RUSSIA: NOW is the time to visit!!! We traveled with Grand Circle
Sep 29th, 2007, 10:00 PM
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RUSSIA: NOW is the time to visit!!! We traveled with Grand Circle
Just returned from our first trip to Russia and was amazed at the progress this country has made. Capitalism is taking off.
We traveled with GRAND CIRCLE - Excellent and Outstanding in every way! 4 nites in Moscow at a newer hotel, 7 days on a DELUXE river cruise, and 3 nites in St. Petersburg at another lovely hotel. We expected accommodations to be third world and we were pleasantly surprised. Even the food at all establishments was better than home for the price, especially on their privately owned river boat. Sightseeing in all areas was better than we expected; visiting the palaces of the Czars to the village homes along the river topped off by attending the ballet in St. Petersburg - Swan Lake.
Russia is a fascinating country to visit and now there is the opportunity to see it all before it's too crowded (like what happened to China). The traffic in the cities is bad but this company strives for excellence in every way and makes the journey to the sites of interest worth the drive when necessary.
The tour itself was worth every penny but if you are a shopper, you'll need a fist full of 'rubles'. Prices are high!
We have been visiting interesting destinations for a long time but only recently discovered Grand Circle. We are also booked with their subsidiary OAT for Thailand, Australia, Egypt and India. Wish we had discovered their unique itineraries earlier, especially the small groups of OAT.
If you have any specific questions, please do not hesitate to contact me direct on my email
[email protected]
Happy traveling!!!! Hope my observations have been helpful.
We traveled with GRAND CIRCLE - Excellent and Outstanding in every way! 4 nites in Moscow at a newer hotel, 7 days on a DELUXE river cruise, and 3 nites in St. Petersburg at another lovely hotel. We expected accommodations to be third world and we were pleasantly surprised. Even the food at all establishments was better than home for the price, especially on their privately owned river boat. Sightseeing in all areas was better than we expected; visiting the palaces of the Czars to the village homes along the river topped off by attending the ballet in St. Petersburg - Swan Lake.
Russia is a fascinating country to visit and now there is the opportunity to see it all before it's too crowded (like what happened to China). The traffic in the cities is bad but this company strives for excellence in every way and makes the journey to the sites of interest worth the drive when necessary.
The tour itself was worth every penny but if you are a shopper, you'll need a fist full of 'rubles'. Prices are high!
We have been visiting interesting destinations for a long time but only recently discovered Grand Circle. We are also booked with their subsidiary OAT for Thailand, Australia, Egypt and India. Wish we had discovered their unique itineraries earlier, especially the small groups of OAT.
If you have any specific questions, please do not hesitate to contact me direct on my email
[email protected]
Happy traveling!!!! Hope my observations have been helpful.
Sep 29th, 2007, 10:30 PM
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Before jotting this posting I should have checked my notes since I'm still in 'jet lag' state. But I find when everything is freshest in my mind, the best insight is given.
KGB is gone or at least out of sight. You can travel anywhere and we did. Visiting the METRO underground in Moscow was one of our highest adventures - trying to get around without english and following maps that made no sense. People are fast moving and very serious. Smiles are returned but often eye contact is avoided. The young are adapting to the free spirit best of all. Was amazed at how the ladies love the high heals and boots. Great pride in appearance. We loved especially the older ladies and gentlemen who lived through the most recent difficult years....their faces were a roadmap of history! They probably miss communism most of all.
Don't miss the METRO in Moscow....on certain runs we saw art that is in no museum we've ever visited. Bronze, mosaics, frescas.....absolutely amazing. Seeing the locals just running from train to train and never seeing the beauty around them. Also, everything is so clean. No graffiti nor a gum wrapper unless dropped by some American.
At the Hermitage I was pointing to a wall covering that was not encased and out of no where a GENERAL type lady came over to me screaming DON'T TOUCH OUR ARTWORK!!!! They had two way glass and she must have thought I touched something. After that, I kep my hands in my pockets in fear of being shipped off to Siberia.
