I did this trip too in late April last year.I had a great time and it was one of the most intresting,unforgettable trips Ive have had so far.

I found myself and others in our group prefered Saint Petersburg to Moscow.

I really enjoyed the train ride to St Petes as well.

Two differences I found was food is not served as hot as in our country and shop/cafehotel staff was not as well mannered as here,but we found the funny side to that.

A really good experiance,your enjoy it.

Your have a great time! Its a wonderfull country.

Sharon.x

I would love to hear more about the trip, As it is a place that I am very interested in.

Andy

I went on the trip in March last year and really enjoyed it. Take plenty of money or have access to it as the optional excursions are very expensive. In the brochure it said you will have the chance to do one of the ballet, circus or opera but we had the chance to do all three plus a Russian evening. If you are tempted to do all of these the cost will add up. I think the opera was £80.00 (there is a huge mark up for this). Even so I enjoyed everything immensely, except perhaps the visit to the cemetry in Moscow which was a little tedious as we hadn't heard of many of the people buried there and were expected to stay with the guide the whole time. Also the trip on the Metro was very short. St. Catherine's Palace near St. Petersburg including the amber room was fantastic. I am now learning Russian with a view to going again and exploring more independently.

Sharon.

Thanks for the feedback re the trip. I'm not expecting too much from the hotel - it's only somewhere to sleep and see what sounds to be an amazing place (I can usually find the humour in most situations so forewarned is forearmed). Glad you mentioned the rail trip as this was something I wasn't looking forward to but, as you enjoyed it, I presume it isn't the ordeal I was imagining! Did you do the ballet or opera etc? The blurb with my booking has put me off as, despite paying tourist prices,you can't apparently guarantee where/ who you will be sitting with - would welcome your view if you went. Also, what is the best option for cash. I was planning on taking some roubles then using my debit card to top up from ATMs - is this practical?

Once again thanks for your advice.

Regards

Lin

The rail trip I was dreading as its about 5 and half hours long,but it was great.You can buy things on the train to eat and drink.I brought a Russian beer,and ate my fruit and nut bar from home:-D.

You sit at seats like you do on a couch.I was luckery to see with one of my favourites on the tour.We talked and watched the scenery go past.It seemed a pleasent jounery and not long as it was too me,infact its one of my fondest memories of Russia.

Yes the excusions are very expensive.I went to the circus,I cant remember that cost,but they still use aminals in the ring so I thought I let you know incase you dont like that kind of thing.

The ballet was around 95 pounds.I did not like it,I was bored Im not one for ballets but I belive I must try everything when Im on hoilday.I did not have the opera.

Dont worry in these excusions you sat with your group,your not on your own.

Money wise I think for the excusions its best to pay in pounds or US dollers.I payed in Euros and that was abig mistake,due to exchange rates.

I used the atm twice..you get charged to use it,cannot remember how much.

I took roubles,to pay at shops,cafes etc.I think 500 roubles is worth 11 to 12 pounds.

I will pop by again,so your very welcome to ask me anything on Russia!

Best wishes,

Sharon.x

Thanks so much for all the practical info - it's great to hear from somebody who has 1st hand experience. I may not bother with the evening trips as none are particularly my thing but thought maybe I should do something cultural and the ballet was the only possibility. Seems like it's going to be an expensive trip so I will just see how things go. Did many people not do the evening trips on your visit? (wouldn't like to be the only 1 not going!). It was really helpful to know that excursions should be paid in £ or $ as I hadn't realised that and am planning on doing all the daytime optionals. I'm not concerned about the train and will sit back and enjoy the scenery (I'm bound to have the odd bar of choc or packet of bickies tucked away in my bag.

Best wishes

Lin

See you have been given a lot of advice from others who have done this trip before. I did the Moscow by Night trip and really enjoyed it. It gives you a totally different aspect of Moscow. I also went to the circus and enjoyed that too - I had never seen cats perform before. So first time for everything. Yes, there are other animal acts but the rest of the spectacle was good too. When in St. Petersburg, I went to the folk dance night and that was different again - very energetic and colourful. The train trip was not at all unpleasant, though I don't think I would have liked to sleep on the train as with some of the tour companies. Go with an open mind and I guarantee you will enjoy yourself. And if you are like me, you will meet some smashing people on your trip. Enjoy!! Be happy,

Best wishes, Lesley

Your welcome to ask me anytime on my Russian trip.

