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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think this is not a good idea and to be scared for their safety

48 replies

fwa · 07/09/2011 14:14

My younger twin brother and sister have both just graduated and have decided to go backpacking through Russia and through some of the other "stan countries". They are not using one of the established companies and are doing it all on their own as they think they will see more of the countries by not being tied down. AIBU to think this is a bad idea and to permenantly worry for the next 2-3 months.

OP posts:

inappa · 07/09/2011 15:44

Its just the impression from the OP, they've made no attempt to learn cryllic and by the sounds of it they don't appear to have done much research.

meditrina · 07/09/2011 15:51

Lonely Planet isn't available for Russia yet, is it? Let alone the 'Stans?

Yes, it's a really bad idea. Yes, being scared for their safety is a perfectly normal response. No, you cannot stop them going.

You might however want to point then in the direction of the travellers' safety courses by this company, Objectives who are very good.

Splinters · 07/09/2011 15:55

I specialise in Soviet history and have been going to Russia on and off for the last seven years, twice for long trips. I love it, am still alive, and intend to keep on going! FWIW I would also have no problem with doing things I wouldn't do here, e.g. staying the night with an old lady waiting at a train station with a 'room for rent' sign (although admittedly it helps to have a decent level of language for this)

Your sister and brother may get their wallets nicked, and they may get a stomach upset. They should be prepared for both of these things and have a plan in case it happens. But if they have basic levels of common sense I am sure they will be fine and have an excellent time! I strongly recommend a phrasebook, small dictionary, and observance of the following simple rules:

NO DRUGS under any circs, ever

Only drink vodka that has come from a labelled bottle -- Siberians especially have been known to brew their own in the bathtub, and it's dangerous

Don't antagonise the police -- if a small fine is demanded for eg jaywalking, better just to cough up and get it over with.

Splinters · 07/09/2011 15:57

There is a Lonely Planet for Russia and has been for quite some time. It is really not that dangerous for people with common sense and decent manners!

Bramshott · 07/09/2011 16:01

I have a Lonely Planet here for Russia dated 1996 . . .

Splinters · 07/09/2011 16:02

Hmm, and maybe add to that list no domestic flights either, train is much much better..

Bramshott · 07/09/2011 16:04

Sorry X-post Splinters! I'd try to relax. It's not like they are teenagers, or they are travelling to Somalia. I presume by "stan countries" you mean places like Kazakstan or Uzbekistan rather than Afghanistan?

Goodynuff · 07/09/2011 16:06

It sounds like an amazing trip! As long as they are careful, they should be fine

grumplestilskin · 07/09/2011 16:10

Cyrillic is quite easy when it comes to things like sign posts and menus as the symbols are directly subtituted in the same order as western letters IYKWIM then you just look up your dictionary.

I've done that sort of thing independantly (as you might tell from above) and it was fantastic, felt safer than I often have in parts of the UK. And my mum has "done" russia independantly taking trains etc

dreamingbohemian · 07/09/2011 16:12

I have been to some of the Stans, they are not overly dangerous if you are smart about it but they can be VERY expensive, you need to get visas beforehand and in some of them internet access is terrible. Food hygiene can be quite bad so they should be quite careful about what they eat.

Of course there is a Lonely Planet for Central Asia, they even have one for Afghanistan now.

aldiwhore · 07/09/2011 16:15

Most people I've known who've travelled haven't done it via 'safe' routes or via companies.... they've winged it. I'm not sure why Russia worries me more than say Thailand, but I do get where you're coming from OP.

Sounds like they want to travel a road less, erm, travelled! Good on them. I guess the key things are a) are they sensible? and b) you'd worry anyway!

theyoungvisiter · 07/09/2011 16:17

I know several people who've backpacked in Russia and had a brilliant time. There is a lot of scaremongering on this thread!

"Put it like this - my Dad has been a fairly regular visitor to Russia for many years. He has been invited to go this year by 2 universities - his invitation is open for 3months and he can't get a visa because he won't finalise his travelling plans until he gets the visa, and they won't give it to him until he gives them his actual travelling dates. Flights out and back. No "might be around then" - absolute travel dates. It also costs as much for the visa application as it does for the flights."

This is a business visa though which is very different to a tourist visa. You can get a tourist visa to Russia for 30 days and you don't need exact travel dates at all - it just needs to cover the dates you plan to be there. It costs about £70-£100 depending on how you do it, so not that expensive.

Havign said that, Visas are likely to be one of their biggest headaches and they should plan to get them before they leave as getting them on the border is a nightmare by all accounts. But they are adults and providing they research their trip carefully and do their homework I'm sure they'll be fine. My mates all came back safe and sound so it can't be that hard.

theyoungvisiter · 07/09/2011 16:19

Oh - and I am going to Russia "independently" next month and have no worries at all. And yes there is a Lonely Planet AND a Rough Guide and there has been for many, many years.

Chaotica · 07/09/2011 16:22

I agree - there's an awful lot of scaremongering on this thread. Some level of language is required (or a very good idea); otherwise they just need some common sense (a high level of it, admittedly).

What's wrong with homemade vodka anyway?

dreamingbohemian · 07/09/2011 16:29

It's probably too late for them to get visas for the other countries but for future reference yes, it is loads easier to get them sorted at the London consulates (at least in my experience)

Splinters · 07/09/2011 16:29

Oh sorry, did I say dangerous? I meant delicious

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/6434789.stm

LadyBeagleEyes · 07/09/2011 17:00

Since It was me who recommended Lonely Planet, many thanks for teling me there is a guide for Russia
I travelled on my own (initially) to India and Nepal in the early 80s.
If they're staying in hostels/cheap hotels they will meet other backpackers like I did, and get loads of advice and make lots of friends. Lonely Planet/Rough guide were essential, buy them a copy as a gift before they go away.
I also hitched through Yugoslavia (that was) and Greece.
No' I don't recognise the Greek alphabet but I survived

theyoungvisiter · 07/09/2011 17:04

good tip - if they don't know much cyrillic then get them a guide which lists the destinations in Cyrillic - some guides do, some don't (I think off the top of my head Lonely Planet does and Rough Guide doesn't, but it might be the other way around).

It is MUCH easier to work out which bus you need if you have the destination translated on the page. Ditto if you're ever travelling in Greece!

moikla · 07/09/2011 17:05

YABU they will be fine provided they give the Northern Caucuses a wide birth

meditrina · 07/09/2011 17:21

Apologies to all for fluffing it up about the Lonely Planets! (I think I somehow confused in Russian with about Russia! ).

The Objectives course really is very good though - honest!

piloi · 07/09/2011 18:23

YABU they'll be fine and it sounds awesome. Interesting to see that Cold War stereotypes are still alive and well with some of the responses on this thread.

GeeinItLaldy · 07/09/2011 18:38

I've just booked an independent trip to Russia...not backpacking as I am too old don't like roughing it. I've taught myself the cyrillic alphabet in about 2.5 hours this week using apps downloaded on my iPhone.

As long as they are sensible then I don't think it's any more dangerous than travelling anywhere else in the world.

bned · 07/09/2011 20:47

YANBU Its natural to worry about family members

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