Everything to know before moving to Bahrain!

Of all the countries in the Middle East, Bahrain holds a unique familiarity to most military members; if you haven’t been here yourself, you probably still know someone who has. It was December 2018 in Japan when I received orders to PCS to Bahrain, I had wanted anything overseas for the sake of traveling and this was it.

Immediately I was flooded with information, a lot of my friends who had been here shared their experiences, and others created group chats introducing me to their friends who were still in Bahrain. I arrived on the island without actually knowing anyone but already feeling like I had friends. Some of the people from those friendly group chats became like family to me and although most of them have since departed, I am now the one on the other end of the message.

When a long lost friend from flight school hears of a long lost friend from college receiving orders or making a port call in Bahrain I have been here to answer the questions and give recommendations about the things people don’t really know you might want to know. I love to meet everyone and answer questions but I am hoping this post will put down in writing a lot of the small tips I sometimes forget.

“Do I bring my furniture?”

BRING YOUR MATTRESS!

They have terribly hard beds here and even though most apartments come furnished I would suggest making this the one thing you ship. As for everything else… You need to decide if you want to rent furnished or unfurnished.

There is a very high chance of finding an awesome flat or villa completely furnished; new places are popping up all the time and they are generally well decorated. HOWEVER, if you are looking to maintain a certain aesthetic this could be a limiting factor. Bahraini taste can be very gaudy and uncomfortably modern (but still dated- IDK how it’s possible)- this is less prevalent in the new high rise buildings and more so in the individually owned flats and compounds. With that being said a lot of the landlords are flexible and willing to replace furniture or swap it with other properties they own.

To the point of leaving your stuff home, I have seen several friends use their spare bedroom to store all of the unnecessary sh*ts they shipped-that sucks too.

My recommendation: if you’re coming here for less than a year, or planning on living in a luxury high-rise building then leave the furniture at home (The Navy will store it for free.) If you are planning on getting a giant compound (referred to as three-high) or villa then enter the “Do I ship my HHG?” debate.

“Do I bring my car?”

The crowd is split on this one. I was so conflicted and changed my mind multiple times about shipping my basically brand new white SUV that I love dearly. I heard a lot of people say “They are terrible drivers and it will get DESTROYED in a Bahrain sand storm.” Spoiler alert: I shipped the car and the only scrapes on it are from my terrible driving in a parking garage but let’s see a PRO/CON list of bringing your car:

PRO: -It works/ you won’t buy a lemon for cheap and dump tons of money into repairing it.

(*Most important) -I own a car and I want to use it. -Exploring the island is way more accessible if you don’t rely on uber.

-Registering it is slightly annoying but not difficult.

CON: The dust and heat are probably aging the vehicle faster.

If you live in Juffair you can survive without a car altogether.

Renting on a month-to-month plan is more expensive but easier overall.

Juffair: The most popular option; a lot of people looking to save money will stay here and never get a car. It is a reasonable walk or bike ride in the winter and a cheap Uber in the summer. There are three-high compounds right outside the base gate and tons of high-rise options with incredible resort-like amenities. Juffair is also bordering Adliya, Manama’s hub for restaurants and bars- this is where date night is and this is where you rally at the bar after a boozy Friday brunch. The downside resort-like of being in the city is… being in the city. The streets are dirty with overflowing dumpsters, there are stray dogs and stray prostitutes wandering around looking for prey, and on the weekend the Saudis come to the party, honk their horns at girls, and drag race until sunrise. Maintaining my fitness outdoors was harder/ less desirable when I lived in Juffair but I did love my apartment views of the Grand Mosque.

