Vacation suggestions - regional trips

[JustPete]

I'm working in the Middle East and my company will pay the round trip airfare for me to take a regional trip to one of the following locations:
Dubai, India, Nepal, Jordan, Oman, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Kuwait.
My trip will probably happen sometime in October 2009.
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I'm going to be flying my wife over to meet me for probably two weeks for this regional trip. Obviously, I can also connect to another location anywhere in the world at my expense. With our financial goals, we have a limited budget, but I'd like it to be somewhere "exotic" for her to remember. Our experience in traveling is limited, so exotic for us could be Cancun, lol !!!
We are from the northeast, so warm is good for us. A warm quiet beach with tropical drinks, bazaar shopping, and some night life sounds perfect for her and I'd like to try diving. Due to tax reasons, it will probably have to be outside the U.S.
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I have considered traveling to Mexico or the Caribbean Isles, Mediterranean Cruises out of Spain, and Egypt. There is also the ever popular just take her to Dubai.
What I'm looking for is your insight on where you have been and what your personal experiences have been there. I have exactly zero experience and the plethora of travel websites, cruises, orbitz, travelocity, etc, is a bit overwhelming.

[SOTB]

With our financial goals, we have a limited budget, but I'd like it to be somewhere "exotic" for her to remember....IMO, and based on your explanation of your goals and budget, I would consider bringing her to Dubai or meeting her in Europe. Dubai in Oct is still hot -- stifling, for those not accustomed. Furthermore, and this is especially so once you leave the limits of Dubai proper, the UAE is still a backwards, 3rd century, country -- and everything from PDAs with your wife to clothing to your use of alcohol will be subject to the scrutiny of peoples who can -- and sometimes do -- make your life miserable. Finally, Dubai isn't "cheap", and the traffic inside Dubai makes getting around sometimes a chore. Weigh the costs of her flight, along with your hotel, sights to see, and food.

IMO, and this is based on my bias which should have been apparent in my post above, you should meet her in Europe. The "easy" option is Germany or England (other European destinations are also easy from Dubai, but I have enjoyed taking my wife to both of the above locations -- so I lean there). Oct in either of these locations isn't going to be "hot", and the warm beaches and diving aren't probably on your list of major options there. But with either of these choices, you have literally hundreds of great options regarding activities, sights to see, etc. All within the confines of countries that are firmly within the mental grasp of the 21st century.

I do have a friend who flew his wife to the Dominican Republic, and he met her there. He said it was a good deal, but I also saw him busting his ass to meet the flight arrangements.

I would do Europe, if I were you....

[Sltwtr1]

I would suggest Aquaba, Jordan. It has a Mediteranian feel located within eyesight of Sharm el shiek, Egypt and Elit, Isreal at the top of the Red Sea. October will be nice weather and prices usually drop after Sept 15th in the AO. The Red Sea has some of the best diving, specifically in Aquaba. Apprx an hour from Aquaba is Petra which is excellent, the lost city that existed thousands of years ago. You can also go to Wadi-Rum which is where you will find the five pillars of wisdom along the ancient smuggleing routes through the dessert to Saudi.. Here you can have dinner in a traditional Bedouin tent, cushions etc and watch one of the best and most romanatic sunsets in the world from the top of a rock summit. Your best bet would probably to fly to Amman and arrange tranfer to Aquaba via the dessert highway. All the transportation etc from Amman and to Petra, Wadi-Rum etc can be packaged I believe. There is an upper scale hotel in Aquaba that escapes my mind and a decent becah front SAS Raddison amongts others.

I was there for work....but I really enjoyed all of the above and really wish I had a chick with me because I think she would have really liked it. Aquaba has some nice out door cafe's etc and I recall the SAS having a decent beach. I dove there and the dive center is well known and first rate.

I would suggest somewhere like this because you are in the AO, and when are you ever going to do something like this on your own dime or time. Europe will always be there and easier to get to from the States. Besides Europe is expensive and this is an experiance that you should take advantage of while you can.

I believe the resorts are nicer in Sharma-shiek and probably more night life etc. I am not sure if there is a direct ferry etc. However, Petra and Wadi-Rum and decending down the mountains to below sea level is pretty cool.

Note: You have to consider your travel arrangments when diving in Aquaba since it is below sea level and you will be climbing in altitude when leaving even by road.

I am writing this just based on memory so I apologize if the info and spelling I presented is not entirely accurate. I think you get the jist though...

FYI: It is my intention to return to the area one day with an adventuress girl:smile:

Sltwtr1

OUT

[Oldtexan]

Dubai ia great....for a couple hours. Of all the places you could go...well, I consider Dubai a pass thru city only. Even if the Kingdom would like you to stay longer.

200 plus bucks for a room, 10 dollars or more for a drink, and all the sand you can inhale. And, if you are there at the wrong times, that drink has to wait until after 7PM.

[BKK]

If you are working in the ME, why don't you get away from the whole ME (Arab) environment? Go to the Maldives.

I have not been there yet, but it looks awesome if you are looking for great diving, an exotic local..........and no Arabs.

