Latvia-Estonia-Piter-Moscow, suggestions/tips?

Hmm_Messiah

Hi

planning a wee holiday to Russia and at the moment its looking like

dublin to riga (been there before), from Riga fly to Moscow for maybe 4 days, Red Arrow to St Petersburg for maybe 5 days , bus (Lux express??) to Tallinn for an overnight, and then ferry to Stockholm, fly back to dublin from there on cheapie ryan air flight ?

never planned any thing like it before so just wonderign does it sound like a plan, or any tips ?

should I plan less time in Moscow more in st petersburg? the trains are really cheap , like 22 euro, but read stories so thought red arrow wold be quicker, safer, and an experience.

oh one problem, trying to get documentation for visa and the online form instants on a "middle name as appears on passport", I don't have one.. should i just repeat first name again ? leaving blank the form won't proceed to next step
cheers

cailinoBAC

Hey, I'll probably give a proper reply later when I have time. As for the middle name, they usually ask that because all Russians have a patronymic based on their father's name, so they have a space for that. I'm sure it's not a problem if you don't have one. Put in your first name, or a confirmation name or your father's name or whatever....Maybe somebody else has experience of this?

aaronm13

The Red Arrow is not cheep.I got tickets in March and they were just over $500 return for two,where did you see them for 22.It is a nice train though.We got a sleeper but had to share.Going wasnt too bad but the return was a nightmare.An old guy in the bunk below me was the worlds worst snorer,actually contemplated smothering him during the night.Have to say I loved both Moscow and St Petersburg,but two totally different cities.St Petersburg must be the coldest place on earth in winter.Spent three nights in both and it was nowhere near enough.Any more questions please ask away.

Hmm_Messiah

it wasn't red arrow that was 22 euro, decided it might be a little safer, or feel it at least, than some of the other trains, so am thinking of opting for red arrow, would be 53 euro one way for a 4 berth (I think, have lists of prices for all options somewhere )

cailinoBAC

What kind of stories have you heard about the trains? I honestly haven't heard any of them. I always felt absolutely safe on any of the trains I travelled on, whether in a berth for 4 or in an open sleeper for 50. (loud snorers being the only problem). The lights go out at a certain time and most people just sleep. If you have a choice, go for the lower bunk. Apart from the fact that you won't have to attempt to hoist yourself up on top (I made a fool of myself the first time, but it did break the ice...) there is a compartment under the bed where you can store your luggage and for anyone to get at it, they will have to get you off your bed and lift it up.
I remember the first time I went in an open sleeper and I was a bit nervous that somebody would rob me or something like that. It was warm when we set off, so everybody went to bed just with sheets. At some stage I drifted off to sleep and woke again feeling a bit cold, but too tired to do anything about it, soon I woke again and realised I had a blanket and saw some guy going around putting blankets on people.
Also, it never fails to amaze me how the Russians have to have food to travel. If I get a train that leaves very late in the evening and arrives very early in the morning, it doesn't seem worthwhile to bring any food, but they'll have some supper and breakfast packed up. And share with you if you look hungry enough.
Anyway, I'm harping on....and getting a bit nostalgic....must plan that transsiberian soon....
The rest of your plan seems fine. Maybe check if you can get the ferry from St Petersburg to Tallinn? It only runs every few days, but I travelled the opposite direction and enjoyed it.
People will probably say different things about Piter versus Moscow. I don't think 4 days is too much in Moscow. Maybe for some people it's enough to see Red Square and the Kremlin but there is a lot more worth seeing. At the same time, St Petersburg is great too. There are some daytrips you'd probably be interested in making from StP, unfortunately when I was there I was slightly broke, but it's a great place for just wandering the streets too....

How long does the ferry to Sweden take? Is it not very long?

Hmm_Messiah

hi

i appreciate the reply

the ferry to sweden is 116 hrs, but over night

it suited as the flight from sweden was cheap, and back in ireland at a good time ( need to get home at acertain time or lose six hrs in dublin airport waiting on a bus and then straight into work !!

the train stories weren't bad as such, just originally was planend riga to moscow, 18 hours and I was anxious about the cleaniliness, well my companion more so

i also eed to bring a machine with me for sleep (CPAP) and if it did happen to be stolen my trip would be totally ruined, 2 nights withoutthe machine and i'd be like a zombie, a very ill zombie

anyways wanted to add a country too, i had not traveled much so making up for it now
thought home through sweden would be more fun than through lithuania (dearer though )

the cost of accomodation in moscow is worrying, thinking best bet is an apartment for a few days

sorry if typing sucks, am reaaally tired

cailinoBAC

Can't comment on Sweden....haven't made it there yet, but there's plenty to see in Lithuania, I've been through it many times (next week again...) but spent about 6 days travelling around about this time last year - Vilnius, Trakai Kaunas, Hill of Crosses at Siaulai (I know that's spelt wrong...) Nida and Curonian Spit. Druskininkai. Hope it's warmer this time though...

aaronm13

Yes the price of hotels in Moscow is crazy.Anything remotely affordable is miles outside the city.I stayed here The Kita Inn http://vitlock.com/kita/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/lang,En/
Its a no frills B&B but its clean,staff are really helpful and its very central,only about a 20 minute walk to Red Square.It has loads of restaurants,bars and shops near by.Its also only a minute walk to the Mayakovskaya metro stop which is handy if your flying into Sheremetyevo

Hmm_Messiah

aaron

that looks perfect

I'll match it to our plans later, but price , location seem good, and I always value the opinion of some one who has been there

cheers

aaronm13

Its nothing fancy now at all.Its an apartment with 3 private rooms,bathroom and use of a kitchen.The main thing is its clean and very central.The guy running it is sound,he arranged a taxi from the airport which I would recommend if arriving into Sheremetyevo as to navigate the Moscow public transport system is a bit daunting at first.Also when you get into arrivals we were surrounded by some very colorful (to say the least) taxi drivers but they left us be when we told them we were being picked up.Feel free to ask anything else if you want more information.

Hmm_Messiah

cheers

I'm actually thinking of trying the bus from the airport in , travelling with a fluent russian speaker, but one with no sense of direction

I've Niet Spasibo learned so i say it with a polite determination , for all those helpful taxi drivers, street vendors

I really can't wait now, though wish the visa was sorted. gawd i hope they don't refuse it

do you think he would get cheaper entrance , he speaks russian different than a moscvite, but definitely a former soviet comrade

gary the great

Im doign something similar next week. Fly into RIga, then to bus to Tallinn and then onto Petersburg. Ive been to Spb before its great cant wait to go back, just trying to get the dam visa sorted now, what a pain since all the UTD fans are going to moscow