Amwaj Island: My new home! Amwaj is the only part of Bahrain without a mosque and it brings with that a definite Western vibe. Predominately home to expats, it feels like an entirely different world. If you are into fitness culture then this is the spot; from kiteboarding to kayaking we have it all, every night the streets are alive with runners, bikers and dog walkers. Personally I live in Floating City , which is a complete Oasis and while I would not move anywhere else there are some definite drawbacks. The traffic is what gets most people, it hasn’t been bad with the Saudi borders closed for Covid mitigations but overall consensus is that the drivers are extremely frustrating and can excite gross amounts of road rage. Other downsides are: fewer Talabat options, longer Ubers when you party in Adilya & older buildings (Floating city specifically) with inherent maintenance issues.

Reef Island: It feels like California, located near City Center Mall. The reef is a gate-controlled island with a lovely community beach, a few nice restaurants, and a waterfront running trail. Your money doesn’t go quite as far in apartment size but the living is easy and your friends will probably come to spend the day on your beach for 5BHD/pp.

Saar: This is way more popular with my teacher friends but is a good location for families looking to live in a large secluded compound away from the hustle and bustle. The drive is similar to that from Amwaj. Side note: I play Gaelic football at the Rugby club out here several times a week and imagine it would be a great activity for kids.

Adilya/Near the British Club: I don’t know what you would technically call this area but it seems to be a nice blend of everything. Location is wise it is primo for its walkability to Adilya but far enough on the outskirts that you avoid inherent Juffair issues. The nature aspect of Amwaj isn’t quite there but the villas usually have their own pool and a lot of space in gated communities. The British club and Rugby club memberships cross over in some ways which I will discuss in a later post.

When you just PCSd and get 45 days at any hotel:

Go where the points are! The Westin and Marriott Residence Inn are what I personally push people towards as a Marriott Bonvoy connoisseur. The Westin is a more upscale vibe with a bougie lounge and free food for status members, but it’s located further from base. The Westin is connected to City Centre mall, and there is a shuttle to take you to base and back. A nice alternative to The Westin, The Residence Inn is within walking distance of base with a friendly staff and free breakfast.

I didn’t mention Marriott Residence apartments because you only get points for one hotel stay every 3 nights since it was designed for people on extended stays (booo!) Also, Four Seasons may be available for some of you dual mil/ people with family budgets. If you aren’t Bonvoy, then get to steppin’! JK, but you should look up hotels that will give you points for whatever program you work with. PEOPLE IN THE BACK, IF YOU ARE NOT ON A STATUS PROGRAM THEN YOU ARE WASTING THIS BLESSING. Sure, the Gulf Hotel looks nice, but 45 days on any program (especially when coupled with automatic status awarded with a solid credit card) can provide insane travel perks in free rooms and food, upgrades, drinks, and gifts. See me after class if you need to learn.

Currently with COVID ROM requirements you have to stay in a designated quarantine hotel for the first 10 days until your negative retest. There are currently no Marriott affiliate hotels on the list but you can switch to make the most out of your remaining 35 days.

First things First

When you’re fresh off the plane:

1. Download a VPN. I use ExpressVPN and it works well enough that I just don’t think about it. Having a VPN isn’t just about porn and taboo websites, it can also change what is available to you on Netflix.

2. Download Talabat. It’s essentially UberEats, mostly restaurants but you can find groceries (including produce from the farmers market), flowers, and electronics.

Tip the Talabat drivers, they make next to nothing

1. There is a phone kiosk on the 2nd floor at the NEX to buy prepaid SIM cars. It costs approx $17 USD/month… I don’t understand how it is so much more expensive back home. You need your passport for a phone number but not for a WIFI hotspot SIM. Additionally, T-mobile’s international plan is a suitable alternative if you don’t want to change your number.

2. Download Whatsapp. This is primarily what people communicate on ESPECIALLY if you keep your American number

3. Use Uber…taxis will rip you off if you don’t go through the app.

4. Register for alcohol points at the tobacco counter in the NEX. Every month(ish) there is a wine show that doesn’t count against your points.

5. Generally don’t drink tap water.

6. Standard power voltage in Bahrain is 230V which is significantly higher than the 120V that is used in the USA. Make sure to step down the power using an appropriately rated transformer in order to avoid destroying your beloved 72” smart TV.

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