[Outofcontrol]

I second the Maldives! Or, Sri Lanka is great as well! Been to both. Was in Sri Lanka for work, so unfortunately, I cannot comment on how much things cost there (EVERYTHING was provided) but the people and environment are amazing...some of the best diving Ive ever done...funny/scary story though...I was diving on the East Coast of Sri Lanka, following a blowfish the size of a rugby ball when I looked down to see a 122mm mortar (a gift to the Sri Lankan Navy, with Love from the Tamil Tigers) with sea growth on it looking back up at me...needless to say, thats when I zigged and the blowfish zagged. October should be nice in both locations, though.

OOC, out

[yojinbukai]

Man... out of all those places, Nepal sounds pretty darn exotic to me. Diving is great, but not unless you're both comfortable underwater. Getting from Jordan to Cyrpus or Crete shouldn't be a problem either. Yeah, that's a little more for the plane rides but Dubai would be my last resort under any circumstance. I went through there once and even with my wife it would've been boring and miserable.

Turkey might even be a thought. I think Mr Bean was just through there. Maybe he can chime in.

[Local]

Tel aviv.

Most beautiful beaches in the world... food is top notch.. exchange rate is good.

Everyone speaks English.

Don't go in the water in Dubai, flip anyone off, fart... lots of ways to get in trouble there

[Massgrunt]

Tel aviv.

Most beautiful beaches in the world... food is top notch.. exchange rate is good.

Everyone speaks English.
Bam, there you go. Awesome place and you can fly there through Jordan. If you go, make sure you ask for an external visa stamp and not one in your passport.

[Papa Smurf]

Bam, there you go. Awesome place and you can fly there through Jordan. If you go, make sure you ask for an external visa stamp and not one in your passport.

I second... Things to remember... Mail any souveniors home before you leave the country, exchange or donate any unused Shekels (worth about a quarter now days), and enjoy the hospitality of the open air markets - and, depending on your budget visit the diamond mine in Tiberius. If things are still the same you can buy an uncut stone or finished jem for 1/4 - 1/2 of what you would pay in the US.

[Local]

A bunch of the members could write a better guide to Israel than I could... but here's a quick and dirty:

Where to stay:
- The Gorden (Corner of Gorden st and Ben yehuda in tel aviv). Its a bit of a travelers secret. They have both multi group rooms with shared bathrooms, and fairly nice single rooms with king size beds, their own bathroom shower, tv, fridge, and usually a sitting area or balcony. VERY reasonably priced, assuming you are willing to pay cash and negotiate a little.

The coolest part about this place is the breakfast coupons they issue you are good at this resturaunt (which becomes a night club at night) called Le Mer. Its actually on the beach. There is nothing cooler than walked down to the beach in the morning, sitting in a beach chair with your toes in the sand for breakfast. Breakfast is a choice of 3 or 4 items (I reccomend shakshuka..mmm) your choice of juice, and turkish coffee.

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v99/124/98/903727/n903727_35299081_2344.jpg

And "breakfast" runs till about 3 in the afternoon if you happen to be up late..

Tel aviv has so many resturaunts and places to see and things to do I wont even try to get into it right now. Def be sure to visit the open air markets, and some of the specialty clothing shops for your wife.

For both of you, theres a night club called Cathrins or Kathrins or something like that, anyway just walk south along the beach till you get to it, it doesn't look like much more then a bunch of warehouses from the outside, but the otherside is this awesome open floor plan right on the side of the cliff over looking the water. They have beds instead of couches, hammocks, very romantic spot to stop by and have a drink with wifey.

Bars on the beach are just tons of fun in general:
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v99/124/98/903727/n903727_35299106_9010.jpg

Be sure to get outside Tel Aviv as well. Already mentioned were the diamond mines. The city of Svatt (spelled diff i'm SURE), also known as the birthplace of Kaballah, is known for its silver smiths. They make some very interesting stuff there, including jewelry incorporating this multi colored glass that rises up out of the ground around there.

J'lem has a surprisingly good night life, try to get one of the local guys to show you around the arab markets.

Many of the Kibbutzes produce specialty products (one makes world famous leather sandals) check them out online, if you like the products traveling there will generally net you a hefty discount.

Elat - Party central. Any of the bars/night clubs along the docks are cool - but try to get on one o the party boats that take you out for a night on the water. Drinks are cheap, wifey will like it. Beaches have nothing on tel aviv sadly.


Last picture, Tel aviv, Sunsent:
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v99/124/98/903727/n903727_35299112_581.jpg

[American Horse]

Alot of these places can be pretty heavy on the pocket book if you are trying to limit your budget. If you can connect anywhere in the world would recommend Costa Rica. Cheap, awsome, very laid back.

[Local]

Alot of these places can be pretty heavy on the pocket book if you are trying to limit your budget. If you can connect anywhere in the world would recommend Costa Rica. Cheap, awsome, very laid back.

Probably pretty expensive to fly both of them to costa rica... but if he has a free flight to Jordan thats a stones throw from Ben gurion airport and round trip tickets from NYC - Israel aren't that bad right now...

Plus Israel is like ... 25 cents to a shekel ?

They should do Costa Rica when they are both state side