Saudi Arabia Travel Forum

Well I just wonder whether there is any VT meet in Saudi Arabia ? Well isnt cool if we can meet together and share experience ...meeting new and old VT frens ? Well I know KSA is such a big place and members are scattered all over , thus its not an easy task ...but I guess if there is a will there is always a WAY ...what do you guys think ?

Hello , anybody out THERE ?

keny

living in the Ad Dammam

It seems the numbers are small. I'm happy to be part of a VT meeting, especially if here in Jeddah. So if you're thinking of visiting Jeddah let me know.

I've just recently met a fellow VT "pakistaniguy" and went with him to a few places.

Hi,
Count me in if the meeting is held in Jeddah.........
take care
bye

If the meeting can be held in Riyadh then Yes I would also like to attend or rather I can arrange the stuff as well.

Me and my wife will be flying to Jeddah this weekend to perform Umrah ..... I dont think we will have enough time to attend a meeting during the weekend as we will be spending most of my time in Makkah.

I dont know how many active VTers do we have in Riyadh ? so anyone from Riyadh ?!?! say 'I' ...... I think first we should manage something intracity first and then we can have one big intercity meeting ..... what do you say ? any comments ?

Regards,

Asim

Ya you are right ...the problem is most VTs only put their place of living as Saudi Arabia instead of the particular city they live in ! And its quite difficult to segregate them and I believe there is no such think as mass mailing / messaging to all VTs in Saudi Arabia ....

well of course it would be nice if we can meet the VTs at our own province and have a grand one Insyallah for all the Saudi Arabian VTs ...

Well I will try to hook up with those from Khobar, Dammam, Dhahran , Qatif and other from the Eastern province ....well do we have someone from Central and Western region ?

hey good journey for your Umrah ....and take care

Hello Asim,

If you have just a few hours after your Umra and on the way to the airport, this could be a chance. I can arrange to pick you up from somewhere like Saptco station if you're taking a bus. For me the week end is an easy time. I am only having something to do in the early hours of Friday morning.

If convenient to you, you can call or text me 056648063
marimar has already showed her interest in the reply above, so may be she'll join. This is 4 people already.

Hi fellow Vters!

I will be in Jeddah and Riyadh sometime during the first week of April and would love to join a VT meeting, preferably in the evenings. I will stay in each city about 3 nights so I think there shoudl be enough time to meet up. Please let me know should you guys confirm the date and place of meeting. Thanks!

BTW, still debating on staying at Marriott, Holiday Inn, and Mercure hotels in Riyadh and Jeddah? Any other suggestions for less than USD100?

hummm..interesting, am I the only one Saudi here?? well maybe Marimar too, by the way, your name remind me of a great novel for Najib Mahfouz.

it is a great idea, I am available in Sharqyah or Riyadh. count me in.

Know what ....I am so delighted that I am going Jeddah , Yanbu and Riyadh for some audit assignment ..so I hope to meet up with you guys ...my journey should start next week after my assignment in Dammam finishes ...and my first stop will be Riyadh ( for 3 days and then Jeddah ( 3 or 4 days ) and then Yanbu ....hope to meet up with you guys and also go Madain Saleh from Yanbu ( does anyone know any local tour agent in Yanbu where I can book a day trip there or anyone planning to go there or any VT in Yanbu ? ) coz I believe Yanbu is nearer to Madain Saleh compared to Jeddah ...

Will let you guys know when my plans are finalised !

Take care

It was really nice to hear some quick replies, well Keyneo, if you are interested for Madain Saleh then I guess I can get something for you, as I saw a notice in my compound yesterday of a tour package to this place for a couple of days or so from Riyadh. They were charging something I guess 1200 riyals (approx.)or so which includes the airfare as well, if you need more info. then let me know.

Kado, as for a meeting in Jeddah, I am not sure really as to how much time will I have in Jeddah, I will be renting a car so transportation will not be an issue actually my wife is pushing me as she wants to do some shopping, as she has heard from her friends that in Jeddah abayas are really nice as compared to Riyadh, so any opinions as to where that place is ? :) and also I want to meet my uncle so it will be very hectic but you people can go ahead with the plan ? accept my apologies for this weekend.

