Post: #1

Executive Summary:

Made last minute plans to travel from Moscow to Chisinau last week arriving on a Thursday and departing Sunday night. My experience was short, yet informative especially as there is almost no recent information on the city. Reports on this city as being overdone or “invaded by turks,” are false. I also made a trip to the strange country of Transnistria, a piece of the USSR that essentially never fell. I had a blast, similar to my time in Ukraine and met a lot of new friends in a short time. 3 nights, no bangs.

// Chisinau Moldova //

Background:

Chisinau is essentially a white girl with brown hair dominated country. I observed very few blondes and those that were on the street or in the club were usually attended. If you like white girls with blonde hair, who are usually tall and thin, this could be your place. The official language is Romanian, although Russian is spoken by everyone. I saw many 18-22 year old girls in the center of the city as there are a few Universities and girls come from all over the country to attend. Many women 22-30 leave the country for other opportunities abroad. There is heavy corruption, political fighting and dogs freely roaming in the street. It is hard to see this country going to the EU. There is a heavy influence of NGOs assisting the country and foreigners come to fill these roles. Major US aid organizations have a presence here to thwart Russian influence.

Positives:
-Concentrated City Center mixes day game and night game
-Girls are beautiful
-Ratios of men to women can be off the chart
-Top clubs have drinks for $3.50. Center apartment $25.
-Local guys were friendly
-Impressions of wealth can be made with relatively small amounts of money
-Wine is good

Drawbacks:
-I only observed minor white god factor (just by being foreign and not flashing money)
-Felt my age was more of an issue than Russia (Mid 30s)
-Did not feel girls in the Club were overly friendly
-Internet game is limited and takes time to set dates
-Suited for longer trips, not bang missions. You could kill it with legitimate business here.

Clubs:

-Cocos Prive: Upscale club that begins with the hottie train arriving at 0115. Will be slow until this time. Party will go until 0700 in the morning. Tables off of a centralized bar and dancing at the front. Good music. Everyone local that attends often will know you are fresh meat and will also know the bartenders. I made friends with the bartenders and was treated well. No face control, just be able to make them money. There were times where I was surrounded by 8 women and no men. Tried multiple opens, but had difficulty even when aligned with a wing. I did have a 9 buy me drinks and dance with me for most of my first night here. I got greedy when she turned to talk to another guy so I opened a pair of 8’s. She got mad and moved on. I also observed girls who looked good and didn’t have much money nurse a red bull all night and not drink.

-Drive: I did not attend but heard that it gets going a little earlier than Cocos. People often start at Drive and then head to Cocos around 230-300. I have heard that it is a little more formal here but has better ratios.

-Piano Bar: The after party that can go to 0800 or 0900 once the other clubs close. There is no piano that I observed and is a little more grungy than the other bars. Met a couple of nice girls but was pretty lit up and ineffective by the time I was there. I do have video of bouncers literally “kicking” someone out of the club. It is pretty entertaining, but a reminder that Moldova plays by their own rules.

-Deja Vu: A girl told me that this was a dance club on Thursday nights. It was a front for prostitution. I got mad and left.

-Various Karaoke clubs: Heard very good things about these bars and locations within the city. Research them and go there. Locals speak highly of them as gold mines for good girls and ratios. Nice bars on Lenin Street.

-Smokehouse (Restaurant): Owned by an American dude, lots of friendly people and a good place to pregame and get the feel of the country. I made a lot of friends here and ate a lot of good food for cheap. Many local craft beers on tap.

// Transnistria //

A country (Inside of Moldova not Internationally recognized) that is essentially the last remaining sliver of the USSR. It has its own Government and border controls separate from Moldova. I took a personal day trip with a guide as there have been stories about foreigners getting stuck inside the country and held for bribes. The Russian military is active here. I had no issues entering or exiting with my American passport (I also have 3 Russian visas in my passport so they may have been sympathetic to this). It is essential that you tell the guard the length of your trip upon entry. There will be an exact time on your migration card (similar to what is issued in Russia but more hour time specific) issued at the border that says when you must leave the country. I think the shortest visa is 8 hours. I think all "visas" are instant. If you are going in and out, make sure you tell them this. We were pulled over as soon as we crossed the border for speeding and had to pay $5 bribe to get out of the traffic violation.

