Bahrain Tourist Trap Tips by googoosh

what used to be the pearl diving museum

what used to be, and is still being described in tourist brouchure and the bahrain website as the pearl diving museum no longer exists. the building is located in the suq, opposite the HSBC building and has been closed for renovation. when it does re-open it will be a court house (which was its orginal purpose). the pearl diving antiquities have been transfered to the national museum, opposite the radisson SAS hotel.

Be Ware! Taxis Review

those taxi drivers are terrible. last week my car broke down and i had to use the taxis. the drivers do not want to use the meters - even when i threatened to get out of the taxi he couldn't find his meter. please don't accept this - leave the taxi - it really is a problem here. i wouldn't mind so much if the taxis were in working order, but they are knackered!

Unique Suggestions: don't accept their first offer, second or even third offer. ask for the meter to be turned on and keep asking until the taxi driver does turn on the meter. otherwise, leave the car at the first available point.

Fun Alternatives: the limo taxis appeared to be more expensive - but they are clean, new mercedes. very nice! if you tel 801999 they'll come and pick you up. you'll find that if you're new to bahrain, and in manama town, these taxis will probably work out to be cheaper and definately will be far less hastle than using the waiting taxis.

Again - another hint for... Seef Mall & Shopping Review

Again - another hint for tourists - rather than a trap. Go to the tourist office/ handicraft shop located at 'bab al bahrain' (translation: gateway to bahrain) and ask for tourist information. I went this morning and came out with 8 useful pamphlets, a decent tourist map and a lovely hard back book about Bahrain.

I suggest you take this as your first stop as it's close to the suq, pearl diving museum and the gold suq. Open 08:00-12:00 and 16:30-18:00, Saturday - Thursday.

The gold suq - but it's... Seef Mall & Shopping Review

The gold suq - but it's wonderful. There's two places to go: in the suq itself and at city centre hotel.