Alla Tour Questions - St Petersburg

[carmonle]

Hi Roley,

 

Would you mind telling us how much you paid for a private tour? We will be doing the Baltics/Russia cruise in May 09 and are considering our touring options for St. Petersburg. TIA.

[jc75644]

I have just printed my ticket from Alla, it doesn't look very official. Can someone advise if this is all you need. I have attached a copy.Alla ticket.pdf

 

We were in St. Petersburg on May 10-11. 2008 and used Anastasia Tours. The ticket she Emailed us was very similar to the one you show except ours did not include a schedule. It appears to me that yours is "very much in order".

 

Enjoy! It was probably the best cruise we have ever taken due to the time in St. Petersburg...

[jc75644]

Hi Roley,

 

Would you mind telling us how much you paid for a private tour? We will be doing the Baltics/Russia cruise in May 09 and are considering our touring options for St. Petersburg. TIA.

 

I'll reply to your question even though I'm not Roley. We visited St. Petersburg May 10-11. 2008 and used Anastasia Tours. Our schedule was one that we "tailored" to the desires of the group. We started out booking for 6, (2-day tour cost was about $300 USD per person) but due to health reasons, one couple had to cancel the cruise in late March. With only 4 of us, the price for the same tour increased to about $400 per person. With tip to guide and driver the total for 2 was $950 USD. We paid in crisp bills at the beginning of 2nd day (except for the tip) rather than the end because we didn't want to carry that much cash around all day. The guide just put the money in her big red purse and took it everywhere she went. Sidenote: Anastasia was so accommodating that if we needed rubles for extra camera fees, the subway, or bathrooms she always came up with them. Additionally, my wife & I wanted to purchase a couple of books (one at Catherine's Palace, another at The Hermitage). We tried to use our American Express charge. The gift shops did not want to process a charge for less than $100 US, so Anastasia paid for the books and we just reimbursed her when we "settled up" the bill.

[SRQfireman]

another silly question....can anybody say what the % is of "free" bathrooms in the Baltic verus ones ya have to pay for? Approx what does it cost in USD to have the privilege of performing a normal bodily function?

[stunnedinva]

another silly question....can anybody say what the % is of "free" bathrooms in the Baltic verus ones ya have to pay for? Approx what does it cost in USD to have the privilege of performing a normal bodily function?

 

I only remember having to pay to pee three times: once at a gas station on our way to Lubeck--50 cents (Euro), and twice outside St. Petersburg (about $1, only in rubles). One pay toilet was so vile most of us (who weren't desperate) didn't go in, but generally using a bathroom that charges means that the place is clean and well-maintained.

[PLG3]

I only remember having to pay to pee three times: once at a gas station on our way to Lubeck--50 cents (Euro), and twice outside St. Petersburg (about $1, only in rubles). One pay toilet was so vile most of us (who weren't desperate) didn't go in, but generally using a bathroom that charges means that the place is clean and well-maintained.

 

We had a very similar experience on our Baltic cruise last fall. I think we only encountered one pay toilet and that was in St. Petersburg. Otherwise, whenever / wherever we passed a McDonalds on our walks (other than St. Petersburg, we did self guided walking tours), my wife always took advantage of the opportunity.

 

Paul in NoVA

[Rbel4]

Does anyone know if Alla Tours accept a credit card like Visa? Is a fee added if paying by credit card? We plan on tipping in rubles, but would like to pay for the core tour with a credit card. Thanks.

[lchen818]

They will take Visa or Mastercard, no Amex. Visa and Mastercard will probably charge a 3% foreign transaction fee, which my BofA Visa did.

[MightyQuinn]

Does anyone know if Alla Tours accept a credit card like Visa? Is a fee added if paying by credit card? We plan on tipping in rubles, but would like to pay for the core tour with a credit card. Thanks.

Yes you can pay Alla with cc - in fact I read on these boards that apparently she prefers it to cash! She will charge your card in the equivalent amount in rubles but there is no additional fee charged by Alla. I think the guide/driver will really appreciate being tipped in rubles.

[leenie29]

Does anyone know if Alla Tours accept a credit card like Visa? Is a fee added if paying by credit card? We plan on tipping in rubles, but would like to pay for the core tour with a credit card. Thanks.

 

We used a credit card because I did not want to run the risk of not having the most perfect dollars (there were 4 of us so it was a good chunk of money) and having a problem or getting a hold of that much cash from the casino. She does charge a service fee to use your credit card but it was worth it. We did use cash for gratituties for the driver and guide. Alla actually prefers Euros now over dollars if you want to use cash. You will have a great time!

 

Eileen

[pattyj 1204]

I think it is too late to change our dollars into Euros, We also don't have Rubles, We could get some from the ATMs but I don't want to get enough for the tour. Guess we'll have to use our credit card. Alla didn't say anything to us about not wanting dollars. Maybe I'll have husband ask again. I also have the tip money in dollars, I understood that they would be quite acceptable.

[MightyQuinn]

I think it is too late to change our dollars into Euros, We also don't have Rubles, We could get some from the ATMs but I don't want to get enough for the tour. Guess we'll have to use our credit card. Alla didn't say anything to us about not wanting dollars. Maybe I'll have husband ask again.

Hi Patty: We paid Alla in USD for our "Complete St. Petersburg" with no problem. Others paid by cc, again no problem. I can understand that now she would prefer Euros for cash payments, but unless you received such a request directly from Alla, I don't think you need to worry about switching your USD payment to cc. You'll be just fine. Have a fabulous Anniversary cruise!

