Later this year, I'll be taking a train from Odessa in the Ukraine to
Chisinau. I'm hoping to stop off in Tiraspol on the way. I've heard
that travelling from Moldova into Transdniestr is fine, but coming into
Transdniestr from the Ukraine can be difficult - "where is your
Transdniestr visa, sir?", that sort of thing.

Has anyone done this trip in that direction (Ukraine -> Transdniestr)?
Will a few American dollars get me through the border, or am I going to
have loads of hassle?

Thanks for any help. Any other tips about Transdniestr & Moldova very
welcome also.

Patrick

I don't know if I can be of much help but my wife and I (we're way into
senior years) were in Chisinau a year ago and while there we took a
jitney into Transdniestra to just spend a few hours. We just visited
the nearer town of Bendery. We had no trouble going in - other than we
(the only tourists on the bus) had to go into the border shack for
about ten minutes. We were asked to pay just 1 Euro for a small piece
of paper which was placed in our passport. Not sure that this wasn't an
under-the-counter thing - but it was only one Euro.
But returning was a problem. No one spoke English or French or German -
and no one could understand how we were entering Moldova when it was
clear we were in Moldova the night before. It was all frowns because of
the perplexing problem.I don't think that little piece of paper did
much good. But finally with much pointing at maps and waving of arms,
it was understood and then all was smiles. Except from the people on
the bus (workers commuting I think) who had to wait this out. No fees
charged this time.
We did not bother to exchange Moldovan money for Transdniestra rubles.
So when it was time to eat lunch in a small restaurant (Jessica's in
Bendery) we had to pay what I thought was an exorbitant amount to
"exchange" currencies. My fault, though. Still the lunch for the two of
us only ended up costing USA $12, for cabbage salads, followed by
"chicken cordon blue" and more beets and cabbage salads, and drinks.
More than we like to eat but since we had trouble with the menu I just
ended up telling them to bring us a nice something-to-eat.

So no one has any Transdniestr/Moldova tips, then?