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Post by TexanFish on Feb 6, 2016 17:22:35 GMT
I am flying over on the 28th of Feb. and have read tons of postings on here but still have the following questions:
1) Why do I need a VPN? What are good brands and typical prices? Can I set this up myself? I am not techie at all.
2) I have a Verizon iPhone and was told that I will not be able to use it there because it is CDMA, not GSM. Should I get a T-Mobile plan/phone that is GSM, like a Nexus 5x (someone at my current job here in the US mentioned this phone as a good one).
3) Can I bring a TV with me as cargo on my flight?
4) Are there any risks of packing up my stuff in dish crates and having those loaded on my flight?
5) Will customs tear through all my stuff when I get there or at some other juncture of the trip? I hate to think I might have to repack those crates!
6) I will be there on bachelor status - what can I budget to cover my monthly expenses in KSA? (food, entertainment, etc.)
7) I've seen people on here recommending bringing ds...really? If so, what size? Also for sheets, what size? Are all beds queen size?
8) Lamps - People also say to bring these. I'm a GC 13, so maybe grade determines what type of furnishings I'll have, but no lamps whatsoever? Hard to believe in a furnished place. I don't want to bring a bunch of delicate stuff in those dish crates.
Thanks for your help and advice. I'm super-nervous!
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Post by CanadianBacon on Feb 7, 2016 4:58:39 GMT
1. A VPN allows you to get content that might otherwise be inaccessible. It also encrypts your web traffic so you get some extra security. If you're not into Netflix, Hulu, etc. then you might not care so much. Many people use StrongVPN with Sabai Technology routers, but there are many other options too. I know that Sabai offers the option to configure StrongVPN for you, for an additional charge. A VPN subscription is probably about $75/year.
2. If you like the iPhone, you can buy an unlocked one with GSM (mine is) before you leave. Something to consider is that if you buy an Apple device after you arrive here, it will not have FaceTime. I haven't used a phone from the other brands.
3. I can't say for sure, but I'd wager this would come down to the specific airline's cargo policy.
4. I did this without problems. However, a standard dish barrel box is larger than the standard baggage allowance. A Uhaul dish barrel box is 64in total (L+W+H), but the maximum baggage size on Luthansa is 62in. I cut my boxes down about 3" and was fine. I've heard of some people using unmodified full-size boxes without problems. However, I've also heard of other people where the airline actually measured the box to make sure it was not oversize.
5. They could if they wanted to, but probably won't. They've usually got other things occupying their attention.
6. Totally depends on lifestyle. If you don't drive a car and don't eat out, you could probably live on $100-200 USD /week if you're willing to buy local food brands. If you want to eat out frequently, and make trips to Bahrain, you will spend a lot more. If you have car payments and insurance, then that will increase your costs too.
7. You can always buy ds here if you need them. Not sure what bed sizes Aramco provides in Dhahran, as we live off-camp. I've been told the bed measurements here are different than the equivalent size (e.g. King) in North America, but I've never measured.
8. Lamps isn't something I would bring, unless you're picky. You can always go to IKEA or SACO and buy lamps if you need them.
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Post by TexanFish on Feb 7, 2016 15:15:38 GMT
Thank you very much for the quick and thorough reply. I forgot to ask about banking over there. Can I still use my Chase Visa debit card over there to pay for pretty much everything like I do now in the States? Will I need to open a local account? Can I transfer money between US and local accounts? Can I use all the usual credit cards over there without incurring weird fees for currency rates, etc? Why do I need $1000-2000 Riyals in hand when I hit the ground over there? I saw that on recommendation on a post or two in regards to what all I should bring with me. That list seems to be getting longer and longer. I'm looking at 3-4 dish crates now, which I'm not sure is even allowed by the airlines. I can't really query them yet either as I haven't been given flight details yet, but I would imagine it will be Emirates or Lufthansa?
Thanks again.
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Post by TexanFish on Feb 7, 2016 15:20:55 GMT
In regards to you bringing an unlocked iPhone, did you do that so you could have it set up with a local provider? Is it wise to just go get a T-mobile plan and one of their GSM iPhones (or any GSM phone really, I just prefer iPhone)? Will I need both local and T-mobile? In other words, 2 cell phones? I heard some people just get a cheap local phone and then have one on T-Mobile (or other providers?) that they use for international calls, facetime, Skype, etc.? I am really concerned about communication as my family is staying here.
