Pick an off-season tour. An all-inclusive with air, hotel, and transfers. Don't limit yourself to a destination. We saw a "moment of madness" one-week General Tours ad to Moscow and St. Petersburg in late Fall of 1997. Hey...we live in Chicago...we're used to cold days.. besides, most of your tours are inside.

The pluses?? More reasonable and not many tourists. We saw the opera, ballet (when you go to the opera/ballet in Russia, students sit in any seat they can find until the seat owner materializes...it's a constant game of musical chairs throughout the entire performance - sometimes more fun to watch than the performance), Red Square, the Kremlin, down to see the Subway.

Took the overnite train to St. Petersburg which was much nicer than we had expected. It had a lovely sleeper car; each compartment had two lower beds (toilet at end of car); bottled water; curtains on the windows; and a guard sat at the end of the car for security the entire nite. Cozy and enjoyable.

St. Petersburg was more beautiful than I had imagined: the Hermitage; visiting a Russian school (General Tours suggested bringing the children magic markers, or other school supplies - great Idea); more opera/ballet; and visits to Catherine's Palace and Tsarskoye Selo, unimaginable Palaces. No wonder the Russians revolted.

Look for some wonderful ttours on sale during the off-season.

There were no minuses to the trip except the food (this trip was nine years ago and I understand there has been a big improvement) which reminded me of my Grandmother's old-style (very old-style, well-done, boiled to death) cooking. But there was always "Wodka" and McDonald's (don't boo me...I like McDonald's... my comfort food abroad). It was a wonderful trip...so disregard the time of year or place, look for a "blue-light" special, or not. For inspiration, there were three couples on our tour, all celebrating their 50th anniversaries. If they can do it...you can do it!