Come August, I will be heading to Russia for an eight-day visit to Moscow and St. Petersburg. I booked my tickets today by redeeming points I've been building on my credit card, so the travel there--on a non-stop Delta flight from Kennedy Airport--is basically free! I do recommend paying all your bills on one credit card so that you accrue points for stuff like this. Since my card is not linked to any particular airline, I can redeem points any way I choose.