(Green print = Nice Hotel, Red = Bates Motel, Purple=bar/restaurant, )
= Baseops Pick - a Hotel taking top honors, great service and facilities for crew dogs.   

Bahrain - Book rooms at the Diplomat Hotel through the Navy ATOC. Hotel is amazing for the Middle East. Great Irish pub downstairs and just short cab ride away from the islands bars. Great pool and poolside bar(usually being visited by British Airways flight attendants); Good restaurant. Highly recommend hitting the Savage Garden disco a few blocks away. Note for aircrews, make sure you get everyone's room number since the staff sometimes had trouble looking up English-sounding names.  The Gulf Hotel 00973 713000 was fabulous.  No less than 4 fine restaurants (Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Lebanese) within the hotel.  Also no less than 4 different bars / lounges within as well.  Spare no expense here.  If time permits, use the health club, swimming pool, and tennis courts. Enjoy. ~If you are just quick turning Bahrain International make a food run to the Indian Place in the back of the Gulf air maintenance hangar. If you are facing the ATOC from the ramp if is at your 7 o'clock position. Go through the hangar and then behind the hangar is a little trailer. You can full up on all kinds of curry goop for way under 5 bucks. Take it to go or eat it there. Make sure to get a few pieces of Naan (bread). In US Indian Restaraunst Nann us usually a buck or two a piece. These guys will throw it in for free or for only a few cents. The Merridian is a 5 star hotel with pool bar, 4 restaurants, large rooms and exceptional service. It also has an Irish bar and is close to a descent mall and Chili's.

~Novotel hotel 97317 298 008 was decent.  Very nice rooms. Very well appointed, but the service was poor and the staff arrogant. Nice place to rest or overnight, but not much to do. Very poor restaurant selection.  Novotel Al Dana is the nicest, newest resort in Bahrain. Super rooms, close to base, more of a mid-east clientel -- no flight attendants here! Full breakfast buffet (with omelets, salmon, etc) included. Twenty plus english tv channels, best hotel gym I've ever seen.

~Rick's Kountry Kitchen has good american style food. Ciro's Pomodoro has Italian with a good selection and good quality.

~If you are in Bahrain, the best place to stay is Le Royal Meridian Resort Hotel. Having spent two months staging out of Bahrain, we stayed at the other hotels listed here and while they are good, they don't compare! It has several great restaurants, two work out rooms, two huge pools, one indoor and one outdoor. A private beach/cove with Wave Runners to rent, sand volleyball courts, tennis courts and an excellent spa. This place is incredible!  UPDATE:  The Meridian is now the Ritz Carlton Bahrain, but the taxi drivers still know it as the Meridian. It's an awesome hotel with several good restaurants, including Trader Vic's.

N'Djamena, Chad - Novotel hotel was decent.  Overall, it was better than expected. Beer and food at the pool restaurant was very good- the pizza was impressive! The rooms were livable and the a/c worked nicely. They do accept the gov\'t credit card. There is a business with internet, but they opened late and we didn\'t get to use it (the only way around to check weather and NOTAMS). Do NOT take any pictures- they say you can be shot, especially around the Presedential palace.

Djibouti - Djibouti itself resembles a landfill. There is garbage everywhere.  The rooms on the 4th, 5th, and 6th floors are nice at the Sheraton Djibouti (253 25 1287phone /253 35 5892 fax) ...what one would expect from a Sheraton. They are  $120 per night and include breakfast.  However, the rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors are heinous. There are roaches in the bathroom as well as roaches in the small refrigerators that are in the rooms. Some of the toilets work and some don't. When I turned on my shower the bidet also came on. Shower shoes are a must. An added bonus is the odor in the hallways and rooms. It was a cross between a locker room, cat urine, and rancid milk. These rooms go for about $70 and do not include breakfast.  There is a bar. Mixed drinks and beer are $6 a pop. The bar also serves finger foods with a killer hot sauce. There is also a restaurant downstairs. It is a little pricey but not too bad.  The Mer Rouge is a fairly good restaurant about 10 minutes away by cab.  This is not a place you want to bring the family to for a vacation.

Heads up -- as of Dec 02 crews were having to stay in the marine compound, NOT being allowed to go downtown due to security.  Expect fuel delays - rumors of a contract dispute/work stoppages with the fuel guys. This is a "gas and go" kind of place.

