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My Travel to Iran - Diary of Erik Van Mool

Welcome to my trip to Iran! I visited this amazing country on March 2019 and I think there are several tips about Iran that every traveler might need to know. Therefore, I guess reading my travel diary can be a solution to your probable questions in mind regarding travel to Iran.

The undeniable truth that there are many controversial matters about Iran and we hear different sayings from opposing views in the world has made this country a bit risky to travel to. I think that almost every country has its issues. So, why should these issues keep us from seeing just another part of the world? Now, let’s put all our unrealistic judgments apart and experience real life. I hope that reading my travel summery could give you a better insight into Iran.

Financial correspondence has become severe in Iran because of economic sanctions. Therefore, using an international credit card is practically impossible. I, however, realized through www.apochi.com that I still can use my credit card in Iran using their service for the tourist visa and domestic flights in Iran. That was a great relief as taking cash with me could make me feel uneasy and cautious all the time. 

If you are bringing cash to Iran and your hotel does not exchange your money, you can get to an exchange office. Dollar and euro prices are way too overwhelming in Iran and it changes several times during a day. Exchange offices in Iran can change your money to the currency of Iran (Rials). Be careful about Rials and Tomans during your stay. They are almost the same but with an important difference which is an extra 0 in Rials. Official transactions are done using the Rials system while daily transactions are done in Tomans. So, be careful about omitting the extra 0 when paying in Tomans.

If you are a girl or woman, you should bring a scarf with you in your handbag or carry-on. According to Islamic laws of Iran, the female should cover their hair and body parts. So, given that you are not wearing skirts or tops, you need to wear a scarf before getting off the plane. It is of course just another feature of traveling to Iran. Provided that you look at the Hijab issue as a theme of travel, it gets easier to overcome. Moreover, men should wear long pants instead of shorts. Another point is about alcoholic drinks. Have you got some bottles in your suitcase? Well, please unpack them. You cannot bring alcoholic drinks to Iran. Upon your arrival at the airport, you will see a security officer checking which I guess it’s to see if you are bringing alcohol or not (I guess).

About eating habits and laws in Iran, I remind you that you are going to visit an Islamic country. So, the Halal meat in Iran means beef, chicken, fish, and turkey. Other kinds of meat are considered Haram and therefore banned. There is a wrong belief that Middle Eastern food is Arabic food. I believed the same all my life but when I traveled to Iran, I realized that the Iranian food is just way too different. I can bravely say that the Iranian dishes I tried in Iran were above this world. These Persian guys have one of the best food tastes around the world! Fabulous!

The last matter is about toilets in Iran. There is a trash bin in every toilet in Iran, no matter in a hotel or a restaurant or other public or private places. So, remember to avoid dropping your used toilet paper right into the sewage pipe.

my travel experience in iran
SIM Card stand, Passport control & transit hotel (Which was close!)

It was not crowded at all. I picked up my visa within 15 min (I got my visa code in advance from www.apochi.com), and passport control within 5 min. The only strange and time-consuming issue was travel insurance. For me, it took more than 20 min to get it. If you can get it before traveling to Iran, I recommend you do it. You can show your passport and get your travel insurance for 16 dollars or its equivalent in euros.

About Imam Khomeini International Airport, I think it was ok. Of course, you should not expect to walk into London Heathrow Airport! I did not waste a lot of time getting my luggage and I was not disrespected by the Iranian staff of the airport. So, it was just alright for me.

Free (but slow) Wi-Fi is available at Imam Khomeini International Airport. But you do not want to stay at the airport during your trip for the sake of Wi-Fi, do you?! You can buy the SIM card from the airport. However, I had bought my SIM card before the trip from the same website and they told me that I can get my SIM card at the hotel I reserved. They did as they had claimed and I got my Iranian SIM card as soon as I got to the hotel. My number was written on the SIM card. It took one hour for it to get activated which was fine for me as I needed some time to rest without social media! SIM card internet speed was acceptable and satisfactory to me. Be careful not to take photos of the airport as it is illegal. I saw some signs hanged on airport pillars that photography is not allowed!