Upon entering the country (1 hour from Chisinau) we did a short tour and I observed women walking down the city center street in Tiraspol. The official language is Russian. I did try to open in English several women on the main street Strada 25 October. I did find the women very closed and had no luck. Girls just keep walking. One shop keeper we talked to was pretty excited to talk to us and exchanged some money we had to the plastic coins of their country. There is an Andy’s pizza here with toilets I had only seen in Iraq (think hole in the ground). Overall the country is supported well with Russian money and has several new buildings, good main roads and new apartment complexes being built. You can take a train here for $.50 from Chisinau. I would only go unescorted your first time if you speak fluent Russian.

There is rumored to be a nightclub here and a beach which could be good in the summer across from the tank monument. I’m not sure about hotels, but there is a hostel and people will rent out places in their homes. Obtaining this flag would be legendary.

Post: #2

Kudos for a brave and adventurous trip.

What were your accommodations like? What are the English levels for girls under 25?

Post: #3

Great report, thanks for posting some additional info on Chisinau and Transistria. I was in between going to Minsk next month, but I'm now leaning towards Ukraine and Moldova.

Does the visa in your passport have any negative affects that are known? What I mean by that - usually if you pay for one of these fake stamps or something that essentially be in your passport - it could make it no longer invalid. Just curious if there's any known issues with having this visa inside - I've never been to a non-recognized country before, so curious.

Also, WashedUpVet - would you be able to provide any info on a recommended tour guide via PM? Would be greatly appreciated..

Post: #4

I really appreciate the report man, a place that would be so unique to visit, i'm sure i'll do it one day.
Transnistria flag would be cool. Someone could try and get all the flags of countries that are not recognised by other countries, like Transnistria, Taiwan, Nagorno Karabakh, Somaliland ect

From my understanding Moldovan Romanian dialect is the most popular in Moldova, but everyone speaks Russian bilingually?

Post: #5

Quote: Does the visa in your passport have any negative affects that are known? What I mean by that - usually if you pay for one of these fake stamps or something that essentially be in your passport - it could make it no longer invalid. Just curious if there's any known issues with having this visa inside - I've never been to a non-recognized country before, so curious.

I made the trip a few years ago. As far as I remember, they didn't stamp my passport. (I could be wrong though, would have to find it). They do give you a small paper which you need to fill out with your personal info and they stamp that migration form with the date/time. I don't recall the exact lenght of the "visa" but 8 hours sounds right since I had to leave before nighttime. You'll definitely need to register with the militia if you're staying for more than 24 hours though.

Post: #6

This is correct. You get a small piece of paper and there is no stamp in your passport. It is only a migration card you surrender at the border when leaving. I think my use of the word "visa" was too strong. All the information is on the migration card.

Post: #7

(03-30-2016 03:26 AM)reverze41 Wrote:  Does the visa in your passport have any negative affects that are known? What I mean by that - usually if you pay for one of these fake stamps or something that essentially be in your passport - it could make it no longer invalid. Just curious if there's any known issues with having this visa inside - I've never been to a non-recognized country before, so curious.

Not an issue at all except for one *exception.

I have been to Transdniester, Abkhazia and Nagorno Karabakh. It has never been an issue using that passport afterwards anywhere in the world. Both Nagorno Karabakh and Abkhazia give you an option of not sticking the visa in your passport. Both times I went to Transdniester I received just a slip of paper, no visa as such or stamp.

*Exception: If you stick the Nagorno Karabakh visa in your passport then you will not be allowed to enter Azerbaijan with that passport.

Post: #8

(03-29-2016 03:48 PM)WashedUPVet Wrote:  There is rumored to be a nightclub here and a beach which could be good in the summer across from the tank monument. I’m not sure about hotels, but there is a hostel and people will rent out places in their homes. Obtaining this flag would be legendary.

There are clubs in both Tiraspol and Bendery. The beach in Tiraspol in the summer beats anywhere I have ever been.

How were prices there now? It was when I visited ( pre-Maidan ) the cheapest country I had been to in Europe by a mile.

Post: #9

Great report thanks for this. I want to hit Moldova this summer. I have a question though. Is it possible to travel to Tiraspol from Odessa or is the boarder between Ukraine and Moldova/Trasnistria closed because of the Ukraine-Russia conflict?

Post: #10

(03-30-2016 05:24 AM)The Ligurian Wrote:  

(03-29-2016 03:48 PM)WashedUPVet Wrote:  There is rumored to be a nightclub here and a beach which could be good in the summer across from the tank monument. I’m not sure about hotels, but there is a hostel and people will rent out places in their homes. Obtaining this flag would be legendary.

There are clubs in both Tiraspol and Bendery. The beach in Tiraspol in the summer beats anywhere I have ever been.

