Grand Express Train from Moscow to St. Petersburg

Hi -

Some basic Q's here - need to book a cabin for my husband and I overnight from Moscow to St. Petersburg on the Grand Express train:

1. There seem to be many sites to book (russiantrains.com, russianrail.com, grandexpress.ru) - seems like rates are the same across all. Does anyone have a recommendation or reason why I should use one particular site?

2. I want to book the "Grand Cabin", which accommodates two people. Sounds weird - but since one cabin is for 2, do I choose just "one seat" (~$430) for one cabin (and two ppl)? Or is it really ~$430 per person? None of the website are very clear. It seems like the cost is for one cabin and two ppl. Can anyone confirm?

3. Ideally I'd like to receive these tickets as etickets that I can print and bring with me to Russia. Does that change where / which site I should book on?

Any other advice for this overnight train trip? We are two 30-somethings from NYC, excited for our first trip to Russia. Like to eat, drink, shop and see historical sites and local favorite spots - from super casual to fancy and everything in-between.

Thank you in advance - really appreciate it!!

MadelineCat

Hi, I don't have any specific answers but I can recommend highly The Man in Seat 61...the best website on train travel bar-none.
Here's the link:
http://www.seat61.com/Russia-trains.htm
and more specifically:
http://www.seat61.com/Russia-trains.htm#Moscow to St Petersburg by train

And here's some youtubes about the trip:
...in Russian but it's about the Grand Express (Гранд-экспресс) if you want to search for yourself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_RCTNHTavA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_l3Tqm4Smw

sounds like a great trip and wonderful indulgence....have a great time.

Thank you, sfgirl42! The website for seat61.com was perfect. Actually answered a lot of my questions - so just in case anyone else needs the answers:

There seem to be many sites to book (russiantrains.com, russianrail.com, grandexpress.ru) - seems like rates are the same across all. Does anyone have a recommendation or reason why I should use one particular site?

Use www.seat61.com/Russian-trains.htm - they link you to realrussia.co.uk to buy online tickets - seems totally fine. I think you can use any of the sites above as well.

I want to book the "Grand Cabin", which accommodates two people. Sounds weird - but since one cabin is for 2, do I choose just "one seat" (~$430) for one cabin (and two ppl)? Or is it really ~$430 per person? None of the website are very clear. It seems like the cost is for one cabin and two ppl. Can anyone confirm?

For a cabin, the price is per cabin (including up to two adults and one child, under 10) - choose just "1" in terms of seats, even if you have two adults staying in the cabin.

Ideally I'd like to receive these tickets as etickets that I can print and bring with me to Russia. Does that change where / which site I should book on?

The www.seat61.com/Russian-trains.htm, and the subsequent link to realrussia.co.uk to buy online tickets allows for eticketing, as well as will-call in Moscow and other major cities.

Bon voyage!

MadelineCat

One of the links does have the info: You have to book both seats, not just one...
the first site has this info on the Grand Express:
" Fares start from about 3,300 rubles (£68 or $110) for the cheapest of four classes of sleeper, all with in-room TV (note that solo passengers must pay for two tickets for sole occupancy, they cannot share a 2-berth room)."..
but I do see on the railroad website:
http://www.grandexpress.ru/en/train/scheme/grand/
http://www.grandexpress.ru/en/train/scheme/grand-de-luxe/
http://www.grandexpress.ru/en/train/scheme/grand-imperial/
the applicable prices...
Nice way to travel...really nice...