woman traveling middle east

tammyboucher
New Member


Tammy

Joined: 25 Aug 2007
Posts: 3
Location: Vancouver

Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 12:08 am

 

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Hey everyone.im planning a trip next spring.been doing research, but only know people who have been to Cairo.does anyone have any input about women traveling middle east? Thanks

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Shelleymb25
New Member



Joined: 05 Jul 2006
Posts: 7
Location: Beirut

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 2:42 am

 

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here's a few ideas.
first, spring is an excellent time to go - not to hot, not too cold
for lone female travellors, lebanon, israel, jordan, turkey, are easy places to go. syria is beautiful, people are nice but the border process would be easier with a mate, however, totally doable if you're assertive. egypt is okay, but i have found the absolute worst place for harassment. they also offer a range of experiences, all different from each other in really cool ways and if you do a trip to the ME, it would be a shame to miss any of them.
the gulf countries of qatar, bahrain, UAE are nice but not exciting - i don't know about the other gulf countries. they are very tourism oriented, but more geared to the rich, older travellor. almost every country you can buy the visa at the airport, which is nice.

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Allyssa
Super Member



Joined: 20 May 2007
Posts: 140
Location: Canada

Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:07 am

 

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Hi Tammy,
Just a common sense note regarding dress -- when you are in the tourist strip of any country you are expected to act as just that -- a foreigner -- so feel free to dress like a foreigner sleeveless tops,etc. However, if you are venturing out of that hotel strip take a cue from the norms that the local "respectable" women follow. Do they cover up more of their arms and legs? Then do the same. Do they avoid looking certain people in the eye? Then follow suit. It will likely just lead to less strange looks and possible harrassment. Like I said, it is just common sense and would likely be true of most places. "When in Rome, do as the Romans" they say!
Allyssa
PS -- I lived in a country where blue eyes and blonde hair were very attractive, so to avoid the stares, I started wearing darker sunglasses and occasionally a headcovering (as many of the local women did) when I was out in the market.

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