I am off to Russia in three weeks and have a few questions. Is anyone familiar with the Sheratons in St. Petersburg and Moscow re: amenities of hotel and the nearby restaurants? What should I expect on the night train between S.P. and Moscow for a first class compartment i.e. bunks, space, cafe car, toilets on the train and safety concerns? Any other Russia insights appreciated. Thanks

I was surprised about how small the rooms at the Nevsky Palace were in Petersburg. Amenities are fine, western standard, service is very good--one of the managers, Tamara, is exceptional. <BR><BR>Many restaurants in the area, although more are closer to the Hermitage and Mariinsky. The best restaurants include Restoran, Backstage, Shinook, Caravan, and old standbys like Noble's Nest.<BR><BR>First class will have two bunks, compartment is carpeted, ok size. Can't speak for the dining car. Bathrooms are no worse than an airline.<BR><BR>From a recommendation on www.LonelyPlanet.com board I met Olga Stepanova, a guide in St Petersburg, Russia. She can be reached at <BR><BR>[email protected] <BR><BR>I used her for several days in St Petersburg and she was the finest guide I ever had--so good that I brought her with me to the Lake Baikal region so that she could translate for me. <BR><BR>Several of my friends hired Olga for their tours in St. Petersburg as well and agree with me. Her prices are very reasonable, and I found her to be a needed resource, even though this was my third trip to St. Petersburg. I have had friends show me around, and have taken other guides in Petersburg, but using Olga was more efficient--I have a great knowledge of Russian history, and she would arrange for guides from some of the museums to show me their collections, while she would simultaneously translate for me. For most of the less-specialized sights (Hermitage, Peterhof, city tours) Olga is licensed and quite knowledgable. <BR><BR>In Moscow you can use Patriashy Dom: <BR><BR>www.russiatravel-pdtours.netfirms.com <BR><BR>They run many daily excursions at reasonable prices--their guides are very good, especially Felix Meltser (I took about 15 tours with him in the last few years). You can also hire their guides privately. <BR><BR>You would do well to read some of the other Russian-related postings for more information.

A friend was at the Sheraton in St. Petersburg and really liked it. She was surprised by the mainly european visitors there but enjoyed that. There were many restaurants in the area and decent shopping.

What was surprising about the mainly European visitors?

Mark-<BR>She thought an American chain would have mainly American guests with Europeans favoring the European owned hotels. Silly assumption I guess.

You're gonna freeze your fickin' ass off, Mary. I hope you have a mink coat and are morbidly obese. Drink lots of Stolichnaya and don't fall asleep in the snow.

For the train, there are several other things. You will be expected to pay for linens on the train shortly after it departs. Depending upon the train, you may also get a sanitary pack and tea bags. Hot water in a glass is free but tea and sugar are not. <BR><BR>Bathrooms are not like on a plane - they open onto the track and are closed for 45 minutes or so after leaving either big city and for 5 minutes at intermediate stops. This can be a problem on arrival in the morning so don't forget. Some people have trouble figuring out how to get the water to work on the sink - just push around various knobs and eventually you will find the one that releases the water. <BR><BR>There are dining cars, but the overnight train is just that - you leave around midnight and arrive first thing in the morning so there is no need to eat while on board. Should you decide to do so, have the attendant lock your compartment for you.

Joe, one "problem" with tourism to St Petersburg is that there are only four luxury properties in the city<BR><BR>Also, the Nevsky Palace changed management companies--it is now managed by a different company (Corinthia) with alleged ties to Libya.

Palladium puts non-responses up on several travel boards, so I will add something about them==<BR><BR>In 1999 I was using them to book a train trip to Smolensk from Moscow--they thought Smolensk was in Belarus (a different country). It is not, it is in Russia. Expect great service from them?

Nemo,<BR><BR>My husband and I just returned yesterday from 10 days in Russia, 5 St. Petersburg, and 5 in Austria. We stayed at the Sheraton's--were very pleased. They were a helpful bunch of people. Also the breakfast brunch kept us going until dinner-which was included in our reasonable room rate.<BR><BR>The Sheraton in St. Petersburg is under new management by a team from Austria, not Libya. This hotel is on Nevsky Prospect which is the Champs Elysees of Russia--can walk everwhere just about. <BR><BR>I would not advise the night train. My husband and I are clean freaks, though. We took the Avrora--fast day train, and it was not very clean. I would never have slept in one of the sleeper cabins--even first class.<BR><BR>It is cold, but we just returned to Cleveland, and it is colder here now, than when we left Moscow.<BR><BR>Have fun.

The company that bought the Nevsky Palace does have ties to Libya:<BR><BR>http://www.archi.ru/english/press/texts/mt220102.htm<BR><BR>Several years ago the US Treasury Department warned Americans against staying in two hotels in Prague and one in Budapest because of Corinthia's ties to Libya (as a result of sanctions imposed after the Lockerbie bombing):<BR><BR>http://62.172.206.162/IHT/PG/98/pg032598.html<BR><BR>Although I never heard of any prosecutions, it is illegal for American citizens to trade with these companies (as in spending money in the hotel or restaurants). Usually the local American consulate will issue a warning about specific hotels/establishments, which has not yet happened. <BR><BR>Something to think about during this war against terrorism--although it is unfortunate for the St Petersburg tourist trade as only last year a fourth luxury property opened there.

Mark David Miller, Smolensk is the last stop in Russia on Russia/Belarus border. It's not surprising people get confused. Do you know exactly what city is in what state in USA? I doubt it.

Faina, I assure you that if my job was in the travel business I would know that, say, Detroit is in the United States and not in Canada, especially after purchasing a ticket and before making mistakes on a client's visa.

tttttt

MDM: Just curious: why were you in Smolensk? I was at Smolensk Lakelands National Park this past summer working with teachers from Smolensk, and we made a day trip into the city to meet one of them for lunch and to tour the wall, the cathedral, and such. The city was going through some historical restoration, and we were questioned by the park director as to what we could suggest to help them encourage tourism. Since it is out of the way and I have never heard anyone else speak of going there, I'm just wondering what took you there. Were you there as a tourist or on business?

Something about just mentioning Smolensk--everyone has the same reaction as you! Actually, partially courtesy of Palladium I did not go, although I may go this summer.<BR><BR>Soviet history is what attracted me to Smolensk, two events in particular: <BR><BR>-the Katyn Forest Massacre, where NKVD troops murdered thousands of Polish officers in 1940. After the region was over run by the German troops the Germans discovered the graves, tried to publicize the massacre, and the Allies would not believe (actually could not believe) that the USSR was responsible. I think it was around 1990 that the Soviets finally took responsibility.<BR><BR>-"Smolensk Under Soviet Rule"--after the Germans took over the area they brought the communist party archives to Germany; after WWII the US took those archives to the US for study. The main work on this was "Smolensk Under Soviet Rule" by Prof. Feinsod of Columbia University in the 1950s. I read it when I was about 17--the entire period of the Russian Civil War, anti-Kulak campaign, anti-religion campaigns, Purges, etc. was laid out in documentary form. <BR><BR>For me it would be fascinating to walk the streets that I read about 20+ years ago. There are a few museums worth visiting from what colleagues have told me.

We had a good guide from the university while we were there. There were only 3 of us and our interpreter. We drove right up to the wall that surrounds part of the city and were the only people there; there are no tourists in Smolensk! It is a city with great potential, because of its historical significance. There are some beautiful tapestries done by the sister of Ivan the Terrible that on display in the cathedral. The church was kept in good repair by the Communists, because local church members convinced them that it could be a museum. I hope you get there.