tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35680680.post4119397519382816609..comments2024-02-29T20:44:51.383+11:00Comments on Born Under a Wandering Star: Bartering and Haggling in Foreign LandsAlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02868809225921579099noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35680680.post-88801103075755811882012-05-31T09:46:21.308+10:002012-05-31T09:46:21.308+10:00G'day Gaby
The Golden Ring tour is quite diff...G'day Gaby<br /><br />The Golden Ring tour is quite different to the river cruise I went on. I'll give a brief description of my experience with Express to Russia.<br /><br />I contacted them in early November 2009 to enquire about the seven-day cruise on MS Lev Tolstoy in June 2010. I chose that boat because it had single cabins available without a single supplement. Initially Elena from Express to Russia replied that there were no cabins available, but a few days later she advised a single cabin had become available on the cruise departing 4th June 2010. After some correspondence about details, including confirmation that the other passengers would be English-speaking, I booked the cruise and paid a deposit.<br /><br />That week was part of a complex 7-week European itinerary. Once I had booked the Russian cruise I made several other bookings, most of which could not be cancelled, for trains, flights and hotels in France, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, Hungary and the UK.<br /><br />A month later Elena informed me that a French tour group had booked the boat out and I would be the only English speaking passenger. Wonderful. I could not change the dates of my other bookings; I was locked in. After some discussion Elena confirmed that I would have a personal English speaking guide during the trip. On that basis I confirmed the booking rather than change my week to a rail trip from St Petersburg to Moscow.<br /><br />I also booked the Northern Lights Hotel through a different site, discovering after the event that it is also one of their hotels. The hotel is OK, but there is no elevator and 70 steps up a dim stairwell to the front door. Express to Russia and Northern Lights provided the appropriate administrative help for visa invitations etc, although I had to monitor and remind them occasionally.<br /><br />The boat and cabin was acceptable although getting a little long in the tooth. However, the personal guide turned out to be a junior interpreter on her first work experience. She was a lovely girl and tried very hard in a situation unfair to her, but effectively I had no guide and that part of the trip was significantly diminished for me. I did not have a real guide until my final day in Moscow.<br /><br />I made a mistake in my initial bookings for the final transfer, allowing inadequate time for the drive from the dock to Domedodevo Airport. When I rang Elena several hours before the booked time to bring the time forward she refused to do so. We made the flight but that was an unfortunate end to the trip.<br /><br />Despite the problems, the cruise itself was enjoyable and I will always remember my experiences in Russia, but it could have been so much better with an English-speaking guide and a little less stress.<br /><br />Overall, the transfers, boat and administration were efficiently managed but the sour notes outweighed the good in my experience with Express to Russia.Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02868809225921579099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35680680.post-21661602804386160662012-05-30T12:13:19.902+10:002012-05-30T12:13:19.902+10:00Hello! Sorry to hijack your comment thread, but I...Hello! Sorry to hijack your comment thread, but I am planning a trip to Russia this August and was considering going with an organized tour by a company called Express to Russia, but I've been unable to find any reviews on the internet outside of the company's website. Then, thanks to the magical powers of google, I found your post on the Fodor's forums from last year, saying that you had used this company. Would you be able to give me some advice as to whether I should use this company? We are considering their eight day Golden Ring tour. Thanks so much in advance. Sincerely, Gabriellagabyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00285245606133177289noreply@blogger.com