Bahrain Experience

Nice place

Advantages: Hot weather, friendly people
Disadvantages: Being stared at

I visited Bahrain in 2002 and met my other half who was on R&R from posting in Kuwait. The holiday got off to a good start, I sat next to a lady on the plane from Amsterdam who was from Dallas and we also travelled together on the way back. I was nervous travelling alone but found myself in good company. She was visiting her partner who was on holiday from working in Saudi Arabia. I liked the place, but found it a culture shock. I stayed at the ...
...The hotel was very nice and I enjoyed spending time by the pool in the daytime. I made sure to cover up my shoulders and legs when venturing outside of the hotel to observe local customs. I confess I wasn't prepared for being stared at so much, I guess my blonde hair and blue eyes didn't help! I found this quite uncomfortable. Overall I enjoyed myself, my partner and I visited the gold souk where he bought my engagement ring. We had a lovely meal ...

Abbey11 01.10.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of General: Bahrain

Bahrain - a melting pot of cultures

Advantages: Can see it all in a day or two
Disadvantages: No beaches, lack of tourist attractions, expensive taxis

An island with without any beaches? It doesn't seem possible yet somewhow Bahrain manages to acheive it. A tiny island attached to the vastness of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain is a Kingdom with big plans. Like many of the other Gulf countries, it is a melting pot of cultures and there's always something to be looking at - women entirely covered in veils showing only their stunning eyes, Indian workers spending their Friday relaxing on the grass in the middle ...
...new Porsche's - the list goes on. As a holiday destination I would be reluctent to recommend it unless you were timing it with the Grand Prix or visiting someone you know. I think there are other Gulf countries offering more to the tourist, including the UAE and Oman. There aren't many tourist attractions, there's a couple of museums and the odd souk, but not a great deal more. Thursday nights are fun to 'watch' though as Bahrain become alive with ...

lillygirl 03.07.2007 · Read full review
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Review of General: Bahrain

  Island of the Golden Smile

Advantages: Warm, hot, fascinating place to visit
Disadvantages: Very humid ! 9 hour flight !

Look what I found when I was clearing some files from my work database .... a review I wrote after I had been to Bahrain in June 2001. As part of my job, working within a global conference and events organiser, I used to do so much more International (and somewhat more exotic) travel than I currently do ;-( but I still can't grumble and I went to Barcelona on business last weekend and go to the South of France on business (of sorts!) next weekend. ...
...and was over 5-days including a trip to Bahrain, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. 9 UK based event organisers were invited and all expenses were paid, as we all met for the first time at Heathrow airport and flew over to Bahrain (9 hour flight) with Gulf Air (very comfortable airline). The oddity of being in such a foreign & alien destination, climate and culture for the first time, was accentuated by the fact that I was with 8 people I had never met before. ...

newty1977 13.05.2006 · Read full review
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Review of General: Bahrain

Golden Bahrain

Advantages: Undiscovered by most!
Disadvantages: Soon will be!

As cabin crew i visit Bahrain on average once a month and I never fail to enjoy my trip. I can stay from anywhere between 12 hours and 10 days and love it everytime. Where do I start? Well, we usually stay in the Diplomat Hotel in Manama which is sheer luxury and caters for all your needs. The rooms are beautifully decorated and the tv keeps you up to date with news from around the world. When you drive up to the hotel really takes your breath away. ...
...step out of the air conditioned bus just makes the whole experience out of this world. So, what do we do? well, shopping usually features on the itinerary at least once a day and a good time to wander around the souk is after 5 when it is cool and the streets come alive. I can honestly say, hand on heart, i have never seen any women harassed and as cabin crew wandering around with other girls i have always felt perfectly safe. The gold souk is great ...

cheekychunkychops 15.11.2004 · Read full review
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Review of General: Bahrain

Expat Heaven.

Advantages: Good nightlife and pearl shopping
Disadvantages: Not much there for tourists

I may well be horribly biased but I think this is a fantastic place. After all I was born in Bahrain, but I hadn’t been back for at least 15 years when I visited family friends for a week last summer. It strikes me that Bahrain is far from an up and coming tourist destination. I had great time, but I was with a resident. As far as background goes Bahrain is a tiny island in the Persian Gulf. It’s not particularly famous for anything ...
...with Qatar and it’s pearl fishing. It’s mainly desert or city, there’s not much else. But for me the place has character. Again this may be being among friends and to tell the truth I’m having difficulties thinking of things for tourists to do. The best sight I can think of is the royal palace built out in the desert by some particularly batty ruler. It’s apparently based on Windsor Palace and is quite something, rising ...

Rowan 05.10.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of General: Bahrain