Russia

Posted on Saturday, March 13, 2010

The iconic St. Basil's candy-topped cupolas and dreamlike architecture stand as the signature of Russia's capital city of Moscow. St. Petersburg is Russia's artistic capital and its rigid symmetry is captured by classical architecture, including the magnificent Hermitage Museum and Winter Palace.

Tags: , , , , ,

Russia Travel Packages

Posted on Thursday, February 25, 2010

General Tours World Traveler, the company that pioneered travel to Russia in 1955, is offering newly-redesigned tours for 2010, featuring the attentive personal services of their own St. Petersburg-based guides. These Affordable Luxury trips include landmark city-center hotels, daily buffet breakfast, all on-tour transportation and in-depth private car sightseeing.

Privately Guided Travel… for the Price of a Group Tour!

Priced from just $2,299 per person, the 7-day Discover Moscow & St. Petersburg trip features a choice of handpicked hotels, including the historic Hilton Leningradskaya in the capital and the legendary Grand Hotel Europe in St. Petersburg. Private sightseeing in Moscow features three UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a personally-guided tour of the Kremlin Armory Museum. The next morning, guests have their personal car, driver and guide at their disposal. This unique flexibility is an opportunity to explore personal interests, whether it’s World War II history, medieval art, Russian literature, Soviet architecture – or even shopping!

Then travelers can opt to fly nonstop or travel by rail to St. Petersburg. A leisurely 3-night stay in the heart of the city includes in-depth private car sightseeing with General Tours’ own St. Petersburg-based guides. A tour of the city’s architectural highlights is enhanced by a private visit through the Hermitage Museum and an excursion to the resplendent Catherine Palace.

For travelers wishing to focus on this fabled city, Splendors of St. Petersburg is a 6-day program featuring the luxurious Grand Hotel Europe. Guests can tailor this General Tours vacation with flexible, intimate sightseeing at their own pace; the company’s private car, driver and guide is at their disposal for three full days.

Aboard the intimate, 5-star MS Volga Dream

General Tours World Traveler also offers 8 and 12-day voyages from Moscow to St. Petersburg featuring seven nights aboard Russia’s finest river ship, the 58-cabin Volga Dream. Priced from $1,999, Splendid Waterways of the Czars includes all shore excursions, fine dining with wine at lunch and dinner, luggage handling and port charges. A special Music on the Volga June departure is highlighted by four shipboard opera concerts and an enriching lecture series featuring Henry Fogel, former president and CEO of the American Symphony Orchestra League.

With the company’s new Family & Friends Savings, travel agency clients save $50 to $150 per person whenever 3 or more guests travel together on a Russia trip of 7 days or longer. These savings can be combined with any of General Tours’ other offers, including exclusive AARP Member benefits and repeat traveler discounts for members of the company’s World Traveler Club.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Things to do in St. Petersburg

Posted on Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Visiting St. Petersburg?  Here are some interesting things you can do.

Travel to Tsar Village in Pushkin to tour the magnificent Catherine's Palace. Then enjoy a Russian-style lunch followed by a visit to the State Hermitage Museum, home to one of the worlds largest collections of art.

Made for royalty, the town of Peterhof boasts the Grand Palace and is resplendent with fountains and gardens. A hydrofoil transfer lands you in St. Petersburg where you explore famous churches and museums of grandeur.

After many upheavals, the Baroque Sheremtyev Palace is again a center of music. Cavaliers and ladies-in-waiting greet you as exquisite music plays. Then float through a tour of the palace and enjoy a cocktail reception and opera performance. A perfct night of culture.

Tags: , , , ,

Russia Travel Tips and Information

Posted on Friday, July 24, 2009

Moscow, the capital of Europe, is best known for Communism, vodka & caviar. It is the largest country in the world in terms of land mass, but much of the country lacks the right soil and climate for agriculture.

The official currency of Russia is the Rouble (R). Money may be exchanged at the currency exchange desk in most hotels. House vary. You must always have your passport and currency control certificate with you when exchanging money.

Climate and Weather: 

Weather conditions are varied due to the size of the country. Summers  are generally short and for the most part, comfortably warm. In all other seasons you are advised to pack some extra jumpers or cardigans as it is cold.

Food and Drink: 

Specialities include traditional borshch soup (beetroot soup served with sour cream), beef stroganov (creamy beef stew), pelmeni (meat dumplings) and kasha for breakfast (porridge). Russians have a very sweet tooth so try their desserts, especially ponchiki (hot sugared doughnuts). Vodka is popular and is often served straight or can be flavoured with herbs and spices such as zubrovka (a variety of grass) and pertsovka (hot pepper). Russian brandy (known as cognac) is produced in Georgia and Armenia and is well worth trying. There is also nalivka which is a sweet liqueur made from fruits. We recommend that you only drink bottled mineral water, which is always the carbonated variety.

Best Buys: 

Traditional matryoshkas (painted wooden dolls within dolls) and dymkovskaya igrushka (pottery figurines based on folklore characters) make excellent souvenirs. Engraved amber, cameras, vodka, watches and Faberge eggs (although you may have to settle for a reproduction!) are also a good buy.

Public Facilities: 

Doors are usually marked M for men and X for ladies, or may also be advertised by the letters WC. Public toilets may be in short supply, so try places like McDonalds which are free of charge. It is advisable to carry packs of tissues in case no toilet paper is available.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Tour Quick Search
Select Your Travel Dates:
Length Of Trip:
Price Range:
Click here for travel specials.

Blog Categories

Subscribe via RSS

RSS Subscribe to this blog:
Posts | Comments
Newsletter Signup

Other Travel Options

Current Tour Specials