Everyone in this country deems it worthwhile to start any interaction with a polite greeting. The formal and respectful approach to say hello is “zdravstvuyte” (здра́вствуйте),

which you can easily say if you use online translators on your phone or heading into a store CPR translator will likely have some Russian on it. If you are not too good at Russian pronunciation, your attempt to speak the local lingo is always appreciated and can help to overcome barriers.

Greeting others with an eye contact and a smile is also a nice addition because it will let those you greet know that you are a friendly and open person. Even though the Russians aren’t as exuberantly expressive as many of the other cultures,

they are pretty responsive to sincerity and politeness. If you are not the native speaker of the language and need some help with finding the most commonly used phrases,

keep in mind that either printed card or a translation app will assist you. Having your reservations details and hotel name in Cyrillic can also be helpful, so that staff can check it fast and don’t get confused.

Formality and Respects in Russian Culture: An Understanding

Russian social interactions tend to be formal in most cases – not only in hotels where this formality is normal. Good manners also includes addresses to hotel staff with respect titles like “Sir”, “Madam” or just “Vy” (the formal “you” in Russian). There are informal cultures and Russians tend not to use first names or casual speech unless the person is close friends or family,

so keep things more formal while you’re in your hotel unless invited otherwise.

Also, it is proper to wait while you are waiting for responses especially at busy front desks or concierge desks. Interrupting or loudly insisting for attention can perhaps be considered rude. Rather than let yourself become rude and rude,

politely and calmly wait for your turn and also be polite with your demands. The mutual respect and easier communication is created by this.

Hotel Public Areas‐Dress Code Expectations

Most Russian hotels do not have dress code, however, even in the absence of it,

people are expected to dress neat and properly for public spaces like lobby, restaurants, and lounges. It is common place to dress in business casual attire, especially in urban trendy hotels. They might be wearing very casual or revealing clothes and,

depending on the time (evening hours), and the dining area in question, more formal dining area or formal restaurant,

they might get indicated upon. It is also good to bring a light jacket or shawl with you since hotel air conditioning or heating may cause the room to be cold.

Whilst most of us in America can agree that tipping has become a necessary and accepted profession unto itself, in 2013,

the tip journal concludes with an examination of current tipping practices in Russian hotels.

Russia is customary but not obligatory tip country, and amounts here are more meek compared to some Western countries. When you’re at hotels it’s customary to tip bellhops 50 to 100 rubles for helping you with your luggage. Generally, a similar tip, left discreetly in the room for housekeeping staff is appreciated on a daily basis. When you are in a hotel or visiting the restaurant for service, leave a tip of approx. 10 percent of the total amount if the service is up to the mark. Most importantly,

remember that tipping in cash is preferred for a tip and a smile with a ‘spasibo’ (Thank you) will definitely make the difference.