afterall - if you're not too fussy you could also consider home stays. They may not be terribly well located, and you may wind up on a sofa bed, but you will get a different view of life in Russia. I booked through Passport Travel in Australia, but if you do some checking over at Lonely Planet you may find some other options. If you do use Passport, make sure they don't use G&R International as their ground agent.

trsny: I've not hired a tour guide myself but have seen them outside palaces/Kremlin etc where you can hire them on the spot. They have ID and appear to be official tour guides, often speaking multiple languages and very well educated.

4 of us are traveling on the Jewel of the Sea to St Petersburg (Aug 19-20) and would like to share a Red October 2 day private excursion with another couple. Is anyone interested?

Hi Freddo,
We did travel mostly independently but made some bookings through the Russian Travel Centre in Sydney
Level 5/75 King St
phone 02 92621144.
We used them for transfers, train bookings & 1 Hotel in St Petersburg. We organised our own guide. In Moscow it is easy to book tours after you arrive.
Good luck you will love it.

hey Trumps
thanks for that lead on russian travel centre
i have been looking at 'welcome to russia' who are based in russia but would prefer an aussie agent
noone i visit in flight centre etc have been to russia and i really need to speak to someone who has
i have looked at and contacted bentours but theyre more interested in setting up a tour for you
i can speak the language so i dont want to go on tour

Hi Lanejohann,
They speak both Russian & English at the Russian Travel Centre in Sydney.