Going to Russia - Advice needed!
 

We are going to Moscow and St Petersburg in October and I would like any advice or hints you can supply including the weather, public facilities, use of US$ and any other tips. Also, info on the overnight train between the two cities would be helpful. Thanks!

Hmmm, quite a wide question. It will be difficult to answer. So, the weather we have (in Moscow) in Oktober is not the best one - usually +5 up to +10C, cloudy, often rainy. So take umbrellas and raincoats with. Public facilities? There are lots of them as anywhere - so it's difficult to answer. Which ones are you interested in? US Dollars - are pretty usefull, you can change them almost on each corner, especially in the center of the city. And often you even can pay in USD, what is illegal although. But take care to take only new banknotes (after 1990) with, not dirty and not damaged. And very usefull will be also to take many small banknotes (1, 5, 10 USD). You can pay with them in restaurants or taxis for example, but in that case you could loose some money, comparing with paying in Russian roubles. The overnight trains are pretty comfortable. Take the sleeping compartment for 2 persones. During the trip you will get some food and some hot drinks (tea or coffee). <BR>Have a nice trip <BR>Konstantin

Its been a few years since I was in Russia (they were still Communist at the time) but I suspect the national treasures are still in place. Must sees include the summer palace of Peter the Great, the Hermitage museum and St. Issacs cathedral, all in St. Petersburg. Also you must try the ice cream and go to the circus if its still there! <BR>

I was in Russia this past spring and LOVED it. We brought only about $20 cash and used ATMs throuhout the country in order to get money. We paid for everything in Rubles -- I believe. We took the overnight train from Moscow to St. Petersburg and had no problems at all -- we had heard lots of horror stories about crime but slept the night away with no problems. The only issue with the train was that it was very, very warm and we could not figure out how to regulate the heat. In Moscow we had the best time just walking around, going to the flea market, the Kremlin and taking the subway. In St.P's the best was The Cathedral of the Spilled Blood, St. Isaac's, the Hermitage, Nabokov's home. Enjoy yourself.

You said you were getting the train in Moscow and some others here have said they'd heard horror stories. I love Russia, but must tell this. A few colleagues and I wanted to travel on the overnight train from Moscow to St. P., but were getting on at Tver, a town about 150 miles out of Moscow. We had reserved places through an agency in Petersburg via our travel agent in Germany. My colleagues (females) had booked a cabin between them and I (male) had booked a two-berth cabin for myself - first class. When the train arrived, the cabins had been taken. We could speak no Russian, but our Russian colleagues (who helped us on the train at 2 in the morning) informed us that some business men had paid extra when they got on the train for our - at that stage - empty cabins. In other words, had bribed the guards. So there we stood, middle of the night, laden with luggage, with no cabins. The guard made a hand sign which meant 'follow me', and so we did, right the way thru this train (great deco, very impressive - neat rugs and cute lamps!), through countless wagons (having to jump between some or struggle over little planks) until an empty cabin was found for the ladies.... <BR>And there was I, on my own. <BR>All's well that ends well, however. The guard banged on the adjacent door until the occupant opened up. He couldn't speak Russian either and looked absolutely petrified at the thought of having to share his cabin (having paid the single occupancy supplement) with someone looking v. dishevelled getting on in the middle of the night in the middle of the Russian provinces. I was v. scared too, not knowing at this stage that he wasn't some gangster either. Scared of one another, we fell asleep. We got to St. Petersberg however safe and sound, smiled nervously at one another, and entered the most beautiful city I have ever seen in my life. The trip was worth it.

I intend to go to Moscow and S. Petesburg next Oct but i found difficulties in finding other people here in Brazil that wanted to join me. <BR>So I'm alone and looking for someone around the world to share the trip with me. <BR>Are you travelling alone? Would you like or know anyone who wanted to do so? <BR>Anyway, hope we both get there and find it interesting. If you want, please send me an answer... <BR> <BR>Marcelo Neves <BR>São Paulo <BR>Brazil

Joan: I have been communicating with a private tour guide in Russia who can serve as a guide and make arrangements for you on your trip. The rates she has quoted me are great. She will even meet you at the airport and can arrange for a place to stay. I have just e-mailed her with my questions directly at: Elena <[email protected]> <BR>I hope to go in June; please let us know all of the details when you return. <BR>

Bring toilet paper - Russian t.p. is very rough and often not available at public facilities. Russian bath towels are tiny, raggedy, and sandpaper rough. If you have room, bring your own from home. Lock your suit case when you leave your room or things might grow legs and walk off. Go to the open air markets to buy fresh fruit. It's difficult to get in the hotels otherwise. Take a canal cruise in St. P and go see the Kirov ballet. Be sure to see the Summer Palace and Hermitage in St. P. Don't miss the Armory at the Kremlin. The treasures will make your head spin!