Cairo, Egypt - Tiger Aviation Services will take great care of you and are very reliable. Tiger will do all of the handling including paying for transportation to and from the Hotel. Sheraton Heliopolis (2022677730) is 10 min from Apt., other hotels closer to downtown can be over 1 hr in peak traffic times. Hotel is great, and within per diem rates, pool, gym, good security with over 5 restaurants. ~Swissotel, El Salam was great. Very nice hotel, 3 restaurants (Italian, Indian/Thai, French Style Cafe), a bank, a work out center, casino, pool with bar, a bar in the lobby, the room had a stocked mini bar and the TV had 3 or 4 English channels (MTV, MTV2, Discovery, TMC). The entrance to the hotel had a metal detector ( Americans were not screened). The hotel was only 10 minutes from Cairo East Military Base in Heliopolis. DO NOT drink the water or eat things washed off with tap water anywhere in Egypt. Ice cubes are a no-no also (personal experience). Go shopping at the Khan in downtown Cairo. They will barter with you. The Nile River Supper cruise is a good experience (about $25.00-$30.00).

Hurghada, Egypt - The Hilton Hurghada is a very nice place, highly recommended. Hurghada is a resort city on the Red Sea that caters to Europeans and Russians. We waited quite a while in the terminal for customs but the rest of the stay was well worth it. This is a great place to RON if you are flying from Eastern Europe to Eastern and Southern Africa or to middle or southern Saudi Arabia. The room rate after conversion to USD was only $50.00 a night! Several of the crew took double takes after we figured out the conversion, we couldn't believe the room rate was so cheap. The rate also includes all meals. If this location can be justified to pass through, do NOT turn the opportunity down. All people from the airport to the hotel and locals were very friendly. There several discotheques in the area which cater to Europeans. We weren't there long so we didn't get a chance to really see the nightlife beyond the hotel but it looks great!

Kirkuk AB, Iraq- Kirkut is a nice place to spend your time in Iraq... Everyone is now in Mods and the Army are in their Pods. Chow hall is good, hey lets face it there is nothing wrong with eating ice cream during alarm conditions. Beware in the rainy season as there dust there turns to mud and gets very deep. Rooms were sitting 7 for Airmen, 6 for NCO 4-5 SNCO Officers 3-4 per room and commanders have their own pod.

Tallil, Iraq - Transient Tent was okay.  Had to spend the night when the herky broke. Standard GI tent with cots. There is a Pizza Hut and Burger King right outside the U.S. compound. Rumor has it that the Italian dining hall is the place to go (wine!).

Mombasa, Kenya - Travellers Beach Hotel was nice.  Stayed in Mombasa for two nights, awesome place, definitely a recommend. The primary place you will get set up by the Embassy Rep there is the White Sands Resort, which is even better. We drank there and went to take pictures, but they were full so we stayed at the next hotel over (Travellers Beach Hotel), which was great. $85/night which included breakfast and dinner. A good place to hang out is about a 400 shilling($5) cab ride away is Pemba Disco. Safe for Americans, but watch yourselves around some of the clientele. For shopping, go to the Akamba Wood Factory. Only about 10 mins from the airport, and it is where all the beach vendors buy their stuff wholesale, and you can walk around all the huts and take pictures of the workers doing all the carving. There are two stores in the compound. One is for tourists, and one is for wholesale, which they will not let everyone into, and definitely won't tell you about unless you ask. If you tell them you work with the American Embassy that should help get you in. Either way, the prices are 1/3 of the tourist store, but are sold by different vendors, and prices aren't negotiable.

Nairobi, Kenya - Nairobi Serena hotel was a Palace! (254-2-)725111  The hotel is very nice with internet access in every room.  It has 24 hour room service and the resturant is open most of the day.  Breakfast is free if you include it in the price of the room.  For other places to eat they have the Carnivour which has really good food.  Numerous cafes all  over Nairobi. They have plenty of bars around. One place called Florida 2000 is all hookers and maybe a place to avoid.  The best place we found was the Pavement.  Awesome place filled with peace corp and embassy people. We rented two vans with drivers and they took us around 24 hours a day.  Crime is very bad here, recommend geting a taxi or a van on the outings. The drivers hooked us up with places to go and see and places to avoid. The vans were about $100 a day but worth it.  They have open markets every Tues and Fri to get your African trinkets.  A lot of haggling but good price.  Great place to visit for a few days     

Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait - As of 14 Dec 2003, there are four types of rooms available for the flyer types. Small Room, Smaller Room, Smallest Room and Tent. The aircrew will get stuck with two or three per room. Some of the rooms have their own bathroom or the common bathroom in the middle of the building. If you are there for a while, the tents are a better option (more room). Dining hall is marginal - if you can stand all the cats and rats running around. Beg, borrow, steal a vehicle from Trans and go Downtown for some fun!! Avoid the box lunches!! Go with the MRE's and snacks.

