ok, I’d like to go there to visit…anyone has experience to provide? I’m clueless:( , I just found Jeddah so pretty in a TV program last month…
So can someone tell if he/she made a trip there, where, how long…if someone lives there can he/she tell me where is best place to go, visit, and when, how…
Thanx
Re: trip to Saudi Arabia
come during winter season (dec to march).. its sooo much easier since summers in arabia are a drag.. u wouldnt enjoy ureself.
places to visit in jeddah are plenty!!! hmm.. corniche (beach).. downtown (balad.), tahaliya (oxford street of jeddah)...banu malik (old jeddah , it also has the gateway to mecca in it), then there are plenty of malls to go to ...
stay in a good hotel like holiday inn, sheraton, marriot or le meridien (if u dont have a family here).. they will have brochures of places that u can visit. ...
a word of advice.... going on a tour of Saudi Arabia isnt very easy to do. There are no tourist visas available so there are 2 ways ppl use to enter arabia.. umrah visa (which doesnt allow ppl to visit other areas of saudi arabia besides mecca and medina unless they ahve family in jeddah etc).. and the other way is to have a family member send a visitor visa (this is the best way cuz u can do ure umrah and also get to see other parts of arabia)...
sooo.. if u have family here then that would be great.. if u plan on coming on an umrah visa .. it may be hard to be allowed to visit jeddah, or any other cities besides makkah and medina..
Re: trip to Saudi Arabia
ACtually Saudia has areas which are xtremely unique and full of natural beauty. Its just that, they are not open for turoist. The whole atmosphere for "foreigners" is not exactly polite.
khawateen - good advice about Visa. Its best if you have someone who can show you around. You will get bored quite fast over there - not so many activites per say (other than tax free shopping..maybe).
If you ever come to canada - i will show you around :)
Re: trip to Saudi Arabia
I just noticed you are in France. How is that city for living? I would think xpensive and language is a barrier?
Re: trip to Saudi Arabia
I was born and raised in France:) , I speak prefectly french, so it is not a barrier, but french is an official language in Canada, so you may already know it’s difficult for foreigners to learn.
..
Paris is so expensive that most young people can’t afford to live without their parents untill they have a big income, or live with someone else (spouse, friends…) I like shopping clothes when I go abroad because that is also expensive here.
But there are so many immigrants form all over the world that in the places where they run shops selling any stuff you want, at low prices usually, so daily life can be cheap if you are shopping wisely…
Re: trip to Saudi Arabia
thanx for advices Khawateen:)
badqismati se, I have no family in KSA:crying:
Re: trip to Saudi Arabia
Its is an official language but it is only used in one province (Quebec) as primary language. Everywhere else its only there to make Quebecans happy and stay with us (and not seperate away) …basically political reasons.
Its not SOO hard. I love the french accent though. Tell me you have the accent. Ever seen someone seen speakin french with desi accent? well come to Canada - you will see wonders!
I think all europe has that high life standard / xpensive way of life. I beleive I have some v.nice uncle/aunties in KSA. I can check if they are still there, I can give you there contact #.
Better to have someone (just in case) than to be totally alone.
Its KINGDOM ship, so whatever any authority personal says - is the LAW. Its kinda like - You have no right unless they give you some
so its good to be careful and keep a low profile there. Are you going alone?
Re: trip to Saudi Arabia
Hey:) ! I have no french accent when I speak English so I have to speak french to prove that I am one:( ! But it’s said that I have northern europe accent:confused:
Yes, I have already heard french with desi accent because I used to spend lots of time with punjabi friends few years ago (but I really can’t understand punjabi).
I’d like to go to KSA this next winter or spring, if I have one or two weeks holidays, nothing’s planned yet. I am going alone:crying: , probably, as I doubt any of my french friends would like to go there because of all the misonceptions europeans (and some guppies too!):o have about Islamic countries…especially KSA . For the low profile I guess wearing very covering clothes will be needed, hijab (and maybe niqah) compulsory for me as I don’t want my blond hair to attract attention in KSA:p
Re: trip to Saudi Arabia
ok u guyz are talkin as if arabs have never seen blonde hair before :D some of them are married to gories (white women) and have kids with blonde hair ;)
hmm.. not to burst ure bubble.. but have u given thought to how u plan on gettin to arabia? u wont be given a visitor visa since u dont know anyone in arabia... and for umrah visa, sightseeing is outta the question most probably cuz again, u dont have anyone in arabia...so u wont be allowed to come to jeddah, khobar etc.. cept mecca and medina ... u'll be coming with a group and will be asked to stay with them...
just for ure info :)
princems: misconceptions my friend.. misconceptions.
Re: trip to Saudi Arabia
Yes a tour, sounds good! At least I wouldn’t get bored all alone! Do you know some companies organising them?
“ok u guyz are talkin as if arabs have never seen blonde hair before” I never said that!!!
I know they did, I even talked to some Saudis guys in Paris area the other day, they were…lost!
Khawateen don’t you know it’s not because men never saw a girl before that she attracts their eyes , don’t you, cause if you don’t that because you’re a man!
I mean whatever clothes I wear (even with hijab!), make up or not, different hairstyles…I allways get unwanted male attraction! I’m a girl, especially a blond one so I get special gaze from men especially non europeans…though they obviuosly saw blond before.
Re: trip to Saudi Arabia
prince.. there is a raging thread in general.. by madhanee... more than enuff views in there..
Re: trip to Saudi Arabia
if u end up going to Saudi Arabia...make sure u go to Taif and Abha for sure. Beautiful places. I was born in Khobar but I moved to canada when i was 5...i wud love to go back there whenever i get the chance.
Re: trip to Saudi Arabia
yaasir – you were born in khobar? 
so was I. Awwww! 
jabhi humaray khayalat miltay jultay hain.
Parrissenoor-- Khawa has summed it up quite nicely. I would like to add a few more things. Besides the holy places, there are quite a few places you can visit. Taif as suggested by Yaasir, Hafuf is one such place. Khobar is a must-see place because it is kinda modern by saudi standards (Riyadh and stuff). It has corniche, beautiful malls,. Slighly less dull then other parts of saudia (as people claim). In fact whoel eastern province is kinda nice and appealing for tourists. I have not been to Jeddah (only once) but it was worth it.