https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog Travel articles from Ajil Travel & Tourism: destinations, hotels, visas and travel seasons from Saudi Arabia. en Thu, 08 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/global-village-2026 https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/global-village-2026 Thu, 08 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Dubai's Global Village opens Season 31 on 14 October 2026 and runs to May 2027: opening hours, tickets, who gets in free, and tips for a relaxed family visit. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/winter-camping-saudi https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/winter-camping-saudi Thu, 08 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Winter camping 2026: Thumamah, Rawdat Khuraim and the Edge of the World near Riyadh, plus Disah, Hisma, the Nafud and AlUla, with permits, fines and a packing list. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/japan-cherry-blossom-2027 https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/japan-cherry-blossom-2027 Thu, 08 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Japan's cherry blossom (sakura) 2027: late March to early April in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, the best places to see it, and tips on the visa and direct flights. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/china-business-trip-canton-fair https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/china-business-trip-canton-fair Thu, 08 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT A trade trip to China: Canton Fair 2026 dates, the factory cities and markets of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Yiwu and Foshan, Beijing's fairs, and visa-free entry. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/visa-free-destinations-saudis https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/visa-free-destinations-saudis Mon, 05 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Visa-free countries for Saudis in 2026: Russia (new), Turkey, Georgia, Malaysia, Egypt, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China and Azerbaijan, with lengths of stay and conditions. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/malaysia-or-thailand https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/malaysia-or-thailand Wed, 07 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Malaysia or Thailand? A comparison for Saudi families of visas, flights, halal food, beaches, cities and the best time to travel, and who each one suits. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/bali-or-maldives-honeymoon https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/bali-or-maldives-honeymoon Wed, 07 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Bali or the Maldives for your honeymoon? A comparison of atmosphere, stays, flights, visas, the best time to travel and budget, and who each one suits. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/north-turkey-or-georgia https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/north-turkey-or-georgia Wed, 07 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Northern Turkey or Georgia? A comparison for Saudi families of nature, flights, visas, halal food and places to stay, who each one suits, and how to combine them. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/georgia-or-azerbaijan https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/georgia-or-azerbaijan Wed, 07 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Georgia or Azerbaijan? A comparison for Saudi travellers of visas, flights, nature, cities and halal food, who each one suits, and how to combine them. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/switzerland-or-austria https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/switzerland-or-austria Wed, 07 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Switzerland or Austria? A comparison for Saudi families of flights, visas, costs, halal food and where to stay, and how to combine both in one trip. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/trabzon-or-uzungol-or-ayder https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/trabzon-or-uzungol-or-ayder Wed, 07 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Where to stay in North Turkey? Trabzon, Uzungöl and the Ayder plateau compared for location, distances, families and honeymoons, and how to split your nights. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/maldives-or-seychelles https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/maldives-or-seychelles Wed, 07 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT The Maldives or the Seychelles? A comparison for Saudi honeymooners of flights, entry rules, the best season, the type of stay and halal food. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/bali-or-phuket https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/bali-or-phuket Wed, 07 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Bali or Phuket? A comparison for Saudi travellers of flights, visas, the best season, halal food and private pool villas, and who each island suits. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/dubai-or-doha https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/dubai-or-doha Wed, 07 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Dubai or Doha? A comparison for Saudi travellers of flights, sights, family activities, where to stay and how many nights, and how to combine both. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/saudi-winter-destinations https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/saudi-winter-destinations Wed, 07 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Where to travel in winter in Saudi Arabia? AlUla, the Red Sea, Farasan, Riyadh, Tabuk, Al-Ahsa and Yanbu: the best time for each and where to stay. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/new-year-destinations https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/new-year-destinations Mon, 05 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT New Year ideas from Saudi Arabia: Dubai, Istanbul, Baku and Cairo close by; London, Paris and Switzerland further away, with what you need to know about the weather, visas and booking early. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/bali-landmarks https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/bali-landmarks Tue, 06 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Bali's best-known landmarks for Saudi travellers in 2026: Garuda Wisnu Kencana park, the Tegallalang rice terraces, Ulun Danu temple on the lake, Tanah Lot, Uluwatu, and Nusa Penida with Angel's Billabong, plus the best time to visit. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/north-turkey-places https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/north-turkey-places Tue, 06 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT The most beautiful places in Northern Turkey for Saudi travellers in 2026: Trabzon and Lake Sera, Lake Uzungöl, Rize with the Ayder plateau, Zil Castle and the Fırtına valley, and the Black Lake in Artvin, with the best time to visit and how many nights you need. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/northern-lights-where-to-see https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/northern-lights-where-to-see Tue, 06 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Where and when to see the northern lights: Tromsø in Norway, Finnish Lapland, Abisko in Sweden, Iceland and Murmansk in Russia, with the best months, visas and tips to prepare. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/mid-year-break-destinations https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/mid-year-break-destinations Tue, 06 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Saudi mid-year school break, 8–16 January 2027: warm escapes like the Philippines, the Maldives and Zanzibar, snow in Lapland and Georgia, and visa-free trips. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/snow-destinations-families https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/snow-destinations-families Tue, 06 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT The best snow destinations for Saudi families this winter: Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan visa-free, Kazakhstan with the QazETA, and the Alps and Lapland with Schengen. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/eid-al-fitr-destinations https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/eid-al-fitr-destinations Tue, 06 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Saudi Eid al-Fitr school break, 26 February to 13 March 2027 (16 days): the last ten nights in Makkah, then warm, close Eid destinations without a visa. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/ramadan-umrah-makkah-hotels https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/ramadan-umrah-makkah-hotels Tue, 06 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Ramadan 1448 starts around 8 February 2027: when to book your Makkah hotel, the areas closest to the Haram, the last ten nights, and the Umrah permit on Nusuk. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/autumn-break-destinations https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/autumn-break-destinations Tue, 06 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Saudi autumn break 1448 (20–28 November 2026): six destinations for nine days, from Dubai, Sharm El Sheikh and AlUla to Phuket, the Maldives and Tokyo. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/hotel-booking-tips https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/hotel-booking-tips Mon, 05 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT How do you book a hotel at the best price? Practical tips from years of experience: the area before the stars, when to book, apartments for families, meals, cancellation policies and what to ask before you pay. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/winter-honeymoon https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/winter-honeymoon Mon, 05 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT The best winter honeymoon destinations from December to February: the Maldives, Thailand, Dubai and Egypt for warmth, and Switzerland and Austria for snow, with the best time, visas and booking tips. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/winter-destinations-families https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/winter-destinations-families Mon, 05 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Where should the family go in the winter holidays? Warm destinations near and far that suit Saudi families from December to February: Thailand, Malaysia, the Maldives, Dubai, Egypt and Qatar, plus one for snow, with the best time, flight times and visas. https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/choose-travel-agency-riyadh https://ajil-sa.com/en/blog/choose-travel-agency-riyadh Mon, 05 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Before you choose a travel agency in Riyadh: a written quote, flight options and baggage, the hotel area, visa help, response time, customer reviews, and change and cancellation terms.