Vladivostok - Post Report Question and Answers
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Vladivostok is truly unlike anywhere else in the world. It has a high hardship differential that is very, very, well deserved. I had previously served at another high hardship post, which in comparison was a cakewalk compared to Vlad. You really have to live like a local, because there are no expat facilities. However, Vlad is just so crazy and so off the wall, that's it's hard not to enjoy your overall experience there if you're an adventurous person. - Apr 2012
When you look at a map, Vladivostok appears quite close to China, Koera, and Japan. Geographically they are close, but getting to those places is very expensive. The cheapest international flight is to Harbin in China and it costs about 15,000 rubles for a round trip. Seoul currently costs 22,000. There are ferries to Korea and Japan, but they are not much cheaper, and diplomats are not allowed to travel on them without special permission. Domestic flights are expensive, as well, so trips to places worth traveling to will entail significant cost (21,000 for Kamchatka, for example). Note: USD=31 rubles. Private vehicles are not allowed to cross the border with China, so road trips there, though close, are impossible. There are a few nice places within a few hours' drive from Vlad, but trips further afield would be dangerous and take a while. - Jun 2009
People are great. If you are young,more tolerable. - Apr 2009
