[flowerchildA]

Thought I'd bump this up...

Where do you get adapters? What kind do you use there? Did you bring a travel iron?

Any more advice? Thanks!

[DET62]

You can get adaptors at Radio Shack. You will also need a step down converter - very important. I ordered mine off the internet.

If you have clothes that need to be ironed, better bring a travel iron.

Most important to take: Kleenex, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper. These things are in short supply in some places.

Dee

[hml1976]

magellan's has a great adapter, the Eurosurge. We had no problem finding regular toilet paper in Uralsk and Almaty but I don't know about other places. I would also recommend those no water needed facial wipes, I think Dove makes some, they were nice when we didn't have hot water for a few days.

[pequele]

this made me think of those products you can use for bed ridden patients. the waterless bath wipes and waterless shampoos....I hear a lot about the no water situation, these may just come in handy a few times....ugh I can't go without a shower!!!

Originally Posted by hml1976

magellan's has a great adapter, the Eurosurge. We had no problem finding regular toilet paper in Uralsk and Almaty but I don't know about other places. I would also recommend those no water needed facial wipes, I think Dove makes some, they were nice when we didn't have hot water for a few days.

[lovestruck]

Can you use your computer with the Eurosurge?

The converter we took to Russia, can't remember the kind, worked great until we plugged in the computer, then it blew. Ugh!!

We are hoping to travel in a few weeks to Kaz and want to be able to use our laptop.

[hml1976]

Yep, we used it with our laptops no problem at all. Its definitely the best one and we would know, my husband bought 4 or 5

[lovestruck]

Thanks so much!

[onehappymom]

Originally Posted by flowerchildA

Hi, does anyone have travel advice... what did you pack that you were glad about or didn't pack that you wish you had?

Did anyone bring water purification tabs or antibiotics in case of sickness?

Did anyone get sick and how did you handle it?

Anything other travel advice would be great too!

Thanks!

Hi, just take your medicine you usually take (if any); also any medication you would give your future child if she already arrived: ask the pharmacist what he recommend for fever, sneezing nose, sore throat, etc. You will need it in a future anyway. If you forgot some common medication (like for headache) don't dispair ... Kazakhstan supermarkets and pharmacies have most of the stuff. It's not at all like it was decades ago. I went to the pharmacy and bought some stuff for myself. It was cheap.

Depending what month to go - in summer , or spring etc. take the same clothes you would wear now. But if you go on winter take a lot of warm things. We went in November, and it was major snow storm, and was very cold.
Never never drink tap water. You must have a supply of drinking water bottles, juice. etc.
If you want, e-mail, I will tell you about the trip.


Laura.

[pequele]

Originally Posted by onehappymom

Depending what month to go - in summer , or spring etc. take the same clothes you would wear now.
Laura.

Laura, isn't it warm in spring or summer? If I wore what I am wearing now...parka, fleece and snow boots I may be rather warm don't you think ....yesterday it was minus 23 here and today when I got up at 6:30 a balmy minus 13! I sure HOPE it is warmer there in the spring and summer! UGH

[hml1976]

Yep, it was 105'F when we were in Almaty in June 05. I thought the pilot was kidding when he announced it before we landed but it was unbearably hot. Uralsk on the other hand was beautiful, in the 60s and 70s everyday.

[kcolange]

i just got back from 1st trip. i over packed food - you can get absolutely any food there except peanut butter. i also over packed toiletries - you can also get absolutely anything there. if you use special items sold by salons or more expensive brands they sell in the department stores, then pack them because you cannot buy them there.

Kelly

[hgbrn]

About the water--if you are in an apartment, you can heat bottled water easily. Has anyone been in a hotel and wished they had a hotplate? Is this something we should take with us?

[lovestruck]

Good quetion,

I plan to stay a month in an apartment then when my husband leaves I may move to a hotel (not certain on that yet). The place we stayed in Russia had a fridge. Should I take a hot plate just in case, I've gotta have my coffee in the morning?

[hml1976]

I wouldn't take a hot plate, we stayed in a hotel and bought this amazing electric kettle (less than $10) while we were there. Cold to boiling in under 90 seconds, I kid you not it was amazing, I was sad that I couldn't bring it with us home.

[dlbmcgill]

I agree - don't bring the hot plate. We also loved our kettle and wished we could have brought it home.

We overpacked on food from home and medicine/first aid supplies. In Astana you can get just about anything you can get at home. On our second trip we even found peanut butter, but it was expensive and couldn't be guaranteed to be in stock. We did take along an antibiotic, just in case. I would also suggest packing your clothes and then going back and taking out an outfit or 2. We had a washer in the apartment and ended up recycling the same 2 or 3 shirts and pants the whole time we were there.