Travel in the Middle East

[Merseysider]

A few questions, all opinions welcome. I recognise there are probably other forums on the internet dedicated to such matters but I thought I'd ask here first, and there's only so much information that can be gleaned from the Gov.uk travel advice website.

Firstly, has anybody travelled to the Middle East/North Africa in the last few years; and if so where?

Also, it's (of course) a terrible situation in which Syria finds itself at the moment. Is there any realistic prospect in the forseeable future of the terrorist groups being ousted and the country becoming safe for its residents and for tourism again?

Finally, I'm thinking about a potential trip to Jordan (via Greece) nearer the end of the year as it seems to be relatively untouched by the troubles surrounding it. I've done a little research and whilst it may be a conservative (Islamic) society compared to the UK it also seems relatively liberal compared to its neighbours. Is this a safe bet, so to speak?

And of course, any further ideas about other potential destinations welcome

 

[Elwyn]

I have been to Jordan on holiday a few years back. Hired a car and drove the length of the country. Very pleasant. Hardly any tourists. (Most put off by the current situation). Can recommend it. People very friendly. Quite a lot speak English (especially the children, who are often produced to interpret if you are in a remote area). The signs on the main roads are in English and Arabic but in remoter areas only Arabic. Can make for interesting navigation. Petra and the Dead Sea are worth visiting. Lots of interesting little museums and odd things in the desert. You camp out overnight with a Barb Q in places like Wadi Rum. Quite atmospheric. In contrast to countries in North Africa, there was very little pestering to buy things. We spent an evening with a Bedouin man in the desert who was custodian of a small historical site. He invited us to join him for dinner (goat). He was living in a tent but had satellite TV powered by a small generator. Such is the life of a modern bedouin. (He also has a flat in Amman that he goes to at weekends).

Plenty of hotels in the bigger cities. In country areas you sometimes have to stay in the official guest houses, and you may be the only guests. Not too difficult to get a drink in the country. The hotels generally have bars. I saw no sign of crime and it felt very safe.

I also visited Syria about 8 years ago and it was magnificent then too. But I really wouldn’t recommend it at the moment. It would take a wiser man than me to answer your question about whether peace will be restored there.

 

[TheEdge]

Firstly, has anybody travelled to the Middle East/North Africa in the last few years; and if so where?

Can't help there unless you count the international transfer terminal at Dubai!

Also, it's (of course) a terrible situation in which Syria finds itself at the moment. Is there any realistic prospect in the forseeable future of the terrorist groups being ousted and the country becoming safe for its residents and for tourism again?

It will sooner or later become safe, look at countless countries that have bloody recent histories but are now "safe"; Romania, Argentina, even Francoist Spain for starters. When Syria will be safe however (and how safe it really was under Assad) is a question for people far more qualified than will post of a UK Rail forum.

Finally, I'm thinking about a potential trip to Jordan (via Greece) nearer the end of the year as it seems to be relatively untouched by the troubles surrounding it. I've done a little research and whilst it may be a conservative (Islamic) society compared to the UK it also seems relatively liberal compared to its neighbours. Is this a safe bet, so to speak?

It is one of the more liberal but you really cannot take it for granted. Back to Dubai airport, the UAE is liberal to start with and an airport is going to be one of the most liberal parts but even there it was plain at times that the more conservative elements of Islamic society were in action. Bear in mind Jordan does share a border with Syria and is currently hosting a refugee crisis that makes the EU look small.

 

[Tubeboy]

Spending a night with the Bedouin. What an experience!

 

[Springs Branch]

Also, it's (of course) a terrible situation in which Syria finds itself at the moment. Is there any realistic prospect in the forseeable future of the terrorist groups being ousted and the country becoming safe for its residents and for tourism again?

Not been there myself, but I saw it mentioned a few years ago that Syria had massive un-tapped potential for tourism, based on its large number of magnificent and interesting ancient sites, which hardly anyone in the West is currently aware of.

As for when Syria will be stable enough, and how many of the antiquities will survive the tribulations in the meantime, I couldn't possibly guess. Maybe you could have said the same about Iraq's tourism potential pre-Desert Storm, and nobody's going there on holiday anytime soon!

