[BlissMom]

When we arrived in Moscow we were met by someone from our agency who drove us to the hotel. Is this standard?? I'm curious to hear about your experience....did you have to get your own transportation?

[Amysue1112]

Blissmom..we also had our agency driver meet us..in fact, there was someone with us most of the trip.
I think most agencies do have their people drive, but I don't know about all of them.

[becky26]

We always had someone pick us up (with a nice sign w/ our name in their hand). In fact, this personal attention was sometimes a bit overwhelming. We ALWAYS had a driver and a translator with us. We sometimes had to fight to be left alone. Yes, we can take a bus to Red Square. Yes, we can take the metro ourselves. The translators had a hard time giving us some freedom! I felt very safe both in Moscow as well as in Sibiria. But it is certainly nice to have someone around you that knows the place and the language!

[SingleMama2B]

Hi BlissMom.... I too, had a driver and translator meet me at the airport. I never took a cab anywhere. I traveled alone both trips, and at least had a trasnlator with me. We did take the subway, as she said that I MUST SEE UNDERGROUND. It was amazing for sure.... Every 'stop' had a different motif/theme, and it was sooooo deep Underground, which was alittle eiry. I was soooooo busy during my trips, that basically, I only had a total of 3 days (18 days in country with both trips), that was actually free time. DD's orphanage was an almost 4 hour car ride ONE WAY.... so basically, we left at 7AM, and I returned to the hotel around 9PM each night!!!

I was (along with others that I got to know through our agency), that you SHOULD NEVER TAKE a taxi from the Airport.... Even my translator said it.... Alot of the taxi's at the airport are maffia owned, and not on the straight and narrow.... No chances here.... I always felt comfortable, as I got to know the driver and translator very well.. I never felt uncomfortable or scared.

Blessings...........

[Provost21]

We also had a driver pick us up for almost everything. I dont think I would ever want to try to communicate where I wanted to go to a taxi driver there! Who knows where I would have ended up!

[boatsun]

There are at least two reasons I can think of why it is better if your agency has somebody there to help you.

The traffic is insane in Russia, there doesn't seem to be many rules of the road and the police there can pull you over for any "reason" and it can be expensive if they do. Driving in Russia is like trying to figure skate during a pro hockey match.

When we travel to Russia we usually have several grand on us and they know it. It would not be hard for somebody to pick you up and rob you. If the person who robbed you was connected, the police there wouldn't even care.

We had a driver and facilitater drive us from one side of the airport to the other. I can't remember the name of it off the top of my head, but the international flights were on one side and the domestic were on the other.

[cathvash]

The International terminal in Moscow can be a ZOO when you arrive, so take a deep breath! I hated it because of the noise and press of people. Couple of hints:

-Go to the bathroom on the plane prior to landing or getting off. (Trust me!) You might immediately be faced with long lines and a bit of chaos once you land, depending on the time of day and number of flights.

-In Russia, it is common for people to cut in line, or bypass a line altogether. Stay on the heels of the person in front of you, or others will cut in.

-Do not allow anyone to take your bags for you though they will try, unless you are willing to pay a premium amount for a porter. (I read someone's report that they were "charged" 20 dollars by a porter to carry two bags!)

-If the immigration/customs line is long (it can sometimes take 2 or more hours to clear!) try sending a "scout" to the line for embassy personnel. I have heard several accounts of people being cleared very quickly through that line once they don't have anyone waiting.

-Once you leave the baggage area and exit to the public area, you might be SWARMED with people trying to carry your bags or offer a taxi or other service. Push through until you find your contact. -They usually have a sign with your name on it. If you don't see them immediately, continue past the "swarm" and wait just beyond. Your staff will find you, and once you connect with your party, you can relax.

[dlhall]

With our first adoption in 2002, the agency had a driver and translator meet us at the airport both times. With our second adoption, this was an option, but it was cheaper to have the hotel pick us up. We stayed in one of the Marriotts each time and had a driver from the hotel meet us. The driver would meet us with a sign from the hotel and our names, so we knew we were with the right person and then take us right to the hotel. We also had the hotel take us back to the airport when it was time to leave.

Liz

[nungesser]

I wrote a lot about our airport experiences last year in my blog (link below). If you go back into the archives you can read what I wrote about the experience and the things we did to make it go smoother. There are some photos too.

[Annabell]

That airport is dimly lit and the bathrooms are just beyond filthy. Do not even attempt to use them if you can possibly help it. You definitely want to bring your own TP everywhere you go. You may want to bring lots of waterless hand cleaner, too.

As others said, there will be line jumpers. (I was almost knocked down in the Moscow McDonald's, and DD (age 2) WAS knocked down by a 6 foot 3 bald guy when I was in line with her for a bathroom at the American embassy -- too bad my Russian cussing was sub-par -- I stood outside the door screaming curses in English and beating on the door -- he exited, still zipping up, completely unfazed).