How were prices there now? It was when I visited ( pre-Maidan ) the cheapest country I had been to in Europe by a mile.

Looks like you´ve been around. Did you detail these experiences in these semi-states somewhere? Would be interesting to read.

Post: #11

(03-30-2016 04:34 AM)369eyedea Wrote:  I really appreciate the report man, a place that would be so unique to visit, i'm sure i'll do it one day.
Transnistria flag would be cool. Someone could try and get all the flags of countries that are not recognised by other countries, like Transnistria, Taiwan, Nagorno Karabakh, Somaliland ect

From my understanding Moldovan Romanian dialect is the most popular in Moldova, but everyone speaks Russian bilingually?

Speaking of flags of non recognized countries there are more of them coming up due to recent political events along Russia border. In Ukraine alone there are 2 new ones Donetsk People Republic and Lugansk People republic and 2 more in Georgia Russia border Osetia and Abkhasia. Not sure about if last 2 are worth it, but you can probably get the first 2 easily without leaving Kiev.

From what I know girls from Doneck are very attractive. It is too bad its a conflict zone...

Post: #12

Thanks for taking the time to share this trip.

I admire your travelling adventurous spirit.

Great work!

Post: #13

(03-30-2016 07:03 AM)superschalk Wrote:  Is it possible to travel to Tiraspol from Odessa or is the boarder between Ukraine and Moldova/Trasnistria closed because of the Ukraine-Russia conflict?

I looked into this recently as I am planning to hit up Tiraspol and Chisinau in May. Border is open and there are several buses per day running between Odessa and Tiraspol. Check here for the bus schedule on any given day: http://ticket.bus.com.ua/ Quick check of random weekday next week shows 10 departures from Odessa to Tiraspol. Earliest is 7:00 and latest is 18:00. Takes about 3 hours and costs around 85-120 Hrivna depending on the bus line. Tiraspol is typically a stop on the route from Odessa to Chisinau. There is also one train trip per day between Odessa and Chisinau, which definitely runs through Trasnistria to get there, but I'm not sure if you can get off the train in Tiraspol.

Post: #14

(03-29-2016 05:07 PM)Dantes Wrote:  Kudos for a brave and adventurous trip.

What were your accommodations like? What are the English levels for girls under 25?

I really tried to open girls under 25 day and night. English was poor but you will find those who speak English. I had a hard time with young girls but they are plentiful. Rarely do they travel alone so a wing may be very useful. Official language is Romanian but everyone knows Russian. My apartment was "in the center of the center" as my landlord says. Most items were new inside but not well constructed. It was a 1 bedroom. I was never able to pull back there.

Post: #15

(03-30-2016 10:51 AM)rottenapple Wrote:  Looks like you´ve been around. Did you detail these experiences in these semi-states somewhere? Would be interesting to read.

No but Pacesetter has written about NK and Chaos wrote about Abkhazia.

Probably a good time to avoid Nagorno Karabakh now though since 30 soldiers were killed there in the last couple days.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...-1994.html

Post: #16

My brother has been in NK for 3 years. PM with specific questions and I will forward them. His social media will verify.

Post: #17

I checked out Chisinau and Tiraspol last week. I took the bus from Odessa, although there are trains as well. The bus cost around 200 UAH. I used Airbnb for accommodations.

Tiraspol is not a destination for a bang trip, but it's cool to check out for the time capsule Soviet vibe and Lenin monuments. Small town; not too many restaurants. Love Cafe is good.

Best place to go during the day is Собачий beach on the Dniester, right in the center near the Suvorov monument. There's talent and an outdoor bar with tables made of shipping pallets where draft beers cost 12 rubles (about $0.90 USD). There's another beach on the other side of the river but I didn't like it.

I didn't check out the night scene, but I talked to some girls and bartenders and they recommended a night club called Винтаж, as well as a place called Baccarat.

I exchanged grivna when I needed money. The rate was 0.52-0.55 rubles per grivna. The apartment I stayed in was modern and cost $32 USD per night.

Chisinau has potential. I was only there for an afternoon, but I walked around and can confirm there's talent, probably even more once the school year starts.

I had a look at Cocos Prive and it looks like a good night venue, but empty during the day. Across the street is another place with an outdoor patio beside the Opera and Ballet theater. It was quite full for a random weekday afternoon.

I spoke Russian in both cities and didn't have any problems communicating. One of the bartenders and one of the girls in Tiraspol knew some basic English.