Would you visit Russia in 2024?

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

I have several trips around the world in my schedule for this year, and multiple ones in China, the US, Japan and Russia.

While it's my first time visiting Japan, and I have visited multiple times China and the US, I am a bit concerned returning to Russia since my last visit was before the invasion and my opinions on Russians and Ukrainians are well-known. However, business is business.

I reconnected with my Russian contact and she's been helping me sorting out the bureaucracy and using the correct passport for easier entry, and although so far the Russians have been friendly and available, they keep charging me "small fees" for every little thing. Not sure if it's because traveling has genuinely became more expensive due to the current situation, or those guys are just screwing me over. Perhaps both.

[AviatorTom]

That picture is the beautiful Catherine's Palace, outside St Petersburg, which my SO and I visited a few pre-COVID years ago.

I'd love to visit Russia again, and see more of it, but I'm not sure we, as American, would be welcomed in the current situation by the Russian government, though I'm sure the Russian people would love to have us visit, as they did before. Maybe sometime in the future...

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

Exactly, and that's the city I'll be visiting.
I love St. Petersburg, and honestly I am happy to visit it again after so many years.

[DryGermanGuy]

Hell, no. I don’t want to end up as a state hostage for Putin like a number of other unsuspecting Western people. You better disable the USB ports on your devices or else there is a chance for the FSB to mirror your content or put some kompromat on it to „find“.

[avery58]

No it doesn't interest me much. Maybe if it was closer, but it's soo far away. And I'm sure it's not very easy for an American to get a tourism visa, I don't know if difficult, but not really worth it for me

[Agape93]

Nope. My comments about putin and the invasion aren't exactly private, and considering im best friends with one of their former soldiers, I'm not risking it or him

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

I too am very outspoken about Russia (and Ukraine and Belarus too), but I got told that "they welcomed Ribbentrop too", so they'll welcome anyone despite their opinions.

[Agape93]

Until they decide to use them as a bargaining chip or send them to the front. I don't mind the notion of killing. But I won't fight for a tyrant.

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

Honestly I find it unlikely for them to do that, mostly fearing reactions.
I have the impression they have a huge victim mentality based on certain things they say, ie. "We want to be your friends, but you don't trust us" etc.

Although to be honest I think similar of Ukrainians.

[exitseven]

No there are so many places in America I want to see.

[Avicenna]

You'd have to be completely crazy to do it and risk your freedom. Furthermore, I don't know if it's still the case that you need a sponsor to visit Russia, but that used to be a requirement.

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

As an European I don't exactly need a sponsor, but someone who guarantees for you never hurts.
To be fair the couple that hosts me were friends with my family for years and hosted me many times before the invasion, so they are decent people at least.

[Avicenna]

Well, 15 years ago German citizens needed one, and that's the passport that usually gets the most visa-free access.

[TommyMountainFigure]

If there was stability in the world yes I would love to visit Russia, and many other places too, but I wouldn't feel like II could enjoy it whilst I was there. Of course, once I was home safely? I could reflect on how great it was, but ONLY once home!

[JacobJordan]

You'll be fine going to Russia. Just don't voice your opinion on Ukraine v Russia. My wife and I have been to both Ukraine and Russia in recent times. We helped the Ukraine refugees we visited Moscow, st. Petersburg, and a couple other smaller places.

[OlderAndWiser]

I do not trust Comrade Putin whatsoever and I would never want to be in a position where he could exert control over me.

[DarkLegacy]

I have no desire to visit Russia, China, Syria, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, North Korea or any other corrupt and dangerous country.

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

You forgot Belgium in that list

[DarkLegacy]

No i didn't. What is wrong with Belgium

[Fireguy17]

no, we have other trips planned this year as well as next year.

[normalice]

Absolutely not unless it was at the head of a liberating army.

[handsomelad70]

H**L NO !!! Why, especially as a black man, would I want to visit modern Czar Vlad the Lad's authoritarian, likely anti-black (certainly homophobic and xenophobic) 21st Century "Greater Russia" Gulag?

[loveslongnails]

Never. I will never visit Russia. It's a shit hole. There are places where you have to pay your way out of a public bathroom or get robbed, and the police are in on it.

[Unit1]

a million times no.

I do not want to set foot on Putinstan.

[CubaPirate]

I doubt if they are allowing ordinary British people to visit

[KrakenAttackin]

As an American, no thanks.

[Jamie05rhs]

Fuck no! Russia can suck a cock.

[OtterMan68]

hell no. They're getting none of my money

[LaFemmeFatale_1]

I would never visit Russia.

[Dargil]

I see no reason to.

[Pohjolan]

Only with a tank.

[Badgirlnatalia]

I love Russia

[Anonymous]

F*** no!