Armenia

Jules, I can't help with most of this, but if Bolt is available, I would suggest using that. It's a good ride share service. I've used it before, and their prices are usually pretty inexpensive. The easiest way to find out is when she arrives, she should just open up Google Maps, key in her destination, then click on the ride share option. It should show the ride-share options are available.

With regards to eSIMs, do you know what year her phone is? Most phones from 2018 on support eSIMs; both Apple and Android. If her phone is older than that, she would definitely need to use something else. She could use the Verizon International Plan, but a SIM card (or eSIM if it works on her phone) would definitely be cheaper.

EDIT: I just did some checking, and it does not look like Bolt is available there. Evidently, they had plans to go there in 2023, but the plans never materialized, so there is nothing like Bolt or Uber there.

This website gives some information that might be helpful, though especially about GG Taxi, which sounds similar to Uber and Bolt. https://relentlessroaming.com/how-to-get-around-armenia/

Also, I just found this fairly recent Facebook post that has information on what to use. In addition to GG Taxi, it sounds like there's another app called YandexGo, which is the same service they have in Uzbekistan. I've been researching that, so I'm familiar with it. There is also Utaxi. Here's a link to the Facebook post. If you're not on Facebook, let me know, and I can pull it off and send it to you

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ArmeniaTravelTrip/posts/3617338768556183/

We were in Armenia just before Covid. It is not only a fairly modern country but also greatly helped financially by the huge Armenian diaspora community. Many Armenians live in the US, particularly Glendale, California, and in France, and elsewhere. Our tour was put together for us by a local company a family member knows personally. We were a group of family and childhood friends, all living in Europe, except for us because we were still living in the US.

The others had no trouble wiring their money on advance for the tour from Austria and France, but we couldn't find a way to wire ours from the US. I finally called the Armenian embassy in Washington where I was told to go to the wire service at CVS to send the money. Instead, we just brought US cash with us for the organizer. Yes, I suppose he would have accepted euros just as easily.

There were a lot of overseas Armenian tourists but not many other westerners. We ran into Iraqis there for a weekend getaway, and that's when I realized how far east we were. I had Google Fi and received a call from my mother back in Indiana while we were in the disputed territories that Armenia lost recently to Azerbaijan. I don't remember about the money but a wad of US bills should work.

As I said, it's a modern city. Armenians are very educated. Their national sport is chess. The national museum is magnificent and much more. She should try to get a guide book. We had excellent meals. I enjoyed a large craft market near the museum and also spent time just going through a grocery store. I'd go back in a heartbeat.

Thank you Mardee and Elizabeth. It should be quite an adventure for her. Just wish she had a bit more international travel experience.

I was in Armenia over a decade ago so my knowledge is out of date. However, my brother was just there less than 2 months ago. He said he used Yandex Go and GG taxi. He indicated he got very little cash and mainly used credit cards.

Note: I have used Yango, the ride hailing app which is part of Yandex Go in a number of African countries. Worked well for getting a ride but wouldn’t accept a cc so had to rely on cash. I’m checking with my brother if this is the same in Armenia with Yandex Go

Thank you, Arnold. Could you ask if cash is needed? I would guess if it’s an app, it’d be CC, but what do I know? Just about nothing for Armenia!

From everything I read, both Utaxi and Yandex Go take credit cards. I just downloaded Yandex Go (I'll need it for next year) and it has good reviews.

Thanks Mardee. Excellent! And thanks for the above links.

I checked with my brother and he confirmed what Mardee found on the web that Yandex Go can save a cc and payments can be handled through the app without needing cash.

I would doubt very much that your daughter will find merchants that would accept Euros in Armenia. In April, I was in Georgia for 4 days and didn't even consider anything other than Lari and/or credit cards. I did need Lari especially for a long distance taxi ride from the Azeri border to Tbilisi.

For your daughter, arriving at 2 AM, she will need to decide whether to use Yandex Go or make prior arrangements to be picked up. I'm assuming she will face the same on her return since most airlines probably only have one flight a day into Yerevan and it will normally be in the middle of the night. On her return, I would assume Yandex Go would be the way to go.

Thank you Arnold. It did surprise me when one of the sources I found was suggesting euros were accepted. However, we did see that euros were being accepted when we were in Turkiye. I think she will be ok, not getting currency until she arrives. Even then, I don't think she'll need much and I will encourage her to make sure to spend it all.

She contacted the conference and the place she is staying, and they will arrange and pay for airport transportation.

There are some sites she wants to see and certainly, public transportation and Utaxi and Yandex Go will be handy for that. She'll download the apps.

Any suggestions on particular bank ATMs to use? One article we read said that most of the ATMS do not have fees. I would find that surprising.

She says she is on her own for dinner. Any suggestions for budget friendly restaurants/food trucks/markets/take out? She is staying fairly close to Republic Square. The more I look at photos of this city, the more I'd like to tag along!

We are visiting Armenia on a Gate 1 Travel tour in August. Also, going to Georgia after Armenia.
Our tour advised us about transport.