Leaving in 48 hours....two final questions!

madchen
Newbie

Posts: 6

Leaving in 48 hours....two final questions! May 28, 2013 21:03:50 GMT

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Post by madchen on May 28, 2013 21:03:50 GMT

o! I am leaving in 48 hours (super excited!) and I have two remaining questions:

1. At orientation, they suggested bringing a considerable amount of cash with us, but the lady who led orientation probably relocated there over 10 years ago. In this day and age, it seems going with $100 USD and then pulling a large quany of Riyals from the ATM is the way to go. Any advice?

2. I have a VPN router but I just realized I need a modem as well. Do the internet service providers in KSA provide you a modem? Most do in the United States (you just supply the router). Just want to make sure that I show up and can get internet quickly...and not having a modem would certainly slow things down!

Thanks everyone!

UmmRiyam
Senior Member

Posts: 338

Leaving in 48 hours....two final questions! May 29, 2013 5:02:26 GMT

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Post by UmmRiyam on May 29, 2013 5:02:26 GMT

I would advise traveling with a bit more than $100. Maybe $300-$500 if you are traveling with your family so you make sure you have enough cash for food, drinks, help in the airport if needed, cash in case anything goes wrong and you end up stranded in some random airport, etc. You will need whatever USD is left when you go back to the US again for spending in the airports.

You can buy a modem or router here in Jarir bookstore. I don't think Aramco provides any modem or router. The other options are to buy a portable modem from Mobily, STC, or Zain. You pay for the modem and usually it comes with some sort of data, and then you pay as you go or pay monthly for an unlimited data package.

GroveWanderer
Members

Posts: 731

Leaving in 48 hours....two final questions! May 29, 2013 6:26:14 GMT

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Post by GroveWanderer on May 29, 2013 6:26:14 GMT

Unless something has changed very recently that I'm not aware of, if you apply for and get ADSL or FTTH (fiber optic) internet access, the company provides a modem/router The current model (at least based on the last several new arrivals I know of) is a wireless modem/router.

The current guidelines still talk about a technician installing the modem/router and say the user must return the modem on leaving.

bigbrass1111
Member

Posts: 22

Leaving in 48 hours....two final questions! May 29, 2013 15:34:46 GMT

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Post by bigbrass1111 on May 29, 2013 15:34:46 GMT

Your VPN router should plug in to the router/device that they give you when they (aramco) install your ADSL, which plugs directly into the wall, which can take up to a couple of weeks to happen after you arrive.

More importantly, but slightly unrelated, are you bringing a Vonage box? Strong recommend on that!!