Hi Floren and Salpal75

My wife and I did the Northern Capitals and Russia tour in 2005 and although the itinerary has changed a little (no train travel for us) it is still essentially the same and you will find my full trip report on the tour at Northern Capitals and Russia.

In respect of the optionals offered, we were fortunate to have John Rasmussen as our Tour Director and he offered the largest amount of optionals we have ever been offered on a tour (17 altogether) and if you have a look at my report (via the link above) you will see that on the first page I list all of the optionals offered together with my ratings out of 10 for each one.


If you also have a look in Phil's excellent list of tour tales located at WHERE ARE ALL THE TALES? (which sits permanently second from the top of the Tour Tales section) you will also find 3 other trip reports on the Northern Capitals and Russia tour (by Barbara Z [June 2007], Colrose [Sept 2006] and Topcat [July 2003]).


I am sure you will have a fantastic time on this tour and I hope you are able to find the time to give us a report on your trip after you return.

Have a wonderful trip.

Thanks Dragon - I have read the tour tales and they were a terrific help. I hope to post my travel diary of my tour on my return...

Peter - thanks so much for your long post and answering all my questions. I really appreciate it. It is really good getting someone's first hand account.

How did you find the money situation? Do the hotels change USD or Euros for local currency?

Only 6 weeks until our tour starts, although we will be leaving a week early to start in Prague and get the train up to Berlin.

Thanks heaps.
Sal

I took this tour 3 years ago and it is the most intensive Insight Tours I have been on. Our TD asked us at the end would we take the tour again and everyone said no. Two or three weeks later I was looking at ways I could take the tour again.

Everone thinks they will never go to those dstinations again so they take ALL the optionals. Carefully review them all and take one or two off and get a break. I would suggest that some of the "tummy upsets" mentioned by Dragon were caused by simple overtiredness. Although my wife still talks about the "mystery meat" and coleslaw. The best meal in Russia was at McDonald's in St. Petersburg. Yes, I was able to order a full meal for two.

This is a great trip with very good local guides who are enthusiastic about their home city. Don't forget why you took the trip, to discover the sights and ways of people very different from yourself and enjoy it.

Hi
I have just come back home from doing this tour Northern Capts and Russia earlier this month. I agree with Gregor on Tour that it was a very intensive insight tour and it was very fast paced. I am only in my mid 30's and very fit athlete i was tired half the time. If you do all the optionals, it leaves your day full on and busy. You will still get plenty of free time at most places. Most of the people on the tour were in their late 50's and 60's and were feeling rather exhausted by the time the end was coming. You do this tour mainly for the experience of Russia and its very interesting. I was glad to be out of Russia (Probably due to Moscow being a very busy and hectic city) but enjoyed the experience. Eating out can be a challenge in Russia as they rarely speak English and the menus are in Russian. The best place is to go to McDonalds as you can point out the pictures to them and know what you are getting for your meal.
The best city out of the whole tour is Warsaw. very interesting and the nicest hotel.

Once the tour leaves Russia the pace becomes abit more relaxed and not so busy. Prior to Russia is quite fast paced as you have few one night stops in Stockhom and Helsinki and on the ferry so it sort of means you have to fit alot into the iteninary.
hope this info helps people who are goin on this tour in the future.
Cheers Peter

Hi Peter, thanks for your comments. I think it will be pretty full on. I have always wanted to go to Russia - interesting to see what i think.

How did you go with the money situation are you able to change USD or EURO's into local currency at hotels?

Thanks in advance
Sally

Hi Sally,
looking forward to hearing all about your trip when u come back.
For the Money, You can change at Helsinki at the Railway Station which is close to the Hotel. Our tour guide told us to change 100 euros to Russian Roubles which would be enough for the entire Russian trip mainly for the meals. If you plan to do some shopping maybe take 150 Euros which will be plenty. When u are at the markets, they will accept anything, from US D, Euros even Aussie Dollars!! If you have any Russian Roubles left over you can change them again when before leave the country. DOnt worry to much about all this as your tour guide will look after you about this.
You will have a great time learning the Russian Culture and way of life. In some ways from the experience it make u appreiate what we have at home as the Russian live in the terrible cramped highrise buildings and even in the countryside, it looks very run down and the peoples farm homes look like they are going to fall down. You will see when you get there.
But the City Centres of Moscow and St Petersburg are fantastic and beautiful.

Hope i have given u enough infomation.
I hope to get some photos on the insight board soon and u can check them out.
Cheers peter