From Wikitravel

The Kingdom of Bahrain is a country in the Middle East. It is an archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia.

Contents 1 Regions 2 Cities 3 Other destinations 4 Understand 4.1 Electricity 5 Get in 5.1 By plane 5.2 By train 5.3 By car 5.4 By bus 5.5 By boat 6 Get around 7 Talk 8 Buy 9 Eat 10 Drink 11 Sleep 12 Learn 13 Work 14 Stay safe 15 Stay healthy 16 Respect 17 Contact

Regions

Cities

• Manama - Capital
• Mina' Salman
• Sitrah

Other destinations

Understand

Bahrain is the smallest of the independent Persian Gulf states, and has often had to walk a diplomatic tightrope in relation to its larger neighbours.
The country has few oil reserves, however it has established itself as a hub for refining as well as international banking, while also achieving a liberal (by Gulf standards at least) political system.

Electricity

Officially 220V 50Hz. Most outlets are the British standard BS-1363 type. Generally speaking, U.S. and Canadian travelers should pack adapters for these outlets if they plan to use North American electrical equipment in Bahrain.

Get in

Visas are issued at all border stations and airports to all citizens and residents of the GCC for a cost of BD2.

Citizens of most western countries can obtain two-week tourist visas upon entry for BD 5.

By plane

Bahrain is served by a single modern international airport (Code BAH) located outside the capital. The departure area features a large duty-free shopping arcade and a 'Transotel' offering beds and showers (for a fee) to those awaiting flights. The airport is the main base for Gulf Air and has excellent connections throughout the region and London.

By train

There is no train service to or in Bahrain.

By car

A paved causeway links Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

By bus

Saudi-Bahraini Transport Company (Sabatco) has a regular bus service from Dahran to Central Manama

By boat

Get around

Taxi's in Manama are negotiable in price. They will ask for as much as 15 dinar ($30-$40 US) but you should not pay more than 3 dinar for a ride anywhere in the city. Hard negotiation will be necessary to accomplish this. Taxis are supposed to be metered. The drivers will often say their meter is broken, or cover it. Insist they use their meter, or call Radio Meter Taxi or Speedy Cab for a fair honest price.

There are also public buses that run to many parts of the island. Bus fares are low, but understanding the system can be very confusing for visitors, due to difficulties in obtaining bus schedules and maps.

Talk

The languages spoken are Arabic, English, Persian (Farsi), Urdu

Buy

The Bahraini Dinar is pegged at one to ten with the Saudi Riyal to facilitate tourism. Both nation's bank-notes are accepted in Bahrain. Since the Riyal is pegged to the US Dollar, we can say the Dinar is also linked to the greenback.

One Dinar is equal to ten Saudi Riyals or to 2.267 U.S. Dollars. A U.S. Dollar is equal to 0.375 Bahraini Dinars.

A visit to the local suk (sook) is a must. There you can negotiate the price on “rolexes”, jewelry, and many other gifts. The suk is also home to many excellent tailors. If you're there for long enough (say a week) then you can take a favourite clothing item in and they will "clone" it precisely in any material you select from the huge range available.

Eat

Where food is concerned, a full spectrum of price ranges and cuisines can be found in Bahrain.

For food in the lower price range, the best places to go are the areas around Exhibition Avenue and Adlyia, as well as parts of Manama and the Souq. It should be noted that in Bahrain, low-prices attached to food do not necessarily denote quality or taste, as some of the tastiest meals on the island can be had for under a Dinar. Of special note are "Habara Snacks & Fish," "Century Restaurant," and the somewhat pricier "Al-Abraaj." American fast food franchises such as Burger King and McDonalds are ubiquitous as well.

Western (mostly American) style-foods and franchises can be found around the malls and in the city center, offering food for upper mid-range prices. Restaurants carrying international foods can be found in these areas as well.

Higher priced food can end up running quite a bill in Bahrain, though the taste is very often worth it. Most upscale hotels have several restaurants, allowing you to sample things from all over the world. Of special mention are: "The Blue Elephant", a beautiful Thai restaurant near Seef Mall. "Lanterns", an Indian restaurant with great food and lovely decor next to Burgerland Roundabout. "Zahle", a tasty Lebanese place with daily buffets and live entertainment. And "Trader Vic's", a polynesian dining/drinking experience, located on the grounds of the Ritz Carlton.

Drink

Along Exhibition Avenue is the local Hard Rock Cafe franchise, and nearby is an expatriate sports pub called Warbler's. Technically this is a private club, but the bouncers at the door seem more interested in keeping Arabs out than in checking dues cards.

The pricey Gulf Hotel offers a number of restaurants, and a mock-British pub, The Sherlock Holmes.

The former Holiday Inn (now rebranded as the Crowne Plaza) has a nice seafood restaurant as well a more general menu at Harvesters. In the evenings, this venue offers a better-than-average Filipino band. Also at this location is the Gold Club Arabic night club featuring Russian girls doing their interpretation of traditional belly dancing.

The Al Bustan Hotel offers two noteworthy attractions, the largest Irish pub in the city (J.J.'s) and a showroom with perhaps the best Filipino band doing covers of American rock & roll.

Sleep

Nearly all of the hotels in Manama are inexpensive when compared to comparable US hotels. An excellent room at the Gulf Hotel (an extremely old and nice hotel in the area) will cost approximately 30 Dinar (Less than $100 US). Prices in the area are depressed as a result of the large number of hotels competing for clients. Many of the hotels in the city are serviced with prostitutes and cabarets. If you do not want to encounter this it is imperative that you stay in a higher class hotel. Several 'hotels' in the area are little more than brothels (ie. The SeaShell Hotel). Most if not all of the hotels offer a discount for military personnel.

Learn

Mostly public schools, but enough private schools to serve majority of overseas. St Christopher's School (http://www.st-chris.net/) educates to British GCSE and A-level qualifications and has a very diverse base, with students from many ethnic backgrounds, although most British expats working in Bahrain send their children there. There is also a school mostly frequented by the children of Indian expats.

Also many private universities and Bahrain University located in Sukheer next to Bahrain International Circuit.

Work

Stay safe

Large demonstrations can occur at any time, can sometimes become violent but are typically NOT anti-western. Avoid areas where crowds of personnel appear to be assembling.

Stay healthy

Drink plenty of water. April through November can be very hot (up to 45 ºC) and humid. It is important to stay hydrated, especially if you are outdoor during the day. Bottled water is sold practically everywhere in the city from "Cold Stores" and small restaurants at very reasonable prices. In the souk, walking vendors offer small chilled bottles but you may end up paying more than the bottle is really worth. If you are living in Bahrain for an extended period of time, you can set up an arrangement for a neighborhood Cold Store to delliver bottled water to your flat, or sign up for water delivery through several companies on the island.

Respect

Bahrain is a fairly gracious host nation but it is imperative to demonstrate respect and courtesy in reference to their particular cultural practices and religion at all times. When out in places where local Arabs can be found it is advisable to wear long trousers, not shorts, even when it is hot out, and women should wear long sleeves. However, in beach clubs and hotels, swimsuits, bikinis and shorts are okay to wear. Do not show signs of affection to members of the opposite sex in public or risk being mistaken as one with very loose morals and you will be treated accordingly. People of the opposite sex HAVE been arrested for lip kissing in public and it is just not socially accepted. Men will frequently be seen hugging and kissing other men in public and women may hold hands with other women. This does NOT infer that they are homosexual in the Arab world, it is simply their custom. Always avoid any confrontation and never become involved in an argument. In general it is desirable to understand and respect the culture in which you live or enjoy your vacation.

Contact

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