Destination: Transdnistria

Not the first travel destination that comes to mind ... but PMR is actually an eye-opener once you get there, say visitors

KAMENKA (Tiraspol Times) - It is not yet recognized, but a couple of new travel guides are already listing Pridnestrovie - or Transnistria - as an independent destination. And while it may not be the first name that springs to mind as a tourist destination, it is actually not a bad little place to visit.

Pridnestrovie is off the beaten track, but as a tourist destination this unspoilt young country offers something different. Located within hours from the borders of Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary, it is easy to get to for European visitors.
Pridnestrovie may not be the first holiday spot on your list, but as a tourist destination this unspoilt young country is not bad at all. And with a location a mere 400 km's (just 250 miles) from the borders of Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary, it is easy to get to for European visitors.

With a central location not far from the heart of Europe, getting to Pridnestrovie is easy. When you arrive, a choice of newly built hotels await you, as well as great places to eat and something to see and to do: including the amazing wine-museum Butylka, the only one of its kind in the world, complete with taste-testing.

From the travel guides

Here's a quick summary of what the latest guidebooks are saying...

Pridnestrovie is the official name of the country Transnistria, says the latest edition of the All Wonders Countries travel guide from India. Located in the southeastern Europe, it is a landlocked country bordering Bessarabia - or Moldova - to the west, and Ukraine in the east. It is a constitutional republic, and the government of Pridnestrovie is semi presidential. It declared independence from Moldova on September 2, 1990 by the name of Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic.

The country covers an area of 4,163 square km with a population of 555,000. The economy of Pridnestrovie is largely dependent on manufacturing and industries among which the steel factory - Europe's most modern - is the most important.

Capital: The capital city of Pridnestrovie is Tiraspol.

Official languages: The official languages of Pridnestrovie are Russian, Ukrainian and Moldovan.

Currency: The currency of Pridnestrovie is Transnistrian ruble (PMR Ruble).

Major Cities

The principal cities of Pridnestrovie are:
- Tiraspol
- Bender
- Rybnitsa
- Dubossary
- Grigoriopol
- Kamenka
- Slobozya

Tourist Attractions

The national theatre in Pridnestrovie is best to visit during summer. A number of annual plays by Shakespeare are held in the drama theatre here. There are also a number of concert halls present in this country. There are over 200 community centers located all over the country and is a great source of entertainment for the visitors.

Pridnestrovie's independence celebrations take place each year on September 2. During the months of September and October, fests is held which, if traveling during this month, the visitors cannot miss. The Dniester River is protected against pollution and the country is green and clean. An attractive location is the waterfall in Northern Pridnestrovie. A few health resorts are built in his area which is an added advantage to visit here. The capital city of Tiraspol is another amazing place to visit, reports the official guide from All Wonders Countries, adding that a number of parks are located here.

Accommodations

Some of the recommended hotels of Pridnestrovie are:
- Hotel Timoty (located in Tiraspol and has its own club and disco),
- Hotel Friendship (Tiraspol, also has a number of offices on the premises),
- Hotel Aist (Hotel Stork in Tiraspol, cheap and cheerful),
- Hotel Butylka (an awesome hotel located close to the village of Ternovka),
- Hotel Starie Bendery (located in Bender and has a good restaurant).

Virtual travel

Apart from the regular travel guides, several websites in English also talk about visiting Pridnestrovie. And why not start your visit online...

One of these sites, Pridnestrovie.net, says: See it with your own eyes!
Don't let your view of Pridnestrovie be judged by some stranger's opinions. Instead, come and get the facts fresh from the source: Visit Pridnestrovie and judge for yourself what life is really like in this new corner of Europe. Click here for a taste of what you'll discover... Pridnestrovie is enjoying its highest living standard since Communist times, with foreign investment on the rise and the economy growing. Most visitors come with a preconceived notion gleaned from ill-intentioned hearsay rather than facts, and are usually amazed at how civilized, advanced, clean and quality-oriented Pridnestrovie really is. Here are some of their travel reports.

Modern, independent Pridnestrovie is an open country which welcomes tourists. We have no visa restrictions, and our own national currency - the PMR rouble - is freely convertible. Come and visit, and see for yourself how clean, organized and modern Pridnestrovie is today.

See also:
» Where's the "Mafyia"?
» American recognition of Pridnestrovie? It's already happening...
» Corruption at PMR border crossings hurts republic's image abroad

On the web:
» A visit to Pridnestrovie: What life is really like here
» Visit PMR
» Tabibito's Transdniestr Guide: PMR
» Hotel Timoty (Tiraspol)