Hosting visitors in Bahrain!

Last month my wonderful mother came to visit me in Bahrain; because of COVID it had been a full year since our last trip- the longest we ever went without seeing each other. Since moving here a year and a half ago she was my fourth visitor from the states. Each person has been different and circumstances have drastically changed from when I first arrived but I wanted to compile a list of my favorite places to take out of town guests!

First off- COVID.

In Bahrain we have steadily been reducing our COVID mitigations and returning to a new form of normal. When Mother flew to Bahrain Via LAX > DBX on Emirates she was required to have a COVID test 96 hours prior to flying, this is prior to departing NOT arriving (With such a long flight it actually makes a huge difference)!!!

From what I can tell, flights are more consistent now but for a while it seemed like every day there was someone new with a cancelled flight. I think the benefit to flying Emirates was that there were no European connection (lets face it - they are a mess) and something about that GCC ego - Emirates is not going to back out on that flight that they booked.

If it wasn’t for the Dubai connection Mother would not have been required to test beforehand because EVERYONE ARRIVING IN BAHRAIN WILL BE TESTED AT THE AIRPORT. The system is quite efficient but the lack of signs could lead you to wait in line for no reason if you follow the sheeple. Military members with ID cards do not need to pay, you can proceed directly through customs to be tested, my work email had said a copy of orders was required but they saw my CAC and knew exactly what to do ( you are also not required to download the “BeAware Bahrain” app.) Other people requiring payment can pay ahead or wait in line, it seemed to move quite quickly and the bags had not even arrived beforehand.

I won’t talk about military policy here because I’m cheeky and enjoy pointing out the flaws but I will just mention that for Mother the app notified her of the negative test result by 10 am the next morning (from an 11 PM flight) and she was freed from self-quarantine- YAY!

Making the most of the Middle East

In best-case scenario a flight from the good ole USA to Bahrain is about 16 hours but the travel time can easily surpass 36+ hours depending on what part of the country you are traveling from and the number of connecting flights you take. YIKES! With this in mind, I have tried to strategically plan my visitors in a way that allows me to show them a little more of the Middle East.

Most recently, when Mother came to visit I wanted to join her for a long weekend in Dubai. We left Bahrain together and both took 4-day “layovers” before she flew back to LAX and I continued on to Maldives( C’mon I’d have to ROM anyways.) While I love my life in Bahrain there is so much more to see in the GCC and it would have been a shame to not make the most of the opportunity.

Before COVID made quarantine a thing my old move was to sandwich a Bahrain visitor with a long weekend in the GCC and a trip elsewhere:

My friend Don met me in Oman before we spent the week in Bahrain and then traveled to Jordan together.

My friend Leah met me in Dubai, we came back to Bahrain via Abu Dhabi and then went to Israel and Greece together for the most honeymoon-worthy vaca of my life.

While the GCC seems to be reopening at a steady pace it will probably take a minute for the military restrictions to catch up but we can dream- inshallah.

Where to go in the Kingdom?

This post is inspired by all my lucky friends and work colleagues expecting visitors for the holidays. Everyone wants something a little different so I will just throw it all out there to see what sticks! I hope you enjoy it.

The Souk: A marketplace perfect for buying all of your little souvenirs and memorabilia.

Bahrain is notorious for its reasonably priced precious metals like gold and silver. Personally, I love the lamp shops, handmade wooden furniture, spice, and “puzzle boxes” that have no obvious lock but require a specific sequence to open. When you type in “souk” to the GPS it may begin directing you to “Bāb al-Baḥrayn” which means the gateway to Bahrain, this is a historical building marking the entrance of the souk.

Heritage Village in Bab Al- Bahrain:

This isn’t the best food you will find, in fact, it's very “meh,” but a great spot to stop for tea and juice while shopping the souk. Imagine that Disney decorated it in the image of what people imagine Bahrain to be.

The Merchant House:

The only boutique hotel in Bahrain, the Merchant House is a great spot to enjoy luxury within the hustle and bustle of the souk. The original concrete walls of this old office building are now adorned with iconic graffiti art. Check out their rooftop restaurant for killer ambiance.

Bahrain International Karting Circuit:

The Formula 1 races may have been closed for the public but go-karts are back! This isn’t just an activity for the kids, get your adrenaline going as you race friends in these high-performingevery night karts. They are open everynight from 4-10 PM.

