Europe - Eastern Europe & the Caucasus
Messages: 53,563 - Threads: 9,188
Russia, TransSiberian, Belarus and Ukraine sticky
START HERE for information about Russia, the TransSiberian train routes, Belarus and Ukraine -
New RU Sticky and New RU Train sticky
Belarus FAQs
Ukraine FAQs
This post links to specific informational threads or stickies. Please do not ask your questions on these threads. If you have questions, please find another thread and ask them there or start a new thread. However, please feel free to add information to these threads that you think will be useful to other travelers.
Thanks to Ruth (Everbrite), Gene (TravelsWise) and Louise (lo...
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Central Europe FAQ thread
START HERE for information about Central Europe including Albania, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
Inside you'll find the answers to most of the common questions of the region
Edited by: Irene_Adler
Jan 27, 2012 4:43 AM
sarikanarya
last reply
May 19, 2013 10:41 AM
sarikanarya
116 replies
45,381 views
location:
Turkey
TURKEY TRIP REVIEWS
Since joining Thorntree I have been delighted to read so many wonderful trip reviews.These are most often full of the small details so important and useful to independent travellers.How sad then that in time these slip down the forum pages and get lost or forgotten about.All that help…all that typing!So I have trawled through the last 12 months and collated all the trip reviews and,after equal amounts of bullying and flattery,Zabba(mmwwahh!)has agreed to make this a sticky,so it will now be at the top of the Turkey forum page,easily found(even for us computer dimwits!) with no need to trawl around the site.
Please check through and see that I have added yours,if I haven’t then please accept my apologies and add it on.If you notice others that are missing add those too.(I'm only human!)
If you owe us a review to repay the help and advice received from the forum then get typing now!...
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May 23, 2013 7:16 AM
alterigor
last reply
May 23, 2013 8:39 AM
mattoni
1 replies
21 views
location:
Georgia
Getting to Tbilisi by air
Hi All! Hope everyone is doing well.
Have a question. What are/are there any small budget airlines that fly to Tbilisi from hubs in Europe? I am aware of Pegasus from Istanbul. Are there similar airlines from other countries?
Thank you so much!
/alter
May 23, 2013 6:25 AM
mannodonati
last reply
May 23, 2013 8:25 AM
chaika
3 replies
56 views
location:
Bulgaria
Veliko Tarnovo - Istanbul Train Tickets
Dear Forum,
After spending a week in Romania, I plan to arrive in Veliko Tarnovo by bus at 10:30 on Sunday 9 June.
After spending the day walking around Veliko Tarnovo, I would need to take the night train with sleeping couchette departing VT station at 19:16 so that I can arrive in Istanbul on the next morning of 10 June..
While I am in Romania, I can easily buy a train ticket with sleeping compartment from Bucharest to Istanbul. Can I use that ticket to board the train in Veliko Tarnovo instead of beginning my train trip in Bucharest?
Does anyone have other ideas to help? Although it would be easier to take a Hunturturizm bus from VT to Istanbul, I would pre... more »
May 23, 2013 5:40 AM
5166narda
last reply
May 23, 2013 5:40 AM
5166narda
0 replies
17 views
location:
Russia
Visiting Suzdal from Moscow
On our recent trip to Russia we went to Suzdal from Moscow. As we were unable to get good information on doing this, I thought I would post how we did it. We took the Moscow Metro to the last stop going North on the Dark Blue line. When we exited the Metro station, we walked up to a bus that was sitting there (8:40am) and showed the bus driver a piece of paper that said "Next Bus to Suzdal Please" in Russian as they don't speak English and we don't speak Russian. He motioned for us to pay his assistant (300 Rubles each) and to take a seat. The bus left the station at 9am, made a couple of very short stops to pick up folks and one 10 minute stop after two hours to let folks us the facilities, smoke, etc.. The bus was OK comfort and non smoking. After about 3 1/2 hours total, the bus stopped and the driver came back an said Suzdal and pointed to the door for us to get off. When w... more »
May 23, 2013 3:55 AM
bexabroad
last reply
May 23, 2013 3:55 AM
bexabroad
0 replies
14 views
location:
Russia
Places to stop off between Vladivostok and Omsk?
Hi all,
I am thinking of taking the Transsiberian from Vladivostok to Omsk in June next year. Having done research into where to stop off and visit along the way, I have not seen mention of any rural places or smaller towns that may be of interest. Cities may be more exicitng, but I love the countryside, and would love to stay a couple of days in a less bustling part of Russia. Any suggestions for stop-offs on this route? Also, are there any 'touristy' or 'off the beaten track' type experiences to be had in this region (farmstays, horse riding etc) that anyone can recommend?
Thanks!
Bex.
May 23, 2013 2:51 AM
ranne24
last reply
May 23, 2013 3:42 AM
michaeldunha
1 replies
49 views
location:
Russia
Visas... Out of home country on a tight timeframe... Is it possible?
I am planning to travel for 4-5 months later this year, ending in Russia early next year. This means I will be out of my home country (New Zealand) for more than 3 months before I reach Russia. I am not currently planning to spend more than 3-4days in any place (apart from Malawi or Uganda) on my travels. I will be spending a few days in each of London, Paris and Berlin prior to traveling to Russia.
Before I start booking flights I am keen to understand my chances of getting a visa, given those constraints. Can anyone tell me if this is possible, or if I am dreaming?
Thanks
May 23, 2013 12:33 AM
tara_whitfield
last reply
May 23, 2013 8:02 AM
matthijs07
5 replies
97 views
Please critique my Central/Eastern Europe Itinerary
Hello,
This summer my husband and I will be backpacking around Central Europe (Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia, and back to Austria). Our plane tickets are booked from July 2nd to September 5th, which gives us a little over 2 months.
