Way to Russia Talk Lounge

bobbycharly · Just Starting Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 2

Hello all,

I am trying to book the trans-mong train for the Moscow to Ulan Bataar leg stopping in Irkutsk for a few days but find that they are costing 510 and 493 USD respectively(2 birth cabin). Although travelling directly from Moscow to Ulan Bataar seems to only cost 265 (2 birth cabin).

In that case shouldn't I just buy two tickets from Moscow to Ulan Bataar (265*2), one ticket a week later than the other, and just hang around Irkustk (Baikal) for a week and wait for my next booking.... total cost =530USD.

Or am I missing something. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

BobbyCharly

lowcrust · Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 5:19 pm Post subject:

I came to the same conclusion recently, browsing the trainline.ru website. I was going to contact them and see if there was some sort of package deal available, but before I got in contact with them (I tried calling but for some reason my operator informs me their number doesn't exist) we decided not to stop in Irkutsk and instead spend some more time in Mngolia.

If I understand this correctly trainline and waytorussia are two different companies but the former licenses the waytorussia train schedule search engine, and it seems their prices doesn't always match. You might wanna try both (although in my case I get $0 for the trains I try to book).

/lowie

saez · Just Starting Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 7

BobbyCharly,

That won't work. Smile

The thing is that by the time you are fed up with Irkutsk your second ticket will have expired. Look, you use the first ticket - i.e. check-in in Moscow and stop in Irkutsk losing part of the money for Ulaanbaatar - did I get the idea correct? But then if you wait for your second train in Irkutsk it means that you don't check-in in Moscow, so by the time the train arrives to Irkutsk your ticket is not valid anymore. If you don't check-in, the train attendant can cancel the seat reservation.

And then what's the cost of hotel stay in Irkutsk for a week? Should be pretty much to make up for the difference between the tickets cost.

When I was planning the trip, I went for the www.transib.net guys 'cause it's all obvious there. They give you the cost of the ticket plus the cost of the hotel stay, so at least you know if it's worth trying...