Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Reservations
It's always advisable to book bus seats in advance at bus stations, and it's a must over the Muslim weekend (Friday), as
well as during public holidays such as
eid
.
Car & Motorcycle
Car ownership is virtually a must for expats in most Peninsula countries where cities cover large distances and there's
little public transport. Motorcycles are also popular for getting around town. Spare parts are easier to find for Japanese
models. The summer months are not conducive to motorcycling.
DESERT DRIVING
The following tips may help if going off-road, but there's no substitute for experience.
Pre-departure Planning
»
Travel with another vehicle if you're heading for sandy areas so that you can pull each other out if you get
stuck.
»
Don't travel alone unless you can change a tyre (very heavy on 4WD vehicles).
»
Use a local guide if planning an extended dune trip: navigation is not easy.
»
Take a map and compass. A GPS and fully charged GSM phone are also useful but remember that GPS is only
useful for knowing exactly where you're lost (and not how to find the way out) and phones don't work in some
mountainous or remote areas.
»
Bring a first-aid kit, at least 5L of water per passenger per day and enough food to last several days. Dried dates
keep well in high temperatures.
»
Check oil, tyre condition and tyre pressure before leaving.
»
Bring a tool kit with a tow rope, shovel, sand ladders, spanner, jack, wooden platform (on which to stand the
jack), tyre inflator (and a gauge) and jump leads.
»
Tell someone (and in some countries the local authorities, too) where you're going.
Driving Tips
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In all desert areas follow prior tracks for the sanity of locals and for your own safety.
»
Keep the acceleration up through areas of soft sand and do not stop!
»
When approaching sandy inclines, engage low gear and increase acceleration.
»
Never camp at the bottom of a wadi, even on a clear day. Be wary of wadis when rain threatens. Flash flooding
rips through the narrow channels of a wadi with huge force. Each year many people lose their lives in this way.
»
Engage low gear on extended mountain descents even if it slows your progress to walking speed: many people
run into trouble by burning out their brakes.
