City Breaks in Moscow and St Peterburg.

[ronturner]

Mrs T wants, to visit these places next year (May 2017) and she wants to drag me along.

It is obvious we have several regular contributors on this forum that know Russia quite well, and in addition, there must be lots of you out there that have made the trip.
Looking for advice. Must do and don't do.
The aim is to visit both cities over 7 to 10 days, staying in reasonable standard of hotel with some sort of guide in English or French. Interested in the obvious tourist sites and museums too.
Departure from UK or France.

The advantage of leaving from UK is the preferred language of the guide. The advantage of leaving from France is its nearer for me and the French travel agents have a knack of finding the best places to eat.

Transfer by train. Not cruise.

Have looked at Newmarket Holidays from UK. I know the name. Any comments?

Presume we need a visa?

Comments by reply or by PM please.
Thanks in advance.
Ron

[Airbus A346]

Hello Ron, yes you do need a Visa but things changed in November 2014, for citizens of Denmark and the United Kingdom you now require a biometric Visa

this means that you have to attend the Russian Embassy in person to have your fingerprints taken and scanned onto the Visa.

The Embassies are in Edinburgh or London.

[Deleted]

Jan 30, 2016 19:40:08 GMT 1 Airbus A346 said:

Hello Ron, yes you do need a Visa but things changed in November 2014, for citizens of Denmark and the United Kingdom you now require a biometric Visa

this means that you have to attend the Russian Embassy in person to have your fingerprints taken 

It's now outsourced to a company called VFS Global in Gee St, London who take care of processing your visa.

Cost is now often more expensive than the return  flight with Easyjet from Gatwick....

[Airbus A346]

If you look at the VFS website - it clearly states that it is still mandatory to visit the Visa Application Centre in person

I guess that VFS are doing all the donkey work for the Russian Embassy

[crumb]

I looked recently, £135 for the visa.

[calflier]

Real Russia,are a very good travel and tour company,for such journeys,as the trans Siberian railway etc,I have used them in the past,they are very good,look at the website,as regards visa,s,yes they can lodge the details etc,but a personal appearance at the embassy is required to issue the visa.

[ronturner]

Thanks to everybody who replied, including PMs.
Ron