This forum is a lifesaver!
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Post by ToesInTheSand on Feb 8, 2016 1:57:02 GMT
As for VPN, it depends on what your needs are. If you have lots of devices that you need to access blocked content or "out of region" content (hulu, netflix, amazon prime) then a VPN router as mentioned above would be prudent. You will find a neighbor to help you out with set up.
If you only need it for your tv, then I suggest using a DNS service. A smart tv can be set up to access US services like Hulu and Netflix with nothing more than a subscription to a DNS service using local internet. No other hardware is needed. You can always use a vpn app on your phone or ipad
As for shipping a tv on your flight, you could, but I wouldn't. You can buy tvs here very easily and at a reasonable cost. You will want a smart tv and it should be compatible with the local PAL standard.
For packing, I used the plastic crates from Home Depot. They too were two inches over, but Lufthansa didn't check. They were nice because I could zip tie them closed rather than tape, and now that I am here, I have plenty of stoe bins to keep.
Customs scanned my boxes and waved them through. They didn't open anything. But anything can happen on any given day. Be sure to pack a coffee maker and plenty of your favorite coffee. There will not be a coffee maker in your place. You can get ok coffee here like maxwell house and folgers and some other brands, but if you like something more specific, bring it with you. We drink Peetes coffee and its not available here. This is where Amazon Pantry service helps too.
The question of lamps has to do with wanting your own decor. You can't buy 110 lamps here, but there are people that will help convert ones you can buy. All electrics sold here are 220, but all of the Aramco housing is 110 with only select outlets being 220. Grade has nothing to do with the furnishings. You will also want to pack and ship a microwave.
Now as for your verizon iphone... It should be fine! I came with my whole family, all with verizon iphone 5 and was able to get a local sim and it worked perfectly and with facetime. You should research your specific device though.
I cant help with the sheets and stuff, but bed sized here can be either US sizes or UK sizes. You csn get ds here. The only reason to bring them is to black out your bedroom those first days if your place didn't provide them. Find out exactly where you will be housing upon arrival and go from there.
I assume your work location is going to be Dhahran? It is possible you will be placed in temporary housing outside Dhahran until a home is available... housing on camp is still tight for all sizes. A friend from my orientation had to temorarily house in Abqaiq and commute into Dhahran until a place was available. Took him about 2 months to move into Dh.
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Post by bogiefrommuskogee on Feb 8, 2016 16:22:53 GMT
Ds are a lot cheaper to buy here. When I retire, I'm actually going to have ds made here and take them back. Whether a lamp is 220 V or 120 V depends on what buld is screwed into it. A lamp, by itself, cannot be for only one voltage unless it hss an electronic dimmer built in. Then it matters. Just be aware that it is safer to operate a 120 V lamp on a 220 V circuit (assuming no dimmer) than vice versa. This is because manufacturers always want to redce cost. Since a lamp is a pure resistance corcuit, for any given wattage (e.g. 100 watts, the product of volts and amps is the same. Double the voltage - half the amps. The diameter of the copper determines how many amps it can carry so a 100 watt lamp designed for 220 V will have smaller wire than a 100 watt designed for 120 V. If you cut the 220 V plug off of a lamp and replace it with a North American plug, you have a 120 V lamp with small wire. Probably won't cause a fire but I personally would also replace the wire.
You can use credit cards here but my banks charge 1% international service fee. There are sometimes cases of credit card fraud. You can set up a local bank account temporarily until you get your iqama but you need to get HR's help and it might take the better part of a day. I have come to the decision to set up a seoarate debit card account which I will only use while traveling or for local purchases if I don't have enough in my NCB account. This will limit my exposure to fraud and only lock up an unimportant account if I do get hacked or scammed.
Agreed on the DNS over VPN for streaming video although Netflix is no longer blocked. Hulu still is. The VPN router I had worked fine when I was on fiber but, with the STC or Mobily routers, it stopped. I'm sure it be reconfigured but I only use VPN on my iPad for banking so really no longer need the router since kids left for boarding school.
