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bleakmile
Joined: 12 Jun 2013
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 10:29 pm Post subject: Accommodation in Ras Tanura/Al-Khobar |
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Hi - I'm a newbie but have been using the info much of you people have written in this forum to guide my judgment in taking up a job in KSA.
I'm going to Ras Tanura with Al-Hoty/Aramco in September and I was wondering if anyone is out there currently or who has been there recently can help me.
What's the best accommodation/compound situation out there for a single guy with a budget of about 2000USD a month. Does Al-Hoty have particular compounds/accomms that they use, or do I have to find something when it comes up?
Anything to be avoided at all costs? Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on this. |
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McBrainiac
Joined: 08 Sep 2007
Posts: 61
Location: Somewhere warm
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| Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 10:53 am Post subject: reply |
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| Please check your private messages, I have PM'd you. |
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jadoaus
Joined: 25 Feb 2010
Posts: 24
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| Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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Hi,
Also just got on the Aramco gravy train and will be based in Ras Tanura come August.
Currently live in Bahrain and know that daily commuting won't be possible 
Will still drive back there a lot of weekends.
I have read that the compound here is quite small and not very 'western' (wouldn't be a problem if the price was right). What other living options are on the table?
I can take my own company. Is a (modern) single furnished apartment going to be economical? Any chance of a oil tanker decked sea view?
Failing that, it I were to live in one of the bigger compounds in Dammam, what kind of commute would I be looking at? |
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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| I hear the Dammam - RT road is one of the worst you can drive so bear that in mind if you are thinking of commuting. |
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jadoaus
Joined: 25 Feb 2010
Posts: 24
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| Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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| worst as in the physical state of the road or the standard of driving? |
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 3:56 am Post subject: |
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| standard of driving... depending on where you've come from, roads are in very good physical shape here. |
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leon79
Joined: 22 Nov 2012
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2013 12:17 pm Post subject: Ras Tanura accommodation |
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Would also like some info on the accom in Ras Tanura. Newbie here an aint got my 5 posts in so not sure I can receive PMs yet. Should be hitting down in Ras Tanura in August, doing the visa wait game at the moment. Anyone got any info on the non-Aramco compounds in RT? How about life outside the compounds?
Cheers |
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2013 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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here you go....from a source at RT
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A male only trailer park compound: Suwaidi (#10) (it's about 5km or more from ITC - 30 mins walk to town) has swimming pool, gym (with nothing working), pool table, table tennis, tennis/basketball court, and the restaurant sells good food (but it's 30 SAR per meal). You can get your laundry done 3 times per week, and your room is cleaned daily, all included in the price, which is about 2,700 SAR per month. You'll pay an extra 100R for internet. It looks and feels like a prison camp.
A room consists of single bed, armchair, office desk and a chair, chest of drawers, wardrobe, kitchenette (with fridge freezer & cooker - no cutlery or cooking utensils or cutlery), and very small bathroom, with shower, sink & toilet.
If you're a single bloke, not really caring where you live, it's OK
Apartments in the town are about 1,000 - 1,500 SAR per month. [not sure if this is furnished or unfurnished price. Furnished suites in Khobar start at 2500 and average around 3.5-4 a month]
Tamimi is also a male only trailer park but doesn't have any facilities, and some lads share a trailer, but have their own room each, and it's dearer. It is however much more in town.
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2013 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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| jadoaus wrote: |
| Currently live in Bahrain and know that daily commuting won't be possible |
currently around 5 teachers commute to and from Bahrain daily to RT. It's 90 minutes each way and it says something about accommodation in Ras that they are willing to do this. |
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leon79
Joined: 22 Nov 2012
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2013 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks for that,, though I can't say it's very comforting. Anyone any idea on what the hotel situation is like around Ras Tanura, in terms of prices, safety etc. Looks like moving first into a hotel will prob be the way to go then. |
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 12:54 pm Post subject: |
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| leon79 wrote: |
| Looks like moving first into a hotel will prob be the way to go then. |
ermmm... if moving into a hotel was "the way to go" my source would have posted about living in hotels. That they didn't mention them says something.
When I first came here, I thought that with the housing allowance I was getting, a hotel would be easy to find. But a hotel you might stay in on holiday costs more than your entire housing allowance here believe it or not.
Local hotels exist and are often called hotel suites. However, there was some issue with foreigners staying in them or renting privately a few months ago and the police went round and told landlords that all foreigners had to move into compounds.
So, the "way to go" is probably what my source has done. Get a one room container and see what the lie of the land looks like. |
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leon79
Joined: 22 Nov 2012
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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2nd thread and a 2nd thanks sicklyman
that's not what I was told by my representatives...
Do you have any idea about transport from such a compound (i.e. 5km away) to the ITC center. Obviously, teachers live there but do they mostly drive, taxi or is there a descent bus service between the 2? |
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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just posted this on the other thread and realised it should have been here. As you say, mix ups happen:
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Taxis are usually the way people get to work initially. You pick up a taxi on the street and on the way try to get him to agree to pick you up after work. Don't pay him until he comes back and he always will. If he's reliable, you offer him a regular run and maybe a cheaper weekly rate that benefits you both.
Or...
Once you get your license you rent a car. You can a get a basic runaround (Hyundai Accent/Toyota Yaris) for between R1-2000 a month. Fuel costs almost nothing here. |
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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| leon79 wrote: |
| that's not what I was told by my representatives... |
start making a list  |
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Lancashire
Joined: 02 Jul 2013
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 9:49 pm Post subject: |
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New here too, and same situation as leon79 and bleakmile: coming over to Ras Tanura sometime in August with a contractor for teaching and would like to know a bit more about the place. Thanks sicklyman for the info so far.
Are there any other compounds in the area apart from the two mentioned? In my interview they mentioned one but the monthly price they talked about was double what has been quoted for Suwaidi (about $1500 per month). Does such a place exist?
Any idea about the taxi prices from compound to the ITC?
What's the town like? Does it offer much in terms of leisure facilities, shops etc?
Would a daily commute from Bahrain be feasible with public transport?
Thanks |
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