Hello,

I am trying to plan a vacation to Ukraine, Russia, and Latvia in July and I have several questions, any help will be appreciated.

Layover time:

I have the following itinerary on hold:
outbound:
SK 926 IAD 5:30 PM - CPH 7:30AM +1
SK 9647 (BT 134) CPH 10:20 AM - RIX 12:45 PM
BT 402 RIX 1:45 PM - KBP 3:30 PM
return:
SK 9644 (BT 131) RIX 7:00 AM - CPH 7:20 AM
SK 925 CPH 12:05 PM - IAD 2:45 PM

Is that one hour enough to transfer in Riga on the outbound? The SAS telephone agent said I can check my bags all the way to Kiev from IAD, but I don't know if that is correct... Will I need to claim them anywhere and re-check them?

Visas:
I travel on a US Passport.
*I read I do not need a Visa for Latvia, this correct?
*Anyone have information on obtaining visas for Russia and Ukraine?

Rail tickets:
I have not yet found a place online to purchase rail tickets for this region online. Can anyone explain how to do this? Here are the trips I plan to take:
*Overnight train from Kiev to Moscow
*Overnight train from Moscow to St. Petersburg
*Overnight train from St. Petersburg to Riga

Also, a few questions on using the rail system
*Is it safe?
*Do you bring an alarm clock or will they make sure you are off? I'd hate to sleep past my stop...
*Can you get sleep on the train, is it comfortable?
*What are the accommodations like? Do they have a bed big enough for two people?
*Can you hop off and finish your ticket later if I wanted to stop in a town on the way?

Places to see:
When I travel, I like going to smaller cities, meeting locals, and experiencing the culture. Generally I find that harder to do in a nice hotel in a big city. Are there any nice smaller cities worth a visit, hopefully something along the train route for the train rides I mentioned I was planning above.

Hotels/Appartments/B&Bs/Agroturisimo:
I'm looking to do this trip on the cheap. However, I'd like to be safe at the same time. I have had good luck with low cost bed & breakfast type places which I have found in other cites near the tourist attractions. Can anyone recommend any places to stay in Kiev, Riga, Moscow, or St. Petersburg? I am open to any kind of accommodation as long as we have a private area with a bed that fits two to sleep... I can deal with shared facilities, etc...

Chernobyl Tour
I have spoken with "The Excursion Department of the "New Logic" Company" whom is offering a private tour of of Chernobyl, including a radiation meter for both of us, so we don't walk where we shouldn't, change of clothing, shoes, and mask for while we are in the "Dead Zone," two guides one is apparently very knowledgeable in nuclear physics and the other is a local guide whom apparently does english translation for the president of Ukraine which they mentioned ot me. They say we will see the plant, Chernobyl city, the "Shelter object", the cemetary of machines, Pripjat city (ghost-city), and meet with people who live in the zone, so called "self-settlers".

They claim we will be exposed to less radiation then one x-ray. Has anyone done this before? Has anyone used this company before? anyone recommend another guide for this trip? The people I spoke with ask for passport numbers and say they will get the military clearance for us to enter the controlled zone in advance, which they say is required by the military.

Any input on this tour?

Weather/Daylight:
Does anyone know what hour the sun goes up in the morning and down at night during the first week of July? What is the weather like? I assume this will very greatly between Kiev and St. Petersburg.

Finally
Thanks for reading, please let me know if you have answers to any of my many questions. Also, if there are any things you think I should see along this trail or any of these cities please suggest them.

Thanks everyone!

Regards,
Jason