Eating out on our own was very expensive as was the shopping but we were glad most of our meals were included in our tour price. We felt safe eating where our tour company took us....if anything there was TOO MUCH food and the bread and butter are to die for. Solid dark breads...so good. And my scale will tell the tale once I have the courage to step on to it.
Also, lots of amenities in all hotels as well as on the river boat....hair dryers too.
If you are considering a trip to Russia, please book it now. It's an amazing country and we are so lucky to have seen it today! My only advice is book it now....they have a short season and summers are terribly crowded. We found mid September this year to be excellent - we are told the summers the lines for everything are very long and that takes up too much of your time.
Hope you go soon.
KGB is gone or at least out of sight. You can travel anywhere and we did. Visiting the METRO underground in Moscow was one of our highest adventures - trying to get around without english and following maps that made no sense. People are fast moving and very serious. Smiles are returned but often eye contact is avoided. The young are adapting to the free spirit best of all. Was amazed at how the ladies love the high heals and boots. Great pride in appearance. We loved especially the older ladies and gentlemen who lived through the most recent difficult years....their faces were a roadmap of history! They probably miss communism most of all.
Don't miss the METRO in Moscow....on certain runs we saw art that is in no museum we've ever visited. Bronze, mosaics, frescas.....absolutely amazing. Seeing the locals just running from train to train and never seeing the beauty around them. Also, everything is so clean. No graffiti nor a gum wrapper unless dropped by some American.
At the Hermitage I was pointing to a wall covering that was not encased and out of no where a GENERAL type lady came over to me screaming DON'T TOUCH OUR ARTWORK!!!! They had two way glass and she must have thought I touched something. After that, I kep my hands in my pockets in fear of being shipped off to Siberia.
Eating out on our own was very expensive as was the shopping but we were glad most of our meals were included in our tour price. We felt safe eating where our tour company took us....if anything there was TOO MUCH food and the bread and butter are to die for. Solid dark breads...so good. And my scale will tell the tale once I have the courage to step on to it.
Also, lots of amenities in all hotels as well as on the river boat....hair dryers too.
If you are considering a trip to Russia, please book it now. It's an amazing country and we are so lucky to have seen it today! My only advice is book it now....they have a short season and summers are terribly crowded. We found mid September this year to be excellent - we are told the summers the lines for everything are very long and that takes up too much of your time.
Hope you go soon.
Sep 30th, 2007, 03:33 PM
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Well, http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34873874 1984 was a good time to visit too...and capitalism was pretty prevalent even in 1989. (shhh, don't tell!)
But I'm glad to read your enthusiastic post! I really do want to return to Russia; so many lovely memories.
But I'm glad to read your enthusiastic post! I really do want to return to Russia; so many lovely memories.
Sep 30th, 2007, 03:55 PM
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I visited (via land) in 1988 and via River Cruise this summer on Amadeus Tolstoy.
I compared trips with a friend who went with GCT and it sounds like GCT had the better tour over Amadeus. I was not very pleased with the food on Amadeus and we did not use hotels in Moscow or St. Petersburg. With the traffic, hotels would have been the better choice.
I loved both of my trips to Russia and would love to return again one day. My next trip will not be on a tour.
I compared trips with a friend who went with GCT and it sounds like GCT had the better tour over Amadeus. I was not very pleased with the food on Amadeus and we did not use hotels in Moscow or St. Petersburg. With the traffic, hotels would have been the better choice.
I loved both of my trips to Russia and would love to return again one day. My next trip will not be on a tour.
Sep 30th, 2007, 05:05 PM
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Glad to know you enjoyed russia.
But it's hardly undiscovered territory.
We've been 3 times - and capitalism has been going strong for years. (And believe me - prices are WAY higher, and there are way more tourists, than there were 10 or 15 years ago.)