You be pleased to know that alot went to the ballet and the circus,you certainly wont be by yourself,they very popular.I was went to a Russian cossack show in Saint Petersburg at night,I think this one was free,and I loved it more than the circus and ballet.

I think you could pay for optional excussions by pounds,dollers,rubles or euros,even though it said in my documents it was euro.

Im off to China in a days time so I wont be back here for over 10 days but I will pop on when Im back and answer anymore questons your want to ask!

Bye for now,be back on in early May!

Sharon.x

If you do not want to go somewhere on the evening you can ask around on what others might be doing as well.

Also in Moscow we had a freee evening,where we did our own thing.I went with two others to the park near the hotel.

Bye for now,

Sharon.x

I hope you have a great trip to China, Sharon - that's one I'm hoping to do next year. I'm doing Australia in November so that is going to take a lot of saving up! Let me know how it goes.

Best wishes

Lin

Sorry on late reply,I got back just under a week ago.

It was a fantastic trip and well worth every penny.The Great Wall was one of the main places I went to vist.The weather was good,and lovely hotels.Its tiring but worth it.

The chinese was very friendly and one day I hope to go back.

China is the best trip Ive done and Russia my second favourite.Your enjoy it if you decide to go.

Australia..thats a long way..hope you have a great time.

I hope to do the Prague,Vienna and Budapest trip next year.

All the best,

Sharon.x

Glad you enjoyed the trip and appreciated your comments about hotels as this has been something that's been holding me back a bit. Perhaps a silly question, but what were the toilets like there?!

I've done a city break to Prague with a friend I made on my 1st JY holiday and can thoroughly recommend it. I've also booked a short break to Budapest with the same friend this year so hoping that will turn out equally as enjoyable.

It's so good to be able to see a bit of the world!

Your have no problems with the hotels in China,they fantastic and really beautifull.I have never stayed in such lovely hotels.

Toilets in China..no not a silly queston at all..well here goes...the hotels have toilets like we have here..sitting down type.

Out and about you will get alot of squat toilets,which is a hole in the ground with a porcelin surround and footpads.They are fine.Its best to wear short troverses in these ones.

Some toilets have a fowl odour,but it was not as bad as I imagined.

Bring toilet paper..ie Kleenex and hand sanitiser incase you come across toilets with no tissue and no soap.

Alot of places have one or two sitting toilets amongst the squats,so you can always use them if needed.

I found toilets that flushed with a foot pedal,ie on squat ones.Some a normal flush,otheres a bowl to fill up to throw down.,which I only saw once.

Alot of toilets dont take tissue,so you will throw it in the bin at the side.

Prague and Budapest I want to vist alot but worry if the areas and hotels are over run by stag parties.Did you find this?

Any more questons you need advice on your very welcome to ask.

Sharon.x

Thanks for all the toilet info - these things are very important!

I wouldn't let the 'stag' thing put you off. Been on several breaks to cities with a bit of a reputation for these things and had no bother. There is usually some sort of square where all these parties congregate. I have 2 sons who go on these sorts of hols so know where to avoid. I'm sure the JY manager would tell you the places to avoid. Also, JY tends to stay in hotels a little outside of centre and not the sort of place revellers would choose. In Prague,young people tend to gather in Wenceslas Square by night but it is fine during the day. The Old Town Square in Prague is the main square and much nicer (in my opinion). We happened to be there on the night of the World Cup Final and although there was the usual big screen etc, even on that night there was a very friendly family atomosphere.

I think it's great to swop advice here as first hand knowledge is worth much more than any guide book. I've been a bit nervous about doing China for several years but am just about talking myself into doing it next year.

Regards

Lin

Many thanks to you for letting me know more on Prague.Youve been a great help.

I did not go overseas to I was 30,and Prague was the first place I wanted to vist with Just you.That was 5 years ago,and Ive still not been,but will next year.

I agree that its always better to get knowledge from people whos been.

I met alot of people in my group in Russia who said China is fantastic..and now I agree with them :-)

Some other China points I like to make..theres a few early starts on this trip.One morning up at 5 and another 6.30,the rest around 7.30 to 8 oclock.

Its 7 hours ahead of our time,and I hated the jetlag when I got back after my trip.

Its a straight though flight from London to Beijing,10 hours,and 11 hours on the way back.

I had injections at the doctors before I went,you dont have to but I found it reasuring.

You cannot drink the tap water..hotels and resturants provide bottles of water.

I was very nevous before going,and alot of times felt like I wanted to change my mind,but its the best trip Ive ever done..it was truely amazing!

Russia was my second favourite.

Sharon.x