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Post by expatinwaiting on Feb 8, 2016 17:02:17 GMT
For everyday purchases, I highly recommend a Chase credit card, as they typically don't have international transaction fees. Moreover, the exchange rate is usually 3.75 or 3.749.
You'll need cash for things like taxis, buying SIM cards at the airport, eating out at small restaurants, house cleaning services and other odds and ends and depending on your family size, the money can go very quickly.
As for the iPhone, Verizon may unlock it for you. If not, there are services that will do it for a nominal fee in 1-2 weeks.
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Post by bogiefrommuskogee on Feb 9, 2016 16:21:29 GMT
I think AT&T or T-Mobile will work here but not Verizon. In what little research I did when I bought my AT&T without contract, I think I read that the 4G may not really be 4G here. Something about the wrong frequency as US and Europe have different standards. Since I'm generally on WiFi, I preferred Facetime over 4G.
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Post by 3KSA on Feb 10, 2016 6:17:46 GMT
Verizon iPhone works fine here. My wife brought one and plugged in the SIM from Mobily with no issues. All Verizon 4g phones are supposed to be unlocked for GSM. My Samsung and LG android phones from Verizon also work fine, but you have to set up the APN for them. With iPhone it was just plug it in.
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Post by TexanFish on Feb 12, 2016 16:50:37 GMT
One more phone question...If I convert my current cell over to Mobily then when I leave the country for vacation I won't have service, correct? I was thinking about taking my current iPhone to T-Mobile, trading it in and getting one of their phones to use over there. They told me that they are partnered with the cell companies in KSA to use their towers, so I would have in-country and out-of-country service. If I understand correctly, if I go this route I STILL must get a cell from Mobily because Aramco requires you to have local service. Is that correct? Is it also true that you must have local service to get government communications and things like traffic violations (I hear they send those to your phone)?
Thanks!
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Post by TexanFish on Feb 17, 2016 14:29:27 GMT
Another newbie Q...Is the water in the camps raw or treated? I've heard it can be a combination of both too where, for instance, your kitchen tap is treated, but all others are "raw". Is the Dhahran camp all treated water? What about Abqaiq (sp?)? Also, what does "raw" really mean?
Thanks!
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Post by vpainter on Feb 19, 2016 17:49:59 GMT
First, raw water here is water that has been fully treated, but has not been totally desalinenated. If you were to drink it, it is salty. It has a lot of disolved solids in it.
We then have what we call sweet water. It is like a city water in the US, fully treated.
This water is located in one faucet in the kitchen (kitchen has a raw water faucet as well), dishwasher, and ice maker line for the refrigerator. Every other faucet in the house is raw water.
All the Aramco compounds have this set up: DHA, ABQ, RT, and UDH.
There are several posts on the forum about the water, please do a search and read those posts.
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Post by 3KSA on Feb 21, 2016 5:49:36 GMT
TexanFish,
As far as I know there is no requirement from Aramco to have any mobile service. There are 2 factor authentication processes from both Aramco and Government websites that send a code to your mobile phone for you to log into certain services. I believe a local mobile phone number is required for that.
We have kept our Verizon account active in the USA. When we return to the USA we just put the Verizon sim card into the phone and use Verizon service. When we are in Saudi we put the Mobily card in the phone. Everything works seamlessly. Also, when we travel in Europe we often buy a local sim card for the country we are in and put it in the phone. It is usually much cheaper than paying roaming charges.
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Post by GroveWanderer on Mar 15, 2016 5:35:43 GMT
3KSA,
Unless something has changed recently, Aramco does not require you to have a local mobile number for 2-factor authentication. A number of rig foremen who spend relatively large chunks of time out of Kingdom, use their overseas mobile number.
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Post by 3KSA on Mar 17, 2016 5:34:59 GMT
Good point. It would be fairly easy to do assuming that the overseas phone is compatible and the roaming cost of receiving texts is not an issue. My cost for a prepaid Mobily plan is less than SR 150 per month for more data and calls than I can use, so for me it is an easy decision to get a local SIM card.
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