samsmom1127

overlookfarm,

My 14 y.o. daughter is visiting St. Petersburg this summer as part of a student trip to eastern Europe. You paint such an evocative picture of Russia, I wish she were visting Moscow as well. Perhaps that is a trip she and I will make together one day!

Wanda1

To overlookfarm. I had to look at who wrote your note because it sounded like me! This was exactly how I felt when I traveled to Russia this past September. I saw much of what you saw and did. I flew by myself to St. Peterbsurg. I always meet my husband at these far away destinations. I always have my hotel send a car which makes things so easy. In St. Petersburg I stayed at the Alexander House (small boutique hotel about 20 minutes from Nevsky Prospect). What fabulous service, hotel and lovely staff who speak English quite well. The owners really know what hospitality means. You can find them on the Internet easily or thru TravelAdvisor. Dara the owner's daughter/manager is superb! I had them line up a tour guide, because the one I had hired recommended by a friend just never showed up. First day I would suggest a city tour. We did this on our own and I will admit the first day is the toughest until you get used to things. I met a nice couple in the lobby and we agreed to share a guide to Peterhoff etc. and a car which cut the price in half. We paid $70 per couple from 9:30 a.m. to about 4 or 4:30 p.m. for guide and car. We paid entrances and hydrofoil to St. Petersburg ourselves. We traveled to Peterhoff and cathedrals that day for the $70 per couple. I thought it was worth it because our guide just took us to the front of the line always. Our hotel was 3 blocks from the Mariinski and we walked late at night several nights to see the Ballet. This is more of a residential neighborhood and we were not worried at all. We walked to the metro day and night to go to the city. We should have bought our own train tickets in Russia and would have saved a tremendous amount of money. The train station isn't far away and I could have just gone in and bought my tickets. I was concerned I wouldn't get on the Red Arrow, but as it turned out they were booked anyway and I ended up on the Nikolavich Express (the Retro train) and I'm sorry If I've spelled that incorrectly. That was such a fun train. Very clean and new. Loved it. We spent 6 days in St. Petersburg and went everywhere by foot or taxi arranged thru the hotel. I usually found it easier to arrange it that way so I wouldn't deal with expensive taxi's. Even the restaurants would call a taxi and arrange a price ahead. Finally arrived in Moscow and I must admit I was lucky that I had a friend send a car for me and lent me an apt. right off Treverskaya (Moscow's 5th Avenue!!!). I walked everywhere, used the metro constantly, walked by myself at 10:30 p.m. in Moscow in the metro and never was scared! I traveled in September so the weather was perfect. There were thousands of people out late at night. It was wonderful.

I must admit when I started researching this Russia trip I couldn't find much information on fodors or anywhere. What I did find was suggestions to use a travel agency because Russia was different. Yes, it was different. It was a bit more difficult because of the language, but I did learn the cyrillic alphabet and did take 3 months of russian lessons, but it all came down to learning "where is this or that" in russian and learning directions, left, right, straight ahead and please please please learn the numbers. Learn the hundreds as you will be paying in hundreds of rubles. My mistake didn't learn those words well enough. Yes Russia was a bit more difficult than Egypt, China, Vietnam, Cambodia but wow am I glad I did it on my own. I did use guides in both cities which really helps because they also make recommendations for good restaurants and just general tips. It is extremely expensive however. Meals were outrageously expensive for me but since the hotel had huge breakfasts we only needed one meal out.

Another tip, if you are interested in the ballet, you do not need to order/buy your tickets online from the Mariinski Theater as I did. I spent high prices for perfect seats, but the theaters are so small that I went to the box office the day of and bought balcony tickets for $12. I could have bought tickets in the Czarina's box for $40 but you do take the chance of not getting the exact seat you want. They also have these little kiosks everywhere on the streets of Moscow that sell tickets to ballet, symphony, plays etc. My guide picked up orchestra tickets to the Bolshoi for about $25!!!!! Excellent seats. So in short, don't you dare be convinced by people that traveled ages ago or aren't adventuresome and not go to Russia. Don't you miss this trip of a lifetime. You can't do everything, just pick the most important things and enjoy. We really enjoyed just sitting in the park and watching the families and talking to tourists and locals, having coffee in the beautiful coffee shops of Moscow, watching the beautiful people of that city, window shopping cause I couldn't afford those prices and good food. If you need more information, just ask. I'll be happy to recommend. I did go to a fleamarket outside of Moscow (Izmaiolova Market??) that was a lot of fun. I just took the metro and got off about 5 stops and had a great time. You will see lots of tourists there.

And as far as dangerous? I didn't feel in danger at any point. Now if I were walking down a dark street very late at night by myself that's a different story in any city of the world, but late at night I was walking the streets of Moscow with hundreds of other visitors, locals, etc.

That also brings to mind. A co-worker of my husband had just come back from Egypt after a weeks vacation. He said it was the most horrible vacation/place he had ever been. I find that if you do your research, find out where to stay, get good local help whether thru the hotel or guides you will be fine. Egypt was one of the most magical trips of my life!!! I almost changed my mind because of this ignorant person's experience then I said to myself I wasn't going to do without this dream trip just because of someone else's remarks.

I am fortunate to have traveled to many many places and I'm always amazed at how truly wonderful each place I've been to is. In this day and age many people travel the world, unfortunately people in my country are afraid to venture out and do something different. Sorry to have rambled on and on. I'm glad to see in how things have changed in the last 6 months since my research for this trip started. Now I'm finding more and more info and it's not so bad. Just be prepared to spend more than you imagined. It's expensive.

Aliceb_good

Greetings, I just became a Fodorite, as I would like to jump into the fray here about St. Petersburg. I am in the initial stages of planning a trip there, and my most pressing question at this time is "how many days do I need to allow to see most of the important sights?" Fodor's has itineraries of 3, 7, and 10 days. I know that three days are not enough, but I don't really have time for 7. Would 5 be adequate??
My husband and I will be going from Sweden, and then likely going back to Glasgow, where we're starting the trip with a few weeks in Scotland. From what I've read, the most economical way from Gothenburg would be to fly to Helsinki and take the train to St. P. On the return, we'd probably take the train back to Helsinki and then fly to Glasgow to return to the U.S. (Any comments on that?)
I've been reading about the perceived negatives, and I'm relieved to read of everyone's marvelous experiences there. My in-laws went on a Baltic tour a few years back that included St. P. and loved it.
I truly value this availability of having the voice of experience! Thanks.

WallyKringen

If you have so little time, fly to St. P. - going to Helsinki and taking the train costs you a day and a half of precious vacation time! You want to take the morning train from H. (to avoid getting into St. P. late at night), and so you need to get into H. the day before, and the morning train doesn't get in until early afternoon - by the time you find your lodgings the day is mostly shot, and so is at least half of the day before.

In your favour: long evenings, daylight until very late - but the museums etc. still close, so save your walking (a big part of the enjoyment!) until after hours.

Even if you have to fly via Stockholm (likely on the outbound) or Kopenhagen (likely on the way to Glasgow), you can be there in half a day.

Or take the morning train back to Helsinki and fly to Glasgow from there?

There is not much to see on that train ride, flat country all the way, about ten million trees (I stopped counting...), and a rather interesting border crossing (a throwback to the old Sowjet days).

Give St. P. about 5 days, make the most of them, and you will have seen more than most people get to see. Getting around is easy: walking is the best, buses and trams and - for substantial distances because getting in and out takes time - the very efficient Metro (but with more widely spaced stations than in other cities) work fine once you get the hang of them.

You'll have a great time!