Thorn Tree travel forum

Middle East FAQ thread

The countries covered by this FAQ are: Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel & the Palestinian Territories, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.

Please read this thread first if this is your first visit to the Middle East. There is some travel information about the Middle East in Lonely Planet's Destination pages.

If you don't find the information you are looking for in the FAQs, please start a new thread outside the FAQ thread - don't add your question to this thread. Read the tips below before you start your thread. Anyone who has information they believe needs to be in the FAQ section, please feel free to add your tips and info. We will go through and delete obsolete content when we can. Thanks!

*Tips for getti... more »

jeruselem hotel question

I am traveling with my husband and 13 yr old son to Israel later this month. We are staying in a time share resort in Eilat most of the week, but have a couple days in Jeruselem when we arrive. My husband is Jewish and concerned about hotels that might be in an Arab section might not be safe. Does anyone have recommendations for reasonably inexpensive hotels near tourist areas? thanks!

Visa to Jordan

Hi all,

I'm a Malaysia citizen and my wife is US citizen flying from the US.

We are planning to go to Jordan (fly to Amman), then to spend some time in Egypt before flying home. My question is, do we require a VISA to get into Jordan and Egypt? Do we have to get it before arrival or just get it upon arrival at both countries?

Oh, and, the entire trip will be no longer than 12 days.

Thanks very much for your help.

5 DAYS BEFORE WORK TO SPEND

Hi,
I am traveling to Oman to install some equipment to measure sea level. I arrive on 11/28 but nobody is working (due to national holiday) until 12/4. My work will be in Muscat at the port, Salalah and Masirah.
I wanted to try and get to see some of the country along the way but since one of my weeks of work will be gone, I will be pretty busy once things start. So my plan has shifted and now I want to spend the 5 days purely traveling around.

I looked at some of the threads and sounds like some really knowledgeable people out there.

I only learned about the holiday a couple of days ago and now trying to make the most of my free days. My budget is not super tight but unfortunately my time is. I am up for whatever and particularly interested in some cultural experiences.

Please send me some suggestions so I can research further.
thank you.

Jerard more »

week in Jordan

Hi fellow travellers,
am based in Dubai and have 7 days off start of Dec. Decided to definately tackled Jordan see as much as I can and when and if I feel im done i'll fly back to dubai.

Here's my thoughts, interests and proposed itinerary, no accommodation currently booked, single male travelling alone. Any thoughts, comments, suggestions, gossip?

1.get to amman early morning - bus to Wadi Musa/Petra
2. find accomm (maybe prebook) stay a night or two, see Petra
not interested in seeing anything else south so back to Amman will do day trips from there, and perhaps stay a night or two at Wadi Mujib dead sea area
3. back to amman. stay in amman and do day trips to Mount Nebo and HAMMAMAT MA’IN and get around seeing historical sights of amman etc
4. then go to dead sea, visit.......should I stay? people talking about Mujib Chalets (looks nice)?
5.back to amman then ba... more »

Border crossings to Syria, Lebanon and Jordan

I am a Norwegian. I will probably go by train through Turkey in February 2010. The I plan to visit Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. Maybe the Palestinian West Bank too.

My questions:

1. Can I buy visa on the border between Turkey and Syria? Can I return again to Turkey after two weeks in Syria?

2. Can I buy Lebanese visa on the border between Syria and Lebanon. Can I return again to Syria?

3. Can I buy Jordanian visa on the border between Syria and Jorda. Can I return again to Syria?

4. Can I cross the border between Jordan and the West bank and return to Jordan, Syria and Lebanon?

Any response would be appreciated.

stag

Hama Al Riard, Tours & Trains

Aloha (Merhaba)
can anyone give me the direct website of the Al Riad Hotel in Hama?
What about a website for Damas Tours mentioned in the Lonely Planet also in Hama
Also need a current website for the train (new trains) from Aleppo-Hama
Shukran
traveling with Aloha the coconut wireless

Cost of Living

Hi.

My family of 5 ( wife and 3 boys below 5 years old) thinking of staying in Yemen Capital for 2 - 3 years to study Arabic.

Can u advise what is cost of apartment, food and education generally like?

Are the residents interested in learning English? I can teach that as a source of income while studying.

Thank you.

Itinerary Advice: 2 weeks from Caïro to Tel Aviv

Hello all,

After booking flights to Caïro and from Tel Aviv, I stumble upon the question how to spend the 2 weeks in between. Since there are (too;) many great things to see, this shouldn't be much of a problem, just how to spend them wisely.

Absolute necessities in my opinion seem to be the Egyptian Museum in Caïro, the Gizeh Pyramids, Petra and Jerusalem.

The rough plan is as following:

Day 1 Arriving Caïro, visiting Egyptian Museum
Day 2 Visiting Pyramids
Day 3 Leaving Caïro, Alexandria or other city?
Day 4 Towards Sinaï/Nuweiba?
Day 5 Nuweiba-Aqaba ferry, Wadi Rum
Day 6 towards Petra
Day 7 Petra
Day 8 towards Amman
Day 9 Amman - Jerusalem
Day 10 Jerusalem
Day 11 Around Israel (what to see?)
Day 12 Around Israel
Day 13 Around Israel
Day 14 Around Israel
Day 15 flight from Tel Aviv

Does anybody have advice about whether this is feasible? Or things t... more »