Beirut - safe?
 

Hello, my first post in the TravelBuzz! forum.

I have been invited to go to Beirut and stay at this hotel - www.rivierahotel.com.lb

The trip (with an international group, including Americans, etc.) is supposed to take place in June and we were invited by two locals who have arranged a very nice 5-day program for us.

Now, I would be very curious to go to Beirut...but I am also quite concerned about safety. Especially in the current situation, do you think it would be safe to fly there (from Germany, on Lufthansa)? I know everyone here cannot predict the future, but if anyone has recently been in Beirut or maybe we even have some posters from Beirut here, I would appreciate your perspective on this.

Thanks http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif.

All bets are off with what is going on in Iraq. If Iraq was not in the picture, or if you were not going with a group, I would not hesitate to travel to Beirut.

I was in Beirut last year and enjoyed the city but was always a little on my toes. It didn't help that Hezbollah was located only a few blocks away! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/eek.gif Never at any moment did we feel unsafe, but we took the necessary precautions and usually were only out-and-about in the company of our Lebanese friends. The hotel (beautiful Sheraton -- would highly recommend) was securely staffed.

All that to say... I would agree with Tango that it is a hard call with the Iraq situation. Personally, I would not be traveling to that part of the world at this time of year -- and I tend to blend in decently well. YMMV.

Did you see the film "Spy Games" starring Robert Redford and Brad Pitt about a year ago? Unfortunately, I think "Lebanon" was actually Morocco.