I%26#39;ve looked at flights to Minsk and it looks like Air Baltic/Ryan Air %26amp; Belavia come out the cheapest although ideally we would want to be flying from newcastle or Durham Tees Valley which knocks up the price a lot. Does anyone have any other recommendations please?
We would also consider a flight/train option, flying to a nearby country and then getting the train in, but all I%26#39;ve come up with is pricey options and half the time going round in circles.
If we fly then we would probably be staying from a Monday to a Thursday/Friday (3-4 nights). If it is the train option then that will impact on the length of our stay.
Any advice is appreciated.
Cheers
ITS
|||
The fastest way (but more expensive)will be by plane into Minsk. Other ways is to fly to Berlin or Warsaw, and then take a train to Minsk. Let me WARN you: the train between Warsaw and Minsk take about 10 hours, the good think Minsk-Warsaw is overnight train so you don%26#39;t have to worry about hotel. Berlin-Minsk takes around 16-18 as far I remember.
|||
Thanks very much for your advice. Can you recommend any reasonably priced hotels in central Minsk in close proximity to the tourist sights, bars and restaurants.
Any tips would be appreciated.
Thanks
ITS
|||
Eh, sorry can%26#39;t help you there. I stayed at my friends house when I was there. Look in %26quot; Hotels and Accommodations section. One thing I can tell you, their 5 star hotel is like 2-3 star in Europe or USA.
|||
If you have any more questions, please ask. I%26#39;ll to check this forum everyday.
|||
Thanks very much mate, your advice is much appreciated.
Cheers
ITC
|||
Hello webeagle12,
A heap of questions here if you or anyone else would be kind enough to answer and put me in the picture please:
We%26#39;ve got our flights sorted out now for October 2008.
1. Looking at the hotels they%26#39;re coming across as canny expensive in the City Centre of Minsk. Can you recommend any in or as close to the centre as possible that are semi-reasonable?
2. What is the Metro system like (similar to Moscow)?
3. From Minsk International Airport (MSQ) how long on average does it take to get to the City Centre (taxi, bus, etc)? I ask this as in Moscow it took over 2hrs due to the 6 lanes of gridlock traffic.
4. Can you recommend a taxi operator and what is the %26#39;real%26#39; fare as I believe they%26#39;ll try to rip us anyway?
5. We intend staying two nights in a hotel and the third night at the airport due to our early check-in. I noticed on one Visa Support site that it was stating that your Visa is only valid for the amount of nights shown in a hotel?
6. Is it possible to walk to the Dinamo Football Stadium in Minsk from the City Centre? If not then is there a Metro or bus we could take?
7. Any recommendations on best bars, places to eat, etc.
8. On Visas is it possible to apply now for our trip in October or have we got to wait until nearer to the time?
9. What travel agency do you recommend for doing the visa support, hotels, etc.
10. Is there any must see places to visit near to Minsk?
Apologies that it is a bit of a list!
Any help, as always much appreciated.
Cheers
ITS
|||
Have you looked at flights with CSA Czech Airlines via Prague, i did a quick search the other day on their website for flights from Manchester to Minsk and they came out at around £280 inc tax
|||
Hello
1)yeah, as far as I know, the hotels are expensive here though the services they offer sometimes leave much to desire… I would recommend you to look for a flat in Minsk, though it can be also expensive… and even more difficult to find than a reasonable hotel.
2)the metro system is much much much better than in Moscow:))) at least because we have only two lines so no real chance to get lost:) besides it’s clean and it’s safe:)
3) it will take you about 40 minutes by car from MSQ to the city center, by bus, maybe a little longer:)
4)uhm, yeah they will try to rip you anyways:))) because you are a foreigner and you don’t know real prices:) unfortunately, I don’t know them either:))) but be sure that 100$ from MSQ to the city center is definitely too much:) I would say 30$ would be ok, you know taking the distance into consideration. Let’s say 15 minutes about Minsk by taxi is about 7$ so you can count:)
5) I have no idea:( though if it’s true it might mean you will have to pay for an extra night in a hotel.
