Algeria visa invitation
Jan 13, 2018, 5:17 pm
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,194
Getting ready to send a visa application out in the mail hopefully on Tuesday for a trip at the end of March and was hoping folks here could clarify the hotel confirmation part.
We'll be seeing Oran, Taghit, and then ending up back in Algiers on a week-long trip. Hotels in Oran, Taghit, and Algiers booked, but one night is open as we'll be taking the overnight train from Taghit to Algiers. Intra-country flights and train haven't been booked yet as we'd like to make sure the visa will be approved first before putting down any more money.
(There are four of us traveling, all US citizens, for leisure and seeking a tourist visa.)
Questions:
1) Are printed confirmations from hotels.com and booking.com sufficient, or do they want something more official and/or issued directly by the hotel itself? Is an emailed letter acceptable, or do I really need to get a physically-mailed confirmation printout that has been notarized or "attested" or whatever?
2) Will the unbooked night (on the overnight train) and/or the lack of confirmed intra-country flight and train bookings be an issue?
3) There are four in our group; is it acceptable to send all four in one envelope and/or provide a single return envelope, or should all four be sent separately?
Also, time is limited, but if anyone has any strong suggestions regarding seeing different places, we're all ears, though one in our group has a friend living in Oran, so that's a strong priority. I don't think we can feasibly make Constantine on this trip unless we redo all of our plans, but we might be willing to do that if it really is worthwhile.
Appreciate the help!
We'll be seeing Oran, Taghit, and then ending up back in Algiers on a week-long trip. Hotels in Oran, Taghit, and Algiers booked, but one night is open as we'll be taking the overnight train from Taghit to Algiers. Intra-country flights and train haven't been booked yet as we'd like to make sure the visa will be approved first before putting down any more money.
(There are four of us traveling, all US citizens, for leisure and seeking a tourist visa.)
Questions:
1) Are printed confirmations from hotels.com and booking.com sufficient, or do they want something more official and/or issued directly by the hotel itself? Is an emailed letter acceptable, or do I really need to get a physically-mailed confirmation printout that has been notarized or "attested" or whatever?
2) Will the unbooked night (on the overnight train) and/or the lack of confirmed intra-country flight and train bookings be an issue?
3) There are four in our group; is it acceptable to send all four in one envelope and/or provide a single return envelope, or should all four be sent separately?
Also, time is limited, but if anyone has any strong suggestions regarding seeing different places, we're all ears, though one in our group has a friend living in Oran, so that's a strong priority. I don't think we can feasibly make Constantine on this trip unless we redo all of our plans, but we might be willing to do that if it really is worthwhile.
Appreciate the help!
Jan 14, 2018, 8:59 am
#32
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PlatMM, BA and Alaska Emerald, HHonors DIA, Accor, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Amb, UA Silver, AA
Posts: 4,513
Getting ready to send a visa application out in the mail hopefully on Tuesday for a trip at the end of March and was hoping folks here could clarify the hotel confirmation part.
We'll be seeing Oran, Taghit, and then ending up back in Algiers on a week-long trip. Hotels in Oran, Taghit, and Algiers booked, but one night is open as we'll be taking the overnight train from Taghit to Algiers. Intra-country flights and train haven't been booked yet as we'd like to make sure the visa will be approved first before putting down any more money.
(There are four of us traveling, all US citizens, for leisure and seeking a tourist visa.)
Questions:
1) Are printed confirmations from hotels.com and booking.com sufficient, or do they want something more official and/or issued directly by the hotel itself? Is an emailed letter acceptable, or do I really need to get a physically-mailed confirmation printout that has been notarized or "attested" or whatever?
2) Will the unbooked night (on the overnight train) and/or the lack of confirmed intra-country flight and train bookings be an issue?
3) There are four in our group; is it acceptable to send all four in one envelope and/or provide a single return envelope, or should all four be sent separately?
Also, time is limited, but if anyone has any strong suggestions regarding seeing different places, we're all ears, though one in our group has a friend living in Oran, so that's a strong priority. I don't think we can feasibly make Constantine on this trip unless we redo all of our plans, but we might be willing to do that if it really is worthwhile.
Appreciate the help!
We'll be seeing Oran, Taghit, and then ending up back in Algiers on a week-long trip. Hotels in Oran, Taghit, and Algiers booked, but one night is open as we'll be taking the overnight train from Taghit to Algiers. Intra-country flights and train haven't been booked yet as we'd like to make sure the visa will be approved first before putting down any more money.