Regards,

Asim

hey thanks for the reply , but you know this is business cum travelling trip , as such I cant go to Madain Saleh from Riyadh, and morever since I am going to Yanbu which is near Madina I guess if I can get a travel agent from yanbu , it would be cheaper as well. And on top of that I heard my assignment have been cut short due to tight deadlines .

Anyway pls send me details of the travel agency so I can ask them if they provide pick up from other area ?

Thanks

Would be keen to meet up in Riyadh. Tried to meet up last year with Marimar in Jeddah and Kado this year, but unfortunately plans never worked out. Sometimes last minute things come up at work for me.

Asimk, I'm sure Marimar will have better abbeya and shopping ideas. But me and my friends get cool abbeyas from Hera Souk. There are some other great shops there. Also a better Diesel store there (than in Riyadh) and Karen Millen in Thalia St (opposite Debenhams) is awesome.

Bec :-)

Unfortunately I am traveling now and will be back to Jeddah in a long period of time. Hopefully we would do it someday next year or so.
We also about to meet last year in Jeddah but I had alot of things and pressure at that time held me to attend. Have fun guys.
One more thing if you met just imagine I am with you all talking loud as usual hehehe.

Good luck
Majed

LOL majed,,plzzzzzz the last thing we need is a ghost...

:-P :-P

OK you lot...

Kenyeo,
Try to get the number of Sheraton in Madina (of course I don't have to tell you how to do that!).
All the famous 1200 SR -/+ tours people talk about are actually arranged by Al Madina Sheraton. This hotel is outside the "Haram" area and is accesible to non-moslems. May be you can negotiate directly with them, if you are lucky, and if there is a tour happening then you can go there from Yanbu and the rest is an easy package as follows:
Wed. : Dinner + video presentation.
Thurs.: Departure by coach bus very early am and a whole day guided tour with meals.
Fri: relax at the hotel for half day and back home.

Alternatively, if you are a scuba diver, then don't miss the boat diving in Yanbu. I have to dig the numbers for you. The center was part of Radwa Holiday Inn but now they have their own place (still you can get their contact from Yanbu Holiday Inn). Of course if you came to Jeddah I can take care of you.

All others,
I'm not sure how to arrange for the meeting in Jeddah. You know I'm here "stuck-at-work" so there's no problem with timing for me. I'm just taking a quick break in Jordan 14 to 23 April (running the dead sea ultra). I actually posted a Jordan VT meeting date but still no responses yet.

If any of you is interested (this is for people from outside Jeddah) in spending a weekend, then I suggest a combination of what follows:
Old Jeddah tour
Boat trip (diving and / or fishing / snorkelling).
A whole day in a beach cabin (BBQ... etc)
picnic in the nearby desert (afternoon or night time)
4x4 sand dune climbing.
fish dinner in Dahban (traditional style)
Shopping and of course a visit to Vertigo.

So instead of just having a meeting (and what are we gonna talk about?) we can have some action.

I dont need another meeting, I have enough at work already, beside we dont know each other that much to meet. I want some real action, let's make an international VT Tour in Jeddah since most replies came from there, and most of the others want to go there.
Place: Jeddah.
Date: 8th of April (Weekend)
is this accessible? by the way, bring your spouse, but not your kids..

if i`m not travelling to Egypt then 8th of April is fine by me so far...........
but which place?
Vertigo cafe :-)

Hi guys!

If April 8 is confirmed, I will try to organise my itinerary to be in Jeddah during that time. BTW, what's the costs per pax as I think it is fair for the organisers to charge as we hardly know each other and I will be abusing their hospitality if it is gratis!

Redeagle: Ahmareka bird, you reminded me of a wedding party my mother attended this Ramadan (No Kids). Don’t tell me it was your wedding! ;o).

Marimar_72: Hehehe well sister my spirit would not bite :o). My ghost must behave.

Kado: This is very exciting plan for any visitor. I think it is so harmonic! Bravo!

TomorrowAngel: Bec. Before I thought Bec is a short cut of Peace. Dahhh! I have you, as a friend in my list yet never knew you well. Wish all of us VT members meet and get to know each others more.

