Anyone ever travel to the Middle East?

Mishka33 · Sep 8th, 2008, 08:09 PM

I live here in UAE. I love it. Anyone been here? I'm American living in UAE. My sister told me when she says her little sis is living in United Arab Emirates, they all have a question mark on their faces. She says, "Dubai" and they say!!! oHHH YA!!! NICE PLACE!

If you have been here or in the ME, please do tell us where? How did you find it?

Expy00 · Sep 8th, 2008, 10:21 PM

I've always enjoyed travelling, especially to exotic and foreign places. Thus far, I've travelled to Turkey, Israel, and Egypt in the Middle East. All of my travels to Europe and the Middle East have been via extended and guided tours. I'd love to visit Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and UAE in the near future, as well as being able to revisit Egypt. I'm a bit of a history buff so travelling to the Middle East had always been a dream of mine... so much history and culture to experience, as well as getting to know the locals. My fondest memories are of talking to and getting photos taken with the local school children while in Cairo, Egypt. They were so enthusiastic and wanted to practice their English skills on my parents and I.. they were just so adorable

jayjay77 · Sep 8th, 2008, 10:55 PM

I've been to Israel (Tel Aviv) twice on business and loved it. I also got to go to the Dead Sea and Jerusalem. I would love to go to more of the Middle East especially Jordan, UAE, Egypt and Syria -- who knows if this will be possible, but sometimes I think the violence is exaggerated on TV. It is a beautiful part of the world.

redney · Sep 9th, 2008, 12:22 AM

I would absolutely love to go! BF and I were just talking today about a trip to Dubai. I'd also love to see UAE and Egypt!

GirlFriday · Sep 9th, 2008, 02:33 AM

I've never been to the Middle East, but my husband lived there for a year, and I've had several friends visit. One of my good friends loved Turkey and she absolutely loved Dubai, but she didn't like Jordan as much. My husband lived in a strict Muslim country in Africa for a year, drinking wasn't allowed under the Muslim law, but he said there just wasn't much to do. He said the people were pretty nice, and that was the upside, but it was a very poor third world country with people living in shacks all along the street. He said it was sad to see, but that the spirit of the people was still alive even in those conditions. I've known some people that lived in Saudi Arabia for awhile and they loved it. Women aren't allowed to drive there, so it was kind of frustrating for the women to live there, but I think it would be a good place to visit.

I'm hoping that we'll go to Istanbul, Turkey this year. I've heard great things about it!

claireZk · Sep 9th, 2008, 05:27 PM

I've been to Turkey (the western coast). It was absolutely beautiful!!

elle1777 · Sep 9th, 2008, 08:00 PM

No but Conde Nast Traveller ( anyone else subscribe? ) just had an article about UAE and surrounding countries and i'd love to go!! I also read that Dubai is planning on building another monumentally tall sky scraper after completing the one they are working on now.. how awesome!

NYCBelle · Sep 10th, 2008, 03:45 PM

I would love to visit Dubai and Egypt

crewe · Sep 10th, 2008, 08:46 PM

Been to Saudi Arabia. I liked it but I doubt I could live there for very long.

NY_fashionista · Sep 10th, 2008, 09:24 PM

I've been to Israel and Oman, which I liked and Dubai, which I didn't. I found the shopping disappointing - just big malls filled with overpriced merchandise (lots of things I can get at home - I didn't fly halfway around the world to buy American stuff). The gold souk was overpriced, the spice souk was nothing compared to the markets in Jerusalem and there didn't seem to be anything cultural. It might be a nice place to live, but I wouldn't bother flying 12 hours to go there again.

Kathrin · Sep 15th, 2008, 01:39 AM

Not yet, but I've just been verbally offered a job in Abu Dhabi. Waiting for the official written offer to come through. Not sure whether I will accept it yet.

Necromancer · Sep 16th, 2008, 02:39 AM

I've been to parts of the ME. When I was 18 I went to Egypt, Israel and also Bahrain (which was our stop over to London). I went to Dubai a year or two later, but from what I've seen of it lately, it has changed a lot since my travels there.

LeeMiller · Sep 17th, 2008, 02:35 PM

I've been to Turkey and I loved it, the food, the culture, the shopping, the people, everything!

ellacoach · Sep 17th, 2008, 03:46 PM

I've been to Turkey (Istanbul & Kusadasi). LOVED it! I would go back in a heart beat!

laloki · Sep 18th, 2008, 12:22 AM

I went to Dubai last year and I loved it so much, that I am trying to convince my DH to move there for work.