One point to pay careful attention to during your stay in Iran is the censorship. Unfortunately, Facebook, Telegram, Twitter, Snapchat, and some other foreign websites are not available in Iran without using a VPN (Whatsapp and Instagram are ok and very popular among Iranian youth). So, install a VPN application on your phone before moving to Iran. There is no big deal as all the Iranians do the same.

tap30

There are three ways to get from the airport to your destination. Firstly, you can pay for an airport transfer when booking your accommodation. I had chosen this option while booking my room in Tehran Espinas Khalij-e Fars Hotel. Secondly, you can use online applications for a taxi (just like Uber) given that you wait for an hour for your SIM card to get activated. The names of these applications are Snapp and Tap30 (pronounce ‘Tapsi’). And finally, you can take the taxis at the entrance/exit gates of the airport.

While working with these applications, I realized that there is a new environment-friendly application for hiring bicycles to reduce air pollution. It came to me as a cool idea but I did not get a chance to use it regarding my busy schedule.

Espinas Khalij-e Fars Hotel

Espinas Khalij-e Fars Hotel

The hotel that I had chosen to stay in my first destination city was Espinas Khalij-e Fars Hotel. This luxury 5-star hotel is one of the top choices in Tehran as one of my friends recommended from his last trip to Iran. It took me about one hour to get to the hotel from the airport. As it is located in downtown Tehran, there are many Tehran attractions nearby. I visited Valiasr Street, Golestan Palace, Saad Abad Complex, Milad Tower, and Tehran Traditional Bazaar. The services at this hotel along with the designs and decorations made me recommend it to all those who want to have a luxury stay in Tehran.

Here is the hotel website:  https://espinashotels.com/hotels/persiangulf/

One thing that I was surprised at was the weather condition. I never thought there would snow in Iran just like other countries in the Middle East. I noticed there are three ski resorts in the north of Tehran, on the way to the north of Iran. Though I did not get a chance to do ski in Tochal Complex, Shemshak Ski Resort, and Dizin Ski Resort. However, I heard that they are highly standard and safe. So, if you are a fan of winter sports, find pleasure there during Jan and Feb.

You might get surprised at this but I moved from Tehran to Kashan for 12 Euros! I bought a bus ticket from www.apochi.com and everything was quite on schedule. You might be thinking about why choosing a bus. Well, I had two reasons in mind; firstly, it is way cheaper than any other travel means. Secondly, there are no airlines available from Tehran to Kashan, though Kashan has an airport. So, I got there safe and sound within 3 hours only. Very modern bus, with a cold meal, TV, and air-condition J. Bus terminal for long-distance buses is Beihaghi or Argentina Sq in Tehran.

saraye ameriha

Saraye Ameriha Boutique Hotel

One truth about me is that I am a horrible perfectionist! So, trust me with my choices. I chose the most famous boutique hotel in Kashan, Saraye Ameriha Boutique Hotel. I had memorable times in the hotel, thanks to its attentive and hospitable staff. Saraye Ameriha excels at value for money. Every service or amenity is worth it. The traditional designs and details of the hotel made me feel like going to the old Persia. The flawless combination of modernity and tradition is I think the reason why I adored this hotel. I had mouth-watering Persian and European dishes in Talar Ayeneh Restaurant. I do suggest it. The hotel also had great access to the historical attractions of the city like Abbasian House, Borujerdiha House, and Tabatabaei House. So, during my two days of stay, I took a tour around the city. Visit Fin Garden; it is a command rather than a recommendation :)) Jokes aside, you will love this garden. My guide there was Oveys (oveis.kiani@gmail.com) recommended by the hotel. I recommend you to have a guide for all these places as there are lots of stories behind each building.

Hotel website:  http://www.sarayeamerihahotel.com/

Isfahan-naqsh-e-jahan

My Travel Experience in Iran – Kashan to Isfahan

My next destination was the amazing city of Isfahan. I took the second bus from Kashan to Isfahan after I explored the beauties and civilization of Kashan. My journey took about 2 hours and a half. On the bus, I realized that there are tours with itineraries of Kashan-Abyaneh-Isfahan. I regretted that I missed the tours because I had to check-in at my hotel. If I knew about the tours, I would definitely join them as I love to explore Iran villages and Persian lifestyle.

