Silk Road Central Asia Uzbekistan

Out of all the places located in Central Asia, Uzbekistan is probably one of the most popular. The unique culture, hospitable and kind people and scores of fabulous sightseeing spots make Uzbekistan a must-visit place on every tourist’s itinerary.

Every spring and fall, like migratory birds, obeying the instincts, the managers of travel agencies hastily assembled in the path. On the way they are kept, as a rule, small group and private house from the other tourists. What causes people’s ill-concealed envy. Another would go “for nothing” in any country, live in good hotels, meals, “full cup”, a few trips … Many people are dreaming to get to infotour. And fall. By hook or by crook through relatives, friends and acquaintances. Tourist people dubbed them “summer residents”. They make a nervousness in the tour, require review of the program, and at best simply do not go looking hotels.

In recent round is considered successful if the “summer people” in it less than half. In my observation, in infotour go three categories: “dacha”, managers who want only to “pull back and relax, and managers who are not to relax in front of the” hot season “.

Since vacationers all becomes clear in the first day. Many of them violently react to the information that hotels will have to watch all day. Friends and comrades of this not much warning. But generally they are silent, so understand the precariousness of their situation.

“Junior Member” of travel agencies are smarter – after examining one or two hotels are beginning to whine or express an opinion that the time would be at sea, all supposedly know all saw. Seek to “obayat” guide, the team leader. And often get their way.

The hardest hit have to “Lomov horse” who go to work.

I recently returned from infotour in Uzbekistan. At the beginning of the season it was necessary to refresh the knowledge of the country. I will not mention the name of the tour operator, it is well-known companies, as well as history happened quite typical. And it concerns not just Uzbekistan.

The first surprise began in Tashkent. Tour meticulously chosen, as I should have been (for work) otsmotret specific hotels that have worked, but not seen. Test the program by paying the tour, was calmly waiting for tickets. On the eve of departure, in the evening along with tickets courier brought a program of the tour. It was markedly different from the original version. Whole region – Side effect is outside the field of view infoturovtsev, two days of food – half-board, instead of the promised full.

In the office tour operator I was reassured that this program only for the voucher and tour will be held on the original version. Advised to convey the original version of the program guide in Tashkent. I did just that.

This was my first “mistake”. Leader, guide and most of the group with interest and serenity Olympians considered me like a bug under a microscope, hoping that, on arrival everything will be forgotten. But what I and the next day again (!!!) asked executives to find a way to show the previously declared and hotels, angered the people. And although few people supported my request, head and guide were clearly unhappy with our persistence. In announcing the program of the third day, the representative of the Tashkent tour operator significantly paused and said that on “numerous” requests from managers, we still visit a couple of hotels. The position of team leader and guide a little surprised. All the questions I get an answer like: “most of the group thinks differently.”

I realized what being in the spotlight all the time. “Most of the” trying to find out who and what I am, but whether I work in tourism, but maybe I’m far from the region? It turned out that I worked in a Tashkent firm. Behind him, I heard remarks like: “I took her business card, which the manager … Then … We will understand. On the third day of brisk, sprightly girl, decided to put me in place. Our dialogue with gusto, too, listened to all the “majority”. It resounded like this:

- You say you come to work?

Apparently my answer was plainly insensitive:

- Yes. I was not planning to rest, came to work.

- Personally, I came to rest and others too, so please do not budorazhte people. I think that we have agreed with you!!

- How do you sell the hotels are not looking are you?

- Well, somehow too, selling.

We do not agree. However, it is not too worried. The next three days more than half of the group openly sabotaged the visit to the hotels and all day sunbathing on the beach, spoiling an inordinate amount of beer and spirits, good hotel to work on the system “all inclusive”. Among them sank and she. And we, the “minority”, for days visiting hotels, arriving only in the evening. Head and guide from time to time in the hotels we hurry, they also like the sea.

