There have been a few exciting developments since the last report. Firstly, we've recently added Svezhy Veter to our list of train ticket vendors. This is perhaps the best company around for Trans-Siberian tickets and, importantly, they are one of only a couple of Russian companies that can provide Trans-Siberian tickets originating in Beijing.

Secondly, after a renovation, the Way to Russia tour page is back better than ever. Click here to see what's on offer.

Finally, in the next week we'll be listing at least four new central Moscow apartments priced at $100 or less per night. Apartments in central Moscow below the $100 barrier are incredibly rare these days and are a great option for budget travelers. In the meantime there are plenty of other options to choose from. Read on for a review of the performance of each of our current advertisers.

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You can now rent apartments in Ekaterinburg short-term through Way to Russia. There are currently 7 options to choose from starting at $80 per night with more apartments to come. The cheapest decent double room in a Ekaterinburg hotel (excluding the awful budget options) costs $120, which makes the apartments a great alternative.

Click here to see what's on offer.