Worldtraveler who knows Moldova very well, and is apparently does not have English as his first language said that the only country he was unsure about the airport visa thing was the U.S. But according to Lucy who has a few friends married to U.S. men, visa at Chisinau airport is available for U.S people.
To be sure call your country's embassy in Moldova. Do not call the Moldovan embassy in your country, as will tell you to get your visa through them. Apparently they just want to justify their presence in their forign embassies (according to World traveler and Lucy et.al.)
I have been on the foriegn office web site and they say I can get one at the airport, $60 single entry, just wanted to know if anyone from the uk had done it
<Jet, I am not American, but I read uk citizens are the same, get visa at airport, go to hotel, pick up registration form and report to police, is this correct?
Tradman - you have everything right except the last part - "report to police". If you have checked into a hotel and they have given you a registration form - then they should also register you with the proper authorities. Be sure and ask that they do. I know that all the big hotels in Chisinau do it, and even my tiny hotel (Mini 1 Hotel - which I highly recommend) did it automatically. But check to be sure.
The LAST PLACE you want to go - even in the company of your Moldovan lady - is to the police station - unless you have no other choice.
WorldTraveler (the guy ensata keeps refering to) also mentions reporting to the local district office (??) instead of the police office if you are renting a flat as oposed to a hotel. I am not sure what that is however.
In my case I simply checked into my hotel - gave them my passport for a few minutes during which time they copied some information and prepared my registration form (a small piece of paper to be carried with your passport). They then returned my passport and registration form to me and told me that they would take care of the rest of the regitration procedure. That was that.
Correction - WorldTraveler refers to checking in with the "local district bureau", not the "local district office" mentioned above (this is as opposed to the "police office" and only if you are renting a private flat).
I know that that is what he called it. But I still haven't a clue as to what the "local district bureau" is.
Thanks jet, I'll heed that advice, have met fsu girl in Amsterdam and one in Turkey in the last few weeks, hoping for third time lucky(although the other two were lovely) but first time in a n fsu country
for confirmation: also for US and UK citizen visa is available at airport.
Jet: Kishinew/Chisinau is divided into socalled districts. Each district has his own administration office. This means, if you are lodging for example in the Buiucani district, you have to make your registration there and so on. Other districts are for example: Botanica, Riscani and so on.
By the way: will have my next trip to Moldova end of June.
Trad, when ever going to the FSU the safest currency to take (the first time you go, as after that you should have some local to take back next time from the last trip) is Dollars, Always Dollars :o))
Dont use Euro`s !! It will only encourage that dick of a prime minister of ours to take it as a yes to the Euro vote !!!
wel, I agree Tim. Euro is a dirty word in my book, I don't mind other countries using it, in fact I find it quite handt, but I am fu***** if I am having it replace the good old pound sterling
tradman - there are A LOT more than three ATMs in Chisinau - You'll find at least that many in Sun City alone. I had no trouble at all finding or using an ATM in Chisinau. They are pretty much all over the place.
(Sure beats packing money in your suitcase anyway).
And most restaurants are glad to take dollars as opposed to lei - though the excahnge rate isn't always so good. Once in a while its actually better than you can get at a bank on the street though.
Most girls know where they can get dolars changed that doesny involve any bank, and gets you a better rate than any bank or restaurant will give you :o))
If anyone is curious to know about this email me, its not a bit of info I want to bandy around in open forum ;o))
Any thoughts on how many bucks I should take with me to Moldova? Will be staying with Lucy, so no apartment and hotel costs. Lucy proudly proclaims that her tastes are simple, she is not a night club type or a clothes horse. Of course I want to buy her nice things over there (as well as bring gifts) - she does not want or expect much which really makes me want to do more for her!
I hope to eat out with her and go places with her., although she wants to cook for me. Basically she is interested in us spending much time alone together in a home setting. She is not looking for a holiday or party week. She wants to walk in the park, visit family and some close friends, and be alone.
Sometime back on a post someone brought up buying an engagement ring there as it is fun to pick one out together and much less expensive. We will have been talking exclusively for 5 months before I visit, so we intend to decide in July what our futures will be.
I would like to rent a car, and I am prepared to spoil Lucy - but I will do the things she would like to do.
So any thoughts on how many bucks to bring?
Base on $50 to $70 a day mate, some days you wont spend near that, others you may spend more, but of you take that for each day, and your visa card you can always get more cash from an ATM or bank, and its much safer than carrying a whole holidays cash in with you !!
Eng rings, from $100 upwards, one around the $200 to $250 is recommended though :o) For that you will get the equivalent of a $500 to $700 ring in the US :o))