fj
Senior Member
Posts: 110
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Post by fj on May 30, 2023 20:33:22 GMT
Evening all. My husband and I have decided to take a trip over to Dammam to have a look and see what it’s like before we commit to moving over!
Can anyone recommend any hotels and areas to stay in please?
We are going to visit in July which I know is not ideal due to the heat and the camp being quiet but it’s what’s working with our timeframes. Many thanks 😊
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tamsin
Senior VIP Expat
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Post by tamsin on May 31, 2023 4:29:01 GMT
Al Khobar, the corniche area has a lot of hotels and general amenities.
Are they arranging a pass for you to get on to camp?
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fj
Senior Member
Posts: 110
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Post by fj on May 31, 2023 7:03:53 GMT
Thanks Tamsin.
We haven’t asked yet - still just sorting childcare for our dates at this end 😂! We plan on asking our relocation advisor - have you heard it done before? If you have any ideas of things we should do / see they would be most welcome.
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Post by ghzhujwmao on May 31, 2023 7:10:04 GMT
I am not sure what this trip will give to you. The Aramco camp is totally different from outside, which you may not see. Some people live in Bahrain since they don't like the camp. Do you have enough time to sort out all these options?
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jrs
Senior Member
Posts: 379
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Post by jrs on May 31, 2023 7:12:44 GMT
I’ve never heard of anyone “checking out” before accepting or rejecting an offer. This would be impossible to do before the KSA tourist/visitor visa was thing.
Doubt Aramco would grant a gate pass to get on compound for an expat candidate “to ck out” that is considering an offer, unless it was like GC 16 or higher or highly critical need candidate?
I agree that seeing Khobar & Dammam prob will not persuade you one way or the other - may actually turn u off LOL! Aramco Camp/compound life is much different than living on the outside.
Really, need to make your decision from what learn on this board, Aramco provided info and other information you can research Online.
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tamsin
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Post by tamsin on May 31, 2023 7:45:29 GMT
I agree, we’ve never had a visit paid by the company or encoued paid by us.. We could have done if we’d wanted but here? As JRs said, a visitor pass for the camp is slim to nil, and outside is outside. Schools will be closed, so no tours.
If you want an idea of what is here, there are YouTubes of the malls, the ISG schools and all the supermarkets are online for pricing and availability.
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fj
Senior Member
Posts: 110
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Post by fj on May 31, 2023 10:18:12 GMT
Thanks guys - appreciate your advice and feedback.
I agree with your comments and I do know this is out of the norm.
However we have annual leave to take and will be viewing it as a nice trip and will bring some comfort to us.
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jrs
Senior Member
Posts: 379
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Post by jrs on May 31, 2023 10:25:18 GMT
If u have the time, money and desire, then no harm visiting KSA and viewing what’s outside Dhahran camp. After all KSA is open for tourism now!
Recommend the Grand Hyatt in Khobar. Very nice and next to big mall, although the most confusing mall inside in the world with its one way escalators.
There are other good major hotel chains too, including Hilton, Sheraton, etc..
Definitely recommend staying in Khobar vs Dammam
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tamsin
Senior VIP Expat
Posts: 655
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Post by tamsin on May 31, 2023 13:52:52 GMT
If it was more holiday with some fact finding, there are a few resorts 30 minutes out on the coast. Radissson Blue etc, Al Khobar. Things are open late so you’d have all evening, taxis are not expensive.
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Post by BlueStaff on May 31, 2023 14:24:39 GMT
Come and visit - like all cities there is good and bad. First things first, this is one of the safest countries in the world.
Some parts of Khobar/Dammam/Dhahran and Jubail are stunning, some parts are trash. You have a good choice of malls around and lots of food options in the main cities.
Bahrain is 1hr away from Khobar on a good day so you could also hop across for a few days (make sure if you have a hire car you have permission to take it across).
It's a bad time of year tho - around 40c is common in daytime, low 30s or so at night.
Taif or Abha will be nice in summer due to their elevation (circa 2000m). You could split between Eastern province and take an internal flight to these areas. More like a Mediterranean climate due to the elevation. Jeddah also will be a better temperature than Eastern Province.
The one thing you will need is transport so hire a car if you come.
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fj
Senior Member
Posts: 110
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Post by fj on Jun 4, 2023 8:53:11 GMT
🤣 yes very true! 😂
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tamp
Member
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Post by tamp on Jun 12, 2023 11:49:58 GMT
How did your trip go?
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fj
Senior Member
Posts: 110
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Post by fj on Jul 5, 2023 19:04:59 GMT
Sorry Tamp for the delay. We’ve not been yet - we go mid July. Looking forward to it. We’ve booked four nights in Bahrain to relax but will also have a few nights in Al Khobar (still to book hotel). HR have confirmed we can’t get on to camp. So any restaurant / tourist recommendations welcome!  |
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Post by kyle1639 on Jul 6, 2023 21:39:53 GMT
Sorry Tamp for the delay. We’ve not been yet - we go mid July. Looking forward to it. We’ve booked four nights in Bahrain to relax but will also have a few nights in Al Khobar (still to book hotel). HR have confirmed we can’t get on to camp. So any restaurant / tourist recommendations welcome! Look up MeatCo in Bahrain, also China Garden at the gulf hotel are both really nice! Saudi side, La gondola in Khobar is really nice, can't beat a PF change or cheesecake factory at Ajdan walk |
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Post by BlueStaff on Jul 7, 2023 6:33:51 GMT
Make sure you have Uber installed to get around Bahrain. I've seen the local taxi drivers try to scam 20BD for a ride that is 3 BD in Uber.
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