Total Solar Eclipse 2008 - Russia

Dear Artem,

Thank you for me as well for the website.

Do you have any information to share with us as to whether ALL of the hotels are booked for the eclipse? There are rumours that many tour operators have booked everything specifically for the eclipse and no more rooms are available. If you can get us some information as to whether this is true or not it would be very much appreciated.

I also note that most of the hotels do not accept credit cards. Do you know why?

Hi,
you are welcome

not all, but in big hotels (like Sibir', Novosibirsk, River Park). Information about it was in the news last month. I think tour operators said that there is no places because they work only with 3-4 hotels in Novosibirsk. In the same time there are middle-size and small hotels ( novosibirskguide.com/accommodation/ ), that don't have any contracts with touroperators and usually work with russian business tourists. I'm not sure 100%-ly, but i think there are free rooms on eclipse days in such hotels. I'll try to find out it soon.
Moreover, there are many so-called "baza otdiha" ("holiday recreation center"). I really don't now how to tell it in english. It's a kind of country-side hotel, with simple service (cantine, sport activities), that works only at summer. in this case i'm absolultely sure, that no touroperator works with them. I'll add information about.
( by the way, i recommend you new "yakutia" hotel ).

About credit cards. When i was writing about hotels i entered "no", when i was not sure about accepting. Thank you for noticing - i'll check it now, it will be "no, or no information" instead of "no"
I'll call to hotels some day on this week in free time and will make information about credit cards up-to-date.

Artem,

Do you know how commonly available wireless internet is in Novosibirsk and the surrounding areas?

Artem,

Do you know how commonly available wireless internet is in Novosibirsk and the surrounding areas?

In Novosibirsk and Akademgorodok:
wifi and internetcafes:
look there - novosibirskguide.com/telecommunications/ :)
gprs:
all local cellular networks have GPRS.

In surrounding areas - only gprs.

update: if you are not in suburbs of novosibirsk, usually it is not a problem to get an internet access somewhere.

Howerye.
Lads,
are ye all really certain that this is the best spot weather-wise?

I think Frank that part of China is also an option (and offers a little longer Totality) but the problem is the cost (about €3,000 for a 7 day 'vacation'). From experience, as a group, Turkey was so successful because so many people could afford the average €500 all-in 7 day stay (143 made the trip I think) that we'd like to kind of keep the family together on another eclipse trip.

Seanie.

Seanie et al,

I am getting a LOT of Russian SPAM the past 24 hours following my replies here to this thread and visit to the new site.

Just a heads-up .... :evil: