What do you guys do..?

[Gaffer]

I was talking to my mate in the UK and she is on about going away for a week on holiday to get some sun. Well tbh, I am not bothered about a sun holiday cos of where I live and getting a bit bored of the sun (never thought I would say that ).

I will be going back to the UK for my break, probably when Ramadan kicks in, but want to do something else, so was wondering what you lot do..?

Claire

[Chilli]

Hmmm, tis a good question.
I've only been here since November, so yet to experience the HOT sun. Im loving it though. If I get too hot, we just go to Ski Dubai for an hour or so!
Actually, I hear that you cna go skiing in Lebanon...might give that a go one day.
As for a holiday? Not sure....Too busy to think of that at the mo....and the fact I have yet to accrue any holiday!

[Asterix]

One place I haven't been, but would love to go, is Salalah in Oman, It's far enough South that it catches the tail of the monsoon and is lush and green as a result - I've been told that it is a good 5-10 degrees cooler than the usual during the summer and has a couple of nice hotels.

I personaly try and get away during the height of the summer. It's almost necessary as I find that doing the whole 4 months of intense heat can get very wearing and I get thoroughly sick of it.

What is good is that my missus is Indian and hadn't spent anytime in Europe until we got together - so it has been great fun spending summers touring round various countries. We've done the UK (obviously), toured Italy, did a holiday of city breaks including Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Amsterdam...

Now that Ramadan is falling in the summer, there is no excuse not to get away. Just book your flights early - the local carriers seem to triple their prices for flights just before Ramadan.

[Gaffer]

How strange, we have regularly been getting mid 80's+ for a month or so now, but still to get the proper temps, that's still to come

We don't have the facilities in Libya that you do in Saudi BOOOO...! to have fun, its basically one big beach holiday but without the fit men and alkyhol.

I moved here in November, have my weeks leave to take and my months holiday as I have completed my 3 months probabtion.

Claire

[yorky500]

First off - search for a location other than UK, you are falling down right there.

Lebanon is a great place to go - has a lot of history and culture, plus great night life. Think between Dec and March you get some pretty good skiing (we went in August)

Egypt: Cairo for the pyramids and other touristy bits then relax at Sharm El Sheik (great diving/scuba etc)

Jordan: is next on the list due to its history and culture.

Oman & Muscat is defo a very worthwhile visit

Whilst out here in Middle East you have to get around and see places.

This year we are off to Tanzania (Serengetti) and Zanzibar (Mrs does not know it yet, but she is first up on the slave blocks for sale)

[thb]

Went to Goa last year - only about 400Dhs for the flights and a beach hut costs about 50Dhs a day (and that's a nice one). Only a couple of hours away - well worth doing if only once.

Oman's on the books this year - Salalah is recommended, though it's a rather long drive.

[Hitch78]

yorky500 said:

First off - search for a location other than UK, you are falling down right there.

Lebanon is a great place to go - has a lot of history and culture, plus great night life. Think between Dec and March you get some pretty good skiing (we went in August)

Egypt: Cairo for the pyramids and other touristy bits then relax at Sharm El Sheik (great diving/scuba etc)

Jordan: is next on the list due to its history and culture.

Oman & Muscat is defo a very worthwhile visit

Whilst out here in Middle East you have to get around and see places.

This year we are off to Tanzania (Serengetti) and Zanzibar (Mrs does not know it yet, but she is first up on the slave blocks for sale)

Ah Zanzibar, we spent part of our honeymoon there last year after climbing Kilimanjaro. Lovely place.

I'd agree with the comments about seeing as much as you can whilst you're in this part of the world. We've vowed to be back in the UK for crimbo each year if we can to keep in touch with family and esp to see neices and nephews and as the wife is a teacher she might be heading back for the summer.

For me it's all about the ME and east of here so we're off to Malaysia next week and are looking at Vietnam, Thailand (though the mrs has already been) the Maldives and Goa for hols before we have kids and we're trying to sort some weekend trips to Beirut and Damascus out too.

I've seen it written on here before that Dubai is a good place to get anywhere from but it certainly isn't cheap.

I'm not looking forward to the summer. Managed to escape for a month last year for the wedding and honeymoon but the most I'll get this year is a week or two....sigh.

[Gaffer]

Thanks guys some food for thought there.

If I don't go with my mate, I will be doing the travels on my own. Will I be ok..? did HK & Japan on my tod so ok with my own company.

Failing that, anyone want to join me..?

