __________________ *going to hell in a "handbag"*

Jun 9th, 2008, 02:16 PM	#6
Vegas Long Legs Member Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 3,434	When is the best time of year to travel to Russia? Looking for pleasant weather, not hot & humid or cold & snowy. TIA! __________________ Planning next voyage! Oct/Nov '08

Jun 9th, 2008, 05:23 PM	#8
La Vanguardia avec deux armoires Joined: Dec 2005 Location: 43 countries, 300 cities Posts: 5,804	I've been to Russia and I went in September for three weeks. I find it a good time to go. For luxury-goods shopping though, the prices are a lot more expensive than Western Europe or the USA so I wouldn't recommend it unless you're buying Russian designers and products. The Red Square in Moscow is absolutely beautiful and the architecture in St. Petersburg is amazing. In St. Petersburg, I walked around almost everywhere and visited the Hermitage so many times, especially because some special rooms are only open on certain times and days. If you want a bit more history, visit Pushkin, Novgorod, Sergiyev Posad, Suzdal, Vladimir and the surrounding areas. __________________ ***** LaVan's shoe closet ... the story of my shoes! * http://forum.purseblog.com/the-glass-slipper/lavans-shoe-closet-the-story-of-my-shoes-366905.html * What did you do for the environment today? * http://forum.purseblog.com/general-discussion/what-did-you-do-for-the-environment-today-313819.html

Jun 9th, 2008, 06:28 PM	#9
Vegas Long Legs Member Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 3,434	Is a week in Moscow & a week in St. Peterburg too long? What else would you visit in these locations? My DH has a bad back & has a low tolerance for getting on & off trains carrying luggage. God bless him. __________________ Planning next voyage! Oct/Nov '08

Jun 11th, 2008, 01:36 PM	#13
jillybean307 Wanderlust Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 3,409	Hey! I'm living in Russia right now for the next three months. Half of the time in St. Pete's and half the time in Moscow. It's AMAZING! I'm so in love with St. Pete's, it's even more incredible than the last time I lived here. Yes, there's a ton of luxury shopping, but it's ridiculously expensive. I've done the conversion over to U.S. dollars at the LV store and at Babochka (they sell Gucci & Dior, Chloe, etc.) and it's totally not worth it to buy it here. Vegas- One week isn't too long at all. I lived here for 3 months 5 years ago, and I'm here for that long now, and I can honestly say that I won't see everything I want to see. There's just so much amazing stuff. If you want suggestions, PM me or check out my blog, I've been writing about the whole experience. I have pictures here, if you want to see: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/563763617gKLxxE __________________ You say "handbag addiction" like it's a bad thing. "The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." -Albert Einstein http://www.savedarfur.org Last edited by jillybean307; Jun 11th, 2008 at 01:42 PM.

Jun 8th, 2008, 11:30 PM	#2
Longchamp Member Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,130	Yes I've been there twice both cities in summer and winter. Shopping for luxury goods not the greatest unless you're buying a russian sable!!! Don't laugh-- I got a TDF coat at less than 1/2 the price I would have paid for here about 5 years ago. In Moscow just to the left of Red Square is a "state department store" called GUM--you have to go there. The building is beautiful, I think it's an old train station. If you don't know the metro or train stations in Moscow are all ornately decorated. GUM has high end luxury stores, mid range stores and great souvenir trinkets---which I love to go through!!! Then right across the square is Lenin in state--it's just different the way everything is set up there on REd Square. St Basil's cathedral, the one with onion domes is at the far end of red square, right down from Lenin and GUM.

Jun 8th, 2008, 11:36 PM	#4
Longchamp Member Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,130	Funny story, souvenir sellers are everywhere on Red Square, there's some vendor just selling T shirts. This T shirt seller was just bugging my husband incessantly to buy some T shirts. My husband said "No thanks I bought a bunch of those after I saw him in concert" Guy looks at him and tells my husband he was too young to have seen Lenin--then of course my husband replies--he was one of the beatles wasn't he??? LOL-- guy runs away laughing!!

Jun 8th, 2008, 11:53 PM	#5
Filifjonka Member Joined: Jun 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 103	yes, I've been to Russia/Moscow many times. I like the luxury shopping -- any imaginable brand is available there. in addition to the centre, check out the Luxury Village in a small town on the Rubljovka road. it is amazing, I totally loved it. PS -- lots of great restaurants, and if you are a sushi lover, this is the peculiar thing in Russia & Ukraine: great sushi is in almost every restaurant menu, no matter on what the restaurant specializes.

Jun 11th, 2008, 08:29 AM	#12
GirlFriday Member Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 503	I would say spend a few days in Moscow and most of your time in St. Petersburg. Moscow has lots of luxury shopping at ridiculous prices though. St. Petersburg is just gorgeous.