Uzbekistan
Peak: March – June & September – November. These months offer great weather.
Off-peak: December – February. These months bring cold weather and occasional snow.
Credit cards are accepted in my places in cities; however, it is important to carry cash everywhere. A lot of restaurants and small shops only take cash.
Network Reality: My US carrier plan worked fine for basic navigation and messaging in bigger towns and cities. I lost service in some rural areas and when taking the train across the country.
Power & Plugs: Uzbekistan uses Type C and F plugs. The voltage is 220V.
My most uncalibrated moment was arriving in Samarkand just as the day was fading. I went straight to the Registan, and as night fell, the entire complex transformed. When the lights hit those walls, the tiles became incredibly vibrant, glowing with a deep, electric blue. The plaza was nearly empty. In that silence, it wasn’t hard to imagine what this place felt like during the Silk Road era—a global crossroads where the world’s most precious goods and boldest ideas collided. Standing there in the quiet, surrounded by centuries of history lit up like a jewel, I realized that some places don’t just hold history; they radiate it.