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-   -   Hossein's Guest House Iran, any experiences? (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/west-and-south-asia/hosseins-guest-house-iran-any-73210)

klausalz 13 Dec 2013 06:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oo-SEB-oO (Post 446704)
You all know me long enough to know that nobody is going to "pay" me in any kind of way to write down what I have to say about this:

Can we please return to a civilised discussion and say what we have to say in an orderly manner with examples etc? Please?

+1


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soleyman 13 Dec 2013 08:05

My research...
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Mehmet Zeki Avar (Post 446089)
Here is the latest mail for current inf. I had from a friend running legal and official tourism and visa business in all over Iran...
(Nov.22.2013.. a few months after elections.)
**************************************
Hello dear Mehmet,

Sorry for late reply. We just received the information about entering to Iran by car or motorbike today and the result is as following:

All tourist must apply for their visa at the right time according to the information provided in our website and they can get the Visa Label at the embassy of Iran in Istanbul.

If they entering to Iran by Car or Motorbike, they need to obtain an international transit plate plus an International Driving License before.

Driving a Caravan is NOT permitted in Iran.

*******************************************

According to my research,I have to correct the misinformation.

All tourists can get their visa in embassy or consulates of Iran in Istanbul,Ankara,Trabzon,Erzurum

The motorists don't need to obtain an international plate number,they can enter with their home country plate number.

Driving a caravan is PERMITTED in Iran.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oo-SEB-oO (Post 446704)
I would prefer to give some local 25$ and stay with him and enjoy some (difference in?) culture than to stay in a hotel.What's more, I think it is VERY rude for (western)people to expect to just crash at somebody's place for free.

I am agree with you Oo-SEB-oO,i prefer to stay with locals compare to boring hotel rooms which is the same thing all around the world.

As jnk_ mentioned He is no samaritan,he is
just doing his job and feeding his family.

All the best

boxerbmws 19 Feb 2014 16:19

can't work this out
 
I really can't.

Come through here from Facebook to track down some information and I've read this string.

So - Hossein says everything re. CdP is completely legal but, despite me asking him several times, he can't supply a 'cost'. I still don't know how much, if anything, is involved.

I also think crossing into Iran using this method will limit the time you can spend in the country. He seemed to indicate it would be for about two weeks? Transit VISAS still about 5 days?

I understand the $25 dollar figure - no problem with that - time is money and all that along with some form of accommodation.

So - if anybody has a figure for the CdP side of things could you spit it out please. I've found one reference to €400 so far.

Cheers!

Daze55556 21 Feb 2014 03:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxerbmws (Post 455156)
I really can't.

Come through here from Facebook to track down some information and I've read this string.

So - Hossein says everything re. CdP is completely legal but, despite me asking him several times, he can't supply a 'cost'. I still don't know how much, if anything, is involved.

I also think crossing into Iran using this method will limit the time you can spend in the country. He seemed to indicate it would be for about two weeks? Transit VISAS still about 5 days?

I understand the $25 dollar figure - no problem with that - time is money and all that along with some form of accommodation.

So - if anybody has a figure for the CdP side of things could you spit it out please. I've found one reference to €400 so far.

Cheers!

From what I can gather it depends on two factors - the value of your bike and the length of your stay. One person on a late model BMW staying for a couple of weeks said the figure was 250 euro.

It is a little bit hit and hope.

FLH80 21 Feb 2014 08:37

CdP for Iran
 
Hi, I am German, living and working in Tehran since 2007 and am planning to bring my TT600R to Iran in August as this is a wonderful country for bike-travelling!
I have checked the regulations with the Iranian Customs office in Tehran.
A Carnet de Passage is officially required for every temporary import of a foreign vehicle to Iran.
(In addition to this, there seems to be some strange obligation to engage an official tour guide for each traveller entering the country with a vehicle. This seems to be relatively new and still needs to be confirmed. It's possible that a pre-entry registration with the Touring & Automobile Club of Iran might be sufficient. I will be checking on this.)
I know, that this is Iran and that Iran is located in this region of the world, so, there is always 100s of ways around the law!
And this always costs some money to be paid to the friends of the friends of the guys in charge - and then to others that might object and-so-on.
Nobody will be able to do the No-CdP-Service without such payments (as stated above: approx. 250 EURO). Plus this by-pass of the law seems to be limited to 2 weeks...
If you only do transit (to/from Pakistan/Turkmenistan) or short trip into the country and back AND you are lucky to not run into some very strict representative of the authorities you might get off with less official paperwork before departure and save a few EUROs...
But, if not, this might end much more expensive...
Thus, besides the risk of incertainty, I do not really see a relevant financial benefit deviating from the official way with a Carnet de Passage.
And don't be mistaken:
Iran is a country with a rather well interconnected and organized administration. It is not wise to bother with them, and if you run into trouble things get intransparent, incomprehensible for foreigners and extremely time consuming quite quickly! Plus costs for fines etc... :taz::nono:
Why would one want to risk the official, legal and smooth entry into this country half way round the world from Europe, just to save 50 EUROs or so?
The ADAC of Germany charges me 195 EUROs for the CdP (plus 3000 EUR bank deposit), valid for 1 year with the possibility of extension.
So, I will do it this way and am nervously waiting for the day of departure...!:mchappy:
Cheers,
Daniel