Sep 8th, 2008, 08:09 PM	#1
Mishka33 ♥♥♥L♥VE♥♥♥ Location: United Arab Emirates	Anyone ever travel to the Middle East? I live here in UAE. I love it. Anyone been here? I'm American living in UAE. My sister told me when she says her little sis is living in United Arab Emirates, they all have a question mark on their faces. She says, "Dubai" and they say!!! oHHH YA!!! NICE PLACE! If you have been here or in the ME, please do tell us where? How did you find it? __________________ "I've traveled the world and the seven seas"

Sep 8th, 2008, 10:21 PM	#2
Expy00 Member	I've always enjoyed travelling, especially to exotic and foreign places. Thus far, I've travelled to Turkey, Israel, and Egypt in the Middle East. All of my travels to Europe and the Middle East have been via extended and guided tours. I'd love to visit Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and UAE in the near future, as well as being able to revisit Egypt. I'm a bit of a history buff so travelling to the Middle East had always been a dream of mine... so much history and culture to experience, as well as getting to know the locals. My fondest memories are of talking to and getting photos taken with the local school children while in Cairo, Egypt. They were so enthusiastic and wanted to practice their English skills on my parents and I.. they were just so adorable Last edited by Expy00; Sep 8th, 2008 at 10:28 PM.

Sep 9th, 2008, 05:27 PM	#6
claireZk Member	I've been to Turkey (the western coast). It was absolutely beautiful!! __________________

Sep 10th, 2008, 03:45 PM	#8
NYCBelle It's in my Louis bag Location: NYC	I would love to visit Dubai and Egypt __________________ I shop for purses while I walk out the door Don’t cry, buy a bag and then get over it "Labels or Love" by Fergie

Sep 15th, 2008, 01:39 AM	#11
Kathrin Member Location: Gold Coast, Australia	Not yet, but I've just been verbally offered a job in Abu Dhabi. Waiting for the official written offer to come through. Not sure whether I will accept it yet. __________________ Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you plenty to do but doesn't get you anywhere.

Sep 8th, 2008, 10:55 PM	#3
jayjay77 Member Location: New York	I've been to Israel (Tel Aviv) twice on business and loved it. I also got to go to the Dead Sea and Jerusalem. I would love to go to more of the Middle East especially Jordan, UAE, Egypt and Syria -- who knows if this will be possible, but sometimes I think the violence is exaggerated on TV. It is a beautiful part of the world.

Sep 9th, 2008, 12:22 AM	#4
redney Lovin' Life!	I would absolutely love to go! BF and I were just talking today about a trip to Dubai. I'd also love to see UAE and Egypt!

Sep 9th, 2008, 02:33 AM	#5
GirlFriday Member	I've never been to the Middle East, but my husband lived there for a year, and I've had several friends visit. One of my good friends loved Turkey and she absolutely loved Dubai, but she didn't like Jordan as much. My husband lived in a strict Muslim country in Africa for a year, drinking wasn't allowed under the Muslim law, but he said there just wasn't much to do. He said the people were pretty nice, and that was the upside, but it was a very poor third world country with people living in shacks all along the street. He said it was sad to see, but that the spirit of the people was still alive even in those conditions. I've known some people that lived in Saudi Arabia for awhile and they loved it. Women aren't allowed to drive there, so it was kind of frustrating for the women to live there, but I think it would be a good place to visit. I'm hoping that we'll go to Istanbul, Turkey this year. I've heard great things about it!

Sep 9th, 2008, 08:00 PM	#7
elle1777 Member Location: NJ	No but Conde Nast Traveller ( anyone else subscribe? ) just had an article about UAE and surrounding countries and i'd love to go!! I also read that Dubai is planning on building another monumentally tall sky scraper after completing the one they are working on now.. how awesome!

Sep 10th, 2008, 08:46 PM	#9
crewe Member Location: Toronto	Been to Saudi Arabia. I liked it but I doubt I could live there for very long.

Sep 10th, 2008, 09:24 PM	#10
NY_fashionista Shopping Sherpa Location: Handbag Rehab	I've been to Israel and Oman, which I liked and Dubai, which I didn't. I found the shopping disappointing - just big malls filled with overpriced merchandise (lots of things I can get at home - I didn't fly halfway around the world to buy American stuff). The gold souk was overpriced, the spice souk was nothing compared to the markets in Jerusalem and there didn't seem to be anything cultural. It might be a nice place to live, but I wouldn't bother flying 12 hours to go there again.

Sep 16th, 2008, 02:39 AM	#12
Necromancer Member Location: Sydney, Australia	I've been to parts of the ME. When I was 18 I went to Egypt, Israel and also Bahrain (which was our stop over to London). I went to Dubai a year or two later, but from what I've seen of it lately, it has changed a lot since my travels there.

Sep 17th, 2008, 02:35 PM	#13
LeeMiller Member	I've been to Turkey and I loved it, the food, the culture, the shopping, the people, everything!

Sep 17th, 2008, 03:46 PM	#14
ellacoach Resistance is futile Location: New England	I've been to Turkey (Istanbul & Kusadasi). LOVED it! I would go back in a heart beat!

Sep 18th, 2008, 12:22 AM	#15
laloki I need inspiration! Location: Australia	I went to Dubai last year and I loved it so much, that I am trying to convince my DH to move there for work.