[roley]

I think it is too late to change our dollars into Euros, We also don't have Rubles, We could get some from the ATMs but I don't want to get enough for the tour. Guess we'll have to use our credit card. Alla didn't say anything to us about not wanting dollars. Maybe I'll have husband ask again. I also have the tip money in dollars, I understood that they would be quite acceptable.

 

Hi I used Alla at the end of June and I paid in Dollar Notes and tipped in Dollars and we live in England. I told her I was doing this and it was fine so dont worry money is money after all. You will have a super time with her we did Enjoy

[panda2ac]

We just got back from the Baltic and used Alla tours for St. Petersburg. We paid with a CC with no problem but she does use a higher exchange rate, so you do end up paying more.

[pattyj 1204]

Thanks for all the reassurances I can hardly wait for our cruise and tour in SP.

[suzyluvs2cruise]

We just got back from the Baltic and used Alla tours for St. Petersburg. We paid with a CC with no problem but she does use a higher exchange rate, so you do end up paying more.

 

How much more were you charged for using a credit card for payment?

 

We're really looking forward to our Alla tour in September. Is there anything you wished you knew before your tour that would have made it even better?

[SRQfireman]

How much more were you charged for using a credit card for payment?

 

We're really looking forward to our Alla tour in September. Is there anything you wished you knew before your tour that would have made it even better?

 

Good question...I was going to pay by CC based on her saying they would convert it to the same as if you paid cash....will be interested to hear how that worked

[MightyQuinn]

Here's what Alla says about using cc......

 

"We will charge the sum of payment for the tour from your credit card in rubles. The currency exchange rate will be established according to the current rates of the Russian State Central Bank but please mind that the exchange rate will be no less than 24.5 rubles for US$1."

 

IMO, Alla has removed the uncertainty of currency exchange fluctuations by accepting payment in USD cash.

[scamper01]

I have been trying for weeks to contact Alla through her email addresses. I registered on her webpage last Sunday and still have not heard from her. We leave on 4-25 on the Eurodam for a 28 day Baltic cruise. Am I being too impatient since the cruise is so far away? Anyone else try to contact her this far in advance and had problems reaching her. Thanks

[Frank47]

Try this address for Alla: allatour2008@gmail.com

 

Lynne

[roley]

I have been trying for weeks to contact Alla through her email addresses. I registered on her webpage last Sunday and still have not heard from her. We leave on 4-25 on the Eurodam for a 28 day Baltic cruise. Am I being too impatient since the cruise is so far away? Anyone else try to contact her this far in advance and had problems reaching her. Thanks

Hi have you tried this email address allaushakova@aim.com I think she has so many enquiries but as soon as she knows you really want to book her its easy . If you go into her website and go into personal account and register then when you log on to your personal account she replies to the emails that you send in here within hours usually. I notice you have done this already. She set this system up about four months ago as I think she had so many emails that she needed to differentiate between enquires and actual clients who needed to ask questions etc. When I got back from my cruise two weeks ago I sent her an email and she replied straight away through this system. I think she might be prioritising at the moment as I expect she is so busy and your cruise is quite a long way off so I wouldnt be too concerned yet but keep trying. She couldnt tell me the name of our guide three weeks before as she doesnt know herself who it will be she only decides two weeks before and as we are on ship too late but it all works out fine and was a perfect tour.

[biddy belle]

Hi have you tried this email address allaushakova@aim.com I think she has so many enquiries but as soon as she knows you really want to book her its easy . If you go into her website and go into personal account and register then when you log on to your personal account she replies to the emails that you send in here within hours usually. I notice you have done this already. She set this system up about four months ago as I think she had so many emails that she needed to differentiate between enquires and actual clients who needed to ask questions etc. When I got back from my cruise two weeks ago I sent her an email and she replied straight away through this system. I think she might be prioritising at the moment as I expect she is so busy and your cruise is quite a long way off so I wouldnt be too concerned yet but keep trying. She couldnt tell me the name of our guide three weeks before as she doesnt know herself who it will be she only decides two weeks before and as we are on ship too late but it all works out fine and was a perfect tour.

Alla is probably extremely busy with this season's tours, and surely hasn't had time to set her prices and iteneraries for 2009 yet. She listens to the feedback from this year's clients, and then adjusts her tours accordingly. Plus, with the falling rates, especially for the US$, she can't quote a price too far ahead. Try the e-mail addresses above, and be assured that she will answer you in a timely fashion. We heartily recommend her tours. 14 of us took the Complete St. Petersburg the end of May, and it was the highlight of our trip...worth far more than we paid!

[scamper01]

Thanks for the great feedback. I will "chill" until I hear from her.

[Peregrina651]

Thanks for the great feedback. I will "chill" until I hear from her.

 

scamper -- No chilling until you have heard from her. She might not have gotten your e-mail or her reply may have gotten lost on the way to your inbox.

 

First, it is never to early to book for 2009.

 

Second, it is possible that either your e-mail was not received or she has already replied and the message was not delivered to your account. Check your spam folder. If you haven't heard from Alla within 48 hours assume that the problem is with the e-mail.

 

If her reply did not end up in your spam folder, write Alla again using all of the addresses above. Explain that you never got a response to your first inquiry. Give Alla multiple return addresses, even it means opening an alternative freebie e-mail account.

 

The other thing is to make sure that all of Alla's addresses are in your contacts.

 

Unfortunately, e-mail is not even close to 100% reliable.

 

PS -- we loved our 2007 tour with Alla.

[cordi]

After a longer than usual wait for Alla's reply I received a e mail reply from "Katya" who told me Alla is "out of the office." From that point on Katya is to be our contact person.

Katya was unable to tell me who would be guiding our tour on July 31-Aug 1.

I am not sure if Alla is back yet or when she will be.

Katya has been very helpful and I am sure that we will have a great tour!