The guards at the airport are generally female and wear lots and lots of makeup, mini-skirts, and 3-inch heels.

The airport was undergoing renovations when we travelled, and on the way home, at the airport, DD had a MAJOR blowout just before we were due to board. I carried her through security 3 times, begging the female guards for the too-ahl-yet, only to be given curt nods toward a bathroom that WAS NOT THERE!

Finally, in desperation, DH carried DD into the men's room, where a group of Mongolian shepherds (I am NOT making this up! -- they were dressed in animal skins!) watched in horror as DH held her over a sink, stripped her, cleaned her up, put on her clean diaper, and re-dressed her. Oh, and disposed of dirty didy in trashcan. Mongolian shepherds were all gagging! (BTW, "real" men in Russia just don't "do" babies -- the judge - male- had clued us in on this).

Yes, we were met by translator and driver. Were warned by agency not to let ANYONE touch luggage except driver and translator.

So, to all who are travelling or about to travel, good luck and godspeed!

[Drazil]

Our agency guide and driver in Moscow took us into the airport and took us to the head of the line (he said it was because in Russia if you have a baby with you then you can cut, DH was mortified to say the least ). He went as far as he could with us and then pointed us in to right direction to wait for our flight to Frankfort. We never flew into Moscow only out and we had no problems during our wait.

[Pinkie]

I'd forgotten all about this.... On my return after court with Antonina I was left stranded at the airport (not the new one, the other one, the one way out of town). Basically my driver was way late picking us up. When I came through Arrivals many taxi drivers pounced all over me asking in Russian if I needed a taxi. I said no thank you that someone was coming for me. After about 10 minutes one taxi-driver came over again and said *I speak a little english do you need any help?* I told him no thank you I was being taken care of. A good 20 minutes later and it was obvious Plan A was going down the drain, Antonina was understandably very tired and very nervous, I was tired and hot, I had luggage and a five and half year old newly adopted daughter. I was starting to look a little desperate!!

The same driver came over and said PLEASE PLEASE let me call someone for you, let me help you!! I said yes and between us we called my co-ordinater who called my driver to see what the hold up was. The hold up was Russia rush hour traffic (when is it ever not!!) and my driver did turn up eventually. That one hour seemed like an eternity especially on trip 2 with child!!

I'd keep your schedule as tight and organised as possible. Good Luck.

[SingleMama2B]

Hi BlissMom..... Forgot to write about DD's and I return trip home!!! We where scheduled to fly home (JFK-NY) on January 23rd..... Not happening as a BLIZZARD hit JFK, NJ, and New England States.... O.K. I go to the hotel desk.... sorry, your room is rebooked, and we have NOTHING!!!! Find a HORRIBLE room at the old Rossiya (torn down this year), and it was the WORST!!!! Can't leave Moscow for 2 days, Delta finally got me 2 seats on January 25th. Wake up early, and it is a BLIZZARD in Moscow..... Driver was on time, but the snow, got us to the airport 75 minutes later then I wanted to be. Finally get through first security, and come to customs agent (in their little box). I hand them my paperwork, passport, and the "SEALED ENVELOPE" and unsealed copies for their inspection. Luckily, DD is 8.3 years old, but still NERVOUS. They make her stand on the 'line under the light', ask her a TON of questions, review EVERY PAGE (1/2 inch thick document pile), give me NASTY LOOKS during the whole 20 minutes or so, and then finally start Stamping everything! We RUN to the gate, and are then told that we are delayed..... O.K. I can handle that.... regain some composure, relax, etc. There was many delays, so I bought DD a Barbie at the airport, that she played with the whole time. Finally, we get called to board.... while walking to the ramp.... it is still snowing so hard you can't see the airplane that we where boarding.... OH, this was also 7 hours later!!! I thought, o.k., they will board us, and realize, there is NO WAY they can take off..... Nope... we taxi out to the runway, sit there for alittle bit. Captain comes on, and says..... We are next for take off, when the EQUIPMENT PULLS AWAY FROM THE PLANE, WE HAVE 2 Minutes to get up in the air!!!! Yep, they where DE-ICING US ON THE RUNWAY!!!! We are all strapped in, I see the equipment pull away, and the captain FLOORS IT!!! I thought, OH DEAR LORD, WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET UP OVER THE FENCE!!!! Somehow he did it!!! Meanwhile, DD is smiling the whole time, looking at everyone, charming them all, talking none stop russian, and having a blast. We made it home 2 days 8 1/2 hours late.....

You just don't know, especially if you travel during the winter time

Blessings..................

[TweetyMom04]

We had a representative of the agency with us nearly 24/7, except nighttime, on our flights and when our plane from Moscow to a Siberian region was diverted to another airport in Siberia due to fog (3 hrs later) we arrived at our destination. When we arrived, our representatives, stated they knew where we were because this isn't the first nor the last time, flights were delayed because of weather.