Iran

Ballard

I am not interested in going.

PompeyPete wrote: »

That's a load of rubbish. There's plenty to see and do. We had a great 4 years in the Kingdom. Fortunately, our visas were multi-entry so we could come and go without jumping through any hoops.

I'm prepared to be wrong but I did search on things to do in Saudi and it was mostly mosques. I've been to a few mosques in my time and they're quite interesting but I don't have that much of an interest that I'll fly to Saudi to see some. A fair few were in Mecca or Medina which are out of bounds to non Muslims. There is the worlds tallest unsupported flag pole in Riyadh, though.

callum9999

The last two options on the poll should really be changed to "No, because I'm ignorant"!

The two reasons I won't go anytime soon (and what I imagine are the two main reasons otherwise interested people won't visit) are that it makes you ineligible for a US ESTA (and tourist visas are a hassle/expensive) and although it's not that difficult to get away with not doing it, you're technically required to be guided on your entire trip.

Ballard wrote: »

I'm prepared to be wrong but I did search on things to do in Saudi and it was mostly mosques. I've been to a few mosques in my time and they're quite interesting but I don't have that much of an interest that I'll fly to Saudi to see some. A fair few were in Mecca or Medina which are out of bounds to non Muslims. There is the worlds tallest unsupported flag pole in Riyadh, though.

Just opening the Saudi page on tripadvisor would give you several things to do that aren't mosques. If you're uninterested in culture though I'd imagine it isn't worthwhile visiting.

leylandsunaddict

mcompton69 wrote: »

Really?? Did you just make this up??

http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/destinations/middle-east/saudi-arabia

https://www.travelrepublic.co.uk/v2/holidays/saudi-arabia.html?oid=5375&mkid=410748947&aid=1&dev=c&gclid=CjwKEAiA04S3BRCYteOr6b-roSUSJABE1-6B-PlaCf9r2xcrwGc0hLZ5bt9jxgIOHO8Ul2nvsHF5HhoCFP_w_wcB

https://www.kayak.co.uk/sem/kpack/general?destination=rsa&lang=en&extProvId=5&extPu=kayak-gaw-search&extLi=231631210&extCr=19806374770-75498017530&extKw=holidays+to+saudi+arabia&extMT=e&extAP=1t2&gclid=CjwKEAiA04S3BRCYteOr6b-roSUSJABE1-6BiXKGWRXXXSgi_EQ8qT2ec27twqF9lgDNWupSNLo05BoCJTzw_wcB

No he didn't. You will not get to visit KSA as an ordinary tourist.

Ballard

I am not interested in going.

callum9999 wrote: »

Just opening the Saudi page on tripadvisor would give you several things to do that aren't mosques. If you're uninterested in culture though I'd imagine it isn't worthwhile visiting.

I am probably more interested in culture than most people and have done a fair amount of travelling so talk from a degree of experience. I've been to Mosques, Churches, Synagogues, Temples (Hindu, Jain, Buddhist) so I'm not averse to religious buildings.

The first thing on the TripAdvisor thing which is in neither Mecca nor Medina is The Kingdom Centre Tower in Riyadh (best shopping mall in the city). Next in The National Museum which I imagine is worth a visit. There are a few things to do in Jeddah which could be interesting.

I've never been to Saudi and am unlikely to go but I don't see anything desperately interesting on TripAdvisor. When several of the best sights listed are shopping malls I just can't get enthused, I'm afraid.

callum9999

Ballard wrote: »

I am probably more interested in culture than most people and have done a fair amount of travelling so talk from a degree of experience. I've been to Mosques, Churches, Synagogues, Temples (Hindu, Jain, Buddhist) so I'm not averse to religious buildings.

The first thing on the TripAdvisor thing which is in neither Mecca nor Medina is The Kingdom Centre Tower in Riyadh (best shopping mall in the city). Next in The National Museum which I imagine is worth a visit. There are a few things to do in Jeddah which could be interesting.

I've never been to Saudi and am unlikely to go but I don't see anything desperately interesting on TripAdvisor. When several of the best sights listed are shopping malls I just can't get enthused, I'm afraid.

I think you're confusing culture with historical monuments. It's a part of it of course, but it's not how you're going to experience actual Saudi culture today.

I don't see anything desperately interesting either - I was merely disputing your claim that there's "nothing to do"! If you clicked on it, you'd see the Kingdom Tower is much more than a shopping mall.

