Tour Guide

[edward_ce]

How much does a personal tour guide cost in Moscow and St. Petersburg? I'm planning to visit Russia towards the end of November 2000.

How much dollars do I need to bring per day (excluding hotel expense)? Is $30 per day enough to cover food and transportation?

[Dr_Woland]

You can pay widely-varying amounts for a guide. I have heard of people paying $90-120 per day! I think $40 would be about right - to get someone professional. Probably you can pay less, but who knows what you may get? :-)

$30/day would be ok for your expenses if you use the (excellent) Metro systems in both cities... unless you have very expensive tastes in restaurants!! A good way to make your travel funds go a long way is to eat your main meal of the day at lunchtime, instead of in the evening. Most restaurants offer a "business lunch" special deal (Mon-Fri only), sometimes 70% or more discount off the same meal in the evening! For example, at one of my favourite Moscow quiet cafes in the centre "Mesto Vstrechi", business-lunch costs only 99 roubles (about $3 dollars) for an appetiser + a main course + a beer! Another good place to look for lunch deals is Arbat St (pedestrianised street), especially the end near to Smolenskaya Metro, newly-nicknamed "Vostochny Kvartal" after the number of Turkish/Egyptian restaurants there (and also a good Mexican, Pancho Vila).

Dr W.