6) yeah it is possible, it might take you about 15 minutes to get there on foot from the city center (Independence square, Minsk Hotel) but if you want to use public transport you will have to take a tram:)
7) I would recommend LIDO, that’s on Independence Ave, easy to get there + it’s pretty cheap, self-service, the food is really good + an opportunity to try real Belarusian food and they don’t smoke there:)
8) I can’t really tell you but I know you can apply right at the airport, you just need an invitation from a tourist agency and it’s pretty easy to get.
9)I can’t really help on the question but there are many agencies that offer their services as far as I know
10)Dudutki is a nice place:) besides it’s not far from Minsk:)Hatyn also, if you are interested in history and WWII.
|||
1. Tell you the truth, I don%26#39;t have a clue about hotels because I stayed at my friend house.
2. Well sort off, only smaller (and clean)
3. Its take about 30 min from Minsk by taxi ( it%26#39;s all matter if you hit gridlock in minsk) about 1+ hour on the bus (to Vostok Bus Station). It%26#39;s used to end at Minsk metro station until last year.
4. As of August 2007 fare was $35 for REAL taxi driver. ($3 for a bus)
5. You have to put the date on which YOU are leaving (lets say you are arriving on 15th and leaving on 18th at 5 am = that is 3 NIGHTS ( not 2). I always play safe and order visa for 30 days although I stayed there for only 2 weeks. WHy you ask? Well lets say your visa expires on 18th and your flight is canceled ( or you lost your passport), then you screwed so bad that the only person will save you is a god. Trust me its better to buy a ticket in hell sometimes!!
8. You can apply now!! and it is prefer that you do it.
|||
Hello inthesunshine
I%26#39;m just back from three nights in Minsk and can answer some of your questions.
1) We stayed in Hotel Victoria, it%26#39;s about twenty mins walk from city. Also bus number 22 stops right outside it and costs .44 this is about 2 cent in euros. Buses are very regular. The hotel worked out at 369.92 euro for twin room incl breakie, this was through ravel agency and they also helped with tourist voucher etc. Hotel was excellent, all very friendly and menu%26#39;s etc in English so great help.
2) Metro System apparently very good, but doubt you%26#39;ll need it as city quite compact. You can walk to stadium easily.
3) It’s about an hour max from city to airport and works out at 25euro so that%26#39;s 83,000 in Belarusian rubbles.
4) Your hotel will phone taxi for you, you may find difficulty communicating unless you%26#39;re going to airport and can make airplane noises!!!
5) No point staying in airport only an hour away. you visa MUST be from the date you enter the country until the date you leave.
6) Yes the stadium is in the city.
7) Some fantastic places to eat, but menus in Belarusian. While the people very very friendly and nice, it%26#39;s hard to communicate. We ate our main meal in hotel and Mac Donald’s etc or found restaurants that had menu%26#39;s with picture%26#39;s!!
8)I most definitely advise you to get your visa now. Happy to help you with that if you need help.
9) Totally recommend VNESHINTOURIST,MINSK,BELARUS. My contact was Nikolay, if you%26#39;d like further info on this let me know.
10) You should go to the library, it%26#39;s a brand new building and for about 2euro, you can take an elevator all the way to the top and see city of Minsk. It’s huge and looks like a glass egg. You need your passport to enter the inside of building but your hotel will probly hold onto it for registration etc. Also recommend Independence Square etc. City Gates, very impressive, just opposite the train station entrance. Island of tears, October Square, Victory Square, Loads of beautiful parks and water ways etc.
11) We flew Dulin - Riga; Riga Minsk, €473.46, so €236.73 each. I have heard though that cheapest connections are via prague.
12) Word of warning, only cross the roads using the underground crossings or the pedestrian crossings and wait for green light, you%26#39;ll be fined big bucks, possibly locked up for few hours if your caught jay walking...apart from that, you%26#39;ll have a great time.
No comments:
Post a Comment