Trans Siberian Train - anyone pleasantly surprised??

bubbaloo

Hi there,
I have posted here before about my hubby and I having different ideas on what we should do for a holiday. He is 40 next year and wants to do something out of the ordinary. It seems he has set his heart on the trans-siberian railway.
I have looked it up and in my mind (I'm more of a 5 * luxury girl!) it looks pretty basic and I know I will end up in a bad mood and we'll argue and it will be awful!
My question is this - has anyone ever dreaded the thought of this trip but ended up really enjoying it?
I found one website which seems to offer a balance of hotel stays and train trips and I think I could probably cope with it, but am I just naive in believing what I read on a website that's trying to sell me something???
Oh God - my head's a mess!! Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Galadriel

bubbaloo wrote: »

My question is this - has anyone ever dreaded the thought of this trip but ended up really enjoying it?

I did the trans-siberian about 4 years ago, I did it by myself as I was meeting the OH in Mongolia (He was doing the Mongolrally).

Have to say I loved it. You can get a private room if you like, I didn't as I wanted to meet people along the way.

Once you get into the 'train' life it's great fun and you meet some interesting people along the way, but it's definitely is not a 'luxury' train! I stayed on the train all the way to Mongolia so no shower for me for five days :eek: but that is part of the experience, bring plenty of food/drink supplies with you, you also stop at stations along the way and can buy food on the platforms.

It's all down to individual tastes though, I really enjoyed the experience.

There are plenty of travellers accounts out there with day by day accounts of the journey, have a read of them before you decide!

mikemac

Got an approximate cost?

bubbaloo

Thanks Galadriel - I have read a few accounts of trips alright and what you describe is exactly what my husband wants. I mentioned the "deluxe" version to him last night and he didn't want to know. He wants the non-showering experience!!! :rolleyes:. I'll have to keep looking at my options!!

And hi feelingstressed - I only looked at the "deluxe" version (half hotel stays and half train) and it's about GBP 1500. I found this website.... http://www.trans-siberian.co.uk/. But everyone talks about www.seat61.com as a great source of info too.

Galadriel

feelingstressed wrote: »

Got an approximate cost?

I just looked up an old pm I sent someone on it; I paid €250 for the train ticket on it's own, that was sharing in a four bed room, didn't realise it was so cheap!

I booked my train ticket, my hotel on arrival in Moscow (hotels are crazy prices) and my visa through one online company.

Columbia

Apologies to bubbaloo for slightly hijacking this thread, but it seems like a good opportunity to ask without having to start a new one.

People who have been on the trans-siberian before, did you have access to an electricity outlet while on the train (in 2nd class)?

Galadriel

Columbia wrote: »

did you have access to an electricity outlet while on the train (in 2nd class)?

The train I was on didn't have them, not 100% about the two-bed rooms but doubt it as they where exactly the same as the four-bed rooms.

Some of the trains are better then others but these go on specific days only but worth checking out -it was either the lower the number of the train the better it was or the higher the number... I went a few years ago so don't know if it's still the same, but I do remember it was confusing.