But it's hardly undiscovered territory.
We've been 3 times - and capitalism has been going strong for years. (And believe me - prices are WAY higher, and there are way more tourists, than there were 10 or 15 years ago.)
Oct 8th, 2007, 05:28 PM
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It's me again...been home 10 days now and that's when you really can reflect on what you have recently visited...after jet lag has gone away.
Grand Circle did such a great job; this was our first with them but have several others booked. Amy, you are right about staying at hotels in Moscow and St. Petersburg; as lovely as the ship was on the 7 day cruise - 7 days were enough! With the accommodations at new spacious hotels in both cities was much better and like you said...less bus riding.
We rated this tour a 5 star out of 5. Tour directors even shared meals with us. On other tours, and we've taken many, they needed time on their own and left us high and dry. The Grand Circle tour directors took us on tours that were NOT on the itinerary and at no cost. At time of gratuity at the end of the tour, it was easy to dig deep into your pockets for a deserving tip. I could name all the other tour companies we've traveled with and they are high end....but none received a perfect score rating of 5 stars from us.
At least take a look at this tour and compare before booking any russian tours.
Good Luck
Grand Circle did such a great job; this was our first with them but have several others booked. Amy, you are right about staying at hotels in Moscow and St. Petersburg; as lovely as the ship was on the 7 day cruise - 7 days were enough! With the accommodations at new spacious hotels in both cities was much better and like you said...less bus riding.
We rated this tour a 5 star out of 5. Tour directors even shared meals with us. On other tours, and we've taken many, they needed time on their own and left us high and dry. The Grand Circle tour directors took us on tours that were NOT on the itinerary and at no cost. At time of gratuity at the end of the tour, it was easy to dig deep into your pockets for a deserving tip. I could name all the other tour companies we've traveled with and they are high end....but none received a perfect score rating of 5 stars from us.
At least take a look at this tour and compare before booking any russian tours.
Good Luck
Oct 16th, 2007, 08:11 PM
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We also just returned from a Grand Circle Tour to Russia and found it fabulous. I, too, would rate it 5 out of 5. No problems and loved our guide. The Felt Boot factory and the home visit were highlights.
Oct 16th, 2007, 11:18 PM
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Katherine,
I was just looking at the Grand Circle website and it looks great and amazingly enough, not that expensive.
One question I have in particular about the cruise/tour, was there much walking, were there super early wake up call every morning? My parents, both 79, just came back from a European tour and they felt that it was very tiring because every day they had to be out and about before 7:30am and there was A LOT of walking, which of course is normal for Europe, but my dad's back gives him trouble and is not great on walking, though basically healthy.
Looking at Grand Circle's website, they do show a lot of senior citizens, so this may be right for them, though they don't like being around a lot of old fuddy duddy
I would be going with them as well, so if it's more senior citizens, I guess I'll feel real young...I'll be 51 in just a few days.
BTW, Thanks for this post, this is really great.
I was just looking at the Grand Circle website and it looks great and amazingly enough, not that expensive.
One question I have in particular about the cruise/tour, was there much walking, were there super early wake up call every morning? My parents, both 79, just came back from a European tour and they felt that it was very tiring because every day they had to be out and about before 7:30am and there was A LOT of walking, which of course is normal for Europe, but my dad's back gives him trouble and is not great on walking, though basically healthy.
Looking at Grand Circle's website, they do show a lot of senior citizens, so this may be right for them, though they don't like being around a lot of old fuddy duddy
I would be going with them as well, so if it's more senior citizens, I guess I'll feel real young...I'll be 51 in just a few days. BTW, Thanks for this post, this is really great.
Oct 16th, 2007, 11:31 PM
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Katherine,
one more question is this is for my parents -- do the ships have only twin beds? My parents have been married for 57 years and they absolutely hate sleeping in separate beds...can the twin beds be made into a full bed?
one more question is this is for my parents -- do the ships have only twin beds? My parents have been married for 57 years and they absolutely hate sleeping in separate beds...can the twin beds be made into a full bed?
