Americans arriving in Turkmenistan from Azerbaijan on a ferry should find a Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative at the seaport of Turkmenbashi. Because of frequent changes in visa policy, the Turkmen Embassy should be contacted prior to travel for the most current information. Air travel to Ashgabat is available on other reliable carriers via Frankfurt and Itstanbul. Train travel in Turkmenistan is irregular, arduous, and not on par with western standards. Since independence, Turkmenistan has seen an increase in the number of cars, leading to heavy congestion on major routes in Ashgabat during rush hour.
Drivers can be undisciplined and aggressive.
Primary roads in Ashgabat are of high quality and well-maintained and lit, but side streets are often in disrepair and poorly lit. Drivers should exercise extreme caution on intercity roads. Although paved, rural roads are narrow, often in a state of disrepair, and not lit. Livestock and large agricultural vehicles in the road also present hazards. The U.S. Embassy maintains a list of English-speaking physicians in the area.