[nungesser]

Originally Posted by LKD

Hello,

Can anyone offer advice on either of these 2 regions? We need to decide on one ASAP. Specifice questions:
1. How was the travel getting there
2. Accomodations
3. Quality of care at orphanages
4. Duration of both stays and time in between.

Thanks.

1. You can fly non-stop from many western European cities right into St. Petersburg. To go to Kazan you will need to go to Moscow and either take the train (overnight) or a domestic Russian airline (about two hours). A domestic Russian flight means will likely involve shuttling between airports in Moscow and all the refined charm of domestic Russian air travel too. If I had it to do again, I'd prefer the train.
2. St. Petersburg is a large cosmopolitan city with a lot of western influence and exposure. There will be plenty of accommodations from the most rustic to the most luxurious. Kazan is a provincial Russian city east of Moscow on the Volga River. The accommodations there will probably be more rustic, but cheaper too. I image the difference to be like the difference between San Francisco and Jacksonville, Florida.

Don't know about 3 or 4.