Iran Recommendations
 

Mrs BillScann, Baby BillScann and I are traveling to Iran the first half of December. Our flights are booked. As we are US nationals, we need to find an Iran-based travel agent, plan and book an itinerary, and then (and only then) can we sort out those pesky visas. Questions:

1. Can someone recommend a reputable agent?
2. Any must-sees in Iran?

You may try South Travels in Dubai http://southtravels.com Strange as it sounds, I understand that snow skiing is great in Iran!

check out virtualtourist.com, it has some upto date information about lots of places that few Americans go to.

Bring a BP vest

Forget Iran. Go to Iraq!
 

A quick visit to support the troops would be nice. :)

I know British Petroleum has a presence in Iran, but was not aware that the wearing of their corporate logo was considered fashionable.

Only if the Bush twins accompany us...

Re: Iran recommendations
 

Iran recommendations
 

Hello,

My wife and I visited Iran last year and had an excellent time. Iranians very very friendly and hospitable. I would recommend PARS tour company. They are based in Shiraz. They arranged hotel accommodation for us in Shiraz and Esfahan, as well as a few domestic flights, which are a bargain. There website is http://www.key2persia.com/. They also arranged our visitor's visa after the Iranian government denied our visa application. We are Canadians. The tour company will submit the application on your behalf. It took a little over a week once the tour company sent in the information. They charge a small fee for this service, but well worth it. The Iranian government likes to play politics, so one week they will say yes to a visa and then next week they'll say no. If they say no, be persistent and try again.

Once we arrived in Shiraz we paid PARS for the flights accommodation and visa fee. It is all on the honour system, because we flew on a flights and stayed in esfahan before paying. A pleasant way of doing business.

My wife wore a head scarf when out in public, along with a thin, trench-coat.
It is only the orthodox women that will wear the black chador. You will see many women wearing colourful scarves and wearing them defiantly high on their heads.

As with most totalitarian countries you have very little to worry about in the way of crime. Besides, most Iranians will be most welcoming.

I wrote an article on our travels, which I can share with you. Send me an e-mail if you like. I can provide you with more information.

Iran is an incredibly beautiful country. It will be a little chilly in December, especially in the north.

Enjoy your trip.

Ken

Welcome to Flyertalk! Thanks for your tips. I'd love to read your account of your trip: check your email!

Esfahan, Shiraz/Persepolis and Yazd are absolute must-sees. A tea and a narguileh in a little cafe overlooking the dome of Sheikh Loftollah's mosque (Imam Square: Maidan-e-Naghsh-e-Jahan), goldened by the sunset, is an unforgettable experience. Don't miss Ali Qapu palace, Imam Mosque and Qaisarrieh Bazaar. Si O Se Pol bridge is an architectural marvel too (1602).

Don't miss the zoroastrian Towers of Silence in Yazd. The Zoroastrian cult, founded by Zarathustra, survives in Yazd.

How fantastic is this!!!!??????

In addition to FP's words, if you have time, don't forget a visit to the Caspian coast (north of Tehran).

I'm going to venture a guess....if you eat out at a restaurant, or are in a public place, and people find out you're American they'll talk with you, either in perfect or broken English and will tell you how much they lover Americans. If you can, visit the famous Chelo Kababi in Tehran Bazaar. It's been 30 years since I've been home but I hear they still serve a kick-butt Chelo-Kabab. You pay based on the length of the Kabab skewers by centimeters or 1 meter (3 feet)!!!! I'd suggest for you and your wife to eat to your heart's content....as much as your waistline will allow.

Don't 4get 2 visit the Bazaars, these were the first malls of the world, in Tehran, Shiraz and Esfahan. When in Esfahan, visit the famous Vank Cathedral, and the tomb of the prophet Daniel (actually a ways away). The Abbassi Hotel in Esfahan used to be a very prominent Carvansarai during the days of the Silk Road. Tell your guide in Essfahan: Esfahan nessfeh Jahan (Isfahan is half the world) and you'll get a chuckle out of him.

Here's a website about Jewish (old test) sites in Iran in case you're interested:

http://www.jewishgen.org/cemetery/mem/iran.html


I'd steer away from both the eastern (Afghanistan) and western (Iraq) borders of Iran. Azarbaijan, northwest, is a beautiful place to visit also. No joke if you drink water, drink bottled water.

PLEASE, PLEASE post back and let us know how your trip was. Make sure you post back, or at least let me know using my profile.

Way 2 much to say but most of all, enjoy yourselves!!!!

Absolutely. A surprisingly large number of Iranians have family or friends in the US.

I didn't visit the eastern part but had a fantastic trip in the Zagros mountains between Iran and Iraq. Bakthiari nomads were very friendly.