Middle East a no go since all the touble?
Mar 5, 2011, 7:38 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Oahu, Hawaii
Programs: UAL-million miler Hawaiian Air-premier member Global Entry
Posts: 16
Middle East a no go since all the touble?
I am planning, in late May and early June, an Istanbul-Beirut-Damascus-Amman intinerary. After booking everything, all hell has broken loose in the Gulf and North Africa. Anybody got any thoughts about Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan?
Mar 6, 2011, 1:49 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Dubai
Programs: SPG Platinum, Skywards Gold
Posts: 123
Syria - Possible, though only really likely to escalate if Iran gets out of hand. No sign of that yet.
Jordan - Again possible, but the royal family there are much more liked and so would be a different sort of uprising than Egypt and Libya.
As it stands, all 3 are safe to travel at the moment.
Mar 6, 2011, 5:01 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
All hell has not broken loose across the Gulf and North Africa. Only parts. Very small parts when you look at where actual violence has taken place. For instance I'm heading to Dubai soon and I do not expect to see any problems while there.
Mar 9, 2011, 2:48 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 15,353
I've been in and out of the Gulf 3 times since this has kicked off....no problems. For your itinerary, Beirut always has been a wild card, for years and is not dependent on this mess, I think you'll be ok for Jordan and Syria.
Mar 16, 2011, 1:49 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Programs: MP 1K to 2P - painful
Posts: 304
We're heading to Damascus and will spend almost three weeks in the region; twelve days in Syria, with a quick side trip to Baalbeck in Lebanon, and a week to follow in Jordan.
I agree with the above assessments and see no reason to cancel our trip. Neither the British Foreign Office nor the State Department in the US have warned against travel in these areas, beyond the typical avoid demonstrations and that conditions can change quickly etc. We went to Iran in 2003 and had a wonderful trip precisely because everyone else cancelled. I am cautious but not nervous, if conditions change we won't go to Lebanon.
----------------------
Check out my blog http://somuchmoretosee.blogspot.com/
I agree with the above assessments and see no reason to cancel our trip. Neither the British Foreign Office nor the State Department in the US have warned against travel in these areas, beyond the typical avoid demonstrations and that conditions can change quickly etc. We went to Iran in 2003 and had a wonderful trip precisely because everyone else cancelled. I am cautious but not nervous, if conditions change we won't go to Lebanon.
----------------------
Check out my blog http://somuchmoretosee.blogspot.com/
Mar 17, 2011, 5:17 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Dubai, UAE
Programs: EK, Hilton, AA
Posts: 100
There are rumors of things starting up in Damascus (Syria) in the last few days. So far it seems they are only interviewing Syrians coming from abroad. Nothing big happening yet, but worth checking before you head that way.
Dubai is perfectly safe, but anyone going to Bahrain should think again for now, martial law declared by the king.
Dubai is perfectly safe, but anyone going to Bahrain should think again for now, martial law declared by the king.
Mar 22, 2011, 3:19 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Kettle Class
Posts: 798
I just returned from a 3-week trip that took me across two of the countries you mention: Lebanon and Jordan. I felt completely safe throughout and noticed nothing extraordinary that was related to the going-ons elsewhere in the region.
May 25, 2011, 3:24 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 207
We're also heading to Lebanon in early June. I think we'll be fine there, especially in the tourist areas (besides, Lebanon is already a democracy). We've canceled our plans to visit Damascus though. Jordan should be fine. Very civilized and educated people there with a well-liked monarchy.
The Gulf is fine. Been in and out of Bahrain many times in the past few months. No trouble for foreigners at all (other than some traffic diversions and increased security presence).
The Gulf is fine. Been in and out of Bahrain many times in the past few months. No trouble for foreigners at all (other than some traffic diversions and increased security presence).
^