what should i do here for ~1.5-2 weeks? In Beirut specifically and then other than Beirut.
inb4 'bad time to go' etc.
what not to miss in LEBANON
what should i do here for ~1.5-2 weeks? In Beirut specifically and then other than Beirut.
inb4 'bad time to go' etc.
This video is a must-watch about Lebanon
Their economy is so screwed people are working for 7 euro per month
Most importantly, governmental exchange rate is 1usd:1500lira including payouts on ATMs and card payments of all kinds. Bring plenty of cash and exchange it in the black markets - current course is 25 times the official rate.
Lebanon has one of the largest diaspora populations in the world, everybody either has somebody or knows somebody who lives abroad and can get them fresh dollars
This is especially true in the more French speaking Christian population
The situation is bad but it's not *as* bad as these videos like to make out
I think they're actually changing the official rate to 15,000/$ at the end of the month, none official is still 2x
It's perfectly fine to go now
This, I am Lebanese Armenian and most lebanese christians live like israelites in western countries and send money back. Even Syria is not as bad as youd think it is
How does sending money back work though? Surely people don't accept withdrawing at the bank exchange rate and you can't withdraw dollars with a local card
Or do they physically being cash every so often?
Western union
I always wanted to go but this isn't a good time now is it?
Go to their southern border and throw rocks at israel
You can visit gov area (was closed for like a 3 years), you need to fastalk guards into leting you in, but it was possible when i was there 5 weeks ago, its basicly a ghost town in the middle of city. Theres not a lot to see in Beirut, but a lot to expirience, like going via promenade when its evening (no lights beside cars and handheld flashlights), hiking throught the border zone (many destroyed buildings fron 70's) and so on. If youre into phonicians/archeology i recommend visiting byblos, belbek and tyre, all got amazing monuments you could eaisly spend half a day exploring if youre into it. Take some stuff in case you got the shits tho and dont drink/wash your mouth with running warer, because it can ruin your expirience.
Also like other ppl mentioned, when i was there the black market exchange rate was 1dol to 30,000 lira and changed to 1dol to >32,000 lira in a span of 5 days, it fluctuate constantly, locals say its set up by lebanon elites constantly trying to make a buck from buying/selling large amount of lira. There are problems with electricity, but all better hotels have its own generator, also there was 2 days during my trip when the country main optical fiber was shut down, so there was almost no internet. Look out for scams close to the doves rock (ladies that look for protection and target lonely male turists).
In response to this comment you can use this website to keep an eye on the live rate
https://lirarate.org/
Looking at that graph really makes me sad, I hope this country recovers soon
Go to Mleeta, see the souks of Tripoli, see the Crusader castle in Tripoli, lots of things to do.
Spend as much time as you can in Byblos, and Batroun. If you're a coomer, go to anywhere that's advertised as a supernight
Before anyone asks, lebanese women are some of the bitchiest and "open" in the arab world. I'd say most are virgins and the rest probably did buttstuff or hook up once. However, they are all spoiled brats and materialistic to the max, they make russians look like amish. If you have a flashy sportscar women will line up for you.
Forget about the sports car, right now it's enough to have reliable electricity.
How is the coomin situation in Lebanon? Will it get me killed?
>what not to miss in LEBANON
The local girls.
They're out of this world.
They don't put out though.
you creampie in lebanon sir?
kebab
I'm planning a 3 day, 4 night trip to Lebanon. 1 day for Beirut, another for Grotto and Byblos and another for Balbeek.
Does this make sense?
I more or less did similar to this, spent 2 days in beirut 1 day in byblos and a day trip from beirut to baalbek
Highly recommended
You should visit Israel instead.
that's like from 0-100 budgetwise.
cool it with the antisemitism
For what exactly? Getting banned from visiting most of MENA after?
this
be careful, i was denied entry to syria a long time ago (probably 15+ years) because i had an israel stamp on my passport
they also questioned me a bit and then i realized you dont fuck with arabs in regards to israel
touring in europe is much better anyway
enjoy the blackouts and the poverty lol
on the plus side, their economy is so fucked you can live like a king with a few bucks