Most ordinary Russians in large cities still live in very cramped conditions with multiple families sharing a 3-bedroom apartment. I've visited such an apartment that my friend was living in, in the suburbs of Moscow. All the rooms became bedrooms due to lack of space in the evening, no such thing as a living room etc.
Insurance purposes. Russia is a strange country. It wouldn't be too uncommon to have a drunk Russian jumping onto your car angrily while you're parked at a stop-light, or someone knocking you off the road on a highway.
Why the strong focus on Russian/Ex-Soviet cities in the article, though? It seems odd that there is a detailed list of present-day closed cities in Russia but only passing mention of other countries.
> Enormous amounts of people travel their own regions. What planet do you live on? Go hang out in a CIS platzkart, a budget Asian bus... You will encounter them - no joke - by the millions.
Ahm, yes they travel for recreation and for the spirit while working. Just like your typical digital nomad. I know, you've asked the millions. I'm also acquainted with a fair share of international students who travel a lot and study in "the west". None of those comes from a remotely disenfranchised background, which in most "developing" countries is the majority of people...
> And if you think Russia or the CIS countries are "empty", you're dreaming. As someone who has traveled to tons of places, I consider that region to have some of the coolest travel destinations no matter what you're interested in. From Moscow to Kamchatka to the shores of Georgia, there's really something for everyone.
Kamchatka is cool for sure. Georgia as well. I just don't know how you do your digital nomadism in the former (you need to speak Russian, probably be used to crappy internet et al.). Just a simple question: you've been there, alone, without knowing Russian and have worked there?
And Georgia is probably Sochi in disguise? Does the average Russian do cross-country flights there? Not from what I've heard...
> ... What? How would that prevent someone from going somewhere? So many options, from cancellable hotel reservations to Couchsurfing hosts to hostels... If you can't figure that out you really should not be going to a foreign country.
If you want to have a visa from most countries you need to add a schedule. And I'm quite sure couchsurfing isn't going to cut it. And for most hotels/hostels in the West you need a credit card. So: how many Russians/Indians/... own a credit card usable with your standard western european hostel? A tiny fraction of the population, because they don't need it at all except for (quite expensive) travel.
> I am not sure what to make of your Wikipedia link. If you meant to imply that Russia is a richer-than-average country, well, the numbers simply do not bear that out (Russia sits about a third lower than the global median income.)
Well, it's richer than any African country, most of South-America and most of Asia (except for Japan and SK). So yeah, it's rich compared to all these "bad passport" countries producing so many leisure-travelers. What is the global "median" income btw. and where did you get it?
> Thankfully that's easy to look up! The average American family has around $40,000 in liquid checking and savings according to the latest US Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, so no prob to that one. (If you're wondering how that works with the terrible Twitter statistic of most Americans not having $400)
Oh, is it. I just scrolled through the Excel-sheet linked by Business Insider. Didn't find that number. But, guess what! – I've found another number: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/27/heres-how-much-money-america... - just looks like there's a lot of Americans who can't just travel for 3 months with an average amount of many available. So I doubt that any average guy from "poorer" countries can do that...
> Regarding your human trafficking comment, those fleeing conflict are in an unusual situation globally.
Ah yes, the people fleeing conflict from Nigeria, Sambia, Ivory Coast. Yes, they are all paying a lot more than they had to for the privilege of dying in a boat in the mediterranean.
> If you have never applied for a visa, you may also find it useful to know that many things are taken into account. Your bank balance is more of a box to check and a fairly small part of the equation, all things considered.
Ah. And so what is a bigger part of the equation if the box is unchecked?
> I like how this is an opinion you've formed by writing weird and incorrect comments on HN. I have had tens of Couchsurfing guests from very poor places. I have had guests who hitchhiked from Turkey to Amsterdam, eating donated bread and peanut butter.
Turkey is not really poor either?! Also you need a visa and a travel insurance for round about 100€. So he had at least some savings before leaving. Also, if you're invited by a resident, getting a visa is quite easy for the EU I guess.
> I have had guests that flew from Russia on a $30 flight, and that was their largest expense. It is extremely possible to travel in this way if you are poor, and even if your passport sucks.
Oneway flight to Europe from Russia, without money, without a visa (costs 30-60€) and without health insurance. Stop telling bullshit.
> Budget hostels, Flixbuses, the 24hr McDonald's when they need a spot to charge their phone. They exist, and they exist in fairly large numbers. You'd be surprised.
Did you ever go with one of these flixbuses and experience the nice and friendly policemen ;)? What kind of visa do these non-Schengen-travellers you know have that they can apparently travel as long as they want through Europe?
> Finally, I'm not sure if not reading the comment you're replying to is just something you do, but I would recommend replying appropriately. Again, I'm not talking about any sort of "digital nomadism". What I'm talking about is distinctly different and separate.
well, this seems to be a misunderstanding, the blog post (from 2017 btw) talks about digital nomadism I think. What are you talking about?
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