Zallaq springs:

While you are down in the South Western portion of the Island you should swing by the flamingos in Zallaq springs. There are a few awesome restaurants like Shakespeare and Co and Venice, as well as 7 coffee shops. The ambiance is very relaxed and vibe, one of my favorite spots.

Sunset drinks outside at Sofitel Tapas bar:

Sofitel is a great place to staycation because it is an Arabic-inspired resort with 5-star quality and lower-end prices (due to location.) If you don’t feel like staying overnight you should at least swing by the outdoor tapas bar for a sunset cocktail. It is a seriously serene view. This resort is just down the block from Zallaq Springs and the BIKC so I recommend making the most of your drive and doing a full day of it.

Gravity Indoor Skydiving: Another reason to make a trip to Zallaq is Bahrain’s indoor skydive tunnel, Gravity.

As an adrenaline addict, this is one of my most cherished hobbies but it is fun for the whole family, even if you just observe. Bahrain has one of the most impressive facilities worldwide and is constantly hosting amazing international flyers. Currently closed for COVID.

Al Areen Resort and Wildlife Park:

You can see from my other posts that I am a HUGE fan of stay cationing, especially at Al Areen, but did you know they also have a wildlife park? I haven’t gone to check out the animals just yet but have heard plenty of reviews from families who have and enjoyed it very much…something to keep in the back pocket if you know some wee people aka children.

A’Ali Pottery Markets and Classes:

If you can get them home safely, there is no better souvenir than hand made ceramics. Check out my post for more details on visiting A’Ali.

Camels in Durratt:

Camels are synonymous when you think of the Middle East; in this part of the world there are camel races and beauty pageants- to include plastic surgery, eyelash extensions and lip fillers. However, they aren’t actually native to Bahrain so most people tend to visit the camel farm. Well unfortunately the farm is still closed …because the camels are social distancing? But if you are willing to drive down to Durratt you could likely see them walking along the beach enjoying their day. Have you ever seen a camel galloping after a car? I have and I still think about it regularly. They are just North of Marina al Durrat

Tree of life:

I’m not here to recommend driving all the way South to see a tree, it is literally no more exciting than it sounds. However, if paired with one or several of the above activities it would just be about a five minute detour which is almost palatable. #treeoflifeisfakenews

Paddle board with Beach Culture at Bahrain Bay:

A sunset paddle session is the perfect way to take in the beauty of Bahrain Bay. Book in advance as they can sometimes sell out. 9BHD / 1 hour session.

Take an island trip (in the Summer):

Al Dar

This beach is more of a party island with awesome beach huts for day use and overnight stays. They are open every day and the price can vary based on the time of year. Read more here.

Hawar

A resort desert island with a nature reserve and dive trips to swim with the dugongs (sea cows) and occasionally whale sharks. They have day access on weekends for about 20 BHD.

Jarada

A sand bar island and DIY party spot! Day trip boats with space available are organized for the weekends, price depends on number of people on the boat and company booked.

Al Fateh Grand Mosque:

Free tours are given daily except Fridays. Make sure to dress appropriately as this is a sacred place of worship. The dress code is outlined here.

Bahrain fort:

A great place to walk around and watch the sunset. You can also ride horses along the beach here as well. Contact the Ghazwan Equestrian Center for details.

Brunch

I cover a few basic brunches here but make sure to look up special holiday offerings. I’m personally planning to do a Christmas Eve brunch at Sofitel to check out their giant tree, Christmas carolers and fake snow! Bahrain really goes all out for the holidays and I love it!

Cocos in Adiliya:

I just have to include on here this because I ignored countless recommendations for over a year and when I finally went last month is was AMAZING!

Shawarma Alley and Oasis Carpets:

There’s no a better drunk meal than a cheap shawarma and no more authentic “military visiting the Middle East” experience like buying an expensive rug. Both are just a block over West of Adilya. Type in “Haifa cafeteria” to find shawarma alley and when you get swarmed( orshawarmad lol) by tons of men in paper hats you have arrived. Abdulla is the sassiest rug man in the biz.

GrafEATii Bistro and Bowling

Located on the Amwaj Lagoon. GrafEATii is open every day from 12 pm-12 am. Bowling is about 3.5 BHD pp/hour and cheaper for subsequent games. They have food and a bar, it was surprising that this spot was completely dead on a Saturday because it was an awesome vibe