(There are four of us traveling, all US citizens, for leisure and seeking a tourist visa.)
Questions:
1) Are printed confirmations from hotels.com and booking.com sufficient, or do they want something more official and/or issued directly by the hotel itself? Is an emailed letter acceptable, or do I really need to get a physically-mailed confirmation printout that has been notarized or "attested" or whatever?
2) Will the unbooked night (on the overnight train) and/or the lack of confirmed intra-country flight and train bookings be an issue?
3) There are four in our group; is it acceptable to send all four in one envelope and/or provide a single return envelope, or should all four be sent separately?
Also, time is limited, but if anyone has any strong suggestions regarding seeing different places, we're all ears, though one in our group has a friend living in Oran, so that's a strong priority. I don't think we can feasibly make Constantine on this trip unless we redo all of our plans, but we might be willing to do that if it really is worthwhile.
Appreciate the help!
A few tips/ideas:
1) Hotel reservations: When we applied for the tourist visa, we made cancellable, non-prepaid reservations at mostly Accor properties in Algiers, Oran, and Constantine, covering all of the nights. Once approved for the visa, we kept some of the Accor reservations, but ended up cancelling most of them, as our plans changed. If you can read between the lines on that, good.
We didn't want to be stuck with hotel bookings that were prepaid if we were rejected for the visa.2) As for where to go: I know Oran is famous for some beaches nearby; also, some architecture. That said, OMG we absolutely loved Constantine city. it's walkable, super friendly, stunningly beautiful, and within about a 30-120 minute drives of THREE UN World Heritage ruins. Djemila was a stunner, Timgad is said to be bigger and more organized than Djemila (though we didn't make it there) and tiny Tiddis is close by and on a hilltop with sweeping views and desolation. We were the only ones there that day. Marriott in Constantine is one of the best hotels I've been to in my life. Amazing views, food, service, pool, gym, etc.
3) I didn't go to Oran. Maybe your friend can meet you in Taghit for that portion of the trip?
4) Air Algerie flights were acceptable, mostly on time or at least within an hour or two. There is a once a week flight from Bechar to Constantine, I think on Saturdays, though that didn't fit our schedule. If you can do First Class on Air Algerie, it's awesome (not really awesome but only a few dollars more than Y). I assume you mean your night train is from Bechar to Algiers? Taghit doesn't have a train, IIRC.
5) Do you have tour guides set up for Taghit? I truly can't imagine setting up everything there without help on the ground. I normally travel independently but in Algeria there is very little tourist infrastructure!
Please let me know any other questions.
Jan 14, 2018, 1:48 pm
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,194
Sounds like a good plan (actually, you will love Algeria anywhere you go because A) there won't be many-- if any-- western tourists there and B) the people are great.
A few tips/ideas:
1) Hotel reservations: When we applied for the tourist visa, we made cancellable, non-prepaid reservations at mostly Accor properties in Algiers, Oran, and Constantine, covering all of the nights. Once approved for the visa, we kept some of the Accor reservations, but ended up cancelling most of them, as our plans changed. If you can read between the lines on that, good. We didn't want to be stuck with hotel bookings that were prepaid if we were rejected for the visa.
2) As for where to go: I know Oran is famous for some beaches nearby; also, some architecture. That said, OMG we absolutely loved Constantine city. it's walkable, super friendly, stunningly beautiful, and within about a 30-120 minute drives of THREE UN World Heritage ruins. Djemila was a stunner, Timgad is said to be bigger and more organized than Djemila (though we didn't make it there) and tiny Tiddis is close by and on a hilltop with sweeping views and desolation. We were the only ones there that day. Marriott in Constantine is one of the best hotels I've been to in my life. Amazing views, food, service, pool, gym, etc.
3) I didn't go to Oran. Maybe your friend can meet you in Taghit for that portion of the trip?
4) Air Algerie flights were acceptable, mostly on time or at least within an hour or two. There is a once a week flight from Bechar to Constantine, I think on Saturdays, though that didn't fit our schedule. If you can do First Class on Air Algerie, it's awesome (not really awesome but only a few dollars more than Y). I assume you mean your night train is from Bechar to Algiers? Taghit doesn't have a train, IIRC.
5) Do you have tour guides set up for Taghit? I truly can't imagine setting up everything there without help on the ground. I normally travel independently but in Algeria there is very little tourist infrastructure!
Please let me know any other questions.