Oct 17th, 2007, 04:37 AM
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lyb,
Here is the description of the Tikhi Don cabins from the Grand Circle web site:
Your Private Russian river ship: Grand Circle's M/S Tikhi Don
* Relax in your outside cabin
Your outside cabin measures 130–150 square feet. Unpack only once and enjoy twin beds (which you may choose to push together to create a double), storage space, a table and two chairs, and a private bath with shower.
In addition, you’ll appreciate having a picture window that opens, a refrigerator, and satellite television with CNN. All rooms are non-smoking.
We took the trip a couple of years ago, on a different ship, and the beds were two narrow shelves. This is a big improvement.
Early wakeups should not be a problem, based on our itinerary. Breakfast had a fairly wide window. Ann has some mobility problems, and, in no case did she find the walking to be excessive in either speed or distance. On Kizhi Island, in fact, they added another group for the slower walkers, so that they could go at their own pace. River cruising is definitely the way to go, if you want a more relaxed pace.
Jack and Ann Donoghue
Here is the description of the Tikhi Don cabins from the Grand Circle web site:
Your Private Russian river ship: Grand Circle's M/S Tikhi Don
* Relax in your outside cabin
Your outside cabin measures 130–150 square feet. Unpack only once and enjoy twin beds (which you may choose to push together to create a double), storage space, a table and two chairs, and a private bath with shower.
In addition, you’ll appreciate having a picture window that opens, a refrigerator, and satellite television with CNN. All rooms are non-smoking.
We took the trip a couple of years ago, on a different ship, and the beds were two narrow shelves. This is a big improvement.
Early wakeups should not be a problem, based on our itinerary. Breakfast had a fairly wide window. Ann has some mobility problems, and, in no case did she find the walking to be excessive in either speed or distance. On Kizhi Island, in fact, they added another group for the slower walkers, so that they could go at their own pace. River cruising is definitely the way to go, if you want a more relaxed pace.
Jack and Ann Donoghue
Oct 17th, 2007, 10:04 AM
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BTW, hope I didn't offend anyone by saying "fuddy duddy", that's my parents' term, not mine...I much prefer being with older people -- especially the ones who are adventurous enough to be traveling, especially to Russia.
Oct 18th, 2007, 01:20 PM
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If you do decide on the river cruise, be sure to get a copy of Russia By River www.russiabyriver.com
Oct 18th, 2007, 03:11 PM
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lyb, although we are in our 50's also, I don't think the walking would be too taxing for your parents. There were several older people on our trip, some with canes and/or joint replacements, and I think they found the pace very acceptable.
About the beds, yes, they are singles, but they are pushed together and were pretty comfortable. We found the room arrangement to be very satifactory, with plenty of storage space. Room under beds for luggage, 2 closet areas and drawers.
I think the only really early wake-up calls were at the end for those flying out on very early flights. I think you will all enjoy it. We loved it.
About the beds, yes, they are singles, but they are pushed together and were pretty comfortable. We found the room arrangement to be very satifactory, with plenty of storage space. Room under beds for luggage, 2 closet areas and drawers.
I think the only really early wake-up calls were at the end for those flying out on very early flights. I think you will all enjoy it. We loved it.
Oct 18th, 2007, 03:13 PM
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lyb,
If they haven't booked already and have never traveled with Grand Circle or OAT, using an existing customer as a referral will get you a $100 per person discount on this trip when you book it. It also gets the referring person a $100 per person credit toward future travel. If you need a customer number to use, Email us and we'll give you ours. You could also get one from Katherine.
Jack and Ann Donoghue
If they haven't booked already and have never traveled with Grand Circle or OAT, using an existing customer as a referral will get you a $100 per person discount on this trip when you book it. It also gets the referring person a $100 per person credit toward future travel. If you need a customer number to use, Email us and we'll give you ours. You could also get one from Katherine.
