Caroline Trefler

Two cities with real Tsar Power, Moscow and St. Petersburg are the odd couple of Russia: one, the heart of the nation and home to the history-rich Kremlin, where rulers from Ivan the Terrible to Lenin have left their mark; the other, a city born of the passion of its founder, Peter the Great, and today a gigantic Faberge egg stuffed with great art, sunset-colored palaces, and lollipop-striped cathedrals. As more travelers than ever are making their own voyages by cruising the Volga river, which connects Moscow and St. Petersburg, Fodor's Moscow and St. Petersburg also details many of the splendors of the connecting Golden Ring area.

With its crew of local experts, this guide tracks Russia as it continues to trade in red star for four star. The pendulum has swung from sceptre to sickle and back again to sceptre -- with a vengeance. The Alexander Palace in St. Petersburg (the last abode of Nicholas and Alexandra) is just the latest palace to be renovated; snowmobile tours now take you down the paths once traveled by the tsars in troikas; many hotel rooms in Moscow now go for $400 and up; and Moscow is now home to one of the world's most opulent restaurants, Turandot. But enough of Russia champagneskoye: the guide is also packed with bargain-hunter and insider finds, including those in our expanded Moscow hotel chapter. The performing arts scene gets attention with information about Moscow's Mariinsky II, the spectacular new opera house (opening in May 2013) that, along with a modern concert hall and the historic Mariinsky Ballet Theater, creates an amazing arts complex. -- Provided by publisher.

Fodor's Moscow and St. Petersburg

Ruth Craig

Linda Cabasin

Amanda Theunissen

Amy Wang

Describes points of interest in each region of the country, recommends restaurants and hotels, and includes information on shopping and entertainment

Fodor's Canada

Fodor's Travel Publications, Inc. Staff

Offers information on accommodations, restaurants, and local attractions, along with tips on transportation, guidelines for shopping excursions, and symbols to indicate budget options.

Fodor's Nova Scotia & Atlantic Canada

Detailed and timely information on accommodations, restaurants, and local attractions highlight these updated travel guides, which feature all-new covers, a two-color interior design, symbols to indicate budget options, must-see ratings, multi-day itineraries, Smart Travel Tips, helpful bulleted maps, tips on transportation, guidelines for shopping excursions, and other valuable features. Original.

Caroline Trefler

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