Saudi Arabia

I am signed up with Wild Frontiers in the U.K. for their 17 Feb trip to Saudi Arabia. The tour originates and returns to Jeddah.

The departure is subject to KSA opening availability of visas for that trip (judged a high probability by October) PLUS a minimum number of about 5-6 travelers (max group size is 12). Because of these contingencies it was the ideal opportunity to book my air to London and beyond to Jeddah using miles since, if the trip doesn't go, I can get the miles back for a modest fee.

I am posting to drum up people to fill out this tour so that it actually DOES operate.

Note that I am NOT looking for a share (I am reserved with single supplement). I AM trying to get the word out to anyone interested that, if KSA is on their to-do list, this would be a good opportunity to fill out the tour attendance.

I do not work for nor represent Wild Frontiers. I am not a travel agent, just a TCC member. My only interest is the hope that the trip gets the necessary critical mass and goes (not always the case from what I hear).

Here's a link to the specific itinerary.

https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/axum/Dossiers%20-%20FTP/2019/North%20Africa%20%26%20the%20Middle%20East/Inside%20The%20Kingdom%20Of%20Saudi%20Arabia%2017Feb19%20%28A%29.pdf

Please spread the word to anyone you know about this tour. If you're interested, please book with Wild Frontiers directly.

Thanks,
David Brezic
San Diego

Hi Nancy,

Well, it ain't gonna happen. After the Khoshoggi murder I was already ambivalent about the trip (not that I haven't made visits to some pretty awful regimes already - see below) but was willing to roll the dice and let the visa situation dictate what would happen. As it turns out, KSA is not issuing any tourist visas, even to companies like Wild Frontiers who has gotten them in the past. So ambivalence and problem solved.

Instead, I kept my ticket to/from London from San Diego, was refunded my KSA deposit and the miles I used for London - KSA - London and am going to Sao Tome instead. It'll be new for me and I speak Portuguese so a couple days in Lisbon and pool time in Sao Tome during our cold weather here sounded like a good substitute. And there are a couple extra days in London to do some shows and see a TCC friend.

Regarding my willingness to go ahead to KSA if visas had materialized, I guess my personal policy is that, knowing a place has a tradition of undemocratic and/or unsavory behavior doesn't keep me away if it goes way back (DPRK is an example where I went anyhow). Where I draw the line is where democracy is getting stolen right now where it had existed. For example, although I have traveled extensively in Turkey in the past, these days I wouldn't spend a nickel there (or on their airline, which I love) given that Erdogan has virtually destroyed the free press and liberties during our own generation. (Similar to why inbound international tourism to the U.S. is down since the Trumps took over from what I hear.)

Thanks for asking but sorry I have no trip to KSA to report on. Maybe in the future.

David Brezic

TCC San Diego Member

Replies

DAVID C BREZIC January 2, 2019 at 1:28pm

Hi Nancy,

Well, it ain't gonna happen. After the Khoshoggi murder I was already ambivalent about the trip (not that I haven't made visits to some pretty awful regimes already - see below) but was willing to roll the dice and let the visa situation dictate what would happen. As it turns out, KSA is not issuing any tourist visas, even to companies like Wild Frontiers who has gotten them in the past. So ambivalence and problem solved.

Instead, I kept my ticket to/from London from San Diego, was refunded my KSA deposit and the miles I used for London - KSA - London and am going to Sao Tome instead. It'll be new for me and I speak Portuguese so a couple days in Lisbon and pool time in Sao Tome during our cold weather here sounded like a good substitute. And there are a couple extra days in London to do some shows and see a TCC friend.

Regarding my willingness to go ahead to KSA if visas had materialized, I guess my personal policy is that, knowing a place has a tradition of undemocratic and/or unsavory behavior doesn't keep me away if it goes way back (DPRK is an example where I went anyhow). Where I draw the line is where democracy is getting stolen right now where it had existed. For example, although I have traveled extensively in Turkey in the past, these days I wouldn't spend a nickel there (or on their airline, which I love) given that Erdogan has virtually destroyed the free press and liberties during our own generation. (Similar to why inbound international tourism to the U.S. is down since the Trumps took over from what I hear.)

Thanks for asking but sorry I have no trip to KSA to report on. Maybe in the future.

David Brezic

TCC San Diego Member
Nancy January 2, 2019 at 1:06pm

Hi, David

Having lived in Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) for 3 years from 1980-1983 I would be interested in hearing how a your visit went. At the time I lived there visitors were not allowed in the center of the Kingdom.

Thanks much

Nancy Clayton

TCC Member

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