Comments on: Why you should travel independently on the Trans Siberian Railway http://matadornetwork.com/trips/why-you-should-travel-independently-on-the-trans-siberian-railway/ travel culture worldwide Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:33:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Carlo Alcos http://matadornetwork.com/trips/why-you-should-travel-independently-on-the-trans-siberian-railway/#comment-8779 Carlo Alcos Sat, 09 Apr 2011 16:10:16 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=154#comment-8779 Wow, thanks. I think you've made a good choice ;) Not sure if you've seen this yet but here is some good pre-transsib reading for you: http://matadornetwork.com/goods/what-to-read-before-hopping-on-the-trans-siberian/ Happy planning! Would love to hear a report back here on how it went. When are you planning on going? Wow, thanks. I think you’ve made a good choice ;)

Not sure if you’ve seen this yet but here is some good pre-transsib reading for you: http://matadornetwork.com/goods/what-to-read-before-hopping-on-the-trans-siberian/

Happy planning! Would love to hear a report back here on how it went. When are you planning on going?

]]> By: Darju http://matadornetwork.com/trips/why-you-should-travel-independently-on-the-trans-siberian-railway/#comment-8778 Darju Sat, 09 Apr 2011 11:55:48 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=154#comment-8778 I have been researching a Trans Manchurian trip from London for many months now and have accumulated a wealth of information on how to make these epic trips. The advice here is the best information I have seen to date and I am now going to change my approach from agent organised , connection driven travel to a cheaper , flexible more rewarding travel experience. Many thanks Carlos I have been researching a Trans Manchurian trip from London for many months now and have accumulated a wealth of information on how to make these epic trips.

The advice here is the best information I have seen to date and I am now going to change my approach from agent organised , connection driven travel to a cheaper , flexible more rewarding travel experience.

Many thanks Carlos

]]> By: Matt http://matadornetwork.com/trips/why-you-should-travel-independently-on-the-trans-siberian-railway/#comment-7726 Matt Fri, 29 Oct 2010 08:17:54 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=154#comment-7726 Independent is definately the way to go. Thanks for the advice. Independent is definately the way to go. Thanks for the advice.

]]> By: Angela http://matadornetwork.com/trips/why-you-should-travel-independently-on-the-trans-siberian-railway/#comment-7014 Angela Sun, 15 Aug 2010 20:03:14 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=154#comment-7014 I am hoping to do this trip next year, some great tips, thank you. I feel very excited about the prospect and the adventure I am hoping to do this trip next year, some great tips, thank you. I feel very excited about the prospect and the adventure

]]> By: A Shopper’s Guide to Shanghai http://matadornetwork.com/trips/why-you-should-travel-independently-on-the-trans-siberian-railway/#comment-5210 A Shopper’s Guide to Shanghai Thu, 22 Apr 2010 12:26:47 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=154#comment-5210 [...] Navigating solo through Shanghai is not as stressful as it looks. What’s more, you can discover uncommon shops and score better deals moving at your own pace. [...] [...] Navigating solo through Shanghai is not as stressful as it looks. What’s more, you can discover uncommon shops and score better deals moving at your own pace. [...]

]]> By: Carlo Alcos http://matadornetwork.com/trips/why-you-should-travel-independently-on-the-trans-siberian-railway/#comment-3040 Carlo Alcos Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:20:42 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=154#comment-3040 Hi Tig, well, from what I've read, May-Sept is the peak season (I traveled it in Oct). I am sure you will always be able to get onward fares, but you might have to wait an extra day or two, so if you really need to be somewhere then it might be a good idea to pre-book that particular leg of the journey. We spent one month in Russia and we started in St. Petersburg and took a sidetrip a bit north. It really depends what you want to do. If you just want to take the train straight through to Moscow (highly unrecommended), then I believe it's a 6 day journey. If you want to make a few stops for a night or two in some of the cities along the way, then of course you need longer. Check out <a href="http://matadortrips.com/trans-siberian-sidetrips-how-to-break-your-train-ride/" rel="nofollow">my companion article</a> for some possible sidetrips. As far as I know, the max length of a tourist visa is one month, so get your hands on one of those to keep your options open. I think the possibility of theft on the trains is the same as anywhere else, just be mindful and don't flash your stuff around. A dSLR would be fine to bring, we met lots of travelers with them (and wish we'd bought one beforehand!). We carried a laptop with us and sometimes I would do some writing while in bed (of course, in the more private 4-bed kupe berths, NOT platzkartny). Happy planning! Hi Tig, well, from what I’ve read, May-Sept is the peak season (I traveled it in Oct). I am sure you will always be able to get onward fares, but you might have to wait an extra day or two, so if you really need to be somewhere then it might be a good idea to pre-book that particular leg of the journey.

