The Rouble has lost over 10 percent of its value in the past year making everything cheaper for UK tourists visiting the Russian Federation, Abkhazia and South Ossetia where the Rouble is accepted. Belarus and Transnistria also use a currency called the Ruble (a relic from the dissolution of the USSR) but these are not accepted in Russia.

In the Cyrillic alphabet the letter R is represented by what we would recognise as a P, which means that you may see prices quoted in 'P' (e.g. 5,000 P) or 'py6' (e.g. 5,000 py6) in Russia. These still mean Rouble. In Russia you should only change money at banks, hotels and airport exchange bureaus. The Russian Central Bank closed all other exchange bureaus on 1 October 2010. It is an offence to change money from street traders or to try and pay for goods or services using US Dollars or Euros; you must use the Rouble.

Our statistics show the average order for Russian Rouble is around £600. A lot of providers stock this currency which means competition is high and there can be as much as 10 percent difference between the best and the worst rates. Be sure to compare prices before you buy; online providers usually offer the best Rouble rates, and banks and airports the worst. You should budget about £120 to £140 per day if you are staying in Moscow.

To enter Russia you’ll need a visa before travel. During periods of high demand, you should apply for your visa well in advance. From 10 December 2014 Russian diplomatic missions and the visa application centres in London and Edinburgh will collect biometric data (scanned fingerprints) from visa applicants above the age of 12. This applies to each Russian entry or transit visa application. You should see the Russian Embassy website.

On receiving your visa you should check the details of the visa including the validity dates and passport number carefully to ensure they are correct. Before you travel to Russia make sure you are aware of the terms and conditions attached to your visa, for both entry and exit. Please note that you must adhere to the validity and conditions of your visa. Overstaying your visa without authorisation from the Federal Migration Authorities can result in a delay to your departure from Russia, fines, court hearings and possible deportation and a ban from re-entry. You should arrange an extension of your visa before it expires.

If you’re staying for more than 7 working days you must register with the local branch of the Federal Migration Service. Most major hotels will do this automatically for you. If you’re staying in private accommodation the owner of the property must do this for you.

Your passport must be valid for a minimum period of 6 months after the end date of your visa.