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Train Stations and Late Night Arrivals

Way to Russia Talk Lounge Forum Index -> Trans-Siberian

Author	Message
susan Just Starting Joined: 15 Aug 2004 Posts: 3	Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 6:30 pm    Post subject: Train Stations and Late Night Arrivals Hi! I have a couple of quick questions. I am planning for a Trans-Siberian trip in December with stops in Vladimir, Ekaterinburg, and Irkutsk. My first question is: What are the train stations like in these towns? Do they have heated waiting rooms? Do they have storage lockers large enough to fit a couple of rucksacks for the day? Second question: I am noticing that most of the Trans-Sib trains arrive/depart either really late at night or really early in the morning. What are your suggestions for booking accommodation and gettting to the hotel or guest house? If my train arrives in town at 1am, what do I do? Do I wait at the train station until a more reasonable hour, or do I book a room for the night/morning of my arrival and make my way to the gotel immediately. None of the reading I have done so far addresses this issue of late night arrivals, so maybe it's just not an issue. I would, however, appreciate any feedback. One last question: Generally, what time are you allowed to check in to Russian hotels, and what time is check out? Thanks for your help.
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wavetossed WayToRussified Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Posts: 339	Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:12 pm    Post subject: Ekaterinburg certainly has indoor waiting areas and a storage area "kamera khraneniya" that you can use. As for taxi, may I suggest that you notify the hotel in advance when you will arrive and ring them to send a taxi. Hotels in these cities are not as obvious from the outside as in Western countries so you may have difficulty finding the entrance unless the taxi driver points you to the right door. For instance, Hotel Iset in Ekterinburg is an imposing cylindrical high rise, but the ground floor seems to be nothing but a flower shop and a liquor store. The hotel entrance is tucked around the side between the hotel and the neighbouring cafe. If you are paying foreign rates, then don't worry about the time, just go straight to the hotel. I arrived at my hotel at 7:00 am and paid nothing extra. In fact, I didn't pay them anything at all. I had paid in advance to an agency via the Internet ( besteastern.com) so all I did was show them a voucher and they gave me my key. At checkout, I just handed the key back and left. Frankly, I think the transsib is overrated as a holiday destination. People should plan to spend the majority of their time on the ground and just use the train to get from place to place. If you want to take the train from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok, then do it in 4 or 5 separate trips so that you get a chance to really see Russia.
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