NejcT 21 Feb 2014 20:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oo-SEB-oO (Post 446704)
It is difficult to draw a line between aggressiveness and informing on another's plans, but for me it didn't felt right. 25$ is a bit steep but on the other hand, I would prefer to give some local 25$ and stay with him and enjoy some (difference in?) culture than to stay in a hotel.

What's more, I think it is VERY rude for (western)people to expect to just crash at somebody's place for free. When is the last time you invited week after week some stranger(s) in your house for free? Honestly?

Hello.

First of all, I have to tell you, that I was a guest of Hossein in December 2012.

I agree with the most of the upper quote, but lets make some things clear.

First of all, If you are invited to somebody's place (several times), I think you are not expecting to pay, if not mentioned? Especially if the invitation includes "we are Iranians, the most hospitable people in the world". Do you?

Second thing. 25 bucks? Give me a break. I was sleeping in a 4star hotel in Rasht for 20 bucks in double room. 4 star hotel against sleeping on the carpets?
I don't consider 25 bucks as a problem, I'm not a cheap person, but, one thing is to pay for something that is reasonable, other thing is greed. And I don't support it. If I travel in the spirit of fair trade, they have to do it as well. In Mexico, Iran or New Zealand.

For CdP - I got it, pay for it, don't mind anymore, and most important, didn't have any problems at all. I just planned the costs before, when calculating the costs for the trip. If I will go again, I will just pay for it again. Even if Iran is the only country that I need it for. And will sleep calm then.

Best regards and no hard feelings.

Nejc

danielsprague 21 Feb 2014 22:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLH80 (Post 455362)
... It's possible that a pre-entry registration with the Touring & Automobile Club of Iran might be sufficient. I will be checking on this...

I would be very interested to hear about this, Daniel. Also, if it is necessary with a transit visa. I would hate to have to take a guide, it would probably put an end to my plans to drive to Iran this year :(

Greets

Daniel

soleyman 22 Feb 2014 08:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by NejcT (Post 455447)
Hello.

First of all, I have to tell you, that I was a guest of Hossein in December 2012.
I agree with the most of the upper quote, but lets make some things clear.

First of all, If you are invited to somebody's place (several times), I think you are not expecting to pay, if not mentioned? Especially if the invitation includes "we are Iranians, the most hospitable people in the world". Do you?
Second thing. 25 bucks? Give me a break. I was sleeping in a 4star hotel in Rasht for 20 bucks in double room. 4 star hotel against sleeping on the carpets?

Hi

Member "NejcT" i guess you are the one who have been hosted by him in the beginning of his job, just to clear up when i stayed at his xxxxxxx there was few of very comfortable beds and i slept on one of those beds of course with no dubious that was best one during my trip, so it means he has been improved the job and no carpets anymore.
Most likely he used to invite people in Iranian way which is confusing for foreigners but yes, we are Iranians one of the most friendliest and hospitable people in the world but it doesn't mean to expect the things are for free in meantime please read post #20 .

Be happy that you stayed at his place as you touched and felt the Iranian peoples life style, culture and of course you experienced something different than hotel rooms it means that you get more than what you pay and these things are valuable, so that's why 25 bucks is reasonable price.

Regarding Carnet : I was not into this kind of things up until few months ago but after asking and checking out the regulations i think my information is good enough, as i asked Iranian customs office, Carnet is officially required for every temporary import of a foreign vehicle to Iran afterwards i asked is there any way to enter without Carnet??
As they said, yes it's possible and custom officer told me to write down a number, that was Hossein's number, i'm still wondering how extensive is this guy services.

Greetings !

