Trip to Alexander Palace? [2005]

[John_Tano]

I’ve never been on a group tour before. However if something was planed where as  we see x today, y tomorrow and so on  I could agree to something like that.

Fact is and speaking purely for my self it’s more of a history tour/lesson than anything else. After spending time here and reading about 50% of all the threads and posting I think it would be exciting to group with people in this forums, for the simple reason we all have the same thing in common. Along with a willingness to learn more than we know already. With that said. Going with someone such as bob who has been there  times before and of us all holds a great deal of information it would be a wonderful thing to be able to pick his brain (meant in a good way)  I would jump at the chance in a heart beat.

[Arleen_Ristau]

Helen I know exactly what you mean.  The cheezy stuff is everywhere and what they have apparently done with the AP is a sin.  But I have always had this quirky thing going where I focus on something that is REAL and origional and all of a sudden I am transported back to the time when it all took place.  The cheezy stuff doesn't even register then. (I've done this many times at our Civil War battlefields, another great love of mine)
To me to be able to go to St. Petersburg, etc. with Bob would be the ULTIMATE!  It is Bob that makes it all so special.
..Arleen

[felix]

Is there anything firm about this  trip ? How many more people need to sign up ?  Could  Oranienbaum be a part of it ? Thanks F.

[Robert_Hall]

As soon as we have some dates, I may co-ordinate my return to St.P. in Sept. I am definitely going back, but whether or not I join the group is another matter.

[felix]

Has anyone taken Aeroflot? They hace flights fron N.Y. to St.P. starting at $ 827. Thats not too bad.

[Dashkova]

We regularly catch flights out of Dulles in D.C. on Aeroflot straight through to Moscow for less than $600.  Once there, flights are pretty cheap to anywhere else in the country.  Train is even cheaper and a fascinating cultural experience.

[helenazar]

Has anyone taken Aeroflot? They hace flights fron N.Y. to St.P. starting at $ 827. Thats not too bad.

I have taken Aeroflot a couple of times. The international one was ok, if you don't count long delays in the outbound flights (happened both times). The domestic one leaves a lot to be desired. They had live flies buzzing around the cabin (I kid you not, it happened every time). But if it is only a flight that's less than an hour, I guess it's ok. I would prefer taking a different airline but not if it is a lot more expensive...

[Robert_Hall]

I was tempted to try Aeroflot, just for the experience. But BA had a great fare [from London] plus I got the miles.
{I remeber all those 60's Aeroflot ads in Soviet Life..so camp now]

[helenazar]

I was tempted to try Aeroflot, just for the experience. But BA had a great fare [from London] plus I got the miles.

  I would imagine that the fare would be very reasonable from London on any airline...

[Robert_Hall]

There's the rub- not many airlines fly from London Heathrow to St.P. non-stop.

[helenazar]

There's the rub- not many airlines fly from London Heathrow to St.P. non-stop.

Yeah, I guess more to Moscow...

[Silja]

I have taken Aeroflot a couple of times. The international one was ok, if you don't count long delays in the outbound flights (happened both times). The domestic one leaves a lot to be desired. They had live flies buzzing around the cabin

Quite agree. The international flights are okay, but I'd rather not board a domestic one. And it's not the flies that would bother me. I'd rather be uneasy about the maintenance . . .

[NAAOTMA]

Regarding the Dream Trip List:
 Yelagin Palace
 The Anitchov Palace
 Faberge Building
 Xenia and Sandro's Palace on the Moika
 Olga's (Oldenburg) Palace
 Ella and Serge's Palace
 
  Peterhof (including the Cottage and as much in the Park as possible)
  Gatchina
  Pavlovsk
 

[nigbil]

I've just come back from 3 days in St.P flying Air France from Paris (I think its a daily flight) - was €250 return.

One of the things I found expensive there was entrance fees to museums/palaces etc. Ironically, I did not have to pay at the Winter P/Hermitage as its free the first Thursday of every month. Most sights have a free entrance day but thats more pot luck than careful planning.

If Bob Aitchison was organising a summer tour I'd definately go! The advantage of going in the Winter is that there are far less tourists but, for obvious reasons, rather harder to get a feel for topography. I'd like to go next time in the summer but shudder at joining 700 other buses in the parking lot at the Catherine Palace - if you've ever been to Versailles you will know what I mean.

[andrea]

Hi Bob,

Any idea when you might have more information on the trip?