Job Discussion Forums

[wavelength]

Hi all, I need some advice (general and logistical) about taking a vacation during Ramadan.

Even though my company bought me a round-trip ticket for Ramadan, there is some doubt as to whether they are going to pay my salary during that month, and so I've decided to wait it out here (Dammam) to see what happens. I don't want to spend $1500+ on a vacation if I'm not also getting paid for Ramadan as I need the money for graduate school next year.

I have more than enough to keep myself occupied for the entire Ramadan experience in my apartment, but would like to do something. Also, our last day of work is my birthday, so I think I should absolutely do something.

So, I thought about taking a mini-vacation to either Bahrah for debauchery or Jeddah for diving. The only problem is I don't really know how to do either. I don't know where to stay. I don't know how to arrange things. (I just found out how to wipe my bum.)

Any help will help.

Also, I have a Saudi license now, and renting a car for a weekend is also another option (... I don't know how to do.) (Yes, I've looked on the Internet for information, but haven't found anything that's really helpful. Which doesn't mean it's not there somewhere.)

[Gamajorba]

Since you are in Dammam, there 5 buses a day at least between Bahrain and Lulu centre in Manama in Bahrain. It's really easy. Or get a driver from Dammam bus or train station to take you over the causeway as taxis are not allowed to cross. But the driver option costs about 300-350SAR 1 way (note - SAR can be used in Bahrain @ 10SAR to the dinar)

If you drive to Jeddah, you will face a huge diversion west of Taif because the quickest way is via Makkah which non-Muslims can't take.

[MixtecaMike]

If you have a credit card as well as license (and iqama) just turn up at any rental agency and they will swap a car for photocopies of said documents plus your signature. If you don't have the credit card some places, usually the smaller no-name ones, will take a 2 or 3 grand deposit instead. If you take the car for only a couple of days you won't get enough kilometers to go anywhere, I used to rent one by the month and got around 5000 kilometers to burn, more than enough.
Some rental places will give you a dirty old beast that smells like cigarettes and may even include a few pepsi cans and butts on the floor. This means you could hand the car in the same general state of pigstyness, but I'd try for a nicer car as the cost seemed much of a muchness between companies, except for the international brands.
I can never find anything in Dammam, but while driving around completely lost there I seem to recall there is no shortage of rental places around city. Don't let language be a problem, I have managed to rent cars with signs and a calculator only.[/i]

[scot47]

No pigsties in KSA, please ! Goatsties ?

[nomad soul]

Live a little! Go in style!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Tuk-tuk_in_Savannakhet_01.jpg

[scot47]

Bahrain in Ramadan is not exciting. Outside Ramadan it is expensive and sordid.

Whatever you do, avoid the seedy hotels in the centre of Manama. I did extensive research in all of them and can testify that they are full of sin and fornication.

[wavelength]

Thanks. Must have forgotten to subscribe. I thought no one answered... will have to check that setting.

Love the Tuk-Tuk. I'd buy one if they had A/C.