Theresa

Some background - In 1988 I took a student trip to Europe which included a week in Moscow and St. Petersburg. About 4 days in each of the cities. We stayed at downtown hotels, we did a lot of walking and had a great time.

18 years later I was able to return. I looked at hotels and they were a bit pricey for Moscow and St. PEtersburg. I then investigated river cruises and that hit the price spot. While I enjoyed the ports along the cruise, my life is still with St. Petersburg and Moscow. I would like to return and visit those 2 cities and possibly add Kiev but this is not set in stone.

So - for my question - how should I return to Russia? Do I just book hotels on my own and navigate accordingly. Should I book a tour that includes several days in Moscow and St. Petersburg - one with lots of free time.

I want to go on a trip that allows me to spend as much time in the Hermitage that I want, or at Peterhoff, etc... Also in Moscow - both times I went, we had minimal time at Victory Park and I have yet to go to Gorky Park, etc. . There are several day trips outside of Moscow that I would like to go to.

What tour company would be best for my situation or should I just plan on booking hotels and doing everything on my own.

Thanks for your help! It may be a year or two or three before I return but I so want to visit these cities and not have time constraints of a tour where they point things out from windows.

FauxSteMarie

I would talk to Mark David Miller at discoveringrussia.com

You might want to do an independent trip--especially if you speak some Russian. He will be able to give you some options.

Taking a group tour would probably just take you to some of the places you have already seen.

Odin

There's no reason why the trip cannot be booked independently. You don't need a visa for each Russian city any more, the hotels can be booked and each one can provide visa support documents or a visa company can supply an invitation to cover your entire stay in Russia.

There may be some specific day trips from Moscow which could tricky to get to on your own, for those a car and driver can be booked or join an organized tour.

I've not been to Kiev so can't help there, but do it either as first or last city so you don't have to get double entry visa into Russia.

Theresa

Thanks - sorry for the typos, I didn't realize how tired I was when I wrote this last night.

I really did enjoy my river cruise on Amadeus this summer (St. Petersburg to Moscow).

I hope to return in 2008. I am leaning towards doing the trip independently.

I will look at the discoveringrussia website.

Theresa

FauxSteMarie

I did an elderhostel trip that covered only Moscow and St. Petersburg and the suburbs. We spent a week in each city.

I booked the Transiberian RR last year through elderhostel but canceled after I got the recently completed home exchange in Vienna. I spent less than half of what I would have spent on the Transiberian package, so that was a factor too. I would love to do the Transiberian RR independently, but I would want to go with someone on a trip like that and not solo. You need someone to commiserate with when things go wrong on a trip like that. So far, among my friends, there are no takers. The general reaction is" "You want to do what? No thanks. I'd rather go to [London, Paris, Rome, etc.]." Many people define European travel as restricted to the Western countries and aren't much interested in unusual trips.

If I ever need some one to make arrangements for me, Mark Miller would be the first person I would look to.

Let us all know how it all works out for you when you return to Russia. I am sure you will find lots of changes since 1988. The main attraction in Moscow for many Western Europeans is gambling. Moscow has been more or less taken over by big time casino operators--not a pleasant development in my book.

Theresa

I was actually in Russia this summer (2007) and then previously in 1988.

I am in my 30's - so Elder Hostel is not what I am interested in.

FauxSteMarie

Well, I was just outlining how I went the first time to Russia. I was not recommending that elderhostel trip to you because you had been once before and probably did a lot of the same things that we did on my two week trip.

bardo1

I suggest you look for an <b>apartment</b> in Moscow (where a basic Holiday Inn level double bed runs about $500-$600 USD per night). You can get a very nice 1BR apartment within walking distance to Red Square for about $200USD/night. There are even some apt. agencies with offices in the USA. VRBO is also worth a look.

Hotels (and apts) in St. Petersburg are MUCH less expensive than in Moscow. St. Petersburg lodgings cost about one-half of that for similar (in quality/location) lodgings that you would find in Moscow.

Theresa

Marie - I have been there 2x before. Both on organized tours. I want to deviate from that for my next trip.

Bardo - that is an excellent idea.

Thank you.

Marc_David_Miller

I disagree that you have to spend $500-600/night for 3* hotel in Moscow. Although it is the most expensive market in the world for hotels right now, an intelligent travel advisor with experience in the Russian market can yield a far-lower room bill. We regularly work with business clients who need to be in Moscow quickly, and in high season at the last minute that can easily cost over $1000/night, but if there is some flexibility it could easily be $300-400 for 5* rooms, less for lower-end hotels.

I do agree that St. Petersburg is about 50% the cost of Moscow for hotels, except that during the summer the demand skyrockets (we've worked with people who have bought apartments there just to attend the June White Nights Festival).

As for apartments, we haven't been able to get much in the way of reliable inventory in Moscow (even though I live here); in St. Petersburg it is far easier to find professionals who rent apartments with a consistent quality.

Odin

I've never paid anywhere in the region of USD500 per night for a hotel in Moscow or St Petersburg. I check out which has the best rates and stay there-I've stayed in alot of hotels ranging from now demolished Intourist properties to Baltschug and similar. It does mean that the hotels might not be central.

My 1st 2 visits were also with tour groups, which were great fun but since then, every trip I do is independent and that is at least 20 trips.