Background:
In September 2019, Saudi Arabia threw open its doors to foreign tourists with a drastically simplified visa procedure. For citizens of 49 countries, Singapore included, visa is to be obtained instantaneously through self service visa application stations at the airport, or online. The process is very seamless through the portal https://visa.visitsaudi.com/ . It costs quite a sum though (total of about USD120 including compulsory insurance).
I was amazed at the speed and swiftness of the implementation. Previously, tourist visas were technically not granted to anyone and therefore only people on pilgrimage or expats have access to enter this Kingdom. The Kingdom has been very conservative (or so its reputation), and I was expecting that even when they start issuing tourist visas, it will be the usual way where one goes to the embassy, submits the passport, gets vetted through our background, pays, then granted the visa. I didn’t expect they would fling open the door so fast, so swift, so open, and so immediately.
With this news, I just happened to have to make my way from Istanbul to Mumbai in mid December, and so I couldn’t resist the temptation to enter a newly open territory that few outsiders had seen. Coupled with fantastic mild weather, a cheap 3 digit business class fare (which is cheaper than Turkish economy direct on the route), and an innate adventurous spirit to explore, I signed up for a weekend in Saudi!
To my surprise, and to all my friends in social media, this country is truly stunning beyond words. It is easily the most spectacular place I have ever seen so far. And it is so untouched. After the trip, I was hoping that they should not have opened it so openly as it is currently. They should do the Bhutan approach, restrict the number, increase the quality. This place is too precious to be spoiled by mass tourism.
I will let the pictures promote Saudi Arabia by itself. And I am only seeing a tiny bit of the country and there are many many more places, even more spectacular, more untouched than this.
But first, let’s start with the flight with Saudia, the national carrier.
Part 1: Istanbul to Riyadh
Flight: Saudia
Number: SV264
Aircraft: A330-300
Registration: HZ-AQ16
Seating: 1A
Load: 100%
This is not my first time flying Saudia. In the summer of 2018, I flew with them, making use of the cheap EUR450 fare in business class from Rome to Jakarta. It was a good experience with an amazing assortment of juices (no alcohol), cold planes, friendly crew, and very good food (ex RUH). It was also a transit through Riyadh, the better airport as compared to Jeddah.
Trip report of that can be found here on this site too
http://www.sqtalk.com/forum/showthre...=223302&nojs=1
For this trip, I started the journey from Istanbul New Airport, a massive terminal with 5 piers and what seems like miles and miles of walking.
I sent my friend off on the SQ flight, and I walked towards one of the check in islands on the left to check in at Saudia counter (P island).
Privilege of flying business class is a red carpet queue with just one passenger ahead.
Whereas economy line was quite long (but not that bad either).
Check in was slow-ish but then I was not in a rush. This was more than 3 hours before the flight. So I just let it be.
Istanbul New Airport is a massive terminal. It has beautiful roof made of mini domes which partially let light through. It’s inspired by the traditional Turkish hammam I believe.
There is no shortage of things to do here. There is a lot of floor space for shopping including this bazaar-like area where one can find a myriad of Turkish goods and delicacies.
I have had enough shopping at the Grand Bazaar so I headed straight to the Lounge.
It was a long walk to the Skyteam Lounge which is located on the upper floor towards the left side of the Terminal. In this terminal, one better watches for signage and direction carefully because a wrong detour might mean it will be an extra mile of walk.
It has a beautiful entrance area.
And also a cozy and quiet space for a lounge with ample seating and charging points.
Lots of food too.
Especially the selection of appetisers.
And a range of salads.
The mains were quite a limited range and they were rather bland by Turkish standards. Just these two dishes were there for the afternoon.
First I couldn’t find the bar. They tucked it away quite discreetly. But then I managed to pull out this cold beer. My last drink before Saudi Arabia!
40 minutes before the flight, knowing how far things are at this airport, I started to make my way towards my gate.