We spent one month in Russia and we started in St. Petersburg and took a sidetrip a bit north. It really depends what you want to do. If you just want to take the train straight through to Moscow (highly unrecommended), then I believe it’s a 6 day journey. If you want to make a few stops for a night or two in some of the cities along the way, then of course you need longer. Check out my companion article for some possible sidetrips.

As far as I know, the max length of a tourist visa is one month, so get your hands on one of those to keep your options open. I think the possibility of theft on the trains is the same as anywhere else, just be mindful and don’t flash your stuff around. A dSLR would be fine to bring, we met lots of travelers with them (and wish we’d bought one beforehand!). We carried a laptop with us and sometimes I would do some writing while in bed (of course, in the more private 4-bed kupe berths, NOT platzkartny). Happy planning!

]]> By: Tig http://matadornetwork.com/trips/why-you-should-travel-independently-on-the-trans-siberian-railway/#comment-3029 Tig Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:01:23 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=154#comment-3029 Fantastic article Carlo! It's great to read a really positive review that shows issues with communicating as part of the experience rather than a deterrent. I've got my heart set on going Beijing to Moscow next May, possibly June (depends on the $$!), I'm so excited! I agree, I'd like to buy tickets as I go rather than prebook but do you think it will be too busy at that time of year? Also how long do you think you need to do the trip? Oh and is there a lot of theft on the trains? eg. would you reccomend leaving expensive DSLR cameras at home? Thanks! Fantastic article Carlo! It’s great to read a really positive review that shows issues with communicating as part of the experience rather than a deterrent.
I’ve got my heart set on going Beijing to Moscow next May, possibly June (depends on the $$!), I’m so excited! I agree, I’d like to buy tickets as I go rather than prebook but do you think it will be too busy at that time of year? Also how long do you think you need to do the trip? Oh and is there a lot of theft on the trains? eg. would you reccomend leaving expensive DSLR cameras at home?

Thanks!

]]> By: Alice http://matadornetwork.com/trips/why-you-should-travel-independently-on-the-trans-siberian-railway/#comment-1943 Alice Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:04:37 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=154#comment-1943 Great article Carlo. I've always wanted to realise a train journey which Ive never experienced yet. Im very interested in planning for one for my holiday this year, however its not easy to get people committed. Am living in HK and wonder if there's any adventurous travellers in the middle of similar situations too? Great article Carlo. I’ve always wanted to realise a train journey which Ive never experienced yet. Im very interested in planning for one for my holiday this year, however its not easy to get people committed. Am living in HK and wonder if there’s any adventurous travellers in the middle of similar situations too?

]]> By: Great Ocean Walk http://matadornetwork.com/trips/why-you-should-travel-independently-on-the-trans-siberian-railway/#comment-1881 Great Ocean Walk Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:56:49 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=154#comment-1881 We traveled on the Trans Siberian back in 1997. It was a great experience booking in Moscow and then trying to get visas at the Mongolian embassy. We paid far less than every one else on the train. It is a must do trip and we will do the trip again. Love buying food, beer and vodka from every train stop along the way. I will do it again but we have our own travel company at the moment. We traveled on the Trans Siberian back in 1997. It was a great experience booking in Moscow and then trying to get visas at the Mongolian embassy. We paid far less than every one else on the train. It is a must do trip and we will do the trip again. Love buying food, beer and vodka from every train stop along the way.

I will do it again but we have our own travel company at the moment.

]]> By: Carlo Alcos http://matadornetwork.com/trips/why-you-should-travel-independently-on-the-trans-siberian-railway/#comment-1973 Carlo Alcos Thu, 14 May 2009 22:24:18 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=154#comment-1973 Thanks for the comment Troy. Just to clarify, because there is a common misconception about the Trans-Siberian...it's not a train. It's just the route. So yes, there are lots of trains that go along this route, some more regional, some more long distance. Some are nicer than others. If you weren't planning on making stops and going straight through you'd have to take one of the few that run the whole route. But if you're planning stops in different cities you have your choice of a number of trains. Patzkart for the entire trip?! Hehe...I totally agree that you can and will probably have the most interesting experiences that way...I wouldn't do it the whole way, but all the power to you if you do! :) Thanks for the comment Troy. Just to clarify, because there is a common misconception about the Trans-Siberian…it’s not a train. It’s just the route. So yes, there are lots of trains that go along this route, some more regional, some more long distance. Some are nicer than others.

If you weren’t planning on making stops and going straight through you’d have to take one of the few that run the whole route. But if you’re planning stops in different cities you have your choice of a number of trains.

Patzkart for the entire trip?! Hehe…I totally agree that you can and will probably have the most interesting experiences that way…I wouldn’t do it the whole way, but all the power to you if you do! :)

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