I have a business trip coming up to Skopje which is a first for me. Any travel tips? Hotel or restaurant recommendations?

...incidentally, spent a few days there in August. I'm hardly an expert but here are some random things:

(i) Taxis to/from a/p:
- 15-25EUR to/from city - negotiate, it's advised to have a car pre-arranged

(ii) Taxis w/in the city
- very cheap (1.5-3EUR typically)
- most of the drivers are honest, but do make sure that the meter is on

(iii) The zoo
- 50denar (1.5 EUR, I recall)
- not far from the centre
- 3 hippos but no tapirs

(iv) Old town
- worth a visit, it's w/in a walking distance from the centre
- a lot of narrow streets, cafes

(v) People
- my personal impression was that the level of education is good
- English is widely spoken

(vi) Safety
- no problems save for the gypsies in front of Holiday Inn

Trips:
X) Kosovo & UNMIK stamp in your passport
- The border is ca. 30 min by car (taxi) from Skopje, cost ca. 15EUR one-way (mafia run monopoly on the way back, so the price will be the in the 15-20EUR region unless you have other arrangements)
- several taxis on the Kosovar side if you want to visit e.g. Pristina, there are also buses from Skopje

XX) Ohrid
- well worth a day trip (3hours by bus, 2 h by car) if you have enough time & energy
- place is obviously famous for being a lake resort, a lot of cafes, restaurants
- city is known for its churches
- chance to visit Albania (via Svetinaum)

Can't really comment on hotels or restaurants as my visit to Macedonia was just for holidays. Accommodation tends to be relatively expensive - a lot of aid workers etc but hardly any tourists about.

Thanks very much okko. Very helpful information. I hope to visit soon.

I just wanted to put this back on the 'current' list for any updated information. I'm headed to Macedonia and Albania in July. Thanks.

Still haven't been there but a colleague suggested me the newly built RADISSON SAS hotel...he told me it's the best in town!

I've been twice since I first posted this and I'm sure I'll be back before July. I didn't see a Radisson SAS anywhere, but I might try it next time since I had, for the first time in 10 years of travel, something stolen from my room at the Holiday Inn. The management denied such a thing is possible.

I kind of like the food there which is heavy on the barbecue pork and cheese. The raccia (eau de vie) is pretty wicked. I visited several cool bars and restaurants. There is an official Jack Daniels bar where the owner is an employee of Jack Daniels. Fun place.

Try to have someone reliable pick you up at the airport. I trusted the hotel on my second visit which is what I believe led to the theft. Let me know if you need any other info.

I have to be in Skopje in about three weeks. Any hotel and car/taxi service ideas? From what I have read, a hotel in or close to the old city is most desireable, however I am open to any ideas or suggestions.

In Your Pocket have an online city guide to Skopje which will have some useful suggestions:
http://www.inyourpocket.com/macedoni...transport.html

Try to have whomever you are there for meet you at the airport. Otherwise arrange a car through the hotel. I chose the Holiday Inn purely for the points, but it is a decent hotel and centrally located.

I believe what happened is the front desk manager sent his brother out to pick me up. When I went into my currency wallet to pay him in dinar, he saw all the euros, pounds and dollars I had in it and I think he talked his brother into giving him a key to my room so he could rob me. He didn't take anything else though.

Next to the HI is a shopping mall with some nice restaurants, but the best restaurants are in and around the town. I don't know what the "old" city is. It all seems old to me. There is clearly a Christian side and a Muslim side though.

Thanks Stimpy.

Did you obtain an entry/exit visa before entering Macedonia? Do you travel on a US passport?
The reason I ask is that I cannot get to an Embassy in time to get the Visa and cannot courier my passport to Ottawa as suggested by their embassy, as I need for travel next week.
Their is a chance I may be able to get to the London embassy, however I won't have time for any bureaucratic hangups.
If I show up at Macedonia customs without a Visa are they liable to turn me away?
Good advice on the car, my party will be meeting me.

No visa needed on a US or EU passport. It's just like entering any EU country. Macedonia is trying to join the EU so they are good about that.

Interesting, the Canadian Gov't say we need a visa ahead of time.
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/dest/report-...country=183000

A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit Macedonia (FYR). The passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected departure from the country. Canadians must also be in possession of a visa. Since January 15, 2003, visas must be obtained prior to arrival in Macedonia (FYR) in order to avoid delays and difficulties on arrival.

Here is the US State Dept link http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p...s/cis_956.html

As you say, Visa not required for 90 days or less.

ENTRY AND EXIT REQUIREMENTS: U.S. citizens need a passport to enter Macedonia. A visa for Macedonia is not required for tourist/business purposes for stays up to 90 days. For stays longer than 90 days, American citizens need to obtain the appropriate visa at a Macedonian Embassy or Consulate prior to their trip