Page 381 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

TRA VEL INFORM A TION 379

DIRECTORY
Travelling by Train
Edelaraudtee
∑ edel.ee
Elron
∑ elron.ee
Travelling by Bus
Bussireisid
∑ bussireisid.ee
SEBE
∑ sebe.ee
Taisto
∑ taisto.ee
Ferry from Virtsu on its way to Saaremaa Island
Travelling by Ferry
Travelling by Car
route details. Veeteed runs a Saaremaa Shipping
ferry service between Pärnu and Driving is by far the best way to Company Limited
the islands of Kihnu and Vormsi, get around Estonia. Conditions ∑ tuulelaevad.ee
although the service is less are generally good on main Veeteed
regular. In summer, ferries tend roads and distances are relatively ∑ veeteed.com
to quickly fill up and passen gers short. However, country roads are
can be left waiting in long severely potholed and dirt roads Travelling by Air
queues if they don’t reserve are also common in many rural
their tickets well in advance. parts of the country. Avies
Passengers travelling by car There are no motorways and ∑ avies.ee
should arrive at the har bour overtaking is the norm. It is
about 20 minutes before the mandatory by law to drive with Car Hire
scheduled departure time. the headlights on at all times Avis
In winter, ferry services are of the day. Wearing a seatbelt is ∑ avis.com
often cancelled when the compulsory for drivers as well as
sea freezes over, although passengers. The speed limit is Budget
officially designated ice roads 50 kmph (31 mph) in built-up ∑ budget.com
are established if the ice is areas and 90 kmph (56 mph) Easy Car Rent
thick enough. on the main roads. In Estonia, ∑ easycarrent.eu
drinking alcohol and driving is Europcar
illegal. By law, winter tyres must ∑ europcar.com
Travelling by Air
be fitted between December
Estonian Air, the country’s and March. Hertz
national carrier (see p376), Petrol stations are quite rare in ∑ hertz.com
operates domestic flights that remote places so it is advis able National
connect the major cities. Avies to fill up on petrol when leaving ∑ nationalcar.com
also runs a few daily flights a city or town.
between Tallinn, Kuressaare and
Kärdla. It is best to book well in
advance because their planes Car Hire
are very small and can only seat There are numerous car rental
up to seven passen gers. There firms, including Avis, Budget,
are also some flights from Pärnu Europcar, Hertz and National.
Airport to Kuressaare and Kihnu A local company, Easy Car Rent,
which are reasonably priced, also offers good deals. All
and a good option in winter require a major credit card
when the sea is frozen. Tartu and a valid international driver’s
Airport has connections to Rīga licence. Rental rates are
and Stockholm. Kärdla acts comparable to those in Western
mainly as a stopover point Europe. Outside Tallinn, there
for chartered flights in Europe. are few rental options except in
The daily domestic service to major towns. However, some of
Tallinn is the only regular the Tallinn-based chains can
service coming from the airport organize car hire in other parts Autorent Terminal of Avis, a global car
at Kärdla. of the country. rental chain