Zelma, if you'd like to take a boat trip, take a long one to see many canals and rivers. If you find some company, ask about the toure they offer, as very often they make tours by just by one or two canals forth and back. And it's
better to take an open-topped boat!(in case it's warm of course) to see more.
I know one company, which offers rather good trips, also in english.
Here is their site, but unfortunately it's only in Russian, but there you will see their telephine number, maybe it will help you. www.akvaexcurs.ru
Here I have to teach you some russian words :)

If on this site you press a russian word "экскурсии" (excursions)(it is on the left),you will see a map of the city centre, there below on the right there will be 3 russian words " маршрут № 1 " "маршрут № 2 " and "маршрут № 3" (it means routes)it will show you the routes.

So to find this company you need to get to the central avenue of the city the Nevsky thoroufare( we call it Nevsky prospect).It's "Nevsky prospect(Canal Griboedova)"metro station.

If outside you'll see canal (it's called Griboedova), you are on the right way :) and on your right in the distance you'll see the Spilled Blood Cathedral,on yout left- Kazan Cathedral. So u cross Canal Griboedova and keep going straight along the Nevsky prospect.

U go straight along it towards the Admiralty(u'll see this building in the very end of the prospect;yellow one with
a long spire, by the way, on top of Admiralty there is a small weather vane in the form of ship it is one of the symbols of the city).
So keep going staight and in around 7 minutes you'll reach another river-Moika river and the so called "Green" bridge (the first cast iron bridge in Europe).

Don't cross it! On your left and right (on both sides of the prospect),at the embankments you'll see small stairs, leading down to water and boats!

This company, called "Acqua Exkurs" has rather long, at least one hour trips by different canals!

And at some fixed time they have tours in English. But the tours haven't started yet, so I dont know ther timetable yet.Maybe later i'll find out, if you remind me.

You can buy tickets on spot, without booking.
If something is not clear please ask me.

I would reccomend you to take a night toure to see the draw bridges open,besides in June we still have white nights, at least in the first part of June...

So that company is on the corne of Nevsky prospect and Moika river.

Joegarneau,
As for small hotels, it's true, that most of them are very nice, cozy and what is more important most of them are in the very centre of the city.As for prizec i'm not very well awared, but you can have a look here, probably it'll help you:
www.hotelrachmaninov.com/en
www.herzen-hotel.com
www.alexhotel.ru
www.pushka-inn.com
www.benua-hotel.ru/eng

http://www.comfort33.ru/index_en.php
They have quite dood reviews.

Zelma ,
As for prizes for the boat trios, I've asked some of my friends, in summer it was around 500 rubles (1 dollar is arond 30 roubles) per one hour, night tours are usually a bit more expensive.

And as for some extra not trditional tours I'd reccomend everybody to take a metro ride, to see such station as Avtovo, Narvskaya, Baltiiskaya, Vladimirskaya.These are our fist metro stations of the Soviet period, built in 1955, they are very nice, for me even beautiful, decorate with glass, bronze, mozaic, sculpture,marble. But be careful,it's forbidden to take pictures there!

Joegarneau,
You can always buy tickets on your own, but usually you have to stand in a long line to buy them (sometimes for more than an hour), especially to the Hermitage. Probably in summer it's more convenient to book tickets on-line or through the receptionist, but it will be more expensive of course.
As for such places as Peterhof or Catherine Palace,Spilled Blood Cathedral, St. Isaak's Cathedral there are usually no lines there and you buy tickets on spot.

The only thing I know about evening tours of Hermitage is that they are usually arranged for the cruise ship tourists. It's a special offer of the cruise companies.Such tour includes 1 or maximum 2 hour excursion(what is not enough in my opinion)with a guide and a beautiful 1 hour concert in one of the central rooms of the Hermitage.

To travel on your own here it's safe. It's a very european city. You need a good guide book and a map. I guess that's all! But I have to admit that people are not very helpful, mostly not because theay are rude, but because they still can't or are afraid to speak English.
There are a lot of different means of transport to get to any place you need.

But before going somewhere check museum timetable:

www.saint-petersburg-hotels.com/museums.htm

Kseniya...thank you for all of the good information. We will be arriving by boat (M/S Rossia w/GCT)on 5 July and will be staying there until 8 July. I am very interested in your recommendations to do both day/night canal trip. Have you by any chance seen a schedule for trips in English? Also how difficult is it to just wander through the city..taking pictures/trying out small restaurant etc.? We do have Visas. Also would appreciate any suggestions concerning White Nights Festivities.....thank you again so much, Bob Young

BYoung4u2. I think some comments in my perhaps too lengthy SP report will answer some of your questions.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-and-more.cfm

We had a wonderful time.

Not sure if someone has already mentioned above but you should get Hermitage tickets online before you go. We ate at a number of excellent restaurants.

Have you seen this website?

http://www.saint-petersburg.com/

We'll be in port in St P August 19-21. The Marlinsky is closed during this time. Giselle is playing at The Hermitage. Is the caliber very high for this troupe? Can you select your seats if buying on-line? If on-line isn't much more expensive, it would save the time of going to buy them in advance or arriving early and taking what's available for that evening.

I visited Leningrad in 1972...frankly the food was inedible (it was on a tour and all meals were included but I couldn't eat the food that was served)....we were also told very very sternly never to drink the water as there were parasites prevalent.

Now you must know also I am a very picky eater and frankly do not like to eat strange foods. But I have noticed that both McDonald's and Subway are now found in Petrograd oops St. Petersburg. Without criticizing me or flaming me, to me these are the most reliable places to eat. Are McDonald's and Subway found in the main tourist drags and how do Russians consider the food there..(sorry I don't like borsct as served at home or mysterious pies...nothing like a quarter pounder with cheese, fries and a coke).

I was not impressed with our dancers last June at the Hermitage, however, seems they say they are quite good normally. Unless you are really into Ballet, I am not sure the experience is worth the money. I felt it was very overpriced. The stage is small and intimate which is charming but constrictive to say the least.

The setting is beautiful, just to know you are sitting in the same room where the czars and guests used to watch these type productions. I would get a DVD and watch the ballet at home first to see if you like it ( Giselle is an easy ballet to like), and decide later.

I LOVE Ballet and personally would not go back to the Hermitage. I would repeat Marinsky, of course, but you have no choice.

All said, the most expensive ballet I have ever attended, and disappointing performance the first half, although the dancers redeemed themselves in the second act.

All seats are good. The theater is not very deep and has no obstructions for viewing.

You still shouldn't drink the water. However, 1972 was a very long time ago - you will find that the food situation has changed....

Kseniya...you mentioned in one of your replys that you were going to see if you could find out when the English speaking canal tours was available. I am wondering if you were ever able to find that information.

Lincasanova...thanks so much for all the good information. I did check out the web site you suggested and found some very alot of good advice on touring St. Petersburg.

Bob

The English speaking canal tours are in my report . There are two. Very close together on separate canals. I took both. Enjoyed them BOTH.

We would like to make a short jaunt to Saint Petersburg from Helsinki next summer. Is it better (that is, faster, more economical) to travel to Saint Petersburg by train or ferry? I did a little research online and it seems that the boat is an overnight trip and therefore you end up paying for a bunk. For a family of four, that can get expensive. However, we're willing to pay the price if the trip is more enjoyable than taking the train.

Unfortunately, our trip is taking place in (late) July so we will miss the White Nights Celebration. For a classical music fan, this is very sad :(