Way to Russia Talk Lounge

irishandy · Just Starting Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 4

what would the best way to book a trip, taking a few days in ST Petersburg, a few in Moscow, a few in Irktusk / Lake BAikal, and a few in Vladivostok? (also, the train along that route)

Best to go with an agency that'll sort it for us? or better to do it ourselves?

Any recommendations on agencies?

alaska · Just Starting Joined: 09 Apr 2005 Posts: 1

I used and can recommend a russian company called HOFA. They can arrange either small apartments or homestays pretty much anywhere along the way, they will also pre purchase your train tickets for you, and can meet you at the station/airport for a small fee [usefull when arriving or departing in the middle of the night]. They answer all questions and will make bookings through email contact and were very professional.

I stayed in an apartment in St Pets, then homestays in Moscow, Ekaterinburg and Irkutsk, from Irkutsk bought my own tickets and sorted myself out for accomodation in Listvyanka, then on to Mongolia.

The homestay experience was absolutely the best part of an entire world trip and I really recommend it. Though if you are travelling alone be insistent on it being a family as one of the 'families' was in fact a bachelor with a pretend wife who I never saw [though he was a nice guy not a weirdo].

Hope this helps