DenRus Value Excursions were developed over several years to be the best value of any tours in St Petersburg and Berlin. For some, value is simply price, but we don’t believe value is a term that can describe tours that are not complete, or have add-ons that ought to be included, or just over-priced for the quality of the tour package supplied.
DenRus was the first company to create Guaranteed Departure tours in St Petersburg, which means they are offered on a guaranteed basis. If you book it, regardless of how many or few others book the same tour, the tour will be conducted. That is one of the true value of Value Excursions, you can be assured that your booking does not depend on whether a certain number of other ship mates book it also. Arriving in Russia without a guarantee of your tour being conducted is not “value”.
DenRus is known for changing the way tours are conducted, business conducted and increasing the value of tour services in St Petersburg. Naturally within a few years of our innovation others try to impersonate our programs. Now for example several small companies have begun offering tours they claim are like the Complete St Petersburg, our most popular Value Excursion, in fact several have copied our trademarked name “Complete St Petersburg”. Some have advertised a lower price than our 2 day all inclusive Complete St Petersburg. The real one, the DenRus Complete St Petersburg is $325 per person and it is truly all-inclusive. Others are offering their imitation for $300 declaring it to be a better “value”. Are they?
No, not when their copies do not copy what makes the DenRus Complete St Petersburg the leading tour in St Petersburg. They do not include as many desirable destinations, they charge extra for activities that most people want, they do not include camera permits free of charge, and they either do not include lunches or offer cold sandwiches to be eaten on the move in their van, or force their guests to buy expensive insurance because only DenRus has the same western liability insurance as the Cruise ships provide. If they had actually copies the same level guide quality (the only company that has a employee relationship with our guides and continuing training), lunches, creature comforts such as rain coats if needed, included individual bottled water in the vehicles, publish an informative full sized color newspaper for guests before they leave home and another edition when they arrive, the very popular DenRus DVD of St Petersburg sights and sounds or maintain backups to ensure uninterrupted tours.
When DenRus uses the word “Quality” it is not just a marketing phrase. We mean it. We have something to compare with from our own extensive travel experience and from the western cultural experience as the only American company providing visa free tours in Russia.
For example compare the “value’ of no lunch, or a cold stale sandwich in a bus, to DenRus guests being respected by being served by the best restaurants they will experience during their entire cruise. No additional charge, no hidden expenses that increase the price. $325 is the true bargain, and the Complete St Petersburg is still, any way you calculate it, the leader in quality and true value.
We have a long experience in working with travelers. We know how simple things like a quality, relaxed lunch or no hidden charges enhance the entire tour experience. What is the value of having an optimum experience? Some visitors mistakenly believe taking time for lunch is a waste of time. We know from experience it makes all the difference between a rushed and tiring ordeal and a fun relaxed tour. Taking time to rejuvenate, to quietly talk about the tour sights and stories with the guide and other tour members in mid-day means people finish the tour with energy and enthusiasm for the evening programs and next day.
We could have lowered the price to match the imitators but we would also make the whole program less in value, to render the tour experience less interesting, comfortable and memorable.
That is why there is only one Value Excursion, and why only DenRus continues to lead in quality services.