Job Discussion Forums

[ghost]

Has anyone been to Taif, Baha or Asir located in the south west part of Saudi Arabia, and which places do you recommend for a westerner?

I am intrigued that some of these areas are at between 2000-3000m above sea level, because that is not the kind of picture one usually has of the kingdom. In the Asir area, for example, there are thick forests and abundant rainfall at certain times of the year. A micro climate, untypical of most of the Kingdom.

Do foreigners working in the Kingdom go to those places, and do they in fact cater to foreigners, as I have not heard of tour groups from the west going there, although it might be interesting?

And last of all, how accessible are those places from the major centers where people teach in Saudi?

They would seem, on paper, to be great places for rest and relaxation in a moderate climate (thanks to the altitude) but the question of culture remains, and whether those areas and the people who inhabit them are open to foreigners?

Thank you.

Ghost in Korea

[007]

[The_Prodiigy]

As far as I am aware, tourism only is not a satisfactory reason to apply for a visa. Has to be business-related, teaching, to see family member or trotting off for hajj. Tourist groups are extremely rare even to Al Faisaliya. Those remote areas would be impossible to get using Thompson Holidays reps.

[cmp45]

I taught at a Prince Sultan College for Hotel and Tourism in new Abha for 3 years and had no problem with the locals. I did not experience any overt rudeness any more than say in Jeddah or Riyadh. If anything the locals in Abha and Khamis Mushayt were indifferent to western expatriates. No one ever bothered me.

Although one day, I wittnessed a heated fist fight between some old local men on the bus from Abha to khamis! They were sitting at the front I was at the back of the bus. They began fighting and slowly made their way back towards me. Eventually I had to push them away as they had carried their fight into my space. The bus driver just kept barrelling down the highway despite the commotion! Eventually some guys intervened and seperated them. Great fun!

I found the Asir region accessible and met many Saudis who were happy to show me various places of interest in and around Abha. The students that I taught were as pleasant and easy to get along with as in Riyadh where I am now. In fact there were alot of Saudis from other parts of KSA studying in Abha.

The big bonus of living and working in the Asir region is the temperate climate: not too hot or too cold. Lots of green scenery!

The mountain roads are dangerous especially when the fog rolls in and reduces visability down to zero!

Common sense pervails when venturing into more remote villages where westerners are seldom seen. You take your chances as reported by a few expat colleagues that ventured into smaller villages in the area...there had been a few incidences reported of youngsters throwing stones and vandalizing expat vehicles.

[scot47]

Taif and Abha are both quite developed for domestic tourism and get visitors not just from KSA but Kuwait and the Emirates. Some foreigners working in the Kingdom also visit these areas during their vacations.

The 'Supreme Commission on Tourism' has a website. You should be able to google it.

[Stephen Jones]

[Bebsi]

I agree with Stephen, the scenery is the reason for going, so driving is the best way to get there. Many years ago, Mrs. B Mk1 and I went to Asir on a driving holiday, taking in Abha, Albaha and Khamis Mushayt and it was truly spectacular. It still is, I suspect!!

The climate is very comfortable in summer, but yes, watch out for verrry dense fog in the winter months, and for baboons at any time of year. Needless to say, errant Saudi drivers are a greater danger than any baboons, but exercise care & caution and you should be OK.

The locals may come across as wild mountainy men...well, they are...but they are also very friendly and hospitable. One guy to whom we gave a ride...a fellow whose truck had broken down...sat in the back seat as we drove him back to his village with his rifle in his lap and told us, in perfect English, about his computer studies at KFUPM. Another gentleman invited us to his house and offered to put us up there overnight, as well as feeding us. Funnily enough, many of the conventions we associate with Saudi society are far less in evidence in the mountainy places. One policeman whom we encountered at a roadblock on the steep back-road between Albaha and Numrah (down on the Tihama Plain), asked us if we would stop to chat with him awhile so he could practise his English, and gave us tea.

And Prodiigy, for your information, it has been possible since 2001 to get tourist visas for KSA, albeit as part of organised tour groups. And I will categorically state this: KSA is a fascinating part of the world to visit.

[ghost]

Thank you for the interesting, informative responses.

Are there any budget hotels in the areas at high altitude? Budget for Saudi, I assume, might be less than $30 u.s. per night.

Thank you.

Ghost in Korea

[thrifty]

[Bebsi]

Ghost,

You will NOT get anything remotely decent in KSA...or any Gulf country...for 30 USD a night.

However, the 4 and 5 star hotels are pretty reasonably priced, there is a Sheraton in Abha, near Mt. Sawdah (or is it an IC, I can't remember?) and a Sheraton also in Taif. It costs about 75 USD a night, for a very decent room. Why stay in utter squalor to save 40 bucks?

If you can afford to go to Saudi in the first place on holiday (and remember, you can only do so with an organized tour group) then you can afford the better hotels. If, as I actually suspect, you are shortly moving to KSA to work, then you should also be able to afford something decent. If you are on a budget, it is far better to go there for a week and enjoy the experience, rather than spend 2 weeks in misery. Trust me about the cheap hotels, they're not worth it. As Thrifty says, they are full of migrant workers.

Enjoy Asir, it is well worth the trip.

[007]

[ghost]

[Stephen Jones]

I remember having problems finding a decent cheap hotel in Abha.

However in most of Saudi $30 will get you a room to yourself with aircon and bathroom. You won't get something decent for much less, and there is no reason to pay much more.

[Bebsi]

[Stephen Jones]

Bebsi either has a crappy choice in hotels or has a dewy-eyed idea of what a third worlder is!