NejcT 22 Feb 2014 11:03

@soleyman

Like I said, my opinions are made on my experience from 2012. If Hossein opened a 5 star hotel in 2013, I don't know, regarding to 2012, I was sleeping on the carpets for 25 dollars per person. And it was not at the start, he hosted many people before me.

Quote:

we are Iranians one of the most friendliest and hospitable people in the world but it doesn't mean to expect the things are for free in meantime please read post #20
Quote:

Be happy that you stayed at his place as you touched and felt the Iranian peoples life style, culture and of course you experienced something different than hotel rooms it means that you get more than what you pay and these things are valuable, so that's why 25 bucks is reasonable price.

Belive me, I stayed in Iran for one month, and I didn't just sleep in hotels. I experienced some true Iranian lifestyle, culture and sightseeing (much more than in Urmia) and especially hospitality from the Iranians, got around 10 new friends, and surprisingly, nobody charged me or used me for taxi, and even if I tried to pay they refused.

I know that answering you is probably fight against windmills in Don Quixote style, but there are several members of HUBB, that had the same (or worse) experience that I did.

And I will repeat again. Money is not the problem if the service is worth it. From my experience in 2012, Hossein's service was not.

Im out.
Peace

Nejc


P.s. Somebody pointed already, Hossein might be using this forum with different nickname. Mods and admins can always check the IP adresses.

soleyman 22 Feb 2014 13:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by NejcT (Post 455505)
@soleyman

Like I said, my opinions are made on my experience from 2012. If Hossein opened a 5 star hotel in 2013, I don't know, regarding to 2012, I was sleeping on the carpets for 25 dollars per person.

@NejcT

As you said, you and few others opinion are from 2012 and here is quote of last post from member ''Hellboy" written in 2012 about Hossein :
I´ve had contact with Hossein too and friends has stayed at his parents place and it has worked out rather fine according to them. It seems that he is trying to learn from mistakes made and he has said his excuses. Leave him be now and lets see what happens further down the road. We can all make mistakes. Ok?

After that some people posted their experiences about him on this thread, we all know he learned his lessons and now he is on right track. Don't take me as a defender for him but honestly after investigation myself i didn't find any other negative things about him, i am satisfied with the end result as there are more good representations about his reputation, From my point of view the misunderstanding before was they thought they were paying 25$ for just a bed, They didn't know his business is 25$ to assist/help travellers for all their needs in Iran plus his time, information, a bed and home comforts and etc etc.

Peace bier

klausalz 24 Feb 2014 08:08

Quote:

He's good!
Quote:

No, he's bad!
Quote:

No! He's good!!
Quote:

NOO!! ...
People, let's cease the fighting. I thing we had loads of opinions here, why keeping it up like this? If there are any more people with their experience please share it, but do we really need to go into quarrels about who's good or bad? So how about a peace treaty and everyone who has to say somethingNEW (if good or bad) just does it and we're over it? bier


Regarding the carnet: We got ours in Germany, same story as FLH80, and haven't had any issues with it. Given the price I would personally do it just the same way again and be done with it, not because I believe Hossein could not do it (I guess he can) but just because it is one more thing you can tick back home. The less paperwork to bother with on the road, the better. And even for countries that do not officially accept a carnet, it can be rally handy if you need something to show the officials. I managed to get both our bikes into Thailand on CdPs from the eastern Malay border, although Thailand does officially not accept it and would need to get your bike stamped into your passport, which limits the the options quite a lot, given that I had my mates bike to get into the country (where it's waiting now), being ridden by another mate at that time...

I recommend getting your CdP back home and be done with it - if you can. jeiger

Fern 24 Feb 2014 10:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by soleyman (Post 455520)
@NejcT

As you said, you and few others opinion are from 2012 and here is quote of last post from member ''Hellboy" written in 2012 about Hossein :
I´ve had contact with Hossein too and friends has stayed at his parents place and it has worked out rather fine according to them. It seems that he is trying to learn from mistakes made and he has said his excuses. Leave him be now and lets see what happens further down the road. We can all make mistakes. Ok?

After that some people posted their experiences about him on this thread, we all know he learned his lessons and now he is on right track. Don't take me as a defender for him but honestly after investigation myself i didn't find any other negative things about him, i am satisfied with the end result as there are more good representations about his reputation, From my point of view the misunderstanding before was they thought they were paying 25$ for just a bed, They didn't know his business is 25$ to assist/help travellers for all their needs in Iran plus his time, information, a bed and home comforts and etc etc.

Peace bier

oh please, this is getting blinking tedious! :ban:


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