Travel to Tehran

ploddy

Hi all,

Have been asked to go on a business trip for 2-3 days to Tehran and not sure it will be my cup of tea.:eek: Anybody travelled there recently?

fricatus

If only all business trips were to New York, Paris and Prague, eh?

I haven't been there, but I've lived with Iranians and found them to be the most generous and hospitable people. They're also immensely proud of their country and Persian civilisation (which they will tell you all about). They're very family oriented too. Nothing like the "mad Muslim" image put about in certain sections.

Apparently there's quite a diversity of opinion in the country (remember they very nearly overthrew Ahmedinejad's government there about a year ago), so the time-honoured advice of sticking to safe subjects like family and work is probably a good idea.

To be honest, the most likely hazards will be stuff like traffic and crossing the road. The smog there is legendary too, at certain times of the year.

If you're on business though, you'll be driven everywhere and I'd imagine you'll be very well looked after. I think alcohol is illegal, so you'll probably socialise over tea! I can't talk for the quality of individual Iranian restaurants, but their cuisine is delicious (at least the home-cooked version!).

Take my advice with a pinch of salt though, since like I say, I've never been there. However, that's how my Iranian friends describe it! I must say I'm jealous, since it must be a fascinating place that few of us will get the chance to experience.

Post your experience when you get back, and PM anyone who replies to the thread, because I for one would love to know what your impressions were!

jum4

sound advice from fricatus,

I have been to iran a couple of times over the last few years, most recently was 6 months ago.
Get rid of all pre conceptions you have of a muslim fundamentalist state. I’ve met people there from all walks of life, rich and poor and everybody was open-minded. Political discussion is probably a national pastime!

Go for it, people are super friendly and will most certainly invite you back to their homes. Most entertaining is indoors at people’s houses where homemade wine and vodka flow freely.

If you get a chance try and visit some places outside Tehran and you will truly be impressed.

Naked Lepper

a friend of mine when on holidays there and had an amazing time
said the locals were extremely friendly, especially when they found out he was irish

lg123

i was in iran last year, drove through from west to east, spent a few weeks in tehran. its a mental place. there are no rules to the road, its each to their own. the people are amazing, very friendly. the women are easily the hottest in the middle east. you have nothing to worry about as long as you stick to their rules. its a dry country so you will find it very difficult to get some booze, even though we got some home brew at some parties we went to, it was well rationed there too.

have you your visa sorted?

when you are there make sure you get one of their traditional breakfasts, its this kind of flat bread with the most delicious honey and thickened cream. i cant remember what its called but the place we used to go only sold that. they drink their tea black there but its very nice tea.

have you any specific questions? are you male of female, in this case it makes a bit of a difference.

dolliemix

I've been thinking about traveling to Iran for a while. This thread has just confirmed that the niggling feeling was right all along! I saw a documentary about two years ago about various Iranian artists describing life in Iran and felt drawn towards the culture there. It all seems fascinating. I also met somebody during the summer who traveled there and had similar experiences to you guys.

I take it you are all males? I'm female. I reckon I would do a group travel trip unless anyone here has experience otherwise and would recommend something else?

I'd nearly go there for that breakfast alone!!!

lg123

there was a Belgian (i think) girl staying in our hotel, she was working in the Belgian embassy as an intern iirc. she was there on her own, she loved it. girls have to wear the hijab all the time, thats like a scarf pulled over the top of your head.


girls also have to wear this kind of coat/jacket thing, it goes down to just above the knees, sorry for the description, bit of research here and you will see what i am on about. you will see girls wearing them way back their head like in the pic, you dont have to be totally wrapped in the thing.
neither of these are as bad as they sound, loads of girls i seen wore nice colorful hijab and fitted coat things. they looked really well.

dolliemix

Cool. That wouldn't bother me at all. Infact it would add to the experience!

dolliemix

Check out this story. I think granny might have done the same brekkie as well!

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/travelblogs/141/57871/Day+465%3A+Breakfast+Of+Champions?destId=361011

ploddy

Hey thanks to everyone for the feedback. Its mostly positive and no doubt Iran has a lot to offer

lg123 wrote: »

have you any specific questions? are you male of female, in this case it makes a bit of a difference.

I am 24 yr old female. The meeting will be with a petrochemical company so I imagine I will meet with mostly Iranian men. I would be travelling there with my Chinese colleague (male). Given Ireland has a travel warning of 'avoid non-essential travel' for IRish citizens travelling to Iran, and the fact that I would not be travelling in a group I do feel somewhat apprehensive about going. So regarding specific questions I guess I just wonder is there many issues that a young female may face and what those could be, you have mentioned that it makes a difference. All advice much appreciated.

lg123

i wouldnt worry about the DFA warnings, we were in iraq and pakistan on the same trip and had no bother, and the warnings were even worse for them.

outside of clothing you wont have anything to worry about either i think. throw a post up on thorntree to get the experience from other girls who have been, see here http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forum.jspa?forumID=18&keywordid=72

have you got your visa yet? just be aware this can be a lengthy process, mine only took a few mins but you can be unlucky and it could take a few weeks. its ramadhan so expect things to take a little longer.

dont be too surprised if you are dealing with some women at the meetings, some of the girls we met at a party were engineers with siemens. its only the government that imposes the strict conservative islamic rule, the people are very progressive.

ploddy

lg123 wrote: »

have you got your visa yet?

Thanks, no I haven't got the visa yet, i just found out about the potential meeting on Monday and a date has not been confirmed. Cheers I will post on thorntree and see how that goes too...:)

lg123

another funny thing about iran is the money, the unit of currency is the Rial but they often quote in tomans which is 10 rials. there is no toman note or anything but its something to lookout for as it can get very confusing.

K09

jum4 wrote: »

sound advice from fricatus,

I have been to iran a couple of times over the last few years, most recently was 6 months ago.
Get rid of all pre conceptions you have of a muslim fundamentalist state. I’ve met people there from all walks of life, rich and poor and everybody was open-minded. Political discussion is probably a national pastime!

Go for it, people are super friendly and will most certainly invite you back to their homes. Most entertaining is indoors at people’s houses where homemade wine and vodka flow freely.

If you get a chance try and visit some places outside Tehran and you will truly be impressed.

Do many speak English? Or do you need to know Farsi? Would be fantastic to meet locals and to visit their homes but can be difficult or not as fulfilling if you cannot communicate in same language?

lg123

i was surprised by the amount of people who could speak english, better english than some european countries i have visited.