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For U.S. citizens, a visa is required for entering Russia. You will need to apply for your 30-day Russian visa 90 days (and no less than 45 days) before your tour is scheduled to enter Russia (visa servicing centers do not accept applications more than 90 days in advance, and we require proof of your visa at least 45 days prior to your tour). We will be sending you a visa packet about 100 days before your tour departs, which will include your visa invitation letter (aka confirmation voucher or visa support letter), along with step by step instructions to complete your visa application. Our Tour Department cannot process your visa for you but will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
It usually takes up to three weeks for a Russian visa to be processed. The cost will vary from about $131 to $250, depending on whether you choose to work directly with a nearby Russian Consulate, or pay a visa servicing center to handle the process for you.
We will be sending out your visa packet about 100-days prior to your tour departure. If you require an expedited visa, please contact our Tour Department.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not recommend any specific vaccinations for people traveling to the Baltic region. They do, however, recommend that you are up-to-date on routine vaccinations, such as Tetanus.
We recommend purchasing an open-jaw ticket, flying into Tallinn and then home from St. Petersburg. Lufthansa, KLM and SAS fly into both cities. We are not a travel agency, so we can't advise you on specifics. For advice on arranging your flights, please contact your travel agent.
This tour includes all group sightseeing admissions, all breakfasts, half of your dinners, plus all hotel, guide and driver tips. You will need to access enough money to pay for your extra meals, beverages at meal times, snacks, souvenirs, plus public transportation costs and entrance fees during your free time. We suggest you plan for between $90-$100 per person per day.
You will be using the Kroon in Estonia, the euro in Finland, and the Ruble in Russia. We do not recommend bringing U.S. or other currency with you. ATMs are common in the cities we'll visit, so we recommend getting local cash that way. The Ruble is a "closed" currency, meaning you can not bring it into or out of Russia. It is illegal to pay for goods and services in Russia with U.S. dollars.
We recommend using an ATM/Debit card to access your funds while traveling. Travelers Cheques are rarely accepted today, and it can be very difficult to exchange U.S. dollars at banks and exchange offices (especially if bills are worn or marked in any way).
Yes. Internet cafes are very popular in the region, and you should have no problem finding one near your hotel. Prepaid local phone cards are very popular, and similar to those used in Europe and in the United States. A PIN code on the back allows you to call from your hotel room or a phone booth. Your guide will have more information on this at your first group meeting.
Our hotels are centrally located in the Old Town areas of Tallinn, Helsinki and St. Petersburg. As on all of our tours, there will be stairs to climb. Many of our hotels don't have elevators — one more reason to pack light and be in good shape.
Yes. While you'll have the option of taking a tram within cities during your free time, the most efficient and direct method of getting around is on foot. Please bring comfortable shoes, and expect some uneven sidewalks and cobblestone streets.
Yes, we'll visit the Hermitage Museum as a group in the morning with a local guide. The remainder of the day will be free if you want to explore the full six buildings of the Hermitage.
No. This tour covers what is known as the "Triangle of the Baltic Sea" — Tallinn, Helsinki and St Petersburg. If you'd like to visit Moscow after your tour, you can easily reach Moscow from St Petersburg via train, plane or a Volga River cruise. We recommend working with your travel agent for all of your Moscow arrangements, such as hotels, local guides and sightseeing assistance. If you don't have a travel agent, here are two that we work with and recommend:
Marina Penkovskaya
Budget Travel Ltd in Russia
011 7 (812) 314 8357
email: info@btravel.spb.ru
web: www.btravel.spb.ruElizabeth Holmes Travel Agency in Seattle
Toll free: 800/588-8361
www.elizabethholmes.com
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