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FREqUENTLY ASKED qUESTIONS?
HOW DOES IT WORK?
We combine travellers coming and going in all directions so you could be with the same people from start to finish, or meeting new people in every city. We dont think you need your hand held on a train (how hard can it be right?), so we provide a Honcho in each city. After meeting your travel companions on day 1, your Honcho will give you a run down of what to expect (a pre-departure meeting) and assist the group with whatever they need local transport directions to the Kremlin, translation of chat up lines in a café, an impromptu city tour taking in the best sites, internet cafes and cheap supermarkets, advice on phoning home& whatever. They will also have a stack of great ideas about what you can get up to during your stay. As there are no set activities, you can choose to do your own thing, or hang out with the Honcho and go on their recommended excursions paying local transport and your own entrance fees all the way. When its time to move on your Honcho will let you know what time the transfer from the accommodation to the station is and assist the group getting settled on the train& a few tears are shed and you roll off into the sunset/sunrise! When you arrive at your next city, theres a smiling Honcho waiting for you with a transfer to the accommodation & another city to explore! Too easy&
VODKATRAIN
¸ Overland journeys for young travellers ¸ Like-minded travellers from across the globe in small groups ¸ Honchos - a friendly face in each city ¸ Accommodation ¸ Comfortable 4-berth rail compartments ¸ Transfers - to and from the train station while your journey is underway! Your Honcho there to greet you and transport you to the accommodation ¸ Full Visa Support ¸ Assistance getting your Russian visa registered ¸ No single supplements ¸ Freedom and flexibility to do what you want in each city ¸ Pay local prices for food, sightseeing and entertainment
So, why did you call it Vodkatrain?
Vodkatrain is a revolution born out of the bureaucracy and beauty of Russian travel and there is nothing more Russian than Vodka, and nothing more local than trains& so for us it was an easy decision. And the logo just looks good. It has meant an uphill battle to get over that initial perception but then again, Vodkatrain is aimed at young, intelligent people who are seeking the freedom to experience each destination with local knowledge and on their own terms& so if youre a bit hung-up on the name, it might not be your thing.
So how much money will i need to bring with me?
How long is a piece of string? Our recommended budget varies depending on where you are going and how much you want to do when you are there. As a general guide, St Petersburg and Moscow are of similar cost to major European cities for meals and sightseeing. Siberia and Mongolia are considerably less expensive, but you should still allow US$5-$10 per meal (not including any alcohol you might want to drink), and US$2-$5 for most sightseeing entrances. China is still cheap for eats, but the sightseeing can get more pricey with so many major attractions to see in Beijing US$5-$10 for entrances, but plenty of other fun things to do for less. On the train, you can spend US$3-$8 on meals in the dining car, or stock up before you leave. If we had to give an overall opinion, budget US$30-$40 per day, not including souvenirs. With our no inclusions policy it is up to you to decide what to do and see, as suits your budget. Our Honchos are there to help you stretch your money with advice on public transport, cheap places to eat and fun things to do that arent necessarily aimed at tourists and dont cost the earth.
NOT OUR STYLE
Ú Regimented meal times Ú Enforced sightseeing Ú Big groups, on and off buses following flags, umbrellas and all sorts of paraphernalia! Ú Travelling alone, paying double the price (single supplements) Ú Getting ripped off by the local taxi mafia Ú Foreign Tour Leaders who know about as much as you about each city! Ú National leaders you dont want someone from Melbourne showing you around Sydney Ú Getting your Russian invitation over the internet only to find they cant help with any other information and to get your visa registered you must go to your friendly Russian police station and explain that you dont have a tour voucher and cant check in to your hotel that or pay astronomical fees for registration Ú Guides working for commissions and kick backs Ú Restaurant recommendations based on whether or not the Tour Leader gets a free meal my mate owns this great restaurant and if I take you all there I get $20! No thanks& Ú The souvenir shop city tour
WHEn TO TRavEl?
Were really not fussed. The departures run all year round, so plan one to fit with your round-the-world trip, a full moon party in Thailand, the next solar eclipse in South America& whatever works for you. Go in summer hot (more beer please!) or winter cold (more vodka please!). The train schedules may change a little bit, but thats all part of the fun 2.30am departure to Vladivostok anyone?
WHaTS THE DIffEREncE?
In case you havent figured it out yet this is travel no-frills style! We know that independent travellers are perfectly able to look after themselves and dont want to pay through the nose for bus sightseeing tours, and all the other things that bump up the costs. What you DO want is basic accommodation, the opportunity to meet other travellers and some good solid advice on getting about from a local who doesnt get paid on commission. We also avoid the usual pretty documents/vouchers/ maps/luggage tags all of which end up in the bin and kill a few trees along the way. Buy your own choice of guidebook if you want one, or get whatever info is relevant to your trip from the web.
who are you anyway?
Behind this oh-so-funky exterior beats the heart of Sundowners, a very sensible company with 30+ years experience of running trips in Asia and the former Soviet Union. Since the average age of the staff is 25 (not including some of the management who have been doing this since Brezhnev was in power), we thought it was about time we started offering the kind of journeys that we ourselves would want to go on.
how to book?
Just get down to the travel agent who gave you the information, or go to the vodkatrain website! There is a bit of paperwork required to get the visas organised, but this will all be covered when you book. Since you will need to obtain a number of visas before you travel, we recommend that you book at least 6 weeks in advance of your planned departure date. Our consultants are available by email if you have any questions between us weve been to every single destination, travelled every train, and sampled every local brew! Too easy. The cost to obtain these visas will vary according to nationality, the Consulate or Embassy the application is made at, and the length of time you allow for the application process. Please note that requirements can vary greatly depending where you make your application, and you should check what paperwork and fees will be necessary before you apply. On booking, we will advise what visas are necessary, the minimum time required to obtain the right documents, and the order in which to apply for them.
WHy 18-35? IS THIS juST a bIg pISS-up TOuR?
We arent interested in selling drinking tours there are plenty of people out there who do that well. Basically, Vodkatrain is what you make it we have no agenda& so if you want to drink your way to next Sunday thats your choice, but most of our travellers enjoy the sort of balance that comes with an appreciation for the destinations youre in. We run the classic 18-35 age group because lets face it no one wants to share their room with an intrepid grandma& dont get us wrong, we love our grandmas but when youre travelling in a group, you dont want to be dragging your heels while Aunt Helda catches up, or sheepishly sneaking in to your room at 4am! Young travellers have different expectations and different views on how a destination should be experienced. With Vodkatrain youre sure to travel with some like-minded people from across the world& we like it that way.
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inbro