Need advice...going to St. Petersburg Russia and the Baltics in March

[tinfoilinfor2005]

I have family in Latvia and so am going there for a visit, but as part of my trip I will be in St. Peterburg and Helsinki and Talin, Estonia. Any advice(other than dress warm)? My first trip so everything is new to me.

[Stephanie]

1. A friend just returned from there -

He said it was absolutely beautiful and sort of dissolute. Bars with porn playing on the tv and everybody's jaded and the palaces are still there and everything's almost abandoned. He said hotels were cheap and he would consider moving there. I'd love to go.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

3. My main interest is Latvia since I have family there and I understand

that Riga is a very lively and beautiful city, the "Paris of the North". But I do imagine some of the towns in Russia as you describe them. If true I imagine they are pretty sad in appearance but compelling none the less.

[Stephanie]

4. right I'm talking about St. Petersburg

that's where my friend was

[Bumblebee]

2. I grew up in St Pete. March will probably be rainy but not all that cold,

especially if it's towards the end of the month. Your family in Latvia, I am sure, will give you pointers but one thing to remember if people approach you on the street and offer something that sounds way too good to be true, it most definitely is. Just walk away. There are now ATM machines at every corner there so you'll be safer not to do it through private transactions. Tallin and Riga will feel, in many ways, as a continuation of space -- very western, straightforward. Russia is, of course, trickier... so be on your guard. But all three are gorgeous, esp. Tallin and St. Petersburg, so you will definitely enjoy it!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

7. Wow, you.'re so kind to take the time to give me all of this advice...

not to mention the weather report!
My family is pretty elderly so I will pretty much be on my own (we're talking late eighties, early nineties) but I was in London and Paris this spring so I understand the wheeling and dealing. I have read about St. Petersburg but didn't know that Tallin was such a beautiful town. Now I'm even more excited about my trip. TY!

[ClintonTyree]

5. Lucky.........

I've always wanted to visit that part of the world. Have a great time, I'm sure you will! :toast:

[tinfoilinfor2005]

9. OK, here's some advice from my part...

I don't have a lot of money...I just work a normal job. One day I was getting my hair cut and my beautician was telling me about her trips to China and Egypt. I said, "How do you do this? You work, just like me." And she told me about this travel tour group that she belongs to. When she showed me the catalogue, I immediately booked a trip because it was so inexpensive. And they were wonderful. I have traveled with them ever since.
If you are interested, PM me. I don't think I am supposed to advertise in the thread, but they really are good.
This coming trip to the Baltics will cost me about the same amount as just the flight alone, but the tour includes the flight, hotels, meals, bus, tips, etc. I think they can do this because they book in bulk.
Check it out...maybe we can meet up in St. Pete!

[FloridaPat]

6. I've been to Moscow and Helsinki. Helskini is a vibrant city where

everyone I met speaks English. They have a big grocery store. The brag that their Swiss cheese is the best in the world. I bought several pounds for my dad and it was delicious. Finland was part of Russia until 1917. Their economies were tied forever because they're so close. So the difference between Helsinki and Russia is the difference between night and day.

The Russians are very nice people. When I was there right after the downfall of communism, pins were big. People would give you pins and you would give back. Little flag pins - like you put on your lapel. Bring as many as you can. Maybe ones with a slash across a W if you can find it.

Don't tell them how nice their clothes are, or nick naks, whatever. These people were so nice, when you did that, you got it as a present.

Bring lots of clean US dollars. It's the second monetary money there - for now. Don't forget comfortable shoes and lots of film. You can buy US film in Russia. Bring little gifts to give out. Did need too many of them, but they came in handy. Make sure your luggage is very stong. Bring fishing line and upohlstry needles. Also first aid kit, all your meds. You will probably not be able to get anything familiar in Russia. But times may have changed since I was there. I have found from traveling it's easier to wash as you can than carry stuff. Bring dry laundry soap and a rope to hang things on. Bring chocolate or snacks you can't live without.

Bring you smile and use it often. It will be an amazing trip. Expect things not to be perfect. We took a 24 train ride from Moscow to Odessa in the summer. The car we were in the AC was broke. They were the new cars, so the windows didn't open. It was a very hot ride. Expect the opposite in the winter. Bring something to keep your passport and visa in. Like a waiste money belt or those passport things that go around your neck. Wear your fanny pack in front of you. Also, wear your backpack if you bring it in front of you in crowds. Russians are nice, but there is a lot of pickpockets in public places. They also knife your backpack and take things out while you walk along.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

8. Great advice!!

Wow, I'm glad I started this thread. Now I feel a lot more comfortable about taking this trip...
I was in London and Paris in the spring and although I didn't have any buttons, I did mention a few times "No Bush" and they did appreciate the sentiment!
I manage a resort in the Florida Keys and I noticed that the travelers from Scandinavia brought little tokens such as key chains, etc., so I took things of this nature to London and Paris and they were warmly received. Will do the same on this trip.
In Paris there were a lot of pickpockets but they were pretty much marked as "gypsies" and thrown out of restaurants and shops by the owners. But thanks, I will continue to keep my personal belongings under close supervision. Knife your backpack? OK, that's pretty radical!

[sallyseven]

10. I haven';t been to Russia since 1972.

St. Petersburg was a wonderful beautiful place

[LisaL]

11. I lived there for 20 years.

[Bumblebee]

12. It still is -- all cleaned up and renovated (sort of) for the

300th anniversary. It is a gem of a city, although, born and bred there, I am obviously prejudiced :) Tallin is gorgeous in a different way, very gothic and whimsical.