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R2D2
Just Starting
Joined: 07 Jun 2005
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 7:34 am Post subject: Ulan-Bator to Irkutsk |
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Does anyone know about trains out of Ulan-Bator to Irkutsk during the month of July? We do not have tickets booked yet and were wondering if there were multiple trains a week leaving for Irkutsk from Ulan Bator.
If there are multiple trains, how quickly do they book up? Would it be wise to arrive in Ulan Bator spend a week and expect to make reservations while there? I hear there are daily trains going the other direction from Irkutsk to Ulan Bator, but don't know if that is reversed as well.
We have been asked by a travel agent to just deposit money into his account and he will book tickets for us for this leg of the trip. We're unsure if this is exactly safe (or if it's always done this way), and want to just book them ourselves if we can.
Also once in Ulan Bator, how easy is it to find tours and housing for a week?
Any help would be appreciated, we're getting VERY close to our departure time from Beijing. Thanks! |
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rainuchka
Frequent Guest
Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Posts: 17
Location: Massachusetts
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| Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 8:31 am Post subject: Re: Ulan-Bator to Irkutsk |
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| R2D2 wrote: | We do not have tickets booked yet and were wondering if there were multiple trains a week leaving for Irkutsk from Ulan Bator.
If there are multiple trains, how quickly do they book up? Would it be wise to arrive in Ulan Bator spend a week and expect to make reservations while there?
Also once in Ulan Bator, how easy is it to find tours and housing for a week? |
This website: http://www.seat61.com is helpful with train information. If you look at the trains listed on this website from Ulaan Bataar to Irkutsk, I think there are a couple trains per week (the #5 comes to mind, for some reason, but I can't remember). You can book the tickets through this website. I don't know how quickly things book up, but since it's summer, I would guess relatively quickly. Everything I've been reading suggests to get there at least an hour before the train leaves so you have your pick of seats.
I'm going to Ulaan Bataar at the end of August with an abroad program, so I can't say for certain how easy it'll be to find accomodation, but I have a feeling it shouldn't be too hard. Have you looked online at all? There are a ton of different tours to choose from.
Good luck! |
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sputnik
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 02 Jan 2005
Posts: 141
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| Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 8:59 am Post subject: Re: Ulan-Bator to Irkutsk |
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| R2D2 wrote: | | We have been asked by a travel agent to just deposit money into his account and he will book tickets for us for this leg of the trip. We're unsure if this is exactly safe (or if it's always done this way), and want to just book them ourselves if we can. |
Is this an understatement?
With ANY company as a customer it is ALWAYS unsafe to first send money and then wait to see what kind of service is being provided. A common bank transfer is not advisable anyways for travel agents.
If i pay for a service by bank in Holland, i almost always choose the solution in which i allow the other party to book the money for this particular service from my account.
When i am unsatisfied with the service provided this option gives me the possibility to first claim my money back before re-negotiating about the price. If you have your bank cancelling the payment they will be much more eager to fulfill your wishes than when they still have your money.. |
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gonzock
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 101
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| Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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| I was in Ulaanbaatar about a month ago and there was 2 fast trains per week and also one slow train everyday to Irkutsk. Also if you only have a week I would try to find a travel agency before getting to Mongolia, otherwise it would be probably difficult to go to Gobi desert and it was for me and my friends the only thing worth seeing in Mongolia. There's nothing to do or see in Ulaabaatar nor in Karakorum (just a Pagoda, and if you came from China isn't worth it to go there). Terejl National park isn't worth it either, the only thing to do there is ride a horse, a camel or a yak. So, in my opinion I would focus the trip in Gobi desert. There's another lake in north Mongolia which I didn't go but heard it was pretty nice. But the problem is that is very far away plus you will go to Baikal lake afterwards. There's also flights to/from Gobi desert and are cheap. This might help you if you have this pretty tight schedule. Good luck and be aware with ticks, they are everywhere |
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