Petertktan: Welcome! You will bright all Jeddah up :o ).

~~~~~B.Bye all~~~~~

Good to hear from you Bec and thanks for the tips regarding the Abayas and I have forwarded them to my wife and she seems to be excited about it too :)

I guess we have 3 ppl for a meeting in Riyadh (me, redeagle and bec), wakeup Riyadhiites ...... its time to meet up and learn from the experiences, so anyone else interested ?

I must admit, the plan for 8th of April in Jeddah sounds really good.

Majed, I do agree with you that it really has been a looooong time since we had a difference of opinion on something ;-)

Anyway it was nice to hear from all of you.

Regards,

Asim

I think we need to confirm this before this coming Sunday, so that we can start preparing for it.

A. we need someone in Jeddah to take care of the tour, this may include reserving tables, checking for opening times, tour trip, do we need 4wheel drive..etc. who in Jeddah is willing to take this responsibility?

B. I think one day is enough for this time, Thursday morning to early evening would be great, what do you think guys?

C. Let's try to make it small group this time, we dont need a school bus.

Asim, I am not in Riyadh, I am now working in Dhahran, but I belong to that beautiful area of this kindgom, and sure i go there more than once in a month, and yeah, i call myself a Riyadhi, afterall that's all what my friends call me here.
funny thing, they dont belive I am from Riyadh when they see me walking to the office at 7:00 AM Sharp, or fasteng my seatbelt.

Majed, most of our weddings are "kids not allowed" I hate that, during my wedding I told my angel THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE, we are getting married and we dont want kids!!! I fought hard for the kids, man...I am nice!!! I didnt know that. he he he..

That would be terrific, the trouble is where do we all meet???? I am in Khobar.... Rashid Mall perhaps??? See you all in Starbucks, better make it the family section for us ladies so we can all meet as woman and men together! Best wishes to you all, Richelle :+)

finally a reply, and this time from Alkhubar, I live in Dammam,
Shelnlin, can you make it in Jeddah??

Unfortunately no, it is a bit too far for me to travel down that way this time. I have just come back from my Vacation too. Thank you very much for your response though, it would be nice to have one up here in the Eastern Province one day. Best wishes to you Keny,
Richelle.

Sorry that should be Redegle and to Keny and everyone else in Saudia.

Hello again,

I notice redeagle seems to be keen on Jeddah. Thank you again for sharing your photo album.

If you know you will make it to Jeddah anyways then let me know your timing. I'm waiting for a small group of friends to get back to me regarding a long weekend of driving / camping to the north of Jeddah.

Still if your time is limited a more simple option can be taken like a day trip or so...

I hope you have a good time with the VT meeting in Khobar. Same to you guys in Riyadh if it happened.

Hello all,

I just came back from Jeddah, and it really was a nice trip, thanks for the tips from all of you guys we really enjoyed it, my wife did like the abayas and she not only bought abayas for herself but her friends too, It looked as if we were in Jeddah for shopping purposes only :) (Gosh!! women really love shopping !!)

We also went for a coffee near corniche to Nawrus Restaurant and they really have a nice environment just next to the shore, we really enjoyed it :) This is something which we Riyadhiites miss :)

We also tried Al Baik restaurant, and they really are good in Chicken, I wonder why they dont have any branches in Central or Eastern Province of KSA because they can give KFC really a hard time.

Redeagle, I think its a general impression created that driving in Riyadh is bad as compared to other major cities of KSA, but after my driving experiences in Jeddah and Khobar, I must say that its much easier to drive in Riyadh as compared to Jeddah. I must admit that the driving in Khobar is better then Riyadh, as the drivers do believe in patience and courtesy, which is unfortunately missing in other cities :)

Regards,

Asim

LOL asim,,they don`t have a branch of Al Baik in Riyadh simply to let u come back to jeddah ;-) and yeah we (jeddah ppl) drive like nuts!!unfortunatily :-(

Good morning KSA Vters!

I'm in my final stages of preparing my travel itinerary. Can you reconfirm whether our outing in confirmed for April 8 and pls advsie itinerary and time to be spent so that I can schedule my travel plans? Thanks.

I am glad you had a great time Asim.
Yes I know Jeddah driving is crazy. The worst of all Taxi drivers! They drive over the lines (Who thought them driving?).
Petertktan Wear summer cloth it is going to be warmer!
Good Luck.
Majed