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Al-Ula Travel Guide: Discover Saudi Arabia’s Hidden Gem
Prior to September 2019, Saudi Arabia was perhaps one of the most closed societies on earth, limiting its borders to those on business, religious pilgrimages, and foreign diplomats. The concept of a tourist visa was foreign, making it one of the hardest countries to visit. However, all of this changed with the Vision 2030 plan introduced in 2016 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to transform the country’s economy, society, and governance. The goal of Vision 2030 is to reduce Saudi Arabia’s dependency on oil and create a more diversified, sustainable, and globally connected economy. In 2019, Saudi Arabia officially launched its tourist e-visa system for citizens of 49 different…
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Weekend Trip to Bahrain
Over the weekend I decided to take a trip to Bahrain, a small, oil-rich Middle-Eastern nation unknown to most people. Truthfully speaking, Bahrain doesn’t have much to offer to the average traveler, especially those seeking adventure. However, as one with aspirations to visit every country on earth, Bahrain is another step in the journey. So what exactly is there to do in Bahrain beside shop? Below, I’ll highlight some places of interest. 1. Haji’s Café. This is the oldest restaurant in Bahrain and your introduction to local cuisine. Super cheap and most importantly, delicious! 2. Bahrain International Circuit. The Circuit is a 5.412 km motorsport venue opened in 2004 used for drag…
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7 Day Jordan Itinerary
Jordan is arguably the Middle East’s best country to travel in and generally considered the safest. Jordan hosts some of the world’s most historical sites : the Dead Sea, Petra, and much more. You will need to plan at least four full days if you want to see all the main sites, but truthfully speaking, this would be entirely too exhausting. Ideally, you’ll want to dedicate seven days for Jordan. However, in order to make it work you will need to rent a car rather than relying on public transportation to get from city to city. Below, I’ll highlight the ideal seven-day itinerary for Jordan. Day 1: Arrive in Amman …
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How to Get from Istanbul to Bulgaria
Getting from Istanbul to Bulgaria is quite simple, cheap, and convenient. From Otagar international coach terminal (Aksaray metro stop) in Istanbul you can purchase your ticket. There are several companies, but I went with Metro, which is probably your best bet. A one way ticket costs 75 Turkish Lira ($21 as of 2016) and leaves several times a day. I opted for the bus departing at 10:30 PM. I purchased the ticket in the morning and was able to leave my luggage at the station. The Journey to Bulgaria The bus itself was pretty nice, but a little too cold for me. Definitely bring a jacket regardless of the season. When…
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How to Spend a Layover in Qatar
Doha, Qatar is a popular layover destination for many flights, and many often find themselves here for periods longer than 5 hours, depending on their flight. Despite claims of being one of the premier cities in the Gulf, Qatar is a small country with very little to see. Many travelers complain that it is boring and too hot. I had an 8 hour layover in Qatar on my way back to China and wanted to judge it for myself. 8 hours is a decent amount of time to get a feel for Qatar, but there is nothing here that is an absolute must see. An 8 hour layover is really…
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5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Turkey
There are hundreds of reasons, but for the sake of time, I will just highlight my top 5 reasons why you should visit Turkey as your next destination. Note* Recently, Turkey’s tourism has been overshadowed by its political issues. When discussing Turkey as a potential destination, most people’s first thought is “Is it safe?”, and the numbers have reflected that. Tourism is on a slight decline, but that makes sense given the situation in certain areas. Most of these travel advisories however, exclude the main tourist destinations. Avoid the border areas and the southeastern regions and you’ll likely be fine. Always check with your government for the latest advisory. Here…
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Staying in a Cave Hotel in Cappadocia, Turkey
I often heard that no trip to Turkey was complete without staying in a cave hotel in Cappadocia. Being one to make the most of opportunities, I made sure to make this happen. When I first searched for cave hotels, I saw many of them were out of my price range, often hovering around $100 per night. Seeing how I was a broke graduate student at the time, I wondered if a budget cave hotel existed. I did further research and found out about Elif Star Cave Hotel in Goreme. For just $20 a night, I was amazed by the quality of the room; it was spacious, clean, had strong…
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A Day in Pamukkale, Turkey
If you’re in Turkey, you must spend a day in Pamukkale. Pamukkale (meaning cotton castle) is a site in western Turkey famous for its mineral rich thermal pools. Hieropolis, the ancient Greco-Roman city, was built on top of this cotton castle in the early 2nd century BC. Pamukkale is now one of Turkey’s most famous tourist destinations, with thousands visiting annually. There are 17 hot water springs, which range from 35 to 100 degrees celsius. Pamukkale was high on my bucket list, so I had no choice but to make time to visit. I made the journey over on the last leg of my trip in Turkey. After a long bus…
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Cappadocia Green Tour
Turkey is one of my favorite countries; there are a number of things to see and do here, but nothing quite impressed me like the historical region of Cappadocia. When I travel, I rarely like to return to the same place, but Cappadocia is so great, I’d consider it. I visited in the beginning of March, which I found to be the perfect time; tourist numbers are low and the temperature is warm during the day but cold at night, which is ideal for me. While many recommend 3 days in Cappadocia, I believe 2 days is enough time, especially if you start the day early. For the first day,…
