Travel advice for a girl to going to Algeria...

[nesian_wahine]

hey there people

I'm travelling to algeria in may 07, and wanting travel tips about algeria, what to take, what not to take, what customs will let you take in and what you have to declare. Comfortable clothing, advice on airports etc (I will be travelling from algeirs to wahran then on to ain temouchen). Your top 10 things to do in algeria, and any other advice or maybe your stories on your travels for this girl in the pacific.

shukran...

[greenmistyeyed]

Salama Nesian,
I just traveled to Algeria in June this year. I, from experience, can give you the following tips:

• Wear conservative clothes, no sleeve-less shirts, no skirts, or shoulder baring garments.
• In the Es Senia Aiport, where I landed to go to Tlemcen, I was asked if I had jewelry or money to declare. But since I was carrying no jewelry, and like 600 dollars in cash, I did not declare anything, Rien!, I had stuffed my money in my back pockets in my jeans, put a little in my wallet, but none in my luggage. A friend of mine who has traveled several times to Algeria, once told me, that the agents in custom took some money she had hidden in her luggage, and made believe they were confiscating something else.
• Be very observant, and then act. Depending the city in Algeria, that you may visit, people are a bit more open in some cities than in other. For example, when I was in Tlemcen, my fiancée told me that I could wear Capri pants with tops (of course nothing showy), I went out with him and different members of his family, at different times, and people did not seem to be faced by it.
• I know is silly but…Do not import pork, as I was told, by someone in here, that it was not allowed.
• Maybe, you will be accompanied everywhere you go, is not customary for young woman to browse the streets alone.
• I hope you know some french, because there french and arabic is widely spoke. Only speak english? good luck, specially in the smaller cities.
• Bring enough cash to spend there. In Tlemcen, i found no atm's anywhere, and no american banks. So bring cash, and have someone ready and able to send you money thru western union, in case you run out of cash. Because you won't be able to withdraw money, unless you have an algerian bank account. I actually left my sister some signed checks in case she needed to send me money or pay my bills, which came in handy.

I visited the city of Tlemcen, which is 2 1/2 hours south west of Oran. Is a very nice city, and people there are quite modern, for what i expected. I had the chance to visit Oran (Wahran) several times, and is a bit busy, there is a lot of commerce there and people (crazier than Tlemcen). The architecture there is quite impressive, but beware voleurs, there is, from what my father in law told me, a lot of young men that steal and pick-pocket. I did not have any incident of that sort while staying in Algeria.

If i can remember anything else, i will let you know. But i can tell you this, get ready for an awesome experience. This country is rich with tradition & culture. The landscape and the sites in this place are breath taking!!! I swear!!! I did pass by Ain -Temounchent several times, but did not stop by. But every city has it's own charm. I was also able to visit Algiers for a day, and briefly see the city. They call it Alger la Blanche, for the glistening white of its buildings as seen sloping up from the sea. It is very beautiful but congested, there is a lot of people, traffic and buildings. I would rather stay in nice little trendy Tlemcen, when you come from living in big cities, you appreciate better these smaller, less crazier places.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me, gotta run.
Toodles
Sarah

[nesian_wahine]

oooooh gosh!! shukran/vinaka for the tips. I have travelled alot but not to northern african countries so will make the most of my time there. Cool and yeah no pork! lool I am an island girl but I DONT eat pork, hate it and the smell *shudder* okay, thing is I have bought heaps and heaps of things to take for my host family. I donot want them taken off me in customs, I tell yah, they are tricky man! Even here in auckland international, I work at that airport and I have seen the stuff they try to get away with and I dont trust to send my gifts by airmail either!!

[greenmistyeyed]

Ja ja ja, so i do not eat any animal flesh whatsoever, no straight eggs like in an omelette, no shrimps, nothing! LOL, and i love it that way.
In regards to the gifts, first try to make sure you know thru which airlines you are flying, and what is their weight limit. I had no problems with Air France because they allow, if i'm still correct 2 cases of 70lbs each, but Tunis Air only allows 50lbs per case (2). So you need to double check which airlines and what their allowances are, so you don't have any surprises. Dress comfortably, and make sure your luggage is easy to handle, believe me, you will be running around a bit, and you need to make it as comfortable as you can for you, because is a longgggggg trip. Also, bring a spare change of clothes in your carry on, so you can refresh before entering into algeria, I left mine behind, forgotten, in a little van in Charles De Gaulle, since Air france had delayed, they had the passengers connecting to other airlines hauled in a little van to the terminals, and so with the rushing i forgot my clothes, but was almost into tears at the tunis carthage airport, cause i wanted to change my clothes and feel a bit cleaner, before meeting my fiancee, when i arrived in algeria.

If there is anything else i can help you with let me know :O)
Sarah

[nesian_wahine]

lol no animal flesh, hmm so no seafood? wow talk about discipline, I love seafood I cannot NOT have it, but go without the beef, lamb n chicken if i need to. Lolz looks like we are heading towards food topic...lol..
thanks for the tips, i had cancelled my trip but then changed my mind,since I am taking leave from work and I know this is the only opportunity I have to make it so its now or never....

[nesian_wahine]

completely over, so not even going to continue with this, first time shame on him , but 2nd time , shame on me, got played twice by same guy. So flick him goodbye...

[MrMeaner1]

Sorry...............................