I'm not saying you should visit (obviously you can't anyway!), merely that you shouldn't judge the country without looking into it first!

benjus

Ames wrote: »

But UK (and US) passport holders are only allowed in if they're on a guided tour. No-one's allowed in if they have an Israel stamp in their passport.

I understand that Israel has stopped stamping passports for this reason, and now issues a card which needs to be presented on leaving the country.

Ballard

I am not interested in going.

callum9999 wrote: »

I think you're confusing culture with historical monuments. It's a part of it of course, but it's not how you're going to experience actual Saudi culture today.

I don't see anything desperately interesting either - I was merely disputing your claim that there's "nothing to do"! If you clicked on it, you'd see the Kingdom Tower is much more than a shopping mall.

I'm not saying you should visit (obviously you can't anyway!), merely that you shouldn't judge the country without looking into it first!

I actually agree with you but that's the point. I did look into the country a couple of years ago when my friend first went. At that time I definitely couldn't go due to several Israeli stamps but I found nothing worth the visit anyway. The Saudis may have a fantastic culture but my overriding feeling is of one where women are second class citizens. Unfortunately I find that too big an obstacle for me to get past.

callum9999

Ballard wrote: »

I actually agree with you but that's the point. I did look into the country a couple of years ago when my friend first went. At that time I definitely couldn't go due to several Israeli stamps but I found nothing worth the visit anyway. The Saudis may have a fantastic culture but my overriding feeling is of one where women are second class citizens. Unfortunately I find that too big an obstacle for me to get past.

Why would you have been able to have gone then anyway - Israeli stamps or not?

They don't have a fantastic culture. From the very beginning my sole point has been to dispute the claims like "there's nothing to do" and "there's little to do other than see mosques" - not to promote it as a place you should go!

I know my grandparents loved it there (expat women get away with much more than locals - my grandmother drove, and they both drank alcohol, dressed how they wanted, were openly non-muslim etc.), but even putting aside the fact that tourists are forbidden, it's not a particularly good place for tourists anyway, so I think we're both in agreement!

Ballard

I am not interested in going.

callum9999 wrote: »

Why would you have been able to have gone then anyway - Israeli stamps or not?

They don't have a fantastic culture. From the very beginning my sole point has been to dispute the claims like "there's nothing to do" and "there's little to do other than see mosques" - not to promote it as a place you should go!

I know my grandparents loved it there (expat women get away with much more than locals - my grandmother drove, and they both drank alcohol, dressed how they wanted, were openly non-muslim etc.), but even putting aside the fact that tourists are forbidden, it's not a particularly good place for tourists anyway, so I think we're both in agreement!

That's the strangest argument I think that I've had on here. You tell me not to confuse monuments with culture and later tell me that there's not much culture after all and that it's not a great place for tourists.

Obviously, when I first looked into the possibility of going I knew that I wouldn't be able to go due to the Israeli stamps but the passport didn't have long to go so there might have been the possibility of going a short while later. As it happened I didn't find anything that I wanted to see in the country so I abandoned the idea before even thinking about visas.

Anyway, we seem to be in agreement so there seems little point in continuing with this line.

callum9999

Ballard wrote: »

That's the strangest argument I think that I've had on here. You tell me not to confuse monuments with culture and later tell me that there's not much culture after all and that it's not a great place for tourists.

Obviously, when I first looked into the possibility of going I knew that I wouldn't be able to go due to the Israeli stamps but the passport didn't have long to go so there might have been the possibility of going a short while later. As it happened I didn't find anything that I wanted to see in the country so I abandoned the idea before even thinking about visas.

Anyway, we seem to be in agreement so there seems little point in continuing with this line.

I didn't say there's not much culture, I said it's not fantastic... There is also a world of difference between there being "something to do" and being "great for tourists"! I thought I was being clear, but I wasn't advertising as a great place to visit, merely disputing your claim that there's, I quote, "nothing to do" in the entire country!

How did your friend get in (if you still remember)? Although you seem a little defensive about the question, I was genuinely curious as to whether you had a way to visit or not! As I'm sure you've read here already now, there's no such thing as a tourist visa. As I said, it's just my curiosity speaking - feel free to ignore or tell me to mind my own business!

I suspect you're right in not continuing this though given this is meant to be about Iran - which bears very little resemblance to Saudi Arabia!