planning ahead

Ill be flying into Bishkek soon. How much should I expect a taxi to be at 5am into the city please?

Any good recommendations for budget accomodation?

Ive read somewhere that street crime can be a problem. Any thoughts on this?

Also, Ill be travelling in a loop via Uzbekistan and Tajikistan before continuing on to China, which means ducking back into Kyrgyzstan briefly. Ive read that only a 30 day visa is available on arrival at Bishkek airport, so Ill have to pick up another on the way. Where is the best place to do this?

Any help would be much appreciated.
Cheers.
Chris

I was able to get a double-entry 30 day visa at Bishkek Airport.

If fact, they didnt even give me the chnace of getting a single entry.........

I had no problem with street crime- but I rarely stayed out much after dark- A few drunks, that was about it.

Many thanks friend. Appreciated. Cheers.

Street crime can certainly be a problem in Bishkek, it's something to be aware of. Be careful where you go at night - there are certain neighborhoods (near the Circus for example) that are best avoided. Use common sense - when the sun goes down, stick to well-lit busy roads, and try to move around in a group. Be careful with taxis as well, taxi drivers in Bishkek sometimes turn out to be thieves. And your main potential problem for crime in Bishkek is the police - try and avoid dealing with them at all costs.

I'd recommend Sakura's, assuming it still exists after the recent upheaval. And given the issues with safety, personally, I'd recommend hanging out at the airport until sun-rise and then taking a taxi into the city.

Agree with Giora.
I had no problems in 2009 but I kept to well lit places in the evening.

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Many thanks friends. Made it to Sakura's without any dramas. Still wandering about the best place to pick up a second Kyrgyz visa either in Uzbekistan or Tajikistan if anyone knows, and whether its possible to get a transit visa for a few days cheaper as I just need to cross into China after Tajikistan. Thanks again.