Lebanon
The information below is provided by Lonely Planet readers and is not verified by Lonely Planet. For the official lowdown, contact your nearest embassy or check out our Travel Links.
Visas, Embassies & Border Crossings
When arriving at Beirut airport, 3 month visas can still be bought (for US$35), but on going through immigration the guard will reduce your visa to only one month. You must then renew the visa, free of charge, every month during your stay for up to three months. When renewing your visa you must take two photocopies of the visa in your passport as well as a passport photo. After three months you will have to leave the country and then get another visa on re-entry.
Helena Wilde, UK (Apr 03)
It seems there are some new regulations making it easier to enter Lebanon. As a Portuguese citizen and without asking for anything, on the Masnaa border (coming from Damascus) they granted me a stamp for a 3 month multiple entry, free of charge. No visa was required. The Japanese girl after me got exactly the same thing.
Nuno Martins, Portugal (Mar 03)
If you have to change planes to get to Beirut the chances are that your luggage will not arrive with you. This is a regular occurrence that all the hotels are aware of. When you go to collect your luggage on an average of 36 hours after arrival it is a very long winded affair and takes about two hours for the administration. It is important to ask for compensation. They will not offer it. US$100 is the norm.
Joan Wardle, UK (Oct 02)
There is no more depature tax which used to be US$51. I am not quite sure but I think this new procedure applies to all visitors.
Ralph Fuchs, Germany (Aug 02)
Visas to Lebanon are now free for three months. You can get them at the border within ten minutes. It's all because there are no tourists in Lebanaon and the government wants them to come.
Arthur Ciastoch, Poland (Aug 02)
Travel Tips
Just completed a drive from London to Cairo - and have a comment about Lebanon - you cant take a private deisel vehicle into the country! It has been illegal for 2 years, though no one could tell us why (busses and lorries are ok). We had to leave our Landrover on the Syrian border and hitchhike to Beirut - returning for our vehicle (safely impounded in customs) 2 days later.
Julia Bishop, UK (Sep 03)
If you are into photography of people you'll need a fairly fast film (Minimum ASA 400) in the souk in Tripoli as the streets are narrow and covered. Most people are happy to pose and give you their addresses for you to send them photos, so always ask for permission!
Philippe Sibelly, Ireland (Dec 02)
Moving About
Going to and from the airport can be a costly experience if you're not careful, but it is very easy to avoid the US$30 scam! The place to go to catch a cheap lift to town is the departure level of the airport. That is where vans drop people from town and they will pick up anyone on his/her way into town for LL500. Shared taxis will do the same for LL1000. These services are not regular but frequent. If you get caught in the arrival taxi rank, just walk away, through the parking area. Some taxi drivers will follow you and drop their prices to about LL10,000. After about 3 minutes walk you will be out of the airport where services and vans to town are frequent.
From town a good way to avoid being ripped off is to catch a service to Chattila roundabout for LL500 or LL1000, where the airport direction is clearly marked. Don't mention that you are going to the airport. From there catch another service to the airport which will cost an additional LL500 or LL1000. The whole process shouldn't take more than half an hour from the city centre.
Philippe Sibelly, Ireland (Dec 02)
Scams & Warnings
A scam that is operating in Beirut is that if you ask your hotel to book a taxi for you to go to the airport the hotel will usually ask you to pay them and they will pay the taxi. However when you are driving along the dual carriageway to the airport the driver will tell you the hotel has not paid them or they have paid them US$5. The driver will insist that you agree to pay him US$15 to go to the airport or else he will drop you off before reaching your destination. Get a receipt from the hotel to confirm payment written in your language and Arabic.
Joan Wardle, UK (Oct 02)
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