Rex, I'm game for most anything that's not too long (don't like to leave my menagerie for more than a couple of weeks). I fancied myself with a talent for languages till I took Russian! Yikes!

Thanks, Sue. I must confess I would have to do a lot of research - - fortunately with Marc D Miller here, there is that ready "insider" resource.<BR><BR>What do you think is the preferred month for Russia? August? Seems like it was good for Andrea!<BR><BR>

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Not mentioned here by Andrea, but are mosquitos a problem in Russia in August? Seems like I have heard that.<BR>

Thank you Fodors for restoring integrity to this thread.<BR>

topping<BR>

HI everyone<BR>Thanks for your replies/ comments. The couple of questions asked: the Hotel Moskva in St Petersburg is ok - great breakfasts. The rooms are very ordinary but clean. There is no a/c and only a fan in the summer which got kinda sticky. The bathroom was not the best - in need of updating. But as you spend so little time in your room it was fine and very well located (right next to a metro). The prices for accommodation were average city prices, though you definitely get a much better rate if you book through a travel company such as Intourist (they get you on the train tickets). So it's do-able on a fairly low budget though it's not a cheap holiday. August turned out to be a great month to go - blue skies every day (maybe we were lucky). There are mosquitoes but it's not as horrendous as some guidebooks make out. It might be more of a problem if you stay somewhere located on a canal. I had a couple of bites but not too bad. I certainly wouldn't put off going in the summer because of the mossies!! One downside is that most ballet companies and theatres (including the Moscow Arts Theatre and Bolshoi) are closed in August. So if you're a fanatic you'll be disappointed. <BR>Please ask any more questions. I don't care what anyone says about the state of Russian cities - they're interesting, mysterious, vibrant and full of character. Who would want to go somewhere sterile?<BR>

This will be my third visit back to St. Petersburg during the month of September......I have never stayed in hotels and rent only apartments. This time I will staying for one month. I have dealt with the same folks the last three times and would highly recommend an apartment for those wishing to be independent. Two bedroom on the Canal for $55 US a night.......clean and safe.<BR><BR>Visas are arranged by them also at minimal cost........I leave in two weeks and I can hardly wait.<BR>

I'm pleased to hear that it is possible and doable on your own. Was pretty leery after even Rick Steves (Mr. do-it-yourself) suggested going with a group to Russia. We have travelled in Romania and Czech Republic on our own and have had no problems. Other than the visa part and the Cyrillic alphabet is this that much more difficult? I know when we went to Romania everyone wondered why in the world we would want to do that. One more question. Is much of Russia the same post-communist era dull, run-down and depressing areas that some of the other former eastern block countries are?

Julie, with all respect to Rick Steves his guidebook for Russia is very out of date, and his web site contains some major inaccuracies.<BR><BR>It is definately more of a challenge to visit Moscow and St. Petersburg than Prague--the sights are more spread out, language is a bigger issue, and it is not nearly as "tourist friendly"--the public transportation is not easy to use (the Metro doesn't really cover the main tourist spots, and the trams/buses are very primitive), many signs are only in Cyrillic, smaller musuems are often obscure, etc. Not impossible, but at times frustrating when you are standing on a crowded corner looking for a particular restaurant and have no clue how to find it.<BR><BR>Certainly there are many blocks of drab Communist-era buildings and industrial facilities. The route that many tourists take from the ship terminal on Basil's Island in St. Petersburg to the center is very much as you describe. <BR><BR>But on the other hand as others have pointed out in this posting there are sights in Russia that you can't see elsewhere in the world--I always point out that the best pre-World War I Picassos and Matisses are in the Hermitage and the Pushkin. The range of architecture in many Russian cities is more diverse than Paris or London or Barcelona. The performing arts have been acclaimed for a century and a half, and are still producing world-famous soloists and singers.

To MDM:<BR><BR>For the adventurous - - with "just-slightly-above-fledgling" level comfort reading Russian (i.e., Cyrillic), is renting and driving a car similar, easier or MUCH more difficult than in other parts of the former Soviet bloc countries? (and I have no experience in those either).<BR><BR>What companies are available? The usual biggies?<BR>

There's no way I would drive there, at least in the Moscow-St Petersburg region (and most expats I know feel the same way).<BR><BR>Probably General Tours is the best compromise of price/service, although there are many smaller companies that specialize in tours there.

I think that what you need to do before you visit Russia as an independent traveller is spend a lot of time researching and planning. What I mean by independent is doing everything on your own. You need to learn the alphabet and you need to know the metro systems and be familiar with the city maps. I can not speak the language but I was able to see the sights, to buy rail tickets, travel by bus, including the Golden Ring, get hotels, hostels and homestays and not starve. It can be an effort to travel independently however the rewards are well worth the effort, it can be done.

Thanks for the info. Why would driving be so difficult?<BR>

I see that Avis has two locations in Moscow - - one downtown, and one at the airport (that paucity is very telling!)<BR><BR>But who are these locations designed to serve? Only Russians?<BR><BR>

Gary: Agree with you whole heartedly especially learning the Cyrillic alphabet.........I only have a few words in Russian, but the last two visits I used the Metro,bus and train lines extensively. All museums and sights of interest were visited without the use of a guide......but I did know what I was interested in seeing and have a real love for the history. Having the apartment, all food was purchased in the local markets and staying in a neighbourhood for a few weeks almost felt like I was part of the community. And like you, being alone and independent produces its own wonderful rewards. I wouldn`t travel any other way.

I also had a great experience staying with a Russian familly in St Petersburg.<BR>Just think of it - sitting in a Russian home watching the leaders of Russia and US talking to students in St Petersburg. And to think I spent 36 years in the miltary, training to kill Russians! What a changed world in the last 10 years.

Gary--<BR><BR>How did you arrange your home stay in St. Petersburg? Are you a Servas member?

I raised a question on the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree one day about a hotel in St Petersburg. I had sent an email to the hotel and received no response, which is very normal in Russia. She answered my response and offered to contact the hotel for me, which she did. She then offered us a homestay in her family appartment, which after a number of email conversation we felt comfortable enough to accept. She also contacted another guest house for us in Suzdal to confirm a reservation. It was a wonderful experience. I have had contact with the family again and we will be seeing them again when we visit St Petersburg in Oct. <BR>My wife is very much into quilt making, when we were in Russia my wife was always looking for material to make a quilt but she could never find anything that she liked. Before we left St Petersburg the mother brought out some material and gave it to my wife as a present. My wife has used the material and has just completed a quilt which we will take to Russia and present it to the family.<BR>We are not Servas members

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