train from Xian to Lhasa

Hello, TT
Iam planning on going to Tibet, taking the train from Xian to Lhasa. Iam in contact with Sabina from tibettravel. They are quoting me 2270RMB/$315USD (just for the train ticket). It seems a little too much. I was under the impression it was going to be about $80-100USD for hard sleeper. Is this right? If not, about how much should it be? cheers...

Hard sleeper upper/middle/lower bunk 500/518/536 RMB for one-way. That seems to work out 65.5/68/70 USD, rounded up/down to the nearest 0.5 USD.
Sounds like a terrible rip-off, even if those prices quoted are for round-trip, without including the cost of the TTB permit.
Cheers!

It is very difficult to get train tickets to Lhasa. Most travel agencies and guesthouses charge a surcharge in getting train tickets in China and the surcharge for going to Lhasa is usually more than to other destinations. Having said that, the price they quoted you is outrageously expensive just for a train ticket. Do not get a ticket from them.

Hey #3...Why are you telling people not to get a permit? Sure it may not be checked when you take the train, but then again it might. Even if your permit isn't checked when you board the train, you will need to prove you have a permit if you plan on taking a trip anywhere outside of Lhasa. You will have a difficult time leaving Lhasa to go to places such as Everest or the Nepal border without proving you have this permit.

#3 always was a bit flaky.<BR>

#6, please just take your nonsense somewhere else. Are you going to tell me you're going to bear the consequences for whoever gets caught without a permit, if they're checked? I'm sure you aren't.
Cheers!

hendri, we've been through this before. If you keep it up, I'm going to ask you to be banned.

Hello TT,
Thanks guys for your comments. I think I have decided on waiting til I get to Beijing to arrange Tibet permit and train ticket as oppose to doing it in advanced overseas via email/fax. Can anyone recomend a reliable travel agency in Beijing to do this? Also, Iam planning to arrange these things on the 20th (I arrive on the 19th at night), will train tickets be sold out to go to Lhasa on the 27/28th leaving from X'ian? cheers...

I believe you'll need to arrange for a TTB permit from Xi'an if you're taking the train from there. Not Beijing.
Cheers!

Hello TT,
ok, so I guess I'll arrange permit in X'ian. Can anyone recomend an agency and how long will it take? cheers...

My travel agent said he can get the permit two after he gets the copies of the passport pages. You can also get the permit at several hotels or hostels in town. They may be cheaper than my agent. I don't know. I haven't gone to Tibet. (I've heard the Bell Tower IYH and Ludao Bingguan do the permit.)