Getting IN
Passport/visa
Your passport needs to have a validity of more than 6 months. US and most European passports can get a Lebanese Visa upon arrival at the airport. You cannot have any Israeli stamps, visas, or seals on your passport or you will be refused entry.
Currency
The good news is the US dollar is as appreciated as the local currency! 1500 Lebanese Pounds = 1 USD. There are many ATM's around and cards are accepted pretty much everywhere.
Vaccinations
No worries, not needed
Language
Most Lebanese people speak fluent English and French.
Dress Code
Since Lebanon is a very liberal Arabic country you can wear what ever you would like to wear (unless you're planning to visit mosques, no veils needed).
Climate
Lebanon has a temperate Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers. In July the temperature will be around 28°C / 82°F during the day and 22°C / 72°F in the evenings.
Taxi
All hosted events of Beach Night, Wedding and Post Lunch will have shuttle bus pickups to and from the hotel. For everything else, use the official taxi companies like White Taxi +961-1-513 593 or Allo Taxi +961-1-517-070. Uber also works in Lebanon and is the faster choice.
Car rental
If you wish to venture out and actually drive in this town, use Avis or Budget.
Beauty Corner
For the big day, we booked out a time slot from 1pm - 3:30 pm at nearby Urban Salon.
Hair-do: Costs $13 for any hair do. It's a dry bar so shower and head out there. Nails and make-up services also available.
If you want to get there on other days, feel free to drop in or book ahead.
CONTACT
If you need anything at all during your time in Beirut, the Jaber family and our friends have got you.
Jaber Home: +961 1 318318
Tania: +961 3 074774
We will be creating a Whatsapp group closer to the time where we can also stay connected and up to date. Details will follow. In the meantime download it if you still don't have it.
TIPS
LEARN LEBANESE CUISINE
Lebanon is all about food. Lebanese people love good food and lots of it. You might be surprised to find close to fifty different dishes on your table only to find out they're just the starters. Embrace it. Enjoy small plates (called Mezze) like Fattoush, Hummos, Tabbouleh, Grilled Halloumi, Kibbeh, Manoush Zaatar, Rkakat Jibneh (Cheese Rolls), Mixed Grills, Knefeh, Baklava ... Master the Lebanese Cuisine, and level up to the equally delicious Armenian variations.
BECOME A NIGHT OWL
Going home before 3 a.m. in Lebanon is out of the question and sometimes even taken as an insult. After the party comes the afterparty and after the afterparty is usually a breakfast party. Embrace it.
Three kisses
Lebanese family greetings sometimes involve three cheek kisses. Start on your left, go right, and back to left. Nobody is offended if you mess this up. Robby is still 0/100. Embrace it.
glossary
It's so much fun talking to our local friends and telling them all the Lebanese words you know! Here's a few from Robby's roster to get you started.
Yalla
One of the most common on Lebanese words and frankly we think it should be made into a universal word. What does it mean? Vamos, Let's go, Hurry Up.
Habibi
This is a term of endearment used by everyone for everyone. You will be called this.
Aanjad
"Seriously". "For realz".
KiFak / Kifik
Sounds like "keefack" or "keefeek" and means "how are you?"
Enno / Heik
These words basically mean "um" and will be commonly heard in almost any sentence, even English sentences.
Salemtik
Means "get well" - you'll hear this if you sneeze.
Naiiman
"Have a nice shower". Yes, there is actually a word for this. Arabic has words for everything.
Badna nroo'
Speaking of having words for everything: this one means "we all need to chill out". Amazing language.