I'm hoping this is the correct placement for this.  If not, I'm sure the mods will let me know one way or another.

I'm going to be in St. Petersburg (Russia) in May.   I'm betting that without some very good insider knowledge, the chances of my not getting ripped off are approximately 100000000000000:1.    For this reason, I would ask for help from anyone/everyone with some knowledge of the mongering scene in Russia.

I'm not looking for a streetwalker.   What I would like to do is to hire an escort/tour guide for at least a couple of days.  Most of the sites that I've been on are either dodgy or advertise "western" prices.  I know that the soviet union is no more, along with the pricing that existed in that part of the world for some years after.  However, I would like to find something that would cost me less than what it would here in the states or in western europe.  (Hell, if I have to pay western prices, I might as well take a western escort with me.)  

Anyone able to point me in the right direction.  Not to beat a dead horse, but again, I don't want a shot in the dark, as I believe that will absolutely lead to financial and erectional (sp?   even a word?) disappointment.

-- Modified on 1/16/2012 12:58:41 PM

I've been to St. Petersburg. There are girls waiting in the lobby of the hotel. However, I went to a couple of clubs. The girls know right away that you are American and will cling to you. You can make out with them and feel them up before they they tell you (in very poor English) Sex - $200.
I hung out with a girl from Mongolia (really) who was really cute, but I went for a blond instead. Took her back to my hotel - she had to register with check-in - they probably get a kickback. She accepted $.
Important - Do not go to their place. St. Petersburg has many bridges and they are closed after late night. You could get stuck on the wrong side of the river.  
One last note - Although there are a lot of very cute girls, there seems to be a lack of dentists in Russia.

Wow, St. Petersberg. What a great place. I went there about 12 years ago. May be different now. I booked a trip through the Svetlana Agency (no longer exists). Mail order brides. Many women were pursuing me, often, offering a "test drive" to get me hooked. Thinking back on this, I really could have taken more advantage of this than I did. Hookers that hung out at the more expensive hotels in town were pretty expensive. A friend and I were walking down the street after attending an all night drinking party we ran into these collage age girls. They were totally hot and did speak a word of English. Some how my friend struck up a deal with them and next thing I knew the four of us were heading back to his apartment. It was great. St. Petersberg can be a dangerous place. Especially if you do not speak Russian. You wont know whats going on. Whats the commotion about? You won't know. Someone might be yelling at you and you won't know what they are on about. My friend got in a fight with this guy on the street. I thought oh sh__ i'm going to jail in this foreign country. It turned out that my friend knocked the guy out with one punch. All in all an interesting place to see. The Venice of the east. Mongering possibilities, yes definitely. I would not bring an escort.

I've been to St. Petersburg 3 times. I can't tell you about providers there as the first was to meet my ex-wife and the next 2 were with her. What I can tell you is that if you're not with a local, you can expect to pay Western prices for *everything* in St. Petersburg. My advice would be to google "Russian apartments". The apartments are the same price as a hotel room or less, and the rental agency should be able to fix you up with an interpreter/tour guide.