How to Find Cheap Hotels in Chisinau, Moldova

Chisinau is the capital city of Moldova, which is a republic in Eastern Europe. You may know this city by its former name, Kishinev. This is a fabulous, relatively stable and economically developed city located in the middle of Moldova. It’s a great place to set up your base camp if you plan on touring the entire country.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet access
• A computer
• A Moldovian travel visa
• Moldovian currency

Know Your Destination

1. Stroll through one of the city's gardens. Chisinau, Moldova is one of the greenest cities in Europe.
2. Shop for Moldovian products in Chisinau. Since Chisinau is the most economically developed city in the country, it is one of the few cities in which you will be able to find shopping and dining amenities for tourists.
3. Convert your U.S. dollars to the Moldova Leu, which is the official currency of Moldova.

Organize Your Transportation in Chisinau, Moldova

4. Take a public approach to getting around town. Chisinau offers lots of public transportation options including taxis, trolleys, trains and buses.
5. Ride the rail into Moldova. Taking the train into Moldova is the most affordable travel option. There are several lines that run between Moldova and major cities in surrounding countries.
6. Fly into Chisinau International Airport. This airport is served by many different airlines and it offers direct flights to and from Berlin and Paris.

Choose Your Lodging in Chisinau, Moldova

7. To book accommodations, contact Moldova Ministry of Culture and Tourism at 011 +(373) 22 22 76 20 or visit their Web site (see Resources below).
8. Find a lodging bargain by making Chisinau your base camp as you journey through the region. Chisinau's accommodations are plentiful and incredibly affordable.
9. Stay around town. You can find accommodations at a number of hotels, bed and breakfasts, and hostels throughout the city to put you closer to the center of the action.
10. Know that a moderately priced hotel room with a double bed, a water closet and a shower will cost around 320 Lei per night, which is about $23.25 U.S.
11. Sleep near the tracks and save money. Hotels located near the train station tend to offer cheap accommodations to travelers.

Become Familiar with Local Information

12. Drink in the city. Chisinau is known for its fine wines and ports.
13. Inhale a forbidden pleasure. If you are a smoker, you will be able to find cheap cigarettes in Chisinau.
14. Educate yourself. Chisinau has 36 different university campuses. Talk to your travel agent to learn about campus tours, lectures and other on-campus activities.
15. Get your blood pumping by watching one of the local professional football (soccer) clubs match off against its opponent. There are four different professional football sports clubs in Chisinau, where you can take in the competitive action.
16. Get your groove on by listening to a live Moldova band jam. The music scene burns brightly in Moldova at night and you can hear local and national bands performing in this city's nightclubs.

Tips & Warnings

• If you need to order a taxi in English, simply dial 1400.
• Certain borders, like Transdniester on the Ukraine side, are difficult and dangerous to cross. This is because of political unrest. If you try crossing here you can be detained, searched and charged an unreasonably high crossing tax.
• To book accommodations, contact Moldova Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
• If you need a hotel, transportation and other tourist amenities, you will want to stay in and around Chisinau.
• Bring your own over-the-counter and prescription medications, as there is limited medical care available in Chisinau.
• Beware of several Chisinau travel scams online that are targeting American travelers.
• Keep your valuables secured, as petty crimes tend to be a problem in this area.
• Plan your trip carefully, as transportation and tourist amenities are not available in all areas of Moldova.
• Try not to drive when it is dark in this country, as other drivers can be aggressive and vehicular accidents occur quite frequently.
• Don't try to photograph military facilities or personnel.