Right on!

Thanks for the feedback. It's only after reading reviews and advice from many different members that a picture starts to emerge.

Right now it's looking more like we'll spend 3 nights and 4 days in SPB at the Baltic Renaissance using the special they have going to get upgraded for the suite. This will be around the 16th-19th of August. When done I'll head back to Tver and then maybe spend one night in Moscow before heading home on the 22nd.

I haven't made up my mind yet on which Marriott to stay in Moscow but I will give a report of the Baltic in SPB when I get back. I'll take a few notes to help me remember and walk around a bit since info from Russia can be scarce at times.

I'm leaning towards at least trying the Tverskaya suite for $235 since it may only be 1 night now and when there I'll definately ask to see the rooms/suites in the Grand at least before I go to at least compare.

Oh, yes you are correct if my info is also correct in that the SPB Marriott is fairly new. The special now through the end of August for Rewards Members is to upgrade the standard room to a suite but the regular room rate is still steep at $260 a pop but I think I'll spring for it anyway

I am a Director at my company and make a decent wage but I do not travel on business really, maybe once a year. All of my Marriott stays and my Elite status on Continental is on my own dime as I fly a lot from Houston to SLC to be with my family. I only have maybe 15k points in Marriott right now so room rewards aren't an option but if I'm going to spring for a room might as well make most my stays in one place and earn the points. I should pop up about 10k points between the Moscow and SPB visits.

Again thanks for taking the time to post, I'll check back often but will at least post what I find when I get back.