What are the best modes of transportation when you want to get to and through Eastern Europe? Direct flights from say, Chicago to Moscow or St. Petersburg cost ~1400 or more. I'm pretty sure I could do better than that if I'm creative.

I was thinking Chicago to London (I've consistently found prices under 700 bucks, sometimes even as low as 250), and then I'd have easier, cheaper access to Eastern European airlines. Or alternatively, I could take Ryan Air from London to say...Germany or Hungary, and go further east from there.

But yeah, I'd like some opinions from people that have done some traveling in the east. How are the train systems? What type of prices could I expect from airlines? What ARE the good, cheap airlines?

I also have this notion that train travel in Eastern Europe is really shady, is that true, or just a stereotype from movies?