A question for ILay or Harry Palmer

[RAMBO]

Dear ILay or Harry Palmer:

In regards to the post by Harry Palmer and his $300 dinner (without desert!) -- How can a person of middle class means afford to visit Russia?

It looks like to me the airfare would the cheapest part of the deal. BTW, I read advertisements in the travel section of my newspaper for ten days in St. Petersburg from New York City that claim airfare, hotels, meals, guided tours, admissions to attractions in the range of 1300-2000 USD. Are these deals bogus? Does a tourist get hit with an unexpected surcharge on arrival in St. Petersburg?

[ILay]

Hello Ron!

To start with the dinner:

First of all, Moscow is quite expensive city and it has a lot of fancy places. Night clubs with entry tickets starting with USD 500, restaurants with dishes starting with USD 80 and bars with the drinks priced from USD 30.

I think same goes for any big city, and there are such places in, say NY or LA.

Of course, if you're invited to discuss a deal worth USD 100000, you will definetly be brought to a place with some pseudo-russian environment and high prices. It's a part of making biz in Russia.

But in no way it means there are no other places to eat here

Like, there is a fancy restaurant in St.Pete called 'Podvorye'. Wooden building, waiters in caftans, quail eggs with caviar and prices quite high. It's a place there the foreign business partners are usually invited, officials etc. (favourite place of Mr.Putin btw. He also invited the chansellor of Germany and Prime-Minister of UK to eat out there (Mr.Schroeder and Mr.Blair, respectively))

The owner of this place also has a restaurant called 'the old tower'. And if the first one is for the tourists, then the second - for the locals.

Better food, better service and just 4 tables.
I believe (according to my expirience) - it's one of the best restaurants here in my city. In the menu (of 3000 items ) it's stated that the chief will prepare any dish you will order in advance (2 hours before coming), and if he will not be able to do so, the house will present you a bottle of french wine.

The cost of the evening for two persons is usually USD 50-70 including drinks.

We celebrated the birthday of my wife there (we just invited her mother and father... ), and we spent USD 250 for four persons. With desert and nice south american cigars

And this place is still considered to be above-average in terms of prices. In other nice places USD 30-50 for two persons is quite enough to enjoy the evening.

In the hotels the prices are higher, of course.

Concernig your trip:

airfare: ~USD 400 backtrip if you use Aeroflot, ~USD 550 if you use Delta, ~USD 200 if you use a chartered flight.
hotel: ~USD 50 per night (usual tourist price).
meals: included
guided tours: ~USD 20 a day
special meals and attractions: add some USD 200.

Of course you can lower the costs by, say, renting an appartment and so on. I don't think the deal is bogus.

If you have some specific questions - just ask.
I'm leaving the city tomorrow, but will be back in ~ 2 weeks. I think I'll be able to check the questions you're interested in. (and, I hope it's self-explanatory I'll do my best to assist you if you decide to visit St.Pete.)

[RAMBO]

Dear ILay:

Thanks for the information! I was getting price shock for a minute. It is true like you say in every large city there are five star hotels and restraunts with five star prices....

So a ten day tour of St. Petersburg can be had for about 1500 to 2000 USD...

[HARRYPALMER]

SORRY BUDDY
i did not mean to scare you off. after the short time i was in moscow my conclusion is that there are two economies in moscow one for westerners and rich russians and the mafia and one for everyone else. for instance if we got our taxi from the concierge at our hotel it cost double the price of the taxis that we flagged down off the street.

a little local knowledge will save you plenty

[RAMBO]

I hear you Harry!

Looks like Russia can use Econo Lodges, Wal Marts and Sizzler Steak Houses!!!

[HARRYPALMER]

er yes except then it wouldn't actually be russia anymore would it?

[RAMBO]

Harry:

Come on now! Russian culture survived 70 years of communism and World War II! I don't think Wal Mart is going to change anything other than get prices lower....

O YEE OF LITTLE FAITH!