Islamabad Travel Forum

My first trip to Pakistan and I'm arriving in Islamabad next Tuesday. I'm seeking suggestions on :
- a reasonably priced guest house for a female travelling solo (I don't need fancy, just clean....and hey if there was a tv somewhere around that was showing the world cup even better!)
- transport from the airport - bus, taxi? cost?
- a shop,shopping/market area where I could buy a cheap shalwar kameez? (Or somewhere I could get one made?)

I'm really excited about visiting Pakistan!

Thanks
SC

..:-) ..im glad at least someone is excited about visiting Pak . :)

I'll look into the guest house info for you in Isloo and email you on here asap .

We do have cable TV here in Isloo and guest houses do have cable Tv and they are showing the football world cup here , and some have internet too .

From the airport , No buses , you can take a cab /taxi from the airport , and i think they have a fixed price now on the fare or at least that what i heard and that is Rupees . 200 to any place in Islamabad from the airport .

hmmm where could you buy a cheap shalwar kameez or get it made on order , there is jinnah super market in isloo which is very well known for shopping , but its one of the most expensive markets as well ..but there are tailors around who could make a shalwar kameez dress for you if you give them the clothing material and your size/fit . But then for that first you'll have to shop for the unsewed clothes and there are cheaper places in the twin city of Rawalpindi for that . Here you need some female local help :) . I couldn't just name one place or shop for you ,where you can go and get it ...and most shop keepers will probably try and charge you more money seeing you are foreigner than they would normally do to a local , so im willing to help you with that if you want ,cos i have an idea about the prices and what material to buy and different places where you could get a better bargain . if you dont want to go with me then i'll give you the names of a couple of places where you can try your luck on your own .

Take care,

PTSD .

My office travel desk reccomends GRAND MANSION. Ph: 227 9779/227 9095. Owner / manager Mr, Haroon Anwar. He has also stated that in ISB, majority of the guest houeses (which are cheaper in rent) gets raided quite often by the intelligence agencies. This is due to the fact that most of these guest houses do not keep record or properly ID guests staying at their houses.

Concerning transport from airport, there are the regular taxis but there is also a service by METRO cab which is safer then normal taxis, plus A/C. You can also hire them for a day or so for your outings. They have a counter at the airport, plus you can also call them from where ever you stay.

Salut mes amis,

For accomodation,
go to
Sitara market

there're some guest houses who offer rooms with reasonable prices
Hotel Star
Hotel blue sky

Expect 300, 450 Rs for a nice room

You can get a Taxi from The Chaklala airport try to pay 120 to 150 Rs to Islamabad.

For Local clothes
go to
Abparra market
Jinnah super market
Sitara market

You can get a dress with reasonable proces.

Pakistan's a very safe destination to travel but I appreciate your choice of wearing local clothes especially in the areas like Peshawar, Chitral and north Pakistan, which signifies your travel experience,

So I welcome your queries.


Imran Schah

http://risingpakistan.blog.co.uk

i have also heard about this checking up of guest houses by intelligence agencies . But i suppose that is just routine checking for security purposes and i don't think they hastle foreigners or do they ?

Sajno, try to understand,

it's the place where the cream of Pakistan lives with other pots of cream from rest of the world inshape of diplomats so that's normal checking and don't say it's a raid because there's a difference between normal Police checking in the hotels and raid on a special guest house.


I think you've got my point.

Jeeto raho.

yep ! it cannot be called a 'raid' . its just routine checking .

I apologise for being naiive but I meant the same thing, because it sounded a bit absurd to me.


Ciao,

thats okay Imran . I understood what you meant . :)

Hi there,

There are a number of good hotels and places of inerest in Islamabad. I am here for almost 2-3 years and enjoying life alot.

You can find alot of good guest houses in G6 area which is very near to the market( where you can all types of dresses).

The cost is less than 15 -20 $ on a taxi from the Airport to Guest Houses.

Enjoy your Stay and you can always call call me if you have any problems.

+92 333 5648470

Welcome to Islamabad.

Good Day,

15 to 20 US $ for a Taxi from Chaklala airport to G 6?


may be in 2012 or 2015?

Ciao,

Thanks to you all for taking the time to respond to my many questions, I really appreciate it. (Unfortunately a delay here means I may now be landing in Peshawar on Wednesday - trouble with flights! - but I will surely use all your helpful information about Islamabad when I arrive there later in my trip)

Cheers
SC

Hi dear guest to islamabad
You are welcomed to this city. There a a lot of good hotels where u can stay for 24 it will cast you from $ 6 to 10 it is the best kind of hotels. Raja bazar is the biggeist bazar where u can buy any kind of pakistani dresses on a reasonable rates. the taxi chargers from Airport to Hotel is very low for example if u go to sadar from Airport it will cast u 1 or 1.5$
if any assistance u are needed then feel to contact
nawaz