Kazakhstan Travel Forum

Hi all, I want to get an apartment in Kostanai, Kazakhstan this autumn (probably October), to visit some friends. However, although I see people mentioning getting apartments, nobody EVER explains how they do this. The closest I saw was "through connections, not agencies." What on Earth is a 'connection' in this case? Please give me some advice, since it's so difficult to get ahold of an apartment! Thank you!

Ask your friends in Kostanai to ask around their offices, acquaintances, friends etc. for available apartments. I guarantee that in short order there will be people coming out of the woodwork to offer you a place--it's very common for people to just move out of their apartments and in with their relatives if they see an opportunity to make some cash by renting out their home. This is how I got my apartment in Kazakhstan many years ago, and the same should hold true today. There are agencies, but if you don't speak the language you will have difficulty maneuvering through the process, and you might not have the benefit of recourse to people you know in case anything goes wrong. It will be easier to go the grapevine route.

Thank you .... I'll get in contact with my friends and see if they know anyone in Kostanai who's willing to rent!

Hm, my friends don't seem to know anyone. I've been to www.kostanay.kz, and they say there are "many" apartment bureaus (http://www.kostanay.kz/?what=140&url=1#hotel is the page) but they don't give a single detail of contact information.

I'm getting frustrated enough by the process that I'm willing to try overcoming the language problems, if only I could find a way to actually contact one of these bureaus/agencies/etc. But they seem to be invisible on the Internet.

Does anyone have any solid contact information, and if so, can they please share it? Thank you very much!!!!!

My cell here in KZ is 87776357959. The name is Jim. I'll be here until December. If you're still looking, call. I can put you in touch with a local in Kostanai who speaks excellent english and knows how to get things done. I work here. He aids American adoption families.

My cell here in KZ is 87776357959. The name is Jim. I'll be here until December. If you're still looking, call. I can put you in touch with a local in Kostanai who speaks excellent english and knows how to get things done. I work here. He aids American adoption families.

Hi! probably it's quite late, i'm from this town ))) did you manage to find an accommodation? and how is your trip to kazakhstan? are you still there?