Travel Agent for trip to Russia?

Posted by Matt (Kent, WA, USA) on 01/21/09 12:02 AM

I've searched the Helpline and it looks like the general concensus is that you don't really need a travel agent for most European travel and can easily do most everything for yourself online.
BUT I also found messages saying that things are more difficult or complicated travelling in Russia and there's more red-tape and that a Travel Agent may be advisable?

Any thoughts or recommendations?

For most all my local travel within the US I'm very comfortable doing it all on my own via travel or airline websites, but I'm wondering if for a Russian trip a travel agent would be a good idea?
I'm planning to do the RS Tallinn, Helsinki, StPete trip and will need airfare, and possibly a couple extra days hotel on each end, but thats about it, not a lot in addition to the main tour.

Posted by Michael Schneider

New Paltz, NY

01/21/09 04:47 AM

9110 posts

For Russia, you will need a travel agent to handle, your hotel invitation, visa, and (if arriving to Russia by air) car service from the airport to your hotel. Everything else like hotel reservations, and plane tickets you can do yourself on the web. For my trip I used www.gotorussia.net

Posted by Tom

Danville, VT

01/21/09 04:51 AM

12040 posts

The company I have used is now either out of business or have changed their name. Lonely Planet's Russian guidebook makes a few recommendations.

Posted by Bill

San Leandro, CA, USA

01/21/09 11:40 AM

632 posts

If you are only going to St Pete, you won't need a travel agent. We did all of our own stuff (not without some trail and error). We took the train from Helsinki to St Pete...if you do the same, make sure you get a real taxi from Lenin Station to your hotel...the Gypsie cabbies will charge you twice as much (I found out the hard way). You need to book your hotel before you get your visa (the hotel will help you with the required paperwork for the visa). You will need to deal directly with the nearest Russian consulate (we have one here in SF...don't know about Seattle)...you can easily navigate around St. Pete if you stay near the Hermitage. We stayed at the Petro Palace...had a great room for less than $160 a night booked through Expedia or hotels.com...it's within walking distance of most of the great attractions of St. Pete. Check them out on tripadvisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g298507-d570087-Reviews-Petro_Palace_Hotel-St_Petersburg_North_West_Russia.html

We did a lot in the 3 full days we spent there (3 nights)...I heartily recommend a walking tour of the city...we used Peters Walk: http://www.peterswalk.com/tours.html

Ask for Alina...she's a full time student (or she was when we were there in 06)...she was Rick's guide on one of his earlier trips.

Guide books are another matter...we used Lonely Planet...it was not very good or current at that time. Since there is no RS guide, I suggest that you check out Rough Guide along with a more "mainstream" guide book.

Posted by Tom

Danville, VT

01/21/09 06:13 PM

12040 posts

If you're interested, you can also arrange a homestay. I stayed on Nevksy Prospekt for about $40 per night with a wonderful Russian family. If you choose this option, you WILL need to use a travel agency.