Jeddah - Post Report Question and Answers
What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
Jeddah is very well located and it's easy, although not very cheap, to travel around. The highlight was definitely going to al-Ula for the Yanni concert during the Winter at Tantora festival in 2019. We saw a lot of very pretty countryside, especially driving through the sleet, and after having to detour as the main road was flooded out around 30km from the venue. Once we made it, the concert itself and dinner were fantastic, and our AirBnB host managed to talk us in to the Mada'in Salah (Hegra) ruins despite us having missed our tour the previous day due to the road conditions. It was incredible to be there with almost no one else on-site but definitely worth a visit even with more tourists there. The private beaches at Obhur have great reefs right offshore, and there are boat trips to even better snorkel/dive spots frequently. Yanbu is also supposed to have great diving. There are other cool local spots, like Ta'if, and Riyadh/Dariyah are nice for a weekend. Istanbul is a great place for weekend trips, as is Amman (and/or Petra). Spent my winter break in Egypt and that was lovely. - Oct 2022
I love the 2-min commute, the food option and amenities of America. They have HUGE malls and modern movie theaters which is a break from our AF assignments. We would have extended if given the option. - Aug 2022
We loved our day trips to the Western beach clubs north of town and road trips to the mountains south of Jeddah. Lots of strong friendships from families across the globe on our compound, and fun social gatherings there. We really loved the educational approach of BISJ. The flower festival in Yanbu was also worth the visit. The Club-Med sized pool at our compound was also a highlight of many days and we got world-class tennis lessons from a former Olympic athlete/coach at very reasonable prices. Nanny/housekeeping costs were less than half what we would pay in any major US city. Our family felt safe an happy on the Western compounds and we really enjoyed getting to explore Old Jeddah and get to know the history and culture of Jeddah/Saudi. - Nov 2020
My favorite memory of Jeddah is actually flying into the country; not because we were flying in, but because there were always people on the flight who were going on umrah or hajj. You always knew who they were because they'd go change into their towels or white abayas either shortly before or during the flight. They were also so happy and excited to be there, and their excitement was catching. One flight, the guys were so thrilled that they were going up and down the aisles, happily singing songs and getting everyone to sing with them. And another, I was surrounded by a huge British family, maybe a dozen people of all ages, who went on umrah every year. Mixed in the group were a couple singletons who were on their first umrah. And the family spent most of the flight giving the newbies all their hints and tricks and advice, and it was just a joy to listen in. You couldn't help but feel their enthusiasm and love. - Oct 2019
The underground scene here is great if you can find it. Beach clubs which rival the ones found in SE Asia with dance music and quinoa bowls. This place is far superior than Riyadh because at least we can always either 1) go to the beach or 2) hang out at the compound pools and grill or hangout. People living on the DQ in Riyadh don't have either of those options or have to go to the Embassy to use the pool. I prefer to not go to work when I'm not working. - Jan 2019
Rug shopping at the Souq - Apr 2016
The life outside is kind of difficult. The best part here is the life in the compounds, the families are now in Sierra, and it has a gate to the American school, so the kids just take their bikes and go to school. Trips to marina sleh, Taif. and go to the beach but the beach is not free, you have to pay around US$37 per person. - Nov 2015
The compounds. You can go to the beach, but is not free, you pay around 40 usd per person. you can travel to the emirates - Oct 2015
Nothing. I guess being Muslim is good because of Makkah and Medina. - Oct 2015
Definitely our trip to Mada'in Saleh - "Saudi Arabia's Petra". 7-hour drive away from Jeddah. Some people find a lot of things to do, but with a new baby and the bad traffic here, we haven't been too adventurous around the city. - Aug 2015
Scuba diving, finding this to be a great place for kids. It is not true that women can't go out alone, I always go out by myself, and have never had any problems. It is true that women have to wear an abaya, a black dress, when you go out, you don't have to cover your hair (just when the "mutawas" - the religious police - are around, you have to carry a scarf to cover your hair but in almost 2 years I only saw the mutawas 2 times - and in those cases, people around you tell you so you cover yourself before the police tell you). Women can't drive here, but honestly, you don't want to drive here! It is crazy. We use motor pool and it is one of the most difficult aspects here (sometimes there are no vehicles available). - Feb 2014
Exploring green southern Saudi mountain valleys filled with striking Yemeni architecture, being invited to meals by hospitable desert bedouin and eating chicken and rice with only the stars for light, diving WWI shipwrecks off the coast, evening strolls along Jeddah's seafront "Corniche" with a cool seabreeze blowing by. - Dec 2013
Mada'in Saleh, meeting awesome people from all over the world, spending time at the beach. - May 2013
Money, visiting the al-Wab'ah crater, camping in the desert. - Nov 2010
