Saudi Arabia Family Travel: What you need to know

Planning a trip to Saudi Arabia with your family can seem especially daunting, but you should know that a trip to the kingdom is considered a visit to another destination. To get started, you’ll want to research destinations in Saudi Arabia so you can plan your hotel stay and flight accordingly. In the meantime, reading up on the country’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites will give you an idea of ​​the best places to visit and how long to stay.

advertisement

Apart from this, you should know the basic rules to follow while traveling to Saudi Arabia as well as how to get around. Before planning an exciting trip to Saudi Arabia with your family, here is a list of everything you need to keep in mind.

You need a visa to visit Saudi Arabia

First, you should know that individuals from the 49 eligible countries authorized to travel to Saudi Arabia must apply for a visa before visiting the Kingdom. Fortunately, the country has made it easy to apply for a visa before you travel online, and their portal allows you to get an online visa (eVisa) for anyone in your family or traveling party.

The visa you get to travel to Saudi Arabia is good for one year, so you don’t need to know exactly if you plan to visit within the next 12 months. You can also use the visa for multiple entries for up to 90 days each time.

Once you are ready, you can apply for a Saudi visa on the Visit Saudi website.

Adhering to formal dress codes in Saudi Arabia is a breeze.

While Saudi Arabia has a dress code for tourists to follow, dressing appropriately in the kingdom requires very little work or planning. Both men and women should cover their shoulders and knees and dress modestly, and that’s it.

Female tourists do not need to wear the long abaya or cover their necks when visiting Saudi Arabia. The exception is when women decide to visit a mosque, in which case they must cover themselves with a veil.

Saudi Arabia boasts luxury hotels galore.

While Saudi Arabia has many boutique hotels and unique local properties, you should have no problem staying with a hotel brand you already know and trust. This is especially true if you hope to enjoy a luxurious stay in the Kingdom. For example, Riad The Ritz-Carlton Riad, as well as Fort Sitz Hotel Riad at Kingdom Center, Hotel Fairmont Riad, JW Marriott Riad and Le Meridien Riad to name a few options.

In the historic city of Jeddah, you will find many options such as The Ritz-Carlton Jeddah, Park Hyatt Jeddah and Waldorf Astoria Jeddah – Qasr Al Sharq.

Alcohol is currently illegal

Alcohol is currently illegal in Saudi Arabia, so you can’t have wine with dinner or cold drinks at the end of a long day of travel. Many restaurants in Saudi Arabia have extensive menus with fun dishes that you can try. These drinks won’t give you a buzz, but if you’re in the mood, they’re delicious and worth a try.

There are also some rumors that the tide may soon turn on alcohol consumption in the Kingdom. For example, Israel’s The Times reports that Saudi Arabia plans to serve alcohol at one of its new megaresorts opening next year.

Connect with taxis or Uber

Like many other Middle Eastern destinations, Saudi Arabia’s major cities are not pedestrian-friendly. In major destinations such as Jeddah, there are areas such as the Corniche where tourists and locals can roam outdoors together, but most people travel from place to place using other means.

In fact, most travelers in Saudi Arabia flock to cities with taxis and even Uber. The kingdom also has another easy-to-use Uber-like rideshare app, Careem.

Guided tours are available

If you’re still nervous about your travel plans to Saudi Arabia, it’s good to know that you have another option. You can book a guided tour throughout the kingdom, allowing you to enjoy your trip without worrying about most of the logistics.

Several tour companies, including Abercrombie and Kent, offer guided tours around Saudi Arabia with a variety of itineraries. As an example, this company offers an eight-day tour of Saudi Arabia starting in Riyadh and ending in Jeddah. This tour includes hotel accommodations and meals, as well as visits to ancient Riyadh, the UNESCO-listed site of Juba, the UNESCO-listed Madin Salih, and more.