St Petersburg Itinerary help pls
 

Finally, everything has fallen into place and we can visit St Petersburg. Although, we'll won't be there during the white nights, I am still very excited about finally going.

We are based in Europe so jet lag should not be a problem. We know no Russian and are travelling independently (1 arranged tour) and I'm studying the Russian alphabet. Will you please look at our schedule below and tell me your opinion?

May 8-13; Hotel: Petro Palace Hotel

<b>Day 1:</b> late arrival, pick-up arranged (35&euro;)

<b>Day 2: Friday 9 May, Victory Day</b>
2 hour walk with the following visits along the way: Russian Museum - 2 hours; Church of the Spilt Blood (1 hour); Hermitage (4 hours).

<b>Day 3: Saturday </b><i>(Saturday and Sunday plans are interchangeable; weather will determine when we go to Peterhof)</i>
morning and afternoon: hydrofoil to and visit Peterhof

<b>Day 4: Sunday 11 May, White Nights Festival starts at the Mariinsky</b>
Morning: Flea Market at Udelnaya; afternoon Hermitage.

<b>Day 5: Monday</b>
Arranged private tour to Tsarskoye Selo in the am and Pavlovsk in the afternoon. Lunch at Staraya Bashnya or Podvoriye or other place?

<b>Day 6: Tuesday 13 May</b>
Free in the am; late pm flight home

* We hope to attend a performance at the Mariinsky, just waiting for the playbill to be posted.

<b>Questions:</b>

* Would the 2-day ticket for the Hermitage be good for us? Are you allowed to revisit places you had already seen? Does buying the ticket online, cut down on the museum queues?

* Do I need to register our Visas, ie does the holiday 9 May count towards the 3 days?

* Is it normal for the hotel to charge a fee to register the visas? I'm quoted 120&euro;. Can a travel agency do this for us?

* Any restaurant suggestions?

Thank you for your help!

Staraya Bashnya (Old Tower) was a wonderful experience only 4 tables but 300 menu items. With coffee we were given a 3 tier plate of the most delicious chocolates. Loved it, on the day we were there 2 Russian priests came in &amp; splashed holy water in our direction.

1. Should you stay in a Hotel, your visa must be registered within 24 hours - and you get a speical paper from migration authorities confirming it. Some hotels do charge for the service - although we do it complimentary ;)

2. Ticket to the Hermitage allows you to revisit what you've already seen, though I'm not sure it helps to avoid the line. There's a small tip - if you participate in some kind of Patron Programme (i.e. donate 600+ rubles per person) - you get a VIP ticket and don't stay in a queue + you get an extra ticket to some exhibition. Also available with us ;)

I disagree with pp. I live in Moscow and have stayed in a hotel in St. Pete's for 5 days (only 3 business days) without having to register. It would have required me to un-register in Moscow, register in St. Pete's, re-register when I got back to Moscow. I simply told the hotel that I was staying less than three business days; therefore, no need to register. They were fine with that. Victory day does not count as a business day. Also, if the hotel won't register you for free I'd change hotels, I've never heard of one charging - especially such a high fee.

1. The thing is: if you're not staying in the hotel - you have 72 business hours (its your duty!) If you are - the hotel has 24 hours (even weekends &amp; holidays count!), and it's not you who cares (unless it exceeds 72 business hours!)

2. Hotels themselves pay for each foreign citizen up to 11$ for registration - sometimes they collect money from guests, sometimes make it complimentary.

Do not forget your immigration card when crossing the board to avoid troubles.

Thank you for all your advice; it looks like I will not have to register, and thus save 240&euro; since, if I understand correctly, I'm way under 72 hours!

Day 1 = 2.5 hours
Days 2, 3 and 4: excluded (holiday and weekend)
Day 5: 24 hours
Day 6: 17 hours

Is this correct? Am I going to have to fight for the right not to register or get in trouble at the airport?

Thanks Trumps for the heads up on Staraya Bashnya. Did you reserve in advance? Can 2 non Russian speakers manage or should I try to persuade our guide to come too?

My mistake, the visa registration is only <b>120 RUR</b> not Euros as indicated for the rest of the bill. For this amount I will not complain. Sorry for any confusion.

Hi Moxie, We actually went with our guide &amp; she did book in advance because we were there with my husbands twin brother &amp; our sister-in- law could have been difficult getting a booking for 5. We had such a good guide we didn't mind paying for her, but if you would rather go on your own you would be fine.
We were in Moscow for May Day but left St Petersburg on Victory Day. It was still light when we came out of the Opera &amp; we felt very safe making our way back to the Hotel.
The Hermitage is amazing.
Enjoy.

Thanks, I don't mind paying for the guide's lunch either. My problem is that I do not know if we will have time to eat.

The quote I have now is for 160&euro; for the 2 of us, pick up, transport, admissions and guide included for Puskin and Pavlovsk starting with a pick up at the hotel at 10am ending at 3.30 pm (I assume drop-off at the hotel).

It seems really short, but I have seen other sites with the same 5.5 hours. What do you think Trumps, do I need to negociate for more time + lunch time?

Hi Moxie,
We paid our guide for 3 days sightseeing then we did the rest on our own. The fee we paid was 200 Euro per day for the 4 of us.(50 Euro per person). That was for the whole day &amp; she would drive us to a show at night &amp; be there waiting for us when we were ready to go back to the Hotel. If we wanted to stay longer somewhere she was fine with it. I would see if your guide could pick you up perhaps at 0930 just to give you a little extra time.

If you are able, would you tell me the name of your guide?

Hi Moxie
Our guide was Tatiana. She was recommended to us by friends &amp; we contacted her on the following email address
[email protected]
Her website www.russianadventure.com
Hopefully she is still available as I note that she hasn't updated her forum.
Good luck.

2 moxie
To pay for the guide's lunch is a norm, it goes without question, you should provide a lunch for the preson working for you the whole day.

Thanks Anna, I'm just trying to figure out if a lunch break is included due to the timing. The tour is only 5.5 hours door to door.

With my very rough estimates, it will take 45 minutes to get to Puskin, 45 minutes to return, which leaves only 4 hours to tour 2 palaces and gardens, short drive between the two, plus lunch.

In Paris it would be at least 1.5 hours for lunch, is lunch quick in Russia or should I ask for more time?

Just have a hearty breakfast, a snack at one palace or the other, and plan on an early dinner.

topping

Oh, sorry. Just remembered you are based in Europe so you may not know that Lincoln said if your feet hurt, it makes you hurt all over.

The fodors gremlins are acting up...I swear I posted the above message on your other post!!