Travel Saudi Arabia

-- Travel Saudi Arabia --

Think about Saudi Arabia for a minute. Picturing deserts and blistering heat? Well, you’re mostly right. Saudi is hot, hot, hot. Around fifty degrees Celsius at times. But there’s also a whole lot more to this desert kingdom, and if you’re willing to brave the heat (come on, there’s air conditioning!) you might just have the holiday of a lifetime!

One Good Thing to Note

While you might be able to bear the heat, you should know that Saudi is a devoutly religious, Muslim country – so expect shops to close during prayers, and you may find that in some parts of the country and cities, Western culture does not apply. Just bear in mind the old saying “When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” and you should be fine.

You also want to avoid publicly celebrating Christmas, New Years or Valentine’s Day, or eating, smoking or drinking in public during Ramadan.

-- Travel Saudi Arabia --

Hit the Beach

Yes, Saudi Arabia has a coastline, and yes, there are beaches. However, if you’re traveling with your beloved, and you’re not married, take note that you won’t be able to visit the same beach. There are separate bachelor beaches for single men. It’s that Islamic law again.

There is some great scuba diving off Jeddah though, so if you do manage to hit the beach together, why not hire yourself some equipment, take a few lessons, and explore the underwater world?

Amusement Parks

There may not be any movie theaters in the Saudi Kingdom, but they’re certainly not short of entertainment. There are a whole lot of indoor amusement parks at malls and near beaches.

Then there are zoos, public parks and other attractions, and of course, just because there are no cinema’s doesn’t mean you have to be deprived – there are DVD stores almost everywhere.

-- Travel Saudi Arabia --

Ride a Camel

OK, so there are a lot of things you can’t do in Saudi. But you can take a camel ride! Camel rides and more traditional horse riding are popular at most of the beaches, and if you’re careful to avoid the spitting, it’s actually a very fun experience!

Food

Saudi has so many restrictions, and with dancing, drinking and other nightlife completely taboo, it’s no wonder there are so many restaurants, and so many cuisines.

You’ll find everything from western fast food to curry and Middle Eastern dishes on offer, so you have lots of choices, and with all that time in the evenings, why not spend some time lingering over dinner?

Saudi may not be a great choice for fans of the nightlife, or unmarried couples. There are interesting sites to see in the cities though, and since many of the expat compounds do have semi elicit pubs on the premises, you might just find some western entertainment on offer.

If you are married, and you visit Saudi, things will be a lot easier, but then again, it is a fascinating country, with interesting history and culture, so as long as you can respect the strict boundaries, there are places to go, and things to explore.

-- Travel Saudi Arabia --

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