Tashkent – Sevastopol – Samarkand – Samarkand – Bergama – Selcuk – Cesme – Alaçati – Konya – Antakya – Aleppo – Hama – Krak’de’Shevale – Palmyra – Latatsiya – Antakya – Tashkent – Marmaris – Samarkand – London

Start. The idea to go abroad arose in June, and constantly worries me. Route selection occurred spontaneously. In the Internet found a lot of useful information – information on the route to the Middle East – avp.travel.ru, info on Kazakhstan -  / Kazakhstan / Kazakhstan, info on Uzbekistan www.uzbekistantravelandtours.com As well as guide to countries on Also got a lot of every consultation and advice on the forum / board / board.cgi and legal assistance on the server www.roxanatour.com . No problem a Kazakhstan tourist visa. Collection of things going on within 3 days. First was collected lots of things, then left, only half. As a result, the backpack was: a thin blanket, bought at IKEA (replacing towels, bedding and sometimes even a pillow), a handful of supplies (half of which could safely be left at home), several films, spare T-shirt and shorts and a guide, Uzbekistan “Uzbekistan’s publications on the toilet paper (very realistic) for only 20 rubles., camera Zenit 11, bought from Uncle Vasya on Arbat Street for 500 rubles, and a handful of films to him. Shoes – one pair of sandals on his feet. From the travel documents were only a ticket to the lateral top seat on the train Tashkent-Sevastopol – 600 rubles. Return tickets, I was not, because I do not know where I’ll go back to Tashkent, and when, moreover, to take return tickets from Tashkent is always more expensive than on-site. At the cost I had 685 dollars + card visa Savings Bank, on which lay $ 300

Yes, the Internet brings new realities, and must be counted. I was invited to comment on the letter of the tourist. Keenly aware that the negative sinks into the soul of the reader is much stronger than the constructive position, I nevertheless venture to engage in polemics.

The first and most important thing. This hurt the tourist, the tourist dissatisfied, and I accept it as a “puncture” of our system. If the letter of claim had no basis, I would not respond to such a vitriolic and spiteful message. Is reason to be dissatisfied. Of the blame for what happened lies with the managers of the firm “Uzbekistan” – one of the companies belonging to the time in the system chain stores Discounted stays. In this case, the girl was able to notice that the validity of the passport of the tourist ends, and tell you. I sincerely apologize.

I do not accept the charges at the prices – a tourist would not come into the office, not whether our prices are flawless. A story about technology, as we do this, take a long time. I will not tell who, what and who buys. You get a Uzbekistan – tours is not at the creamery, and a VCR SONY – not in Japan. This is a market, it is composed always optimal. Somebody does not like the manager rolls his eyes (flirting, perhaps, or a tourist it seemed to), someone may not like the age and sex of our lawyer, but I like it here, because it works well. Someone is proud that does not fly charters, but 95% of Turkish traffic is charter flights. Let’s drop the anger and consider the merits.

The tourist expired passport, he buys a round, manager, usually with vacation, does not notice this fact. On the tourist route “wrap”.

View two of the case – legal and fairly.

Legal side. Links to articles of the laws will not lead, but will try to bring the main provisions of the reader.

Contract with tourists is a public contract. Not in the sense that it interprets as a tourist, but in the sense that regardless of skin color, religious beliefs, likes or dislikes, we do not have the right to refuse to serve a potential customer. And even regardless of what his passport. To avoid misunderstandings in the text of the treaty which was signed when buying a tourist tour, included a paragraph imposing on the customer’s responsibility to monitor the status of their documents. Emphasize – his! Not those who provided the travel agency (ticket, voucher, insurance policy, a memo).

Furthermore. At the firm of Uzbekistan which at that time was a chain of shops Discounted vouchers, filed a lawsuit. Circumstances were such that we could not send a lawyer who was on a business trip. The judge went one-sided and that the rules are not suitable to the situation by requiring travel agency to make a return tour price. Uzbekistan the money does not pay. Can not. He stopped work. But what is remarkable “Network Store Discounted vouchers” – so is the fact that we have a responsibility to those who offer to use our name. Whether a lawsuit filed today, we would have every chance to prove that the blame for the inability to perform the tour lay with the tourists, but the court has already entered into legal force, and after a series of procedures that we will not alleviate this particular tourist, “Network: “shall be awarded to make the payment.

Decision on equity. When a passenger buys a ticket to the Ukraine in the railway ticket offices, ticket discharged him. If the passport has expired, the customs have a problem. Will the passenger in the head to shift the blame on the railway cashier? Of course not. But the tourist market – special. Reputation is worth the money. And for inattention officer who is not prompted tourists that the passport at the time of departure is overdue, I am personally ready to accept responsibility. Responsibility, liability equal to the tourist. That is, divide the loss in half. This is my suggestion. But you have another option – after a series of procedures to get the full amount. Why is that – indicated in the preceding paragraph.

The choice is yours.