J

Gina, <BR>I love St Pete, but you do have to realize it is struggling in some ways. I think you will be safe, but it depends on how comfortable you are dealing with different situations. Some (older folks especially) I would recommend a hotel over a flat. The city is really beautiful--I really do believe one of the most beautiful in the world, but even in pre-revolution days there was a sort of ramshackle feel to it all. (You can see from photos--no I'm not that old!) I just have to wish you luck fishing around for guides, but there are many of them out there, I prefer not to get involved with reccomendations over the internet. Anyway you have a year. I do love Russia, but there are many problems--this is part of what makes it so interesting. You feel as if you begin to participate in the rebirth of the culture. Best Wishes.

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Virginia

I stayed at the Grand Hotel Europe, which was as you know enormously expensive, but as another poster pointed out, there aren't really nuanced choices, there are fancy & safe hotels, then quite a drop to another level of hotel. <BR> I think I was there in 1999 or 1998; at that time anyhow one did have to be concerned about safety (and I am a New Yorker used to all kinds of things). The Grand Hotel is truly beautiful, and there is one retaurant in it where dinner would be something like $9. When I was there unfortunately word on the street was that you had to be concerned about food safety too. <BR> Guides: a hotel will find you a first-class guide for the day. We had a lovely woman, an art history scholar. The licensed guides are held to high standards. <BR> I also found a place down the street--Nevsky Prospect I imagine--with a sign in English about tours; we went with them for part of a day and that was perfectly nice too. (The romanovs had just been interred, we went to that site and some other places in the city). <BR> I didn't have a guide for the Hermitage,it such an amazing place, the most wonderful museum I have ever been to. I went three or four times, I could spend a year there. I think I at least walked past everything once, though the Matisses weere on tour. Don't miss them!!! <BR>

Anton

Please, don't miss a chance of seeing Moscow, St-Pete and smaller towns in the vicinity. You will get to know about REAL Russia by visiting Russian family households and living with hospitable people who are ready to settle you and guide round their places. <BR>Choose homestay! <BR> <BR>Details: www.russia-at-ease.narod.ru