Azerbaijan | ExpatWoman.com
 

Azerbaijan

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 October 2011 - 12:46

Hi ladies,

Has anyone been to Azerbaijan (city of Baku in particular)? We are trying to search for an inexpensive vacation over Eid and after looking at a dozen destinations Baku is cheap to fly to and seems to have some great 5 star hotels. We have been to Turkey, Jordan, Syria etc and want something a little different this time without breaking the bank, as an Eid getaway is always so much more expensive.

The only problem is we've never heard of anyone taking a vacation to Baku so dont know what to expect. Not that we're after much, we just want to get away as cheaply as possible, want to stay in a nice hotel and most of all want the european climate without actually travelling too much into europe! Its 15 degrees in Baku at the moment (Bliss...)!

Anyway, so do you ladies know of anyone who's been there? Or any ladies from Azerbaijan?

TIA :)

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EW MASTER
Latest post on 14 August 2012 - 13:38
Thanks CA - BF has already been there though!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 August 2012 - 13:34
Try Tbilisi, Georgia. Great wine, food, lots of great places to visit. Not too expensive. No visa required for citizens of US and most EU countries.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 August 2012 - 13:30
It was like applying for an alcohol license! about 12 bits of paper! Once requested, our hotel paid for the ministry paperwork and scanned it to us, but apparently they don't usually accept anything but the original, which has to be posted, and then paid for upon check out.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 14 August 2012 - 13:28
Thanks. Was hoping a letter from the Hotel would suffice! Guess not ;) :(
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 August 2012 - 13:26
Your PRO can sign you into an appointment. Anyone can go, you just need to write down your name, nationality, and your phone number. The appointment has to be attended in person, and then your PRO can pick up your passport afterwards. The Ministry of Tourism paperwork is an extra hurdle.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 14 August 2012 - 13:21
Thanks, we have a friend who lives in Baku, so between seeing him and having some off time I thought it would be good to go, especially as not been before, but like you said/advised, I expected it to be quite reasonable, but might be out of budget and time, BF does not have time with his job to go back and forward to visa agency. Any idea if your PRO can do it on your behalf?
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 August 2012 - 13:16
Honestly Polly, I have no idea. We went because we had the option to pay a few hundred dirhams each extra to stop over, but it just ended up being one cost after another and the weekend cost us thousands! As other ladies have said, if you want to explore outside of the city, it would be worthwhile, but for the cost i wouldn't say a weekend is cost effective.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 14 August 2012 - 13:02
Thanks Jess, this sounds like a nightmare, think I will maybe give it a miss. How does this country expect to increase visitors if this is how they go about organising visas?
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 August 2012 - 09:22
http://www.timeoutdubai.com/summer/features/24825-time-out-baku-guide
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 August 2012 - 09:14
Hi Polly, You have to go between 8am-noon to make an appointment for the next day, then arrive and they call your name out in order. sometimes the list will be full an you have to sign up for a couple of days later. Then it will take between 7-14 working days for you to be admitted. You also need a Ministry of Tourism certificate which will take another few days and about 200aed more. This was on a uk passport. Hope it helps.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 13 August 2012 - 16:29
DH works there on a consultancy basis and yes he finds Baku really expensive. I am planning to go for a visit in April.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 13 August 2012 - 14:31
Was hoping to stay at the new Jumeriah, looks lovely and really reasonable. Thanks for heads up, what times are the visit office open please?
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 13 August 2012 - 14:21
I went to Baku for three days, really expensive, the visa came to about 500aed and took 2 weeks to receive and many trips to Deira, the taxis are expensive, the food expensive, and the hotel was pretty basic and came to 100 dollars a night. Definitely not the cheap break we had expected.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 13 August 2012 - 14:16
Sorry I have no idea Does anybody know the phone number?
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 13 August 2012 - 13:29
Isn't that near the earthquakes which happened in Iran on Saturday?
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 13 August 2012 - 13:26
Hi The Mrs - thanks for your post, "You MUST go to the Azerie embassy here in Dubai at least 2 weeks before you fly." Where is this place please? Thanks
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 18:44
Thank you ladies!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 October 2011 - 14:16
Hi I lived there for 4 years I loved working there but not sure if it would be my first choice of vacation.Come November the weather will start to deteriorate I would save the trip for the summer if anything. There are some amazing places outwith Baku especially Guba but that is a 3 hour drive again amazing in summer but not coming up to winter. Afraid there are alot of sleezy bars and some dodgy men but that's not the locals but the expats:-) There is so much culture to the place though so if you are up for an adventure it would be worth it.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 October 2011 - 13:20
My husband spent three months working in Baku so I visited him there several weekends. Since they have done up the main area of the city, it really is a lovely place. Yes, there is poverty and the men can be a little forward (I didn't feel comfortable on my own, but never felt unsafe). Good shopping, the sea front promenade is lovely now and there is a brand new shopping centre. Don't expect amazing food but there are some nice restaurants about. I you are thinking in terms of a cultural, intesting weekend break, then you could do a lot worse than Baku. I am looking forward to going back to see the changes to Fountain Square. IMPORTANT: you cannot get a visa on arrival now. You MUST go to the Azerie embassy here in Dubai at least 2 weeks before you fly. <em>edited by TheMrs on 11/10/2011</em>
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 11 October 2011 - 12:56
Eh, Baku wouldn't be my first choice for a vacation ... if you want to go to the region, I'd pick Tbilisi or Yerevan first.