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zaneth · Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 8:51 am Post subject: Crossing Belarus

Looking for a cheap way to get home. Thought of hitching to Europe to catch a dirt cheap Air Hitch flight to the Midwest, then thumbing it the rest of the way.

Anybody know anything about Belarus? Is it true that they give you a window of time to cross it without a visa if you have a valid multi-entry for Russia?

expatella_girl · Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 9:59 pm Post subject:

Zaneth, I don't actually Know anything firsthand about Belarus, but boy howdy have I had an earful from sources who do.

Firstly, every time I have heard the word "Belarus" used in a travel conversation, looks of horror immediately appear. I understand the corruption there would make Russians shudder. YES, you had better have a transit visa to travel through their country. The transit visa is time sensitive. I believe a one time visa, one way, is 75 bucks and 3 weeks of waiting in line to get it. I also understand that if you're a westerner the militsia will shake you down on the train, visa or no visa. I have a great travel guide called "Let's Go: Eastern Europe." They call Belarus the "black sheep of Europe". Of all the eastern European countries this one is especially to be avoided.

I came across some of this attitude last summer when I wanted to put together a train trip from Moscow through Eastern Europe. Travel agents looked at me like I was crazy and told me that such a trip would require rather dangerous passage through Belarus and this was totally unadvisable. A big mistake. I've actually talked to some people who've done it. They say: it was a big mistake.

The common philosophy seems to be that you FLY over Belarus, to Prague or Warsaw or Berlin, and then catch the train and travel along. The opening up of the Ukraine may improve the travel problem from Russia to the rest of Europe via rail.

But I know how you are Wink

You'll expect, as always, that your great personal charm and supercharged karma will get you through the day. If you insist on traveling through Belarus, I sure as h*ll hope you're right.

Look forward to seeing you next time you're in town. Take care.

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

check to make sure, but I am pretty sure you will need a visa.
Check with your embassy. What`s your nationality?

zaneth · Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2005 11:06 am Post subject:

Brooks, I'm American (for better or worse, with all that that implies) I checked the state dept site but possible exceptions like having a multi-entry visa for Russia are too specific to show up there.

Expatella girl, you know me too well. But strangely I don't feel a deep need to test my charm and karma to prove that Belarus is really the best kept secret of Eastern Europe. Mildly curious and there have been a lot of places I've been warned away from that turned out good, but it just wouldn't be worth the trouble. I can't imagine that Belarus is so much more interesting than Russia or the Ukraine or Lithuania or Poland that I should pass up those places to prove what a super-hippy backpacker I am. No point.

On the other hand, it's right there on that nice straight highway between Moscow and Warsaw. So tempting. A sort of philosophical challenge.... Nah. There are better challenges out there.

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

Albania was like that during the communist regime-in fact far worse than Belarus is today!They only allowed a few special tourist groups in each summer,and certain nationalities were excluded such as Americans,Greeks etc!North Korea is still much the same but there is nothing to really stop anyone from going to Belarus from Russia as there is no border control anymore-just make sure you don't try to go into any other country from there except back into Russia or you will be inviting trouble!Actually,Belarus is quite interesting in some ways-mostly flat or undulating but with some nice countryside,but avoid the south as it was badly contaminated from Chernobyl!
Yes expatella,I believe in karma too-when's your birthdate??

GabeKessel · Joined: 27 Sep 2004 Posts: 150

Well, since obviously you are not going, at least you can have a look at what the country looks like:

http://www.ramsar.org/pictures/belarus-conf01.jpg

http://katiusha.org/images/i-belarus-06.jpg

http://www.cd.chalmers.se/~d95wahl/pics/belarus.jpg

rogan · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 416 Location: at home, in France

In answer to the OP - all foreigners (except Russians) need a visa for Belorus.
A transit visa and a medical insurance certificate is needed even if you never get off the train or coach.

The border guards like nothing better than dragging people off the train at the crossing point - usually at 05.00a.m.
They confiscate your passport and rip off all the cash that you have.

It's cheaper to fly over the country !

Alternatively some of the long distance coaches go around Belorus rather than going through it.

It's not an experience that I want to repeat.

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

a friend of mine took the train from Warsaw to Belarus a few years back. He got his visa and spent a few days there.
He had a pleasant time. He thought Belarus was like the way Poland used to be (back in the late 80s).
Poland looked quite developed compared to Belarus.

annscholl · Joined: 22 Jun 2004 Posts: 11

Much as I hate to agree with current US admin, Belarus is not a great place at present time. I lived there the last nine months. Local people love Americans, government hates them. It is a place where an American might find himself or herself in jail for months on end --any charge the gov't might dream up will do. Not having a visa will certainly involve paying bribes if not jail time. Please do a search on mosnews.com or go to the US Embassy Minskwebsite to get information on the political situation before going there.

Things steadily worsened after the Orange Revolution to the south, as the gov't fears the same sort of revolution. Belarus is also not a cheap place, as insane regulations and corruption raises prices. Right before I left, milita (not just police) were everywhere, making sure no one was stepping out of line.Overall, I enjoyed my stay, but the person who stated it was like Poland before "The Change" was right: everyone still speaks in whispers, informants in classes and among faculty...

Again, I had a great time working there, but it did invovle some fear and some scary moments with police/border guards/gov't officials. The up side is that with so many milita and police on the streets, it is a fairly safe place, esp. compared to Moscow or Kiev.

Also, it is illegal to do commerce of any kind in dollars or euros, but everyone will ask for payment in dollars or euros anyway: careful doing so, for you might get arrested for doing it. Best way is to change to Bel. rubles immediately and show people that you have no dollars.

Personally, I would wait until after the next election before visiting Belarus.