My Favorite 20 Things to do Tashkent – Understand Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan – a modern, spread-out city with many tree-lined alleys. It’s one of the safest and cleanest cities in the region and beyond. Tashkent is also home to the totalitarian regime of the late President Islam Karimov and it requires perfect […]
The Central Asia countries are often grouped together as ‘Stans. While this does not entirely do them justice, many have a similar history and a somewhat comparable culture. I just spent three weeks in Central Asia and have traveled there before. I have excluded Afghanistan and Pakistan from this guide; they both have a security […]
The Radisson Blu Tashkent is currently the sole ‘luxury’ business hotel in this city, since the InterContinental next door lost its franchise agreement and the Hyatt Regency Tashkent has yet to open. The Radisson Blu in Tashkent is located on the northern edge of downtown, which isn’t great, but it’s acceptable. Taxis get you almost anywhere in […]
While I liked my quick flight from Tashkent to Samarkand on Uzbekistan Airways, I wanted to try out the train as well. Uzbekistan has quite a well-developed train system and recently invested in a high-speed rail system. The train is called Afrosiyob (named after the oldest part and the ruined site of the ancient and medieval […]
My Favorite 9 Things to do Samarkand – Understand Samarkand is one of the richest cities of the ‘Silk Road’. This pre-medieval trading route between Europe and Asia was so profitable for everyone along the way (trade always makes all participants better off despite what politicians make of it) that the rulers were able to build mind-boggling places. […]
Flying in Central Asia is almost impossible without Air Astana. The company operates two hubs in Kazakhstan in Astana and Almaty. The airline’s management is headed by Peter Foster (formerly of Cathay Pacific and Royal Brunei Airlines). As I outlined in my last Air Astana review last year, the company is surprisingly modern and punctual. […]
Things To Do Dushanbe – Understand Dushanbe is the capital of Tajikistan – a landlocked country sandwiched between Kyrgyzstan, China, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. Tajikistan is under authoritarian rule and the country is ‘very strictly policed’. The internet is partially blocked in Tajikistan and it remains the poorest country in the former Soviet Union, largely relying […]
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Turkmenistan is one of the many ‘stans’ in Central Asia. While places like Kyrgyzstan (here are my Top Things to do in Bishkek) love tourists and provide anyone who comes by with a 365 days, free one arrival, visa, the regime of Turkmenistan carefully selects the few thousand tourists every year. The consulate website makes […]
Departure from: Houston (IAH) Destination: Tashkent (TAS) Stops: Istanbul Airline(s): Turkish Airlines Sample dates: Mar 12 – Mar 19 Total miles flown: 16,946 miles Fare class: T, L (should earn 100% all the way) Cost per mile flown (the lower the better): 4.7 Bookable on Orbitz.com Use our guide How to find the cheapest flights […]