Jack and Ann Donoghue
Nov 10th, 2007, 11:52 AM
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Hi,
It's me again Katherine. I am so happy others that have recently traveled with Grand Circle have answered all your questions. It was an incredible trip and how nice of you to be traveling with your folks. It's a great way to see a country and having the hotels in both cities is the best feature of Grand Circle.
We had someone in a wheel chair and they didn't miss much. I wish I could have traveled with my folks; you will enjoy it so much and being 51 - you'll be the table mascot!
We are in our mid 60s and at times we were following the 80 year olds!!!!
I'm sorry I didn't get to answer any of your specific questions but I promise I'll be more on top of any other issues.
Be sure to have Grand Circle book your airfare; I think that could be a real problem if there are changes/cancellations, etc. With Grand Circle taking care of it; they will get you to your destination in an orderly fashion and changes happen.
Please don't hesitate to contact me direct at my email.
Katherine
[email protected]
When did you decide to go?
It's me again Katherine. I am so happy others that have recently traveled with Grand Circle have answered all your questions. It was an incredible trip and how nice of you to be traveling with your folks. It's a great way to see a country and having the hotels in both cities is the best feature of Grand Circle.
We had someone in a wheel chair and they didn't miss much. I wish I could have traveled with my folks; you will enjoy it so much and being 51 - you'll be the table mascot!
We are in our mid 60s and at times we were following the 80 year olds!!!!
I'm sorry I didn't get to answer any of your specific questions but I promise I'll be more on top of any other issues.
Be sure to have Grand Circle book your airfare; I think that could be a real problem if there are changes/cancellations, etc. With Grand Circle taking care of it; they will get you to your destination in an orderly fashion and changes happen.
Please don't hesitate to contact me direct at my email.
Katherine
[email protected]
When did you decide to go?
Nov 10th, 2007, 01:35 PM
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Hi Katherine and everyone,
I'm still waiting for my parents to make their decision. I really want to go but I think they're a little scared to make the decision. Also, around the same time that we were talking about it, my dad had to see his cardiologist, so I think that added to the tentativeness. But luckily everything is fine with him..it's a wonder what a little pill every morning will do to stabilize the heart. Thankfully!
I keep mentioning it to them every now and then....I told them we need to make the decision by February or so, or we might not be able to get the dates we want.
I will definitely come back and let you know when they make the decision. One thing for sure, whether or not they decide to go, this trip is on MY list.
Lynn
I'm still waiting for my parents to make their decision. I really want to go but I think they're a little scared to make the decision. Also, around the same time that we were talking about it, my dad had to see his cardiologist, so I think that added to the tentativeness. But luckily everything is fine with him..it's a wonder what a little pill every morning will do to stabilize the heart. Thankfully!
I keep mentioning it to them every now and then....I told them we need to make the decision by February or so, or we might not be able to get the dates we want.
I will definitely come back and let you know when they make the decision. One thing for sure, whether or not they decide to go, this trip is on MY list.
Lynn
Nov 10th, 2007, 02:48 PM
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Thanks Katherine, this is valuable info for me. My mom (73) and I (47) are planning a trip to Russia for Oct 09.
I have just returned from a Gate 1 eastern Europe river cruise Budapest to Prague, and am leaving Jan 15 for Thailand/Cambodia with OAT.
I also have some friends who have done a Viking river cruise, so we have alot to coose from and alot to pick over. WHat were some of the things that led you to Grand Circle?
Thanks,
Lynnie
I have just returned from a Gate 1 eastern Europe river cruise Budapest to Prague, and am leaving Jan 15 for Thailand/Cambodia with OAT.
I also have some friends who have done a Viking river cruise, so we have alot to coose from and alot to pick over. WHat were some of the things that led you to Grand Circle?
Thanks,
Lynnie