My interests include ancient sites, architecture, and art, while my husband enjoys the outdoors and relaxing. I've tried to mix the two, and while it seems like a lot, the only place I think I will feel rushed is in Greece, but I'm ok with that. It is worth it to me to be able to see all the sites. We are both young and athletic.
We are flying into and out of Vienna and plan on using public transport, staying in hostels and camping, and eating like locals.
I have already subtracted the time spent for traveling, so these times are for purely exploring the cities.
Please let me know if...
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May 22, 2013 6:32 PM
tomgoldrup
last reply
May 22, 2013 10:51 PM
tomgoldrup
2 replies
60 views
location:
Turkey
Deniz Lake
Is it easy to get to Deniz Lake (located in Kackar Deglari Milli Parko) from Yusefeli? Can one get to the lake and back in one day or is it an overnight trek there and back. How would I get there from Yusefeli? Thanks.
May 22, 2013 6:30 PM
DebW63
last reply
May 23, 2013 4:15 AM
DebW63
10 replies
154 views
location:
Turkey
"Free" time in Istanbul
My 25 yo daughter and I, will be arriving in Istanbul on 16th August at 6.30am to join a 3 week tour of Turkey. We will be transferred to our hotel (Hilton Parksa, Macka) and then have the rest of the day free. We will have free time on the 3rd day also til 3.30 pm when we leave for Ankara. I have been to Istanbul before ( albeit , briefly as a day and half stopover on a cruise) and I went to Grand Bazaar, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Galata tower. The tour will also cover Topkapi Palace and the Hippodrome so we are looking to spend our free time exploring on our own. As our hotel seems to be outside the main tourist area, I have been researching how we can access the other areas of the city and just need to confirm a few things. We would be happy to walk or use public transport but prefer not to use taxis, if possible.
On the first day, I thought we could walk? to Dolmabahce Palac...
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May 22, 2013 5:45 PM
happywander
last reply
May 22, 2013 10:56 PM
sarikanarya
1 replies
34 views
location:
Turkey
Visa and Combo cruise and later Land trip
We are Canadians and have booked a flight to Istanbul, arriving a day before cruise, then a cruise of the Greek islands and mainland (with stops on Turkey Coast).
when we return, we are doing a separate land cruise. The way I read it we will each need a $192 multi entry visa.
Does anyone have any comments on this?
May 22, 2013 11:52 AM
meulanbique
last reply
May 22, 2013 11:52 AM
meulanbique
0 replies
27 views
location:
Georgia
Questions for hiking in Svaneti
Hi Georgia fans,
I am planning a six day stay in Svaneti from ten till 15 June. For this trip I have a few questions:
1. Is it easy to hitchhike from Mestia to Adishi?
2. Are there any home stays in Adishi, if yes; which one can you recommend?
3. I am impressed by the beauty of the Tetnuldi glacier; will I be able to do a one day return trip to this glacier, leaving from Adishi? Assuming that this isn’t doable, what is the shortest and fastest way to reach it?
4. I want to hike from Ushguli to Lentekhi in approximately three days; it will be necessary to hitchhike now and then, enough opportunities to catch a ride along the way?
5. What public transport possibilities are there from Lentekhi to Kutaisi?
Thank you in advance for your effort to answer my questions.
Cheers,
Erik
May 22, 2013 8:18 AM
dragonboy
last reply
May 22, 2013 10:45 AM
dragonboy
2 replies
55 views
location:
Romania
Sibiu to Hunedoara
Hello fellow travellers, please help!
Never thought renting a car in Sibiu could be this difficult, all cars are rented out until tomorrow 5pm, which would mean an entire day will be wasted. So instead of driving to Hunedoara, what are the other options?
Please let me know, thanks!
May 22, 2013 7:55 AM
geoffca
last reply
May 23, 2013 8:15 AM
AntiqueHotel
2 replies
66 views
location:
Turkey
Istanbul Visit
Hi,
I will be spending 3 days in Istanbul. Is it worth it to be on visits to the sights with a guide, or do most museums and attractions have information one can read in English? What would be the best museums to see in a few days? Does anyone have any hints as to how to organize the days?
Thanks.
May 22, 2013 7:53 AM
geoffca
last reply
May 23, 2013 8:17 AM
AntiqueHotel
3 replies
83 views
location:
Turkey
Turkish Bath
Hiya,
This will be the first time I visit Istanbul. I am looking to have a superb Turkish bath and massage and would love to do it while I am there.
Can anyone recommend the best place to go?
Really looking forward to our holiday at the beginning of July.
Any advise is much appreciated.
Albania travel
I am thinking of travelling through Albania to reach Montenegro this summer. however, there is very little information in the internet about travelling in Albania.
Would it be safe for a lone 21 year old women to travel?
would I be likely to meet other travellers on the way?
would a budget of 30 euro a day be sufficient (stay only in hostel dorm rooms - eat from shops and markets, only occasional meal out, some drinks)
how easy is getting around?
any hints or tips will be much appreciated! thanks!
May 22, 2013 5:18 AM
sbone_be
last reply
May 22, 2013 8:57 PM
chris1953
3 replies
82 views
location:
Turkey
Long stopover in Istambul
Hello TT
I'm looking at a flight with a 24 hour connection in Istambul (!)
If I take it, will we have time to see a few things before the flight out (at 18.50) or is it not worth the hassle? (It'll be early Sept, and we'll have a 6-month old baby, although she'll be breastfeeding so no bottles to messa bout with)
Any idea if Turkish Airlines will provide accomodation, food etc? I've received mixed messages...
Thanks!
S
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