In September 2019, Saudi Arabia threw open its doors to foreign tourists with a drastically simplified visa procedure. For citizens of 49 countries, Singapore included, visa is to be obtained instantaneously through self service visa application stations at the airport, or online. The process is very seamless through the portal https://visa.visitsaudi.com/ . It costs quite a sum though (total of about USD120 including compulsory insurance).
I was amazed at the speed and swiftness of the implementation. Previously, tourist visas were technically not granted to anyone and therefore only people on pilgrimage or expats have access to enter this Kingdom. The Kingdom has been very conservative (or so its reputation), and I was expecting that even when they start issuing tourist visas, it will be the usual way where one goes to the embassy, submits the passport, gets vetted through our background, pays, then granted the visa. I didn’t expect they would fling open the door so fast, so swift, so open, and so immediately.
With this news, I just happened to have to make my way from Istanbul to Mumbai in mid December, and so I couldn’t resist the temptation to enter a newly open territory that few outsiders had seen. Coupled with fantastic mild weather, a cheap 3 digit business class fare (which is cheaper than Turkish economy direct on the route), and an innate adventurous spirit to explore, I signed up for a weekend in Saudi!
To my surprise, and to all my friends in social media, this country is truly stunning beyond words. It is easily the most spectacular place I have ever seen so far. And it is so untouched. After the trip, I was hoping that they should not have opened it so openly as it is currently. They should do the Bhutan approach, restrict the number, increase the quality. This place is too precious to be spoiled by mass tourism.
I will let the pictures promote Saudi Arabia by itself. And I am only seeing a tiny bit of the country and there are many many more places, even more spectacular, more untouched than this.
But first, let’s start with the flight with Saudia, the national carrier.
Part 1: Istanbul to Riyadh
Flight: Saudia
Number: SV264
Aircraft: A330-300
Registration: HZ-AQ16
Seating: 1A
Load: 100%
This is not my first time flying Saudia. In the summer of 2018, I flew with them, making use of the cheap EUR450 fare in business class from Rome to Jakarta. It was a good experience with an amazing assortment of juices (no alcohol), cold planes, friendly crew, and very good food (ex RUH). It was also a transit through Riyadh, the better airport as compared to Jeddah.
Trip report of that can be found here on this site too
http://www.sqtalk.com/forum/showthre...=223302&nojs=1
For this trip, I started the journey from Istanbul New Airport, a massive terminal with 5 piers and what seems like miles and miles of walking.
I sent my friend off on the SQ flight, and I walked towards one of the check in islands on the left to check in at Saudia counter (P island).
Privilege of flying business class is a red carpet queue with just one passenger ahead.
Whereas economy line was quite long (but not that bad either).
Check in was slow-ish but then I was not in a rush. This was more than 3 hours before the flight. So I just let it be.
Istanbul New Airport is a massive terminal. It has beautiful roof made of mini domes which partially let light through. It’s inspired by the traditional Turkish hammam I believe.
There is no shortage of things to do here. There is a lot of floor space for shopping including this bazaar-like area where one can find a myriad of Turkish goods and delicacies.
I have had enough shopping at the Grand Bazaar so I headed straight to the Lounge.
It was a long walk to the Skyteam Lounge which is located on the upper floor towards the left side of the Terminal. In this terminal, one better watches for signage and direction carefully because a wrong detour might mean it will be an extra mile of walk.
It has a beautiful entrance area.
And also a cozy and quiet space for a lounge with ample seating and charging points.
Lots of food too.
Especially the selection of appetisers.
And a range of salads.
The mains were quite a limited range and they were rather bland by Turkish standards. Just these two dishes were there for the afternoon.
First I couldn’t find the bar. They tucked it away quite discreetly. But then I managed to pull out this cold beer. My last drink before Saudi Arabia!
40 minutes before the flight, knowing how far things are at this airport, I started to make my way towards my gate.
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