Originally Posted by
Calchas
This is incorrect. You cannot visit as a tourist on your own, but a local tourism company can arrange the paperwork for you. You will need to be on an "approved" tour, and there used to be some rule about travelling in groups of four, but I imagine that is up to the tour company to set up.
My apologies. I am aware of visas available to tourist groups, just not as an individual. But my post was misleading; poor form on my part.
Originally Posted by
Calchas
If you are not a woman (we all have our faults), you can also obtain a three day transit visa that would permit you to go out and wonder around by yourself. If you look in the Trip Reports forums several people have had success with this process. NB., this advice is quite dependent on the passport you hold.
Indeed, that is one fault I will carry to my grave.
The only information I could find on Saudi transit visas was for a maximum of eight hours. But I'll check out the trip report forum and see what information I can find. The Saudi Embassy in Canberra has been completely and totally unhelpful, ignoring my email for well over a month.
Originally Posted by
Calchas
An Israeli stamp or two is not a problem for Oman. In fact evidence of visiting Israel is much more likely to be a problem in Saudi Arabia. If you do decide to visit Saudi Arabia as a tourist, I suggest replacing your passport before you go or travelling on a second passport, if your government will issue a second one to you.
Buggered again. I do indeed have an Israeli stamp.
Originally Posted by
Calchas
As for the taxes, they are simply recalculated on any unflown sectors. If there are more taxes (or fees) to pay, you will be charged. If taxes have gone down, you might get the money back. You are not going to be taxed twice.
Well that doesn't sound so great. It would mean I'd have to wait until four days before departure - the date of arrival into LHR - before booking the new sector. I'll have to really suss the AA RTW desk out on this one, particularly considering it will be Christmas when I travel.
Thank you for the info. More research for me, it seems.