Having just returned from an enjoyable mini-break* by the Baltic coast. I've been asked to share a few travel tips for you boys in green on tour. I'm sure YBIGOTs will have a great time breaking the ice with the locals. This mainly applies if sailing in from Helsinki, the catamarans often get cancelled due to bad weather at this time of year. More details below.
Don't be put off by this sign outside the duty free shop at Tallinn airport. Our Nordic compadres (never 'Eastern Europeans', they don't like it) are just a bit more imaginative than the dull displays we're used to at home. Boys, girls, hamsters, jelly, Soviet army surplus tanks. All available at competitive prices.
The airport is about 4 Km from the city centre. A taxi should be about €10, but the local drivers still seem to have a bad reputation. There are two bus services from the airport- one serves the hotels in and around the old town (€2), while local route #2 (€1.50 towards 'Sadama', the ferry terminal), is better for hotels around the port and the modern centre. Buy tickets from the kiosk in airport arrivals.
Ferries and catamarans from Helsinki (about four and two hours) can be booked full all year round. Probably best to allow enough time for a ferry crossing if you can, given likely cancellations on the faster services. Musical entertainment is available during the journey, on the 2004 trip we persuaded the band to stay on after their set for a karaoke session.
If driving in from Latvia, be careful in Riga's bars, our party had some problems with aggressive bouncers back in 2007. On the way up Parnu is quite nice, but likely to be quiet in November.
Anyone needing to book a hotel last minute could do worse than try the Tallink Express by the ferry terminal. We paid a bargain €24 per night for a twin, albeit booking well in advance. If all else fails Alcatraz (see below) won't chuck you out until dawn breaks. Lovely girl, Dawn.
* I'd probably have enjoyed it less if I could remember the first two goals or missed the fourth after leaving two minutes early to find the toilets.
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