A few tips/ideas:
1) Hotel reservations: When we applied for the tourist visa, we made cancellable, non-prepaid reservations at mostly Accor properties in Algiers, Oran, and Constantine, covering all of the nights. Once approved for the visa, we kept some of the Accor reservations, but ended up cancelling most of them, as our plans changed. If you can read between the lines on that, good.
We didn't want to be stuck with hotel bookings that were prepaid if we were rejected for the visa.2) As for where to go: I know Oran is famous for some beaches nearby; also, some architecture. That said, OMG we absolutely loved Constantine city. it's walkable, super friendly, stunningly beautiful, and within about a 30-120 minute drives of THREE UN World Heritage ruins. Djemila was a stunner, Timgad is said to be bigger and more organized than Djemila (though we didn't make it there) and tiny Tiddis is close by and on a hilltop with sweeping views and desolation. We were the only ones there that day. Marriott in Constantine is one of the best hotels I've been to in my life. Amazing views, food, service, pool, gym, etc.
3) I didn't go to Oran. Maybe your friend can meet you in Taghit for that portion of the trip?
4) Air Algerie flights were acceptable, mostly on time or at least within an hour or two. There is a once a week flight from Bechar to Constantine, I think on Saturdays, though that didn't fit our schedule. If you can do First Class on Air Algerie, it's awesome (not really awesome but only a few dollars more than Y). I assume you mean your night train is from Bechar to Algiers? Taghit doesn't have a train, IIRC.
5) Do you have tour guides set up for Taghit? I truly can't imagine setting up everything there without help on the ground. I normally travel independently but in Algeria there is very little tourist infrastructure!
Please let me know any other questions.
To be clear, printing out a hotel reservation is sufficient? It doesn't need to be notarized or attested or whatever? A simple printout from the website is acceptable?
Yes, I meant Bechar, not Taghit. The local friend may accompany us to Taghit, so we may end up relying on him to help with on-the-ground arrangements but will investigate that more once this visa project is done and those are sent off. Will take your advice re: Constantine under advisement (and see if I can convince the others in the group of that :P).
I may be posting in the Africa forum for more advice soon. Thanks!
Last edited by jackal; Jan 14, 2018 at 2:10 pm
Jan 14, 2018, 5:16 pm
#34
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PlatMM, BA and Alaska Emerald, HHonors DIA, Accor, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Amb, UA Silver, AA
Posts: 4,513
Thanks! I figured as much with hotel reservations. Maybe I'll just go ahead and do that, and maybe even do it at respectable properties so I have something a little more legit-looking than printouts from Hotels.com. IIRC Marriott makes it easy to list multiple people on a room reservation that can be printed out (I did the same for my China visa a few years ago).
To be clear, printing out a hotel reservation is sufficient? It doesn't need to be notarized or attested or whatever? A simple printout from the website is acceptable?
Yes, I meant Bechar, not Taghit. The local friend may accompany us to Taghit, so we may end up relying on him to help with on-the-ground arrangements but will investigate that more once this visa project is done and those are sent off. Will take your advice re: Constantine under advisement (and see if I can convince the others in the group of that :P).
I may be posting in the Africa forum for more advice soon. Thanks!
To be clear, printing out a hotel reservation is sufficient? It doesn't need to be notarized or attested or whatever? A simple printout from the website is acceptable?
Yes, I meant Bechar, not Taghit. The local friend may accompany us to Taghit, so we may end up relying on him to help with on-the-ground arrangements but will investigate that more once this visa project is done and those are sent off. Will take your advice re: Constantine under advisement (and see if I can convince the others in the group of that :P).
I may be posting in the Africa forum for more advice soon. Thanks!
How many nights do you have total?
Feel free to PM me with questions. I can also for sure recommend Omar at "Fancy Yellow Algeria Travel" agency. Totally great experience. We did fully guided tours of Taghit (3 days, 4 nights) as well as two day trips (Tipasa from Algiers for the day, also an Algiers day trip). In Constantine, we were on our own but did book a guide/driver to Djemila for the day.
Oh and I forgot to mention-- you might need to have a military escort while out in the Bechar to Taghit area.
Also-- a day trip from Taghit to Beni Abbes and a few hours at the local pool was truly a highlight.
Feb 9, 2018, 12:36 pm
#35
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YVR
Programs: BA Gold, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 81
Just want to share my experience with respect to the Algerian visa application (from Canada). Maybe useful to some readers.
