St Petersburg is our "number one" suggestion for a place to add to your Trans-Sib trip. It's completely contrasted to Moscow, and packed with exciting and interesting things to do and see. Also, for Trans-Sib purists, the line originally started here! This trip gives you a basic 2 full days in this city, but you can add more (recommended!) if you'd like to!

You have a choice between budget hotel accommodation, family stay (with hb included) or our latest 3* hotel find in St Petersburg!

Start Day:

any

Duration:

4 days

Visas:

Rus

You don't need a separate Russian Visa for St Petersburg, of course - we will make sure your visa gets validated for all the cities you have booked with us, over the correct dates!

Day	Itinerary	Accom
1	Arrival to St Petersburg (either independently or via options available from us). Car to accommodation. Local rep on arrival to assist with check-in. Balance of day free in St Petersburg. Overnight accommodation (as chosen).	your choice (see below)
2	Buddy Assistance* in the morning of your first full day in St Petersburg. Afternoon to continue independent exploration of St Petersburg.	your choice (see below)
3	Another complete day and evening to explore the "Northern Capital". Own transportation (we recommend a taxi) to Moskovsky Stn for the overnight train to Moscow (approx 23:55)	train
4	Arrival in Moscow (approx 08:20). Connect to Day 1 of your Trans-Siberian trip....	-

IMPORTANT NOTE: Visa Registration. There is a local fee for the (compulsory) registration of your visa, which varies according to whether you are staying in a hotel (approx GBP2/in roubles) or in a Family Stay (registered through a different scheme, GBP15 :-( Our local staff will do all the running-around for you - but may need to borrow your passport overnight (if Family Stay).

Want to add extra nights in St Petersburg Nothing easier, but because the depart-day of the Trans-Sib is fixed, your extra days have to come "ahead" of your main trip dates. Click here for details.

Trip Prices valid until Feb 28th 2001	prices are subject to change without notice
Family Stay We warmly recommend Family Stays to all our clients! Staying with a family gives you an insight on how people really live in Russia - as against all the cliches you heard! Home cooking is part of the fun, and breakfast and evening supper are included. Our criteria for choosing families are (i) honest, friendly, reliable people (ii) with a nice, comfortable, safe home (iii) not further than 30 mins from the centre by public transport (iv) and if possible, some knowledge of English (or another foreign language). If you are a night-owl and anticipate coming home after a wild vodka-session in one of Petersburgs many, many nightclubs, please don't pick a family stay!	bkfst +supper
SA.01F - St Petersburg with Family Stay, for one person	GBP195 pp
SA.01F - St Petersburg with Family Stay, for two people	GBP140 pp
Hotel Rossiya 2* If you want the real Soviet experience, this is the place for you - it's not just a hotel, it's a Time Machine. Room furnishings are authentically drab, and an army of little old ladies keep the slightly worn-out rooms spick and span. En-suite WC/Showers and working telephones offer the latest 1970's technology, alongside a giant-sized soviet colour tv ("colour is green" said the staff). More practically, a top-value cafeteria makes your funds go further, and with a convenient metro 200m across the road, it's an ideal base - you'll be on Nevsky Prospekt in 15 mins. 24-hour left luggage. In the topsy-turvey Russian world, an unexpected plus is that the crime and prostitution tend to centre on the 4-5* hotels where there are richer pickings, leaving the Rossiya happily alone.	bkfst
SA.01Ha - St Petersburg with Hotel Rossiya 2* for one person	GBP169 pp
SA.01Ha - St Petersburg with Hotel Rossiya 2* for two people	GBP120 pp
Hotel Neva 3* A new find of ours for 2000, which you won't find in most guidebooks. It's a former grand hotel, built in the "Empire" style in 1913, prior to the Russian Revolution. After the Revolution it fell into the hands of the City Mayoralty, who still own it - but now it's open to the public. Two floors are grim - not renovated in years and years, and not in good condition. But two other floors (ie the ones we are using!! you won't get put on the other floors), plus the excellent restaurant, have been renovated to 3* standard. It's about the only "period" 3* hotel in the city, and with a SUPERB central location, only 5 mins walk from the Summer Gardens, and 10-15 mins slow walk from the Fields of Mars, Millionaya, and the Hermitage. There are some downsides - Reception is still a bit spartan, we don't advise the 2nd-floor cafe, and the lift (elevator) is a bizarre antique! But it's shaping-up as a nice find, and if you like "character" hotels with personal service and extravagant architecture, with a central location on Liteiny Prospekt - this could be for you!	bkfst
SA.01Hb St Petersburg with Hotel Neva 3* for one person	GBP210 pp
SA.01Hb St Petersburg with Hotel Neva 3* for two people	GBP155 pp
Upgrade your Rail Travel to 1st-Class on the overnight train to Moscow (can be added to any of the above accommodation choices)	GBP40 pp

All our prices are in British Pounds

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