Transfer (Pick up)
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Transfer (Pick up) service
Unfortunately airport / railway station taxi mafia exists. To avoid paying 2-3
times more for the same trip arrange your pick up in advance. Otherwise you will
have to deal with the drivers who's rates start from 50 Euro for a trip. They
have a kind of agreement about the inflated prices and can not go down even if
they wanted.
I in person or my colleague will wait for you in the hall of the Pulkovo airport
arrival pavilion (the hall is not that large so it is impossible to miss each
other) - the white sheet with your name in hands.
Rates:
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A car (up to 4 persons)
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€24
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Mini-van (up to 8 persons)
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€70
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N.B.: Price is per car - not per person.
The payment is to be effected once you are delivered to the address you wish.
You can pay in Euro, USD or rubles - it is up to you. There is an ATM in the
airport so you can get cash right there.
I hope you have no doubts about the fact, but just in case: if your plane
arrives with any delay - do not worry. You will be picked up independently from
this sad fact and no extra payment will be required. Only in case you arrive
one hour earlier (once I had such a case) I am afraid you will have to wait
patiently up to the time agreed.
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Airport location & public transport to the city
St. Petersburg airport "Pulkovo II" is situated about 4 km far from the city
south end.
There are two types of buses which shuttle people to the nearest metro station:
large yellow city buses (they are not numerous) and white privately owned
mini-vans. In both cases the ride will cost you a trifle (be prepared to pay in
rubles) but it comes in combination with the following disadvantages:
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no place for large suitcases is provided,
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no bus correspondence between 12 a.m. and 8 a.m.,
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no schedule - you might wait up to 30 min - imagine how it feels
when the weather is windy/rainy or both.
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Friendly warning:
This way you reach only the metro station and not the place you need. Your first
trip to the necessary address can turn into the troublesome adventure, burdened
with your luggage. Better stick to my
transfer offer
- reliable and safe.
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Railway station location & public transport
Moskovsky railway station is situated in the heart of city, in the middle of
Nevsky pr. There is a metro station named "Ploschad Vosstaniya" in the railway
station building. If you have not too much luggage with and no prejudices against
crowded metro wagons you can start your acquaintance with
local transport
right from the beginning.
Friendly warning:
A long line for the tokens used for the metro payment is typical for this metro
station. Women who sell the tokens do not speak English or any other language.
Take care of your wallets while you explain yourself with her (pickpockets love
this spot). If you are not familiar with the address you need to reach your first
trip can turn into the troublesome adventure. Better stick to my
transfer offer
- reliable and safe.
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How my foreign friend reached the city center on his own
A friend of mine has a large production factory in Sweden and travels around the
world more time than he spends at home. He works with Russia for more than 7
years and loves St. Petersburg. He visited it more than 20 times. Considerate man
last time he decided not to disturb anyone with the pick up. Having arrived to the
airport he headed to the counter with the sign "transfers/taxi", asked how much it
would be to go to the Radisson hotel (city center) and got the answer: "50 Euro".
Quite surprised he asked why the price was so high and got the answer that it was
due to the high class of the car provided. He objected that he would not mind an
ordinary car to discover that the service did not have one available - only top
class cars. He did not want anybody to fool him. Very angry he left the airport
with the firm intention to use a bus instead of taxi but could not find the bus
stop. People around did not help (probably simply did not understand what he was
seeking after). Finally he had to return to the taxi bar to pay the price they
asked. Later he wondered why the airport management let such things happen.
Actually I do not know but... Guess who is the owner of the small but very
profitable airport taxi service?
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