Ghasre Monshi Hotel

My comment about Isfahan would be: How can a city contain so many fine artworks?! The point about Isfahan is that you should make sure that you stay long enough to visit as many attractions as possible. I highly recommend you to visit Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Ali Qapu, Qeysarieh Gate, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Imam Mosque, Si-o-Seh Pol Bridge, Khajoo Bridge, Chehel Sotoun Palace, and Hasht Behesht Palace. The hotel that I stayed in was a luxury 4-star traditional hotel called Ghasr-e Monshi Hotel. There were great traditional decorations that I immediately fell in love with. The hotel itself is a piece of art. Frankly speaking, if you like to sleep in a museum, I recommend this hotel.

It was the most expensive accommodation on my trip (I booked it for ~125 EUR per night with breakfast). You can book it through the hotel website and you have the option to add your airport transfer if you wish, while you are booking this hotel.

Hotel website:  http://www.ghasrmonshihotel.com

my travel to Tehran

My Travel Experience in Iran – Isfahan to Shiraz

My next destination was the fragrant city of Shiraz. Domestic flights in Iran are available in Iranian airlines like Iran Air, Caspian, Kish Air, Mahan Air, Aseman, Taban Air, and Gheshm Air. I moved to Shiraz via Taban Air - the cheapest flight ticket available which I booked only for 22 EUR with my luggage and a meal :) over www.apochi.com. I arrived at Shahid Dastgheib International Airport within an hour. I only spent about 20 minutes to get to the hotel I wanted to stay at.

shiraz-bazzar

Shiraz Grand Hotel

Believe me, this city is just wonderfully amazing! There is a lot of gardens to walk in and enjoy the sour orange blossoms smell. There are also too many historical attractions like Pasargadae and Persepolis (a little bit out of the city). I suggest visiting Tomb of Hafez, Tomb of Saadi, Nasir-ol-molk Mosque or the Pink Mosque, Delgosha Garden, Eram Garden, and Vakil Bazaar. I stayed at the 5-star luxury Shiraz Grand Hotel which was built on a mountain so I could get a fantastic view of the city. I do not have any kids and I was traveling on my own but I saw a lot of kids entertainments from handicrafts-making to water sports and Aladdin playroom. However, I enjoyed a lot of adult activities instead :) I went for volleyball in the court in my free time.

Hotel website: http://en.shiraz-hotel.com/

Shiraz Grand Hotel
Tehran
My Travel Experience in Iran – Shiraz Bazzar

If you think that Shiraz was my last destination, you are wrong! I went back to the capital city to finish my trip. I flew from Shahid Dastgheib International Airport to Imam Khomeini International Airport. The quality of the flight was good and I again had a meal included in the 39 EUR price. The duration of the flight was about only an hour. Therefore, I was just as fresh when I returned to Tehran.

Epinas Palace Hotel

Espinas Palace Hotel

I was curious to stay at the number one hotel in Tehran. So, I booked a room at the Espinas Palace Hotel in Tehran. To tell you the truth, I was treated nicely and my room was very spacious. I stayed in a royal room which was worth it for 117 EUR. I wanted to take part in an international event which was held in Eyvan Hall, one of the many halls of the hotel. The complimentary buffet breakfast included a wide range of hot and cold food, fruits, pastries, bread, and drinks. I served Persian dishes in Diba Restaurant and International dishes in Laton Restaurant. But the most exciting food experience was the international Sky Lounge roof restaurant with a view of Milad Tower. You can also smoke hookah over there. I went to the wellness center to get massage treatment and use the fitness center. All in all, I had a great stay and I strongly recommend it.

Hotel website: https://www.espinashotels.com/

Taken all the points into account, I should say that I had a nice stay in Iran. All the cities had their special characteristics which made them outstanding. The people were just as kind, hospitable, and friendly as I had heard. What I really like to say here is that no country should be judged before a visit.

 

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