Hi, I'm looking at doing the 16 day Warsaw, Russia and the Baltics tour in May 2009 but have a few queries about this tour.

1. Regarding safety, I would be travelling on my own, I know I would be with a group for the most part but when free time is allocated, how safe are St Petersburg and Moscow for a single person to walk around?

2. Does anyone know what kind of meals are offered on this tour? I can't eat fish, seafood or mushrooms. Should I put this as a request when booking?

3. Spending money. I know other people have written about how much money you should take, but I can't seem to find any information on this forum or other websites regarding how much I should allow for souvenirs etc. I've found enough info on budgeting for meals, but souvenir info does not seem to be available. I'd love to get a Russian Matryoshka doll set and other souvenirs but am unsure as to how much to budget.

Cheers

Hi Curious Traveller and welcome. I did this tour in 2005 hopefully I can answer some of your questions. Regarding your safety in Moscow and St Petersburg the only time I felt a bit uncomfortable was when we were in Moscow as there were a lot of police around Red Square and surrounding areas checking I'Ds they never bothered us, there was a single lady on tour with us and she spent most of her time walking around Moscow and she had no problems at all. St Petersburg no problems at all, felt safe there.

Food we always seemed to have pork or chicken, no fish at all, make sure you fill out your Fast Track Registration form before you leave and tell them what you don't like to eat.

There will be a few places that you will be able to buy the Matryoshka doll, street vendors are the cheapest and you can barter with them they sell roughly for $10US and up wards but your local guide in St Petersburg will take you to a place where they sell good quality goods and you can use your credit card there if you wish.
Its difficult to say how much you need to budget for as it depends what you want. I know we didn't spend much and the TD was very helpful telling us how much money to change.

We had quite a few singles on our tour including a 85 year old gentleman and they had no worries at all.

Hope this helps

Tupps

Hi Curious Travel:
I am glad you ask those questions about St Petersburg & Moscow, I being wondering myself about the safety but I did not worry too much, I am also traveling alone also in May 16-June 3
2009 (19 days) on the "Northern Capitals and Russia" I am getting very excited. I just want to tell you on the fall 2007 I went in a 38 days
Insight "European Heritage" and it was Fantastic
out of around 40 peoples we were 7 single (1 male 6 ladies) and we all became like family, and now I am planing for maybe 2010 go in another Tour with one the lady that I became friend in the 2007 Tour. and about the money like someone already saids it depends how much you like to spend, me everyone one in the Tour were ckeq. me out they were always looking to see what I was buying every day. in this Tour 2009 I planing to buy only Souvenirs because I find out everything that I bough in Europe in USA I could bough a better price. what date in May your Tour start? Chiao
VictoriaR

You will have lots of pork and sauerkraut. One day we had the same thing at noon and in the evening with included meals. On our first day in Russia we had sauerkraut in everything even the desert at the end of the meal. Was good though.Only in Scandanavia did we have fish. I am alergic to fish also and was able to get something else. We found things very expensive in the stores. We went on the Northern Capitals and Russia in 2006. We really enjoyed that trip and had the best tour guide.

I did Russia and the Baltic States in May 2006 as a single. There were only two other single ladies, one of whom smoked and drank non stop and was very unsavoury to put it mildly. I teamed up with the other one, but unfortunately she only wanted to eat Chinese food (in Russia).
A little thing I was told when travelling on my own was to have breakfast every day with someone different. This was probably the worst tour for singles - usually there are 5 - 6 singles. I have found most people very friendly apart from some women couples who seem to want to stick together. On the times I was on my own I had no problems. My biggest adventure being a trip to the Bolshoi. I had bought the tickets here but the Moscow tour guide organised a car for me. Unfortunately it was Victory Day and the taxi couldnt get to the Bolshoi. He didnt speak English so had to get in touch with the tour guide who met up with us and escorted me by underground to the Ballet. He then gave him his pass and told me to make my own way back to meet the car. We arranged a pick up point - ouside McDonalds I think which was festooned by yellow ballons - hard to miss. The ballet was unbelievable, spoilt only by the worry of making my way on the underground with basic directions (couldnt read any so had to memorise the way we came). I was on the tube with drunks, bottles and various strange people but noone bothered me. Got to the right station but then went up the wrong exit - place milling with soldiers and dogs. Eventually found the car - what a relief - not bad for someone nearly 70. I had paid so much for the tickets I would have walked over hot coals - but being on my own at night on the underground was quite an adventure and most of my fellow travellers said they wouldnt have done it. Anyway it was a wonderful tour and I loved every minute of it, including the long long waits between borders - all part of the experience.

Thankyou all for your comments!!

I've just booked for the Russia Warsaw and the Baltics tour starting on 3 Sep this year. I'm very excited. I've booked a single room after reading some of the nightmare stories of sharing and think it will be nice to have some personal space at the end of the day.

Now I just have to organise my visa for Russia, oh yes and save for spending.

Does anyone know whether any vaccinations are required? I've been looking at websites and there are recommended vaccines but alot of them are for when you spend an extended time in one place...

No required vaccines as such Curious Traveller, just recommended!

Hi, I'm planning to do Easy Pace Russia as single traveller. Has anyone done this? Are there enough optional tours to keep me occupied?
This will be my 5th with Insight as single traveller since 2005. I was going to choose Northern Capitals and Russia, but it's 19 days long, and I don't have enough vacation days left at work!

please make sure to write up your trips when you return, if you don't mind! would love to hear about this tour!