We sent our application to Algerian Embassy Consular Section in Ottawa using UPS on 1st Feb 2018, and received back on 9th Feb 2018. Door to door including weekend days = 8 days. When we called the embassy directly, he said it would take up to 10 working days.
Save your money - do the application yourself. Don't use a third party agency. (They charge $70 each). It is not a complicated process.
We followed exactly the instructions in the website and sent all that were required and more.
Ambassade d'Algérie ŕ Ottawa
Use Chrome browser to translate into English from French.
1. Passport (over 6 months validity) with a few blank pages.
2. Three application forms - signed and photo glued to each copy. The photos were taken at Costco, passport size.
3. Letter of accommodation - we printed the confirmation email from Accor hotel. No need for a personalised letter from the hotel.
4. Certified check ($75 each).
5. Prepaid return document envelope from UPS (for them to return our passports).
6. Printout of our flights into Algiers, and out of Algiers.
We planned to be in Algiers for only three days, and applied for the Tourist Visa. But we were given Transit Visa, however, the validity is good for our trip (expiry date and length of stay). So, no concern there.
Hope this helps, especially to those trying to capitalise on the deals with QR (to Asia from TUN) and IB (from ALG to LAX).
We sent our application to Algerian Embassy Consular Section in Ottawa using UPS on 1st Feb 2018, and received back on 9th Feb 2018. Door to door including weekend days = 8 days. When we called the embassy directly, he said it would take up to 10 working days.
Save your money - do the application yourself. Don't use a third party agency. (They charge $70 each). It is not a complicated process.
We followed exactly the instructions in the website and sent all that were required and more.
Ambassade d'Algérie ŕ Ottawa
Use Chrome browser to translate into English from French.
1. Passport (over 6 months validity) with a few blank pages.
2. Three application forms - signed and photo glued to each copy. The photos were taken at Costco, passport size.
3. Letter of accommodation - we printed the confirmation email from Accor hotel. No need for a personalised letter from the hotel.
4. Certified check ($75 each).
5. Prepaid return document envelope from UPS (for them to return our passports).
6. Printout of our flights into Algiers, and out of Algiers.
We planned to be in Algiers for only three days, and applied for the Tourist Visa. But we were given Transit Visa, however, the validity is good for our trip (expiry date and length of stay). So, no concern there.
Hope this helps, especially to those trying to capitalise on the deals with QR (to Asia from TUN) and IB (from ALG to LAX).
Feb 9, 2018, 4:29 pm
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,194
We ended up doing basically the same thing, though the US consulate only requires two copies of the application, not three.
I booked placeholder reservations at a couple different Ibis hotels (one in Oran, one in Algiers). I also contacted the consulate by email (contrary to previous reports, they weren't active on Facebook and never responded to my inquiries there) and they said it'd be fine to send all four of our applications in a single envelope with a single prepaid return envelope, even though the website says you can only send up to three applications in a single envelope. (Since two in our group are college students with meager incomes, I thought having them all together and us obviously traveling as a group would be a little less suspicious for the college students with low bank account balances apparently spending hundreds of dollars on hotels. )
I then sent the following for each of us, all in one single 10x13 manila envelope with certified Priority Mail postage (package was too heavy for First Class):
I mailed these items from SGF on Tuesday, January 23 and they were delivered to the consulate in NYC on Friday, January 26. I received the passports back on Monday, February 5.
FWIW, according to their website, the visa department at the consulate is open Wednesday through Saturday, so you can probably shave a little bit off the processing time if you make sure to mail your package in time to arrive on a Tuesday or Wednesday--it might even be processed that same week and mailed back to you. Regardless, that's much faster service than I was expecting.
Now time to comb through all the recommendations above about what to go see.
I booked placeholder reservations at a couple different Ibis hotels (one in Oran, one in Algiers). I also contacted the consulate by email (contrary to previous reports, they weren't active on Facebook and never responded to my inquiries there) and they said it'd be fine to send all four of our applications in a single envelope with a single prepaid return envelope, even though the website says you can only send up to three applications in a single envelope. (Since two in our group are college students with meager incomes, I thought having them all together and us obviously traveling as a group would be a little less suspicious for the college students with low bank account balances apparently spending hundreds of dollars on hotels.
)I then sent the following for each of us, all in one single 10x13 manila envelope with certified Priority Mail postage (package was too heavy for First Class):
- Passport
- Copy of face page of passport
- Two copies of the electronically-filled-out and hand-signed application page with one passport photo each (procured from Sam's Club) pasted on with glue-stick
- Flight confirmations printed out from Priceline
- Hotel confirmations printed out from Accor
- Most recent checking account statement or pay stub
- USPS money order for $160
I mailed these items from SGF on Tuesday, January 23 and they were delivered to the consulate in NYC on Friday, January 26. I received the passports back on Monday, February 5.
