[kbrandi]

How long does everyone stay in Moscow before traveling to their region to see the children? Then do you stay in Moscow again before coming home? How do you make definite reserveations? I looked for hotel suggestions back through old threads but any recent comments about hotels or airfare for the first trip?

Thanks!

[kryslm]

On our first trip, we were in Moscow two nights before we traveled to our region. At the end of the week, we got back from our region late in the day, stayed that night in Moscow, and then flew out of the country the following morning.

Mike

[waitinginnj]

I arrived in Moscow and left the next morning at 6:00 AM for the region. I spent one night in the region and was back in Moscow for one night prior to flying home.

[lakimnafite]

We actually flew from Moscow-Kras/Kras-Moscow on the same day both directions for trip one. We didn't spend the night either time. We were in our region for 5 days (by choice we stayed an extra couple of days to see the town!)

Trip 2 we hope we can do the same going to the region. Obviously we will be staying in Moscow for a while after leaving the region.

[ndkaff]

We are planning on staying in Moscow an extra day or so when we first get there. First off to recover somewhat from the jetlag. Then we also want to do some siteseeing.

We booked our hotel through a travel agent in Texas. My dh and I live in MI and it was no problem.
We are staying at the Merriott Grand.

The travel agency is International Travel-Texas.
The person to talk to is Emily
1-800-755-2193

[gabsdot]

You don't need to saty in Moscow at all during the first trip but if you can I would recommend it. It is an amazing city with loads to see. We spent a week there last year, (just as tourists) and we loved it.

[plgorzell]

We stayed in Moscow the first trip for one evening. Had we known we would have left for our region that evening. We were unaware of the timing. The second trip, we arrived and departed the same day. We returned on the first trip in one day, the second trip because of the out processing.....we had to stay two nights in Moscow.

Also, in Moscow we stayed at the Radisson and were very pleased.

Pam

[slm_tbm]

First trip:

Moscow 1 night, region 2 nights, Moscow 1 night, home.

Second Trip:

Straight to region, region 3 nights, Moscow 2 nights, home.

Check with your agency. We never booked a hotel room, they did it for us. That way all their people who were there stayed in the same hotel making it easier for the drivers.

Good luck!

Shana

[kbrandi]

How can you get adoption rates for hotel stay? Do you have to call directly? I don't see anyway to get the rate over the internet. Is there such a discount for airfare. Is it better to book through an agency? Don't they charge a fee???

[hadams]

I don't think you can get the adoption rate on the first trip.

I think it is cheaper to have someone in country book for you than to try to book from here.

We landed in Moscow early in the morning, and flew to our region the same night. On the way home, we only had an hour or two layover in Moscow.

On our second trip, same itinerary on the way out, but on the way back, with our child, we had to spend time in Moscow. We arrived one day, did medical and embassy the next day, and flew out the day after that. Two nights in Moscow.

[rugas]

HI, we have only gone on one trip. We stayed 2 nights on the way to our region at Rossia, it was great and is right next to St. Basils and the Kremlin. If you like site seeing this is the way to do it. Coming back we flew straight throug. It took 28 hours including time at the airport, then I had to sleep almost 2 days just to recover, it might have beem better to stay another night in Moscow.