 

[Elwyn]

Spending a night with the Bedouin. What an experience!

We didn't spend the night with him. We spent the evening there before driving back to our hotel in Amman about 70 miles away. But there was just us, his eldest son and some goats that they tended. They cooked on a charcoal fire. Roast goat, naan bread and salad. We heard all about life in the country. Very interesting. It was very friendly and very safe.

The historical site he looked after had been a supposedly secret "relaxation venue" for the Caliphs in olden days, where they had porcelain baths with erotic carvings on the ceilings. The baths had apparently been filled with asses milk and so on. The caliphs used to come there to "unwind" with some wine (otherwise forbidden) and with young boys and girls for "entertainment".

We found Jordan considerably more interesting than a couple of weeks in Torremolinos.

 

[atillathehunn]

I've lived in Jordan, and visited the other day. I've travelled to Lebanon, Egypt and Turkey, Israel.

Feel free to PM me.

 

[miami]

Lot of time in Israel, the West Bank, couple of trips to Gaza, several trips to Cairo, and day trips out from there to Luxor and the Pyramids. Most recent trip I had a day in Masada and the Jordan valley, I was unimpressed by the Mount of Temptation. Tel Aviv is a great city. The Jerusalem old city is worth seeing, get a guidebook, lots of facinating historical sites.

Central Cairo isn't great, especially for women. Given your username I'll assume you're male, in which case not a problem, beyond normal crazy driving standards. If you go to the Egyptian Musuem. I went ot Cairo a fair bit a couple of years ago, but the time I did the tourist thing was 2011, shortly after the revolution, pre-Morsi, where there were very few crowds, and hotels were cheap. On the other hand the hotel only had 1 resturant open (instead of 5).

Avoid Ramadam in the middle east if you can. It's not that you won't be able to get food, but I find it uncomfortable to be seen to be eating during the day.

I don't advise Syria. 6 years ago, sure, but not now. From a safety point of view I'd be happy taking my family to anywhere in the middle east apart from Syria, parts of Lebanon, parts of Iraq, and parts of Turkey, Sinai Peninsular, and Yemen. And of course any refugee camps.

 

[70014IronDuke]

...

It will sooner or later become safe, look at countless countries that have bloody recent histories but are now "safe"; Romania, Argentina, even Francoist Spain for starters. When Syria will be safe however (and how safe it really was under Assad) is a question for people far more qualified than will post of a UK Rail forum.

Er, sorry, but you are muddling the issues.

Argentina - pass, never been there.

Romania has never been unsafe to visit, unless you went in the revolution and put yourself in danger, or one of the miners protests or something. In Ceausescu's time, you could not do anything political, or you were at risk.

Same with Franco's Spain, for goodness sake. I went there a dozen times in the 70s. It was a safe as houses for a visitor, provided you did not go around contacting political activists or terrorist groups.

Syria under Assad (both father and son, but I was only there under the father) was a horrific regime politically. I realised when there what it must have been like to have lived in Stalinist Russia or Nazi Germany - I have never encountered such terrified people.

(A water engineer I know lived in Saddam's Iraq - it was even worse.)

But, as a country to visit, if you were just a tourist and behaved - don't take photos of anything vaguely military etc, and did not even 'think' of the word for the state to the south-west (and certainly not speak its name) - it was extremely safe and a delight to visit.

OK, between every town (yes, every town!) guys in jeans and t-shirts got on every vehicle and, with AK47s banging the bus seats as they waded down the bus - well, it wasn't so endearing - but in fact, they were respectful and never caused me any trouble after they checked my passport.

The people were extremely friendly and (as everwhere in the Mid-east) hospitable. You just had to realise that conversation could be about food, football, archeology, even the economy, but NEVER, EVER about politics or the Z entity.

Today, it is chaos caused by war. It is not a place for tourists.

 

[Merseysider]

Massive thanks to all for your responses! I'll send a couple of PMs when I'm back home, currently on holiday