Russia, TransSiberian, Belarus and Ukraine sticky

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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... more »

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!... more »

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..

I read that the RILA offices for purchasing international train tickets from Bulgaria are closed on Sunday. How can I buy train tickets with sleeping compartment to travel from Veliko Tarnovo to Istanbul?

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 »

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.

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... more »

"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... more »

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

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.

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!