Budget Hacks: Traveling in the Middle East for Cheap
The Middle East can be hit or miss when it comes to traveling on a budget — some destinations are ridiculously expensive while others can prove to be ridiculously cheap.
However, even if you’re traveling to destinations which are known to cost visitors an arm and a leg, there are still many ways to stick to a budget if you’re savvy about it.
The following are five budget hacks for traveling through the Middle East for cheap.
Eat Cheap in Amman, Jordan
Amman is a reasonably expensive city, so cheap food won’t present itself unless you know where to look.
For those searching for a fast and cheap cuisine, we recommend visiting a place called Hashem located on King Faisal Street. Hashem is a cheap eatery which offers an inexpensive way to sample the local cuisine. You can eat outside and enjoy hummus, falafel, pita, or lamb with vegetables for an average of $7.
Photo credit: Ronald Woan.
Stay in Hostels in Beirut, Lebanon
Beirut is weirdly expensive considering Lebanon is still recovering from a war, though it is still possible to enjoy yourself if you’re traveling on a budget. One of the best ways to do this is to stay in hostels.
Beirut is a hub of fancy hotels, so the best way to save money is to avoid these entirely. Pension Al-Nazih and Talal’s New Hotel are two clean hostels near Gemmayze’s high street. Neither of these will set you back more than $30 per night — and that’s for a private room in high season. Dorm rooms and travel during the off-season will run you less.
Free Tourist Visa for Muscat, Oman
It’s a little known fact that if you first arrive in Dubai, the tourist stamp in your passport will grant you a free visa into Oman. The country has a tourism cooperation agreement with the Emirate of Dubai. Be sure to travel directly to Oman, however, without passing through a third country for this to apply.
A Dubai tourist visa is free for more nationalities than one for Oman. Spend the $55 you saved on your time in Muscat.
Cheap Entrance Fees in Cairo, Egypt
Everyday expenses in Cairo are fairly low when compared to Europe or America, so this is a great destination for those traveling on a budget. People travel to Egypt for the abundance of magnificent historic sites, so travelers generally find that the majority of their budget goes towards entrance fees.
If you’re not a fan of history, you can cut your budget quite considerably in this area. You can’t avoid entrance fees, but student IDs are the best way to get considerable discounts — usually 50 percent.
Visit Jerusalem, Israel in Winter
Winter in Jerusalem is low season. Not only does this mean that the prices drop, but there are also plenty of free things to do.
Even for those who are not religious, midnight mass at Beit Jamal monastery is an experience not to be missed. The city also has many museums, and winter is a fantastic time to visit these — each of them being indoor and heated!
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