aeroplanes, Bahrain

Gulf Air passengers from Manila to Jeddah on Flight GF-0157 on October 25, 2007 who have a connecting flight at 9:55 a.m. the following day were supposed to be booked in a hotel room for a night since it plane arrived Bahrain at 10:30pm. However, the airline company at Bahrain International Airport simply told the passengers that there are no available hotel rooms in Bahrain. I even told Gulf Air representative at the airport desk (Mr. Yakoob) that I am a Frequent Traveller card holder, and i decided to fly by Gulf Air only because they promised to provide a free hotel room on my return flight to Saudi Arabia. I still have another booking with Gulf Air for December 2007 and I will make the decision to buy my ticket from the same airline depending on their service. Nevertheless, all he can say is "Sorry, no hotel room available"! With this kind of experience, how can they expect me to patronize their airline again? Such a very bad service needs to be penalized. I believe it is only fair that the airline company returns part of the money paid by the passenger to compensate for the service it promised but failed to deliver.

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Gulf air is based in Bahrain (I presume it is a country flag carrier). In the central Middle East, I have been to Dubai and Bahrain airports. In my opinion, the Bahrain airport is a bit behind. There is no air-con in the aerobridge and there are only a handful of duty free shops. The ground service staff, such as those people who check you in, are unfriendly.

I flew Gulf air from Singapore to Bahrain (8 hours) with stopover and then from Bahrain to Cairo (3 hours) for this trip to Egypt. Gulf air is the second after, Emirates airlines, from Middle East that I have flown. I found the services is minimal in the Economy class and the food on board are quite undesirable. I flew Emirates twice before (one Syria and the other to Morocco) and I found meals served in Emirates airlines are much better. The seating are smaller in Gulf air, in my opinion. No wet towel is served throughout the whole flight. All passengers have to use dirty hands to touch the bread (which is dry and cold). The meals are simple and tasteless. Look at the meal pics and see if that is the kind of in-flight meal you want. Sigh. This is not the airline I want to fly again unless I have no choice. Rating for food and general services: Poor

Have been flying with Gulf Air and BA from Europe to Bahrain. For the same price for sure BA is a lot better. They got the sleeper seat in biz class so you can just a good night sleep. Service, food (except for the delicious desserts at Gulf) are also better at BA. Departure time is about the same. The lounge of Gulf Air is a lot better than the BA lounge in Bahrain.

Most people fly to Bahrain since it is an island, although there is a causeway to Saudi Arabia so you can drive.
Rent a car, or have your friend drive you around. It is usually too hot to walk around.

At one time all the major airlines used to fly into Bahrain, of late however many have stopped their service and fly into Dubai (55 mins away) instead, but you can still fly into Bahrain International Airport (BAH) on most of the airlines having direct flights. Flights from Dubai are plenty a day. The airport is located in Muharraq about 8-10 miles from the city center. Alternatively you can drive in from Saudi Arabia and most of the GCC countries provided you have the required visas.
Local transportation is the taxi, available in plenty and not expensive. In the souk however to go about on foot and walk is the best experiencing all the smells and sights.

Fly B.A., KLM, Czech air, Air Malta, Aeroflot, Uzbekistan Airways, Emirates, Gulf Air(if you dare!),Air Cyprus, Qatar Airways. My personal favourites are Qatar Air & Czech Air. Cheapest from bahrain out is Czech, Cyprus & Malta, then Qatar. Most expensive, KLM, Gulf & BA.
Taxis. USE A METER, IT IS ILLEGAL FOR THE DRIVERS NOT TO USE ONE, WHATEVER THEY SAY. Just tell them that you will report them! Stand on any street & one will pass & stop for you, especially if you are female!
NEVER EVER, EVER GET THE BUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Using plane is the easiest way but you can also reach this island by... road. Bahrain is connected with Saudi Arabia thanks to a modern and comfortable bridge and highway. It's called King Fahd Causeway.

Photo: View on King Fahd Causeway from Manama

Air - Most major international carriers that serve the ME come into Manama.
Road from Saudi Arabia: There is an amazing causway that crosses several kms.of the Gulf from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, which is a stunning sight at night from the air.