A couple of holidaymakers were branded ‘stupid’ for jetting off to a ‘rogue’ region on the government’s ‘do not travel’ list – but said they felt safer than in the UK.
Nicole Docherty and Jordan Sinnamon travelled to the separatist area of Transnistria in September, which is a breakaway and unrecognised state between Moldova and Ukraine.
Instead, it is economically, politically and militarily supported by Russia, which has stationed soldiers there.
Because it’s not internationally recognised as an independent state, it is sometimes dubbed ‘the country that doesn’t exist’.
The UK government advises against all travel to Transnistria partly due to the fact it borders Ukraine, but also because the area is outside the control of the Moldovan government.
According to the government website, the FCDO’s ability to offer support to anyone who gets into trouble is extremely limited, and there’s no UK embassy there.
Nicole admitted that there was political tension, but claims that walking the streets felt safer than in the UK.
But despite the warnings, the adventurous couple flew from Istanbul to Chisinau, Moldova, and took a £2.50 bus to Transnistria.
Holidaymakers Jordan Sinnamon and Nicole Docherty are pictured with the coat of arms for Transnistria, a breakaway and unrecognised state between Moldova and Ukraine
Nicole is pictured outside the House of Soviets in Tiraspol, the capital of the breakaway state of Transnistria
Jordan is pictured standing by The Tank Monument, a powerful Soviet-era tank, in Tiraspol. The monument honours those who fought in WWII and the Transnistrian conflict
After sharing the trip online, the 34-year-old admits people said they were ‘stupid’ for going and even accused them of ‘supporting Russia’ due to Putin’s meddling in the region.
However, Nicole said entering the area is not as hard as the media portrays it, with them only having to show their passport at the border.
The banker said Transnistria was calm, friendly, and unlike any other place in Europe.
Nicole, from Scotland, said: ‘We flew from Istanbul because we were in Qatar before that, we flew into Chisinau.
‘To get to Transnistria, we took a minibus from Chisinau for about £2.50 each. A lot of people think you need a tour guide (around £90 per person), but honestly, we did it ourselves and it was fine.
‘The advice is “don’t go because of political instability”. There’s no UK embassy there, so if something goes wrong, you’re on your own. But in terms of street crime, it felt safer than the UK. This is the case in most places.
‘We got off the bus, showed our passports, said how long we’d stay, and that was it. No scary stuff like people say online.
‘They don’t stamp your passport because they’re not officially recognised, you just get a little slip of paper.
Nicole said entering the area is not as hard as the media portrays it, with them only having to show their passport at the border
The minibus from Chisinau cost around £2.50 each, according to the couple
Pictured: A postcard about Transnistria, the ‘country that doesn’t exist’
‘There’s definitely political tension. There is also the war in Ukraine and with it being on the border, there is a danger of military activity spreading into the region and that’s why the official advice says ‘don’t go.’
‘If something goes wrong, there’s no embassy to help you, so the risk is real in that sense. But day-to-day safety? Honestly, we felt safer than in the UK.
‘In our experience, the western media makes it sound far more dangerous than it actually is. For us, it was calm, friendly, and nothing like the scary headlines.
‘While the Soviet vibe is definitely real, it’s not all grey or dominated by huge brutalist buildings.
‘Instead, you’ll spot Lenin statues, old buses, and plenty of Soviet emblems, murals, and mosaics everywhere. It honestly feels like stepping back in time, which is pretty surreal.’
Nicole and Jordan tried local food, including Placinte, a pastry pie with cheese and potato.
The couple said they wanted to visit the country to tick it off their bucket list and urged other brave travellers to make the trip.
Nicole posted the trip online and said some commenters thought they were ‘stupid’ for going to Transnistria, while others were curious about the place.
A large statue of Vladimir Leninin Tiraspol is pictured. He was the first head of government of Soviet Russia from 1917 until his death in 1924
‘While the Soviet vibe is definitely real, it’s not all grey or dominated by huge brutalist buildings,’ said the couple
Nicole said: ‘For Jordan, it was a bucket list moment after years of reading about it. For me, it was just so unique, like visiting a time capsule.
‘Some people called us stupid for going against travel advice. Others said we were supporting Russia because Russia helps the region a lot.
‘But loads of people were curious and excited, some even added it to their bucket list after seeing our posts.
‘It’s not for everyone, but if you love unique places, go while you can because Transnistria might not be around forever.
‘If Moldova takes back control or Russia steps away, the region could look very different. Visiting now feels like seeing a piece of history before it disappears.
‘We tried Moldovan, Ukrainian, and Russian dishes. Placinte (pastry pies with cheese or potato) were my favourite!
‘We also had Solyanka (a tangy meat soup) and Borscht (beetroot soup with sour cream).
‘It felt frozen in time with Soviet symbols and quiet streets, but also modern in some ways clean streets, nice cars, and decent buildings. Overall, a great experience.
Various Soviet Union-themed collectables, including banners and mugs featuring communist symbols and leaders, can be seen
Pictured: A GAZ-21 Volga, a classic Soviet-era sedan produced from 1956 to 1970
‘I’ve done 58 countries, Jordan’s at 60, and we want to tick off the few European spots we haven’t seen yet.
‘Jordan loves history, and Transnistria is fascinating. It’s a breakaway region that still runs with its own government, currency, and strong Soviet-era identity, making it feel completely different from anywhere else in Europe.’
Nicole’s online video has gathered more than 280,000 views with the caption: ‘The UK government told me not to go because of ‘instability and propaganda.’ Anyways, turns out the only propaganda here is that you shouldn’t visit.’
One commenter said: ‘What a terrible place to vacation.’
A second said: ‘Incredible place. Went in 2012.’
A third said: ‘It’s considerably safer than a lot of the UK. That’s not sarcasm either. I’ve been there a couple of times and it’s really sound place to visit.’
But one said: ‘Good Lord, I hate this. Then if God forbid something happens to you it’s on your country to try and help with public pleas. Just stop.’
Another said: ‘That advice is there because the UK has no diplomatic presence or Embassy to assist you if you need help.’
A sign celebrating 35 years of ‘Pridnestrovie’ (Transnistria) is pictured
It comes as a mother who has taken her kids to countries with high terrorism alerts has shared why she feels they are actually safer than the UK.
Karen Edwards and her husband, Shaun, are self-proclaimed globe-trotting nomads. The family have most recently visited the Middle East – despite concerns from people about the children’s safety.
This includes visits to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, despite their bordering on Taliban-run Afghanistan.
‘People ask if the countries we visited in the Middle East are safe, but honestly, they are some of the safest countries in the world,’ said Karen.
‘I’ve never had any concerns. There are also some very modern cities throughout the region that people are often not aware of.’
