Holiday in Iran | ExpatWoman.com
 

Holiday in Iran

84
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 January 2011 - 18:26

Hi there, thinking of going to Iran in April. Is it better to take a tour or do your own thing?? any hotel recommendations for Isfahan or Shiraz?

TIA

1617
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 05 January 2011 - 21:26
I've been on holiday to Iran (2 1/2 years ago) and it's one of my best ever! CSM is correct on the visa issue. We organised a private tour using a travel agent in Shiraz, based on a recommendation on one of my favourite travel websites (www.seat61.com)...the agent was www.irantravellingcenter.com. They organised the hotels, guides (who were superb), internal transport (air / car) and our visas. The reception we received was warm and friendly and it's very difficult not to be in a restaurant, park or cafe and not get invited into family groups. One of our highlights was to be invited to the home of our guide in Esfahan as guests of his huge extended family for one of their No Ruz (Iranian New Year celebration in Sringtime...21 Martch as I recall). Very special. We did Tehran, Shiraz, Yazd and Esfahan. I can't remember the hotels although we stopped off for tea at the Abassi which was lovely. Lonley Planet is good and Tripadvisor is useful
52
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 January 2011 - 21:17
I was in travelling in Iran during the revolution ('79) and had to leave in a hurry. I finally returned last year and despite what you hear/read, the situation in Iran for tourists is fine. Yes, you can only get a visa if you're booked with an tour agency, but you don't have to be part of a large group. There were 3 of us and we had two excellent guide/drivers over the course of our trip. The people we met were so friendly and mostly very ready to chat. In Shiraz we stayed at the Park Hotel, Zand Ave., Park St. Its OK, 3 stars tops. In Isfahan there is a hotel called the Abbasi in Amadegah St, didn't stay there but we went there for dinner and it looked lovely.
789
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 05 January 2011 - 19:40
I would do a search as we have talked about this a few times already. Depending an your nationality, you can only get the visa if you are part of a tour and then it's not 100% guaranteed. I've been wanting to take a tour for years, but the political situation is not good at the moment....
 
 

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