Yes, both of you will need an invitation form to get your visa's. Any hotel can get you one, (if they are willing to take the time to fax it to you that is). Click on any St Petersburg forum question on this (trip advisor) web site, and to your left you can click on St Pete hotels. And then click on prices from low to high. This will start with the cheapest hotels first. And many of them will have pictures, reviews and such. St Pete is much cheaper than Moscow. Happy hunting.

I don't know if you'd be interested, but the hostel I stayed at in St P was definitely not a hippie sort of place and it was very well located (not in an alley!). And you said you were broke!! As well as dorms this place has one twin room with ensuite bathroom.

The only thing is, the entrance stairwell is a bit dingy and offputting. I gather this is quite common as most hostels in St P, like this one, are in converted apartments. Once you are inside it's very nice.

You can also rent whole apartments which could be the way to go. Have you looked at any of reviews here on TA or on the usual hostel booking sites?

Cheers, and enjoy. I loved St Petersburg.

e.

erted noromre batu.sissotel

Thanks a mil for ye;re tips, I'll look at those places cheers