Claire

[oilydan]

The Seychelles is pretty cheap to get to from here, as are the Maldives.

This year I have to do the UK twice and a long business trip to Houston which will be a bit of a holiday too.

If it is your own money then go cheap to Sri Lanka, Goa or the islands.

[Gaffer]

oilydan said:

The Seychelles is pretty cheap to get to from here, as are the Maldives.

This year I have to do the UK twice and a long business trip to Houston which will be a bit of a holiday too.

If it is your own money then go cheap to Sri Lanka, Goa or the islands.

I can't go somewhere like that on my own, would be bored and its all couples, I need somewhere that is a) good on my own and b) good for 2 girls to have fun.

Claire

[Dunk1982]

"Lebanon is a great place to go - has a lot of history and culture, plus great night life. Think between Dec and March you get some pretty good skiing (we went in August)"

Never been but a girl at my work (shes from Oz) went a few months back with a couple of her mates and had a great time. It does sound pretty awesome there as long as theres not a war on!! lol!!

[Hitch78]

You'll get no shortage of attention in Beirut - Lebonese men are all generally regarded to be horny little goats.

The chap who cuts my hair is forever telling me of the trouble he has with his girlfriend at home not understanding how he needs to be serviced regularly even though she's not here. He then complains of her constant crying and tells me if she's not careful he'll dump her. Brilliant approach to life!

[Gaffer]

Hitch78 said:

You'll get no shortage of attention in Beirut - Lebonese men are all generally regarded to be horny little goats.

The chap who cuts my hair is forever telling me of the trouble he has with his girlfriend at home not understanding how he needs to be serviced regularly even though she's not here. He then complains of her constant crying and tells me if she's not careful he'll dump her. Brilliant approach to life!

Just like the Libyans, they make have picked up the Italian way of appreciating women but not got the subalties (sp) and just leer. Makes my skin scrawl. I have to walk home with my hands in my pockets just incase..

[Dunk1982]

That rules Bahrain out as well then!! Unless you like to be constantly hounded by Saudis and Kuwaities!! Or hit on by drunk royal navy chavs or u s navy guys!!

Apart from that Bahrain is nice but no beaches unless you book a hotel with one!

[Gaffer]

Dunk1982 said:

That rules Bahrain out as well then!! Unless you like to be constantly hounded by Saudis and Kuwaities!! Or hit on by drunk royal navy chavs or u s navy guys!!

Apart from that Bahrain is nice but no beaches unless you book a hotel with one!

Well I wanted to go there next for work anyways, and now you have said there are sailors...I am defo going there..!!!!!

[Dunk1982]

Mainly 99% yanks due to the massive base here, the royal navy chavs only show their pissed up brits on tour faces every once in a while. So if you like yanks your in luck!

On a serious note Bahrain is a great place to live and work but theres not allot to come here for a holiday if you're already living in this part of the world. But then i guess it depends on what you want to do on hols!? If you want beaches and cheapness and to relax Goa is nice.

[Gaffer]

Dunk1982 said:

Mainly 99% yanks due to the massive base here, the royal navy chavs only show their pissed up brits on tour faces every once in a while. So if you like yanks your in luck!

On a serious note Bahrain is a great place to live and work but theres not allot to come here for a holiday if you're already living in this part of the world. But then i guess it depends on what you want to do on hols!? If you want beaches and cheapness and to relax Goa is nice.

I'm thinking Green Card

Meh, I dont know, all depends on whether my mate comes with or if I am on my tod. That will dictate where I end up.

[Dunk1982]

I'm thinking Green Card

[/quote]

Im thinking good luck with that! Most are here on 6 month deployments and spend that partying so you will have to work fast!! But there are plenty more here on a more serious 1-2 year gig.

Add to that all the competition from the Thai and phillipinos.....

[Hitch78]

Dunk1982 said:

I'm thinking Green Card

Im thinking good luck with that! Most are here on 6 month deployments and spend that partying so you will have to work fast!! But there are plenty more here on a more serious 1-2 year gig.

Add to that all the competition from the Thai and phillipinos.....

Have your advances been spurned thsu far then Dunk?

[Gaffer]

Dunk1982 said:

I'm thinking Green Card

Im thinking good luck with that! Most are here on 6 month deployments and spend that partying so you will have to work fast!! But there are plenty more here on a more serious 1-2 year gig.

Add to that all the competition from the Thai and phillipinos.....

Hey, will give it a damn good bash