Flying to the Middle East - Where should I stop over

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by GP_Matt

There are four of us and for some reason Iraq seems like a good idea while, Egypt, Syria and Iran are ruled out. The tear gas in Istanbul doesn't seem like an easy sell.

I've travelled a little bit in some of the more politically unstable corners of the Muslim world (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, etc.) Its pretty easy to avoid protests, etc., with two rules of thumb:

(1) Avoid going out on Friday afternoons (sometimes people get riled up after a political sermon at the mosque on Friday morning); and,

(2) When you see an angry crowd, turn around and stroll the other way.

Those two rules have served me well. I certainly wouldn't worry about a trip to Istanbul or Turkey, which, despite recent turmoil, is still one of the most stable governments in the region.

[_Q_]

Beirut us generally safe enough, especially the neighborhoods with all the hotels, bars and nightlife. Even the sketchier parts of Beirut and Lebanon in general aren't that bad. The civil war in Syria has kind of made the area a bit scary, but it seems as though everything has been contained inside Syria's borders. Let me put it this way, I would be more willing to travel anywhere in Lebanon than I would be to go "exploring" on my own in a city like Los Angeles, Detroit or Washington DC.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Makarov

Those two rules have served me well. I certainly wouldn't worry about a trip to Istanbul or Turkey, which, despite recent turmoil, is still one of the most stable governments in the region.

I was in Turkey and Greece last month and I honestly felt safer in Turkey. While I was in Athens, there was an assassination and a riot. I was harassed and hexed by African immigrants when I refused to buy their stupid trinkets. Going to Turkey was like a breath of fresh air. It was cleaner than Greece (and some other European countries I have been to), friendlier and cheaper. I went to McDonald's there and there was a worker standing in the corner with a broom and dust pan that would scoot out and sweep up anything that fell on the floor within seconds. I recommend the McTurko Beef.

[_Q_]

Yeah, I think most here in North America have this idea about the Middle East that's totally skewed from reality. Most think that it's common to see guys walking around carrying AK-47s with their faces covered ready to light up any white guy while screaming "Allahu Akbar!" They also think that all women walk around wearing Burqas, 10 paces behind a male relative and get beaten by their bearded husbands in the streets just for being women. I've been to many parts of the Middle East, and that's definitely not the case. I felt safer walking around downtown Beirut or Amman at 3 am than I ever felt doing the same thing in DC, Munich or Toronto. As long as you avoid the war zones, you'll be OK.

A bit OT, but I've met lot's of people in the Middle East that have this idea that all of North America is like South Central LA. By that I mean, I've gotten so many questions asking me things like "Is it safe in Canada?" "Don't people pretty much shoot each other over there for no reason?" "I heard of a shooting in a mall in Colorado where 12 people were killed, aren't you scared that'll happen to you there?" "I heard that people get mugged in New York or Chicago at night, how can you walk around in the streets at night? I would be so scared to go outside if I was you." I think people are generally just afraid of what they don't know. It seems silly to us that Arabs have this idea about Canada, but it sounds just as silly when I tell them that Canadians are too scared to visit their country because they heard of some bombing in Baghdad or some riot in Cairo.

[automaton 3]

Originally Posted by Makarov

Istanbul is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and is also a budget air travel hub (or at least it used to be.)

Can't speak to the ease of stopover, but Istanbul is a great city to visit. Highly recommend.

[automaton 3]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I was in Turkey and Greece last month and I honestly felt safer in Turkey. .

We had the same experience last fall. Athens is a bit of a mess. Graffiti and boarded up stores. Groups of youth wandering around on weekdays (we presumed unemployed and killing time).

We did not feel unsafe per se but they are clearly hurting there.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by GP_Matt

I hear Erbil is the Paris of Iraq. How can you go wrong?

Haha, I don't know gave you that description, but I have been there several times. It's not much of a vacation destination. You'll probably find yourself with very little to do.

Also know that there was a major attack on the Kurdistani millitia's base in Erbil last week, something that came as a huge surprise to us here in Iraq. It has built quite a bit of tension in the area.

To be honest, I wouldn't make Erbil a vacation destination any time in the next while. Especially since the weather is getting quite cold here in the last couple weeks. It will start raining and then snowing in about a month. Not a great time to visit.

[Wastedyouth]

Oh yeah, I fly quite regularly (like every other month) Edmonton to Seattle to Dubai to Basra (you can sub in Erbil for Basra). Its a decent flight. I would take Emirates if you can afford it. Seattle to Dubai is always a nice plane.

Don't let anyone turn you off of Dubai, its a fantastic place to visit. You can also go to Oman and Abu Dhabi and will be quite safe and see some awesome beaches and nice cities.

Bahrain is also very very nice.

I guess if you have a buddy in Erbil it would be ok. The Kurdistanis are good people. I wouldn't stay there long, its kind of a garbage dump of a city.