Be the first of your friends to visit Beirut
The FCO advise against all but essential travel to Lebanon. This is the saddest news I have heard for a while. Having lived in Beirut for 6 months I can tell you that it is not the jihadist, Terry Waite kidnapping city that many perceive.
Yes, political tensions are currently running high and the city has witnessed a bundle of political assassinations but down on the ground, where the lebanese and foreigners live together, where 18 different religious denominations live and work remarkably integrated, modern life continues.
Lebanon as a destination for travel should be top of anyones list.
On the first day you can experience the ancient Phoenician city (Biblos) the birth place of our modern alphabet, take a dip in the warm Mediterranean waters of Jouneih beach then travel to Geitta Grotto and explore the vast caves, witnessing thousands of years history through the stalagmites and stalagtights. That evening after a siesta in one of the hundreds of hotels in Beirut City, nocturnal life begins.
Beirut caters for every taste, whether it be a typical Lebanese meze - or a fine French steak tartar, or a simple pasta al buro at Olios, beiruts restaurants are plentiful, reasonably priced and very good quality. If you can still move after supper, a trip to Gemmayze or Monot for all night drinking and dancing is possible too. On the next day you do it all again! However, this time explore - Baalbeck - or Saidon or Quadisha valley - or Faraya for some skiing!
If you're lucky you can even spend the morning skiing and the afternoon sunbathing and swimming in the beach!
Author: Geoffrey Arias
Head of Middle East Operations