FWIW, according to their website, the visa department at the consulate is open Wednesday through Saturday, so you can probably shave a little bit off the processing time if you make sure to mail your package in time to arrive on a Tuesday or Wednesday--it might even be processed that same week and mailed back to you. Regardless, that's much faster service than I was expecting.
Now time to comb through all the recommendations above about what to go see.
Last edited by jackal; Feb 9, 2018 at 4:53 pm
Mar 12, 2018, 1:55 am
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,194
Sounds like a good plan (actually, you will love Algeria anywhere you go because A) there won't be many-- if any-- western tourists there and B) the people are great.
A few tips/ideas:
1) Hotel reservations: When we applied for the tourist visa, we made cancellable, non-prepaid reservations at mostly Accor properties in Algiers, Oran, and Constantine, covering all of the nights. Once approved for the visa, we kept some of the Accor reservations, but ended up cancelling most of them, as our plans changed. If you can read between the lines on that, good. We didn't want to be stuck with hotel bookings that were prepaid if we were rejected for the visa.
2) As for where to go: I know Oran is famous for some beaches nearby; also, some architecture. That said, OMG we absolutely loved Constantine city. it's walkable, super friendly, stunningly beautiful, and within about a 30-120 minute drives of THREE UN World Heritage ruins. Djemila was a stunner, Timgad is said to be bigger and more organized than Djemila (though we didn't make it there) and tiny Tiddis is close by and on a hilltop with sweeping views and desolation. We were the only ones there that day. Marriott in Constantine is one of the best hotels I've been to in my life. Amazing views, food, service, pool, gym, etc.
3) I didn't go to Oran. Maybe your friend can meet you in Taghit for that portion of the trip?
4) Air Algerie flights were acceptable, mostly on time or at least within an hour or two. There is a once a week flight from Bechar to Constantine, I think on Saturdays, though that didn't fit our schedule. If you can do First Class on Air Algerie, it's awesome (not really awesome but only a few dollars more than Y). I assume you mean your night train is from Bechar to Algiers? Taghit doesn't have a train, IIRC.
5) Do you have tour guides set up for Taghit? I truly can't imagine setting up everything there without help on the ground. I normally travel independently but in Algeria there is very little tourist infrastructure!
Please let me know any other questions.
A few tips/ideas:
1) Hotel reservations: When we applied for the tourist visa, we made cancellable, non-prepaid reservations at mostly Accor properties in Algiers, Oran, and Constantine, covering all of the nights. Once approved for the visa, we kept some of the Accor reservations, but ended up cancelling most of them, as our plans changed. If you can read between the lines on that, good.
We didn't want to be stuck with hotel bookings that were prepaid if we were rejected for the visa.2) As for where to go: I know Oran is famous for some beaches nearby; also, some architecture. That said, OMG we absolutely loved Constantine city. it's walkable, super friendly, stunningly beautiful, and within about a 30-120 minute drives of THREE UN World Heritage ruins. Djemila was a stunner, Timgad is said to be bigger and more organized than Djemila (though we didn't make it there) and tiny Tiddis is close by and on a hilltop with sweeping views and desolation. We were the only ones there that day. Marriott in Constantine is one of the best hotels I've been to in my life. Amazing views, food, service, pool, gym, etc.
3) I didn't go to Oran. Maybe your friend can meet you in Taghit for that portion of the trip?
4) Air Algerie flights were acceptable, mostly on time or at least within an hour or two. There is a once a week flight from Bechar to Constantine, I think on Saturdays, though that didn't fit our schedule. If you can do First Class on Air Algerie, it's awesome (not really awesome but only a few dollars more than Y). I assume you mean your night train is from Bechar to Algiers? Taghit doesn't have a train, IIRC.
5) Do you have tour guides set up for Taghit? I truly can't imagine setting up everything there without help on the ground. I normally travel independently but in Algeria there is very little tourist infrastructure!
Please let me know any other questions.
Feb 5, 2023, 11:42 am
#38
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: CO
Posts: 813
Adding to this thread.
Applied to the NY Consulate for a multi-entry tourist visa.
Sent passports via US mail - Fri, Jan 20th. Passports delivered to the consulate on Tuesday, Jan 24th.
