Accomodation in Tehran
 

Hello

Can anyone recommend anywhere to stay near or in Tehran? I will also need to use it as a forwarding address to have a tyre posted there.

Many thanks

Fern

If you have to deal with parcels, maybe look for a mechanic and others, I would stay in Firouze hotel which is in downtown Tehran in the area where all the car accesories shops are located. Mr. Musavi is an extremely resourceful person and he will help you with anything. Room prices are higher than other hotels in the area, but all is so much better and you definitely get other services, such as great advice. We ended up there after staying in cheaper places, worth the money.

Our experience dates from summer 2010, hope things haven't changed for worse (the point is if Mr. Musavi still works there). btw, we parked our car outside in the street, I cannot tell you about safe parking, but I'm sure they would arrange something.

Happy travels,

Esteban

PS: Tehran Main Post office is quite close, and Iran Poste is reliable and extremely cheap if you want to send things home. We did it and worked great.

I stayed at the Firouzeh Hotel as well in 2009. It's nothing flash but Mr Mousavi is most helpful. His help doesn't come free, he usually gets a small cut one way or another but that's quite normal and getting things done fast and efficiently is worth the little extra :-) Some female solo travelers stayed there, so I assume it was quite safe for them.
It is in a not so nice area in South Tehran, but it is handy to "motor parts", most embassies, money changers, a few interesting sights and a subway station.
Now, how you would get there in the Tehran traffic is a very different story. I would catch one of the motor taxi guys and pay him to lead the way. Location is at Google Maps

Does it have to be Tehran? To be honest there are better cities in Iran to spend a couple of days waiting for a package to turn up. If you are stopping in Mashhad for a Turkmenistan visa maybe Vali would let you send something to his house. There is safe parking there and is a nicer place to hang around than Tehran.

Totally agree, I would plainly avoid it... but I assume after her question that it may be much easier to get parcels sent to Tehran than to any other place (don't know it at all, it only seems logical being Iran).

When I used to send/receive lots of parcels with DHL at work, there were zones A, B and C in Spain. I was in zone C, eventhough I was at ca. 120 kms from big cities (right in the middle of Andalusia, thus close and far from everything), which meant "never 1 day delivery, but usually 3"). It was the case with TNT and UPS as well.

Just came back from Iran with family. In Tehran enjoyed Mossavi's hospitality and really appreciated it.
Found Hotel Ferozah the best place to stay in Tehran and would recommend it for its friendly atmosphere and price although no frills attached.

well, I don't know if my tyre would hold out til Mashad, it is another 2000kms from here in Dogbiscuit to Mashad. Otherwise just find a local tyre but couldn't find an 18 inch dual sport in Turkey anywhere. :-(

No doubt I would send it to Turkey, if you are still there. Don't know about import duties, but remember no cards in Iran, only cash, so avoid spending. If you need to change in Tehran, go to up Ferdosi street right from the Post office (Imam Khomeini Square), avoid all banks (even main branches) and go directly to the exchange offices (20 min walk), there they'll get the currencies you cannot change anywhere else (Swiss francs in our case, but I saw Ringgits and many others).

Good luck,

-E