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REAL DEALS

A Tale of Two Russian Cities, $999

A week split between St. Petersburg, dubbed the Venice of the North, and Moscow, a sprawling dynamic metropolis.
Monday, April 2, 2007 |

The Real Deal Round-trip airfare, seven nights' accommodations, sightseeing tours, and train travel from $999 per person--plus taxes and fees of about $405.

When Depart on Thursdays, Nov. 1, 2007-Mar. 31, 2008; add $200 for departures Apr. 1-15, 2007; $300 for for Sept. 16-Oct. 30; $400 for Apr. 16-30; $600 for May 1-15; $800 for May 16-June 10, Aug. 16-Sept. 15; $1,200 for June 11-Aug. 15.

Gateways:New York City; add $325 for Boston, Washington, D.C.; $395 for Chicago, Miami; $425 from Denver, Houston; $525 for Los Angeles, San Francisco. (BT Tip: It may be cheaper to book a flight from your hometown to New York City than to pay these add-on fares!)

The Fine Print Hotel taxes and airport/hotel transfers are included. Hefty additional airport taxes and fees total about $405 per person. Based on double occupancy; single supplement $295. A visa is required for U.S. citizens, and Travel to Russia can obtain one at a cost of $145 per traveler. For general guidelines on evaluating deals, click here.

Book By No deadline; based on availability.

Contact Travel to Russia, 800/339-6967, traveltorussia.com.

Why It's a Deal The lowest round-trip, multicity fare we found from New York City in early November is $644 per person, arriving in St. Petersburg and returning from Moscow (Finn Air). For about $350 more, Travel to Russia covers the airfare as well as airport/hotel transfers, the seven-night stay, an overnight train fare, and sightseeing.

Trip Details The Land of Tzars package includes round-trip airfare (NYC -Helsinki-St. Petersburg and Moscow-Helsinki-NYC) on a major carrier, such as Finn Air, Delta, or Aeroflot, and seven nights' accommodations. The trip begins with a four-night stay in St. Petersburg at the downtown Best Western Hotel Neptun, within walking distance of The State Russian Museum and The Mariinsky Theatre. A city tour hits the blockbuster attractions, among them the Hermitage Museum, the Summer Garden, and Mikhailovsky Palace, and one evening you'll be treated to a dance performance.

On Monday evening, you'll board an overnight train to Moscow for a three-night stay at the 945-room Hotel Alpha near a metro stop and the Izmailovsky Market (great for picking up souvenirs) but not so near the city center. You'll see St. Basil's Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum, the Kremlin, and lively Arbat Street as part of a guided bus tour. A circus performance rounds out the trip.

Keep in mind that November temperatures are an average of 30 degrees Fahrenheit, which explains the package's lowest rates, and that the Neva River typically freezes over by December. Before you go, check the weather, exchange rate, and local time at BudgetTravel.com.

More on Russia:

Note: This story was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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