Uzbekistan Airways business class | LHR-TAS-LHR
Sep 9, 2014, 2:05 am
#31
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Glad that you enjoyed it! 
There was some difficulty in finding out information about Uzbekistan Airways precisely because it is such a small airline. I hope that my TR will be a frame of reference for passengers considering flying this carrier in the future.
The wedding itself was great. There were beautiful dancers, including a lady who looked and danced like a snake.
I had several types of plov in Uzbekistan. There was one that had a mix of both lamb and horse. And there was another which contained egg.
I had several types of plov in Uzbekistan. There was one that had a mix of both lamb and horse. And there was another which contained egg.
Sep 9, 2014, 2:40 am
#32
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I hope you at least had some plov while you were on the ground in Uzbekistan. Too bad you didn't make it out of Tashkent, Samarkand is pretty close and well worth the trip. I will have to go back for Bukhara, Khiva and the Aral Sea.
Edit: I see you did, did you make it to central plov by any chance? They do a good rendition.
Edit: I see you did, did you make it to central plov by any chance? They do a good rendition.
Sep 9, 2014, 2:22 pm
#34
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I have a friend who studies in Samarkand. She took me to a local canteen where I had the most amazing plov for 4.000 CYM. They had great Samsa as well made straight out of a Tandoor oven for 1,500 CYM. Nothing compares to having locals taking you around!
Jul 29, 2015, 5:04 am
#37
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Uzbekistan Airways business class | LHR-TAS-LHR
I enjoyed this TR and will check the link for possibly more pix. Thank you!
But bummer the 767 didn't have lie-flat seat option!
But bummer the 767 didn't have lie-flat seat option!
Jul 29, 2015, 8:55 am
#39
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Great report. Thanks.
Having a dedicated business class building sounds quite impressive, especially as I read this report over a Costa coffee at LHR Terminal 5. Oh, Asian luxury!
The plov looked very tasty. I tried it in Russia and really liked it.
Having a dedicated business class building sounds quite impressive, especially as I read this report over a Costa coffee at LHR Terminal 5. Oh, Asian luxury!
The plov looked very tasty. I tried it in Russia and really liked it.
Aug 1, 2015, 1:30 pm
#40
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I am pleased to see that my report is still generating interest. I would certainly have no hesitation about using HY again, including on a connection if the price was right.
I would not count on too much. Costa Coffee at LHR T5 is probably a better place to while away the hours than CIP areas at TAS!
I would not count on too much. Costa Coffee at LHR T5 is probably a better place to while away the hours than CIP areas at TAS!
Aug 21, 2015, 11:27 am
#41
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I'm glad that you linked to your trip report in your signature. We are headed to Tashkent, then thru Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, very soon. I have several questions.
1) Were you ever on your own? If so, do you speak any of their languages? If not, and you were using English, how was it? I understand that not many do.
2) Do you have any restaurants that you recommend?
3) Did you have to declare all your currency on entering and leaving the country? If so, did you have to provide documentation of where you exchanged it? If not, did you use any non official exchange? How difficult was it to do that?
4) Did you use only local currency while in country, or did people prefer tips in pounds/euros/whatever you offered?
1) Were you ever on your own? If so, do you speak any of their languages? If not, and you were using English, how was it? I understand that not many do.
2) Do you have any restaurants that you recommend?
3) Did you have to declare all your currency on entering and leaving the country? If so, did you have to provide documentation of where you exchanged it? If not, did you use any non official exchange? How difficult was it to do that?
4) Did you use only local currency while in country, or did people prefer tips in pounds/euros/whatever you offered?
Aug 21, 2015, 12:35 pm
#42
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I'm not the OP but since i was in Uzbekistan less than a week ago...
1) Most locals don't speak English
2) National Food and Central Asian Plov Center
3) Yes you have to declare currency. You don't have to provide documentation on where you changed it (not really logical anyway as you won't bring in Som or take out Som... so it's like where did you exchange your dollars to dollars). Changing money on the black market is not difficult (money changers are plentiful at bazaars and Tashkent railway station, most guesthouses can do it as well though the rate isn't as good), but many people get ripped off by changing with people like taxi drivers. Check online for up to date information on the exchange rate before going (caravanistan forums are a good source of info).
4) No one tips in Uzbekistan for anything, except maybe guides, not sure about that as I hate traveling with guides. Hotels prefer to be paid in dollars, but accept Som, sometimes at a favorable (official) exchange rate. Restaurants have a 10-20% service charge included in the bill. Most of the time, this is less than a dollar for one person. A fairly priced taxi ride should be around $2 or $3 almost anywhere.
1) Most locals don't speak English
2) National Food and Central Asian Plov Center
3) Yes you have to declare currency. You don't have to provide documentation on where you changed it (not really logical anyway as you won't bring in Som or take out Som... so it's like where did you exchange your dollars to dollars). Changing money on the black market is not difficult (money changers are plentiful at bazaars and Tashkent railway station, most guesthouses can do it as well though the rate isn't as good), but many people get ripped off by changing with people like taxi drivers. Check online for up to date information on the exchange rate before going (caravanistan forums are a good source of info).
4) No one tips in Uzbekistan for anything, except maybe guides, not sure about that as I hate traveling with guides. Hotels prefer to be paid in dollars, but accept Som, sometimes at a favorable (official) exchange rate. Restaurants have a 10-20% service charge included in the bill. Most of the time, this is less than a dollar for one person. A fairly priced taxi ride should be around $2 or $3 almost anywhere.
Aug 21, 2015, 12:45 pm
#43
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Thank you, mpkz. That's very helpful. Did you find taxi drivers etc wanted to be paid in dollars or soms? Normally, I would only use local currency. But I remember traveling in the eastern block before the fall. Dollars had substantially more value to locals than their own currency, and was difficult for them to get.
Aug 21, 2015, 1:08 pm
#44
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I'm sure they'd like dollars but the way the system works is that you pay them in Som, no one, except airport taxis looking to rip you off, will quote you a price in dollars.
It's not quite like the Eastern Block, though Uzbekistan is a high inflation, capital controlled currency so they prefer to have their savings in "hard" foreign currency. Despite this, every price almost anyone (restaurants, taxis, museums, train tickets) quotes is in Som instead of USD and offering USD probably gets you less favorable prices. I think another exception might be domestic plane tickets, which foreigners have to pay for in USD.
It's not quite like the Eastern Block, though Uzbekistan is a high inflation, capital controlled currency so they prefer to have their savings in "hard" foreign currency. Despite this, every price almost anyone (restaurants, taxis, museums, train tickets) quotes is in Som instead of USD and offering USD probably gets you less favorable prices. I think another exception might be domestic plane tickets, which foreigners have to pay for in USD.
Aug 21, 2015, 1:09 pm
#45
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I'm sure they'd like dollars but the way the system works is that you pay them in Som, no one, except airport taxis looking to rip you off, will quote you a price in dollars.
It's not quite like the Eastern Block, though Uzbekistan is a high inflation, capital controlled currency so they prefer to have their savings in "hard" foreign currency. Despite this, every price almost anyone (restaurants, taxis, museums, train tickets) quotes is in Som instead of USD and offering USD probably gets you less favorable prices. I think another exception might be domestic plane tickets, which foreigners have to pay for in USD.
It's not quite like the Eastern Block, though Uzbekistan is a high inflation, capital controlled currency so they prefer to have their savings in "hard" foreign currency. Despite this, every price almost anyone (restaurants, taxis, museums, train tickets) quotes is in Som instead of USD and offering USD probably gets you less favorable prices. I think another exception might be domestic plane tickets, which foreigners have to pay for in USD.