Got a call from the consulate on Thur, Jan 26th just inquiring if I had a contact in Algeria, and where i was going. Told them I was traveling independently and only limiting myself to the North. Asked why I requested multiple entries and I said I was planning on going back to Algeria eventually to visit the desert areas in the S. Was a very friendly chat - person even indicated that I would have no issues traveling on my own.
Rec'd the passports on Monday, Jan 30th. Overall - took about 6-7 working days of which 3-4 were in transit.
Note - I sent copies of all my hotels
Ours were the 185th and 186th visas issued from the NY consulate in 2023 (issue date Jan 26th) per the visas.
Applied to the NY Consulate for a multi-entry tourist visa.
Sent passports via US mail - Fri, Jan 20th. Passports delivered to the consulate on Tuesday, Jan 24th.
Got a call from the consulate on Thur, Jan 26th just inquiring if I had a contact in Algeria, and where i was going. Told them I was traveling independently and only limiting myself to the North. Asked why I requested multiple entries and I said I was planning on going back to Algeria eventually to visit the desert areas in the S. Was a very friendly chat - person even indicated that I would have no issues traveling on my own.
Rec'd the passports on Monday, Jan 30th. Overall - took about 6-7 working days of which 3-4 were in transit.
Note - I sent copies of all my hotels
Ours were the 185th and 186th visas issued from the NY consulate in 2023 (issue date Jan 26th) per the visas.
Nov 24, 2023, 5:47 pm
#39
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
We used this thread for helpful info to get 2 year multi entry visas for the family. The ALG-LAX fare on BA is really a good value and there are cheap flights to/from europe so we figure once we get these going this December, this will be our routine for a couple trips per year. We have inbound flights to ALG booked and then the BA ticket to LAX and then back to ALG so they seemed to have enough evidence of intent to travel to grant the 2 year multiple entry variant. That makes the visa fee a bit less painful if we use it a number of times.
Turnaround was really fast. Sent them in on a Monday via Priority mail w a return Priority mailer and they were in our mailbox by Saturday(!).
Turnaround was really fast. Sent them in on a Monday via Priority mail w a return Priority mailer and they were in our mailbox by Saturday(!).
Jan 4, 2024, 11:53 am
#40
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
We entered Algeria yesterday and a word of warning that it takes about 3-5 minutes per person to process you on first entry. Lots of unhappy people in the queue behind us! They have to type in all the info, moderately painful to stand there all that time.
We spent the day touring Algiers. It was nice cool and sunny weather but choking air quality. Ugh. We’re only here for a day in this trip (to pick up cheap biz tickets) but will explore the Roman ruins, Constantine and maybe Sahara in the future. Overall, I’d reiterate, everyone is friendly and not used ro tourists at all. No touts or other annoying behavoir. And french skills are kind of essential, we didnt find much English speaking but basic french helped us immensely.
We spent the day touring Algiers. It was nice cool and sunny weather but choking air quality. Ugh. We’re only here for a day in this trip (to pick up cheap biz tickets) but will explore the Roman ruins, Constantine and maybe Sahara in the future. Overall, I’d reiterate, everyone is friendly and not used ro tourists at all. No touts or other annoying behavoir. And french skills are kind of essential, we didnt find much English speaking but basic french helped us immensely.
Feb 24, 2024, 2:30 am
#41
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
Haha, and here I thought on subsequent entries it would be faster. Nope. You still need to go to the far left side where there are tables with a french language landing card, fill that out and then wait while the boarder agent asks you the same questions they asked on your first entry, checks the info on the landing card, types something into his computer and then writes "Tour", your visa number, date of issuance and date of expiration on the back of the landing card. Nobody in the line behind us was happy about the 20-25 minutes that this takes!
I think if we buy another set of ALG-LAX tickets we will just leave our bags in London and come in on a flight (not necessarily back-to-back on the BA flight though) and just do airside transfer to the BA flight to LGW. But likely we will just start planning better and do ex-EU... the flexibility of these BA R class tickets is great, but this reminds me a bit of going to Colombo 20 years ago to get cheap ex-CMB business class tickets.
I think if we buy another set of ALG-LAX tickets we will just leave our bags in London and come in on a flight (not necessarily back-to-back on the BA flight though) and just do airside transfer to the BA flight to LGW. But likely we will just start planning better and do ex-EU... the flexibility of these BA R class tickets is great, but this reminds me a bit of going to Colombo 20 years ago to get cheap ex-CMB business class tickets.
