Worth knowing
Author: Anothertravelguide.com0 COMMENTS
- Before travelling to Beirut, make sure that your passport does not have an Israeli visa. If it does, then you will have to change your passport, or else your trip to Lebanon may be very short indeed. The Lebanese authorities refuse entry to holders of Israeli and Palestinian passports, holders of passports containing a visa for Israel and passports with entry stamps to Israel.
- Lebanon's official currency is the Lebanese lira or pound, although US dollars are widely accepted. The average exchange rate is about 1500 LL (or LBP) per USD.
- Although the Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport is only 9 kilometres from the city centre, the short car ride is a genuine boon for the city's taxi drivers. Depending on the make of the vehicle and the honesty of the taxi driver, the trip to or from the airport will cost you anywhere between 20 and 40 USD. Agree on a price with the driver before you step into the cab. If you don't feel like haggling and if your budget is not too restricted, then you can always order an airport transfer from your hotel.
- A taxi ride within Beirut's city limits usually costs between LL 7000 - LL 10 000. Most cabs are not equipped with metres, which is why it is important to agree on a price beforehand, and to establish whether the taxi driver knows the location of the place that you wish to visit.
- Driving in Lebanon is an extreme experience, as many Lebanese choose to ignore the rules of the road, despite the fact that the fine for speeding is a hefty 35 USD. If you are a pedestrian, then always check the traffic situation before you cross the street - even if the traffic light is green and you have the right of way. Many a local James Bond will have no qualms about running a red light, or driving down a one-way street in the wrong direction...
- Two of the most popular beaches in the Beirut area are the Lazzy B and Eddie Sands resorts. Keep in mind, however, that both beaches have a steep entry fee of 20 USD.
- Photography buffs might be tempted to take an exotic picture of an armoured personnel carrier, a tank or other military object, which can occasionally be spotted in the city centre, with men in army uniforms standing nearby. Save yourself the effort, as the soldiers are sure to make you erase your prize shot if they catch you taking pictures of them or their hardware.
- The world famous, traditional Lebanese mezze (starter or appetizer) can be ordered in practically every Beiruti restaurant. Among the best-known mezze constituents are hummus (puree of chick peas and sesame paste), moutabal (eggplant and sesame paste dip), tabbouleh (parsley, tomato and crushed wheat salad) and fattoush (green salad with tomatoes and bread), although there are over 100 other variations. If you wish to carry on with the main course after ordering a mezze, then make sure not to eat too much of the mezze before the rest of your meal arrives.
- As with most popular destinations, Beirut has a plethora of guidebooks you can get when preparing your trip or exploring. The one we found to be the best, and well worth the investment, was A Complete Insiders' Guide to Lebanon. The authors are genuine insiders indeed; journalists, photographers and the editor of the culture section of the Middle East version of Elle magazine. This comprehensive guide can be acquired outside Lebanon through www.lebanonpostcard.com, in the books section. The site www.discoverlebanon.com is a bountiful Web resource one should also look into. If you want to know what is happening on Lebanon's art scene check www.onefineart.com. Useful source of information is also www.timeoutbeirut.com
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