Kuwait City, Kuwait (OKBK) - Crowne Plaza (965 424-2000) was A Palace!  Nice hotel amid all the sand and heat.  24 hr gym and sauna.  They put us up in the club rooms on the 7th floor.  6 hotel restaurants to choose from.  Transportation to and from the airport and downtown shopping. Air conditioning that makes you feel like you're traveling across the Arctic tundra. ~Agreed on the Crowne Plaza, it's a great hotel to stay at.  Kuwait City is pretty safe, so disregard what other aircrews say about not leaving the hotel, that's BS.  Go out and check out the area.  While at the hotel, eat at the Sakura Restaurant, it's really good.  The teppanyaki beef tenderloin is THE best steak you will EVER taste, trust me on this!  Have fun and enjoy OKBK.  Safir Airport Hotel 427-5000 was decent.  OK hotel as far as room size and cleanliness, but you're stuck there. Rec room has worn out equipment. ~Sheraton (965-242-2055) was a palace!  Upgraded rooms for military aircrews. Great service and security has been upgraded. Although Kuwait City is safe, you are restricted to the hotels due to force protection. Crews may be forced to use the Safir if crews do not adhere to this policy. ~HIlton & Raddison were palaces! As of 6/2005, crews being put in the Hilton or Raddison. Great rooms either way. The food is better at the Hilton, as is your chance of staying in a "Royal Villa" with your own pool. We liked the ambience at the Hilton more than the Radisson, but either make a great stop. Try the El Goucho steakhouse next to the Radisson if you're there, pricey but a good steak!

Amman, Jordan - Le Meridian hotel was a Palace!  Modern European style hotel. The embassy guys can hook you up with this place. Several places to eat at the hotel and two bars in the lobby! Avoid going through the airport terminal on the way back to the aircraft if possible. The "customs" officer is well known for shaking down the crews for "gifts" for his "friend in customs". He will hit you up for money to buy smokes to give to his friend in order so "smooth" over a fictitious problem with your passports.

Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan - Welcome to Siberia or the frozen wasteland of a former Russian state. Temperatures average -30. I recently returned from a stay at Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan. The facilities I stayed in were substandard at best. Only one step above being outside. I had to trudge through 3 feet of snow to the bathroom and froze my way back from the shower. And the toilet paper was the consistency of sandpaper. All this while the guys next to me were staying in spacious 4 star billeting rooms. And don't even drink the water. I had the Kyrgy squirts the whole time I was there. The only good part was the #9 beers and the chili. The beer is named after the percentage of alcohol in it. The chili would be worth paying for in the states. And with the Perdiem rate I ate my fair share. Air service into this location is spotty at best. I had to fly on some dirty, smelly ancient old aircraft. One high point is that is in what used to be USSR. And they have taken a liking to the American dollar. Shopping is cheap and the gruel is good. Every day was "Groundhogs Day" and "Hogans Hero's" combined. Everyday the same and locked away in my cell & fenced in. Food isn't bad. Managed to get fatter since i have been here. Just joking! Really not a bad place for crew dogs. Billeting is pretty standard. Usually doubled up but showers are hot and everything is in-doors. Tents are a possibility if crew upsets the wrong people.

Merrakech, Morocco - Sheraton was only10 minutes from the airport, this hotel has excellent pool and restaurant. 2 bars with normal and professional action. Cabs can take you to the souks for shopping and seeing the sites. Only falls w/in per diem in summer and fall.

Niamey, Niger - Grand Hotel was a dump!  Stayed one night, thank god! We were in the bungalows, which left a lot to be desired. The air-conditioner worked well, but the bathroom was disgusting. One crewmember found a camel spider in his room when he turned his lights on. On a good note, the food at the grill was very good. I had the brochettes of steak, they were excellent. You pay for the food and drinks separately, I guess everyone has to make their own money. Bring cash, credit cards of any kind are NOT ACCEPTED!!

Muscat (Seeb Int'l), Oman - The C-130 base ops put us up at the Hotel Intercontinental in Muscat, awesome place. (Phone: +968-600 500, fax: +968-600 012 email: muscat@interconti.com) About 25 minute drive from the base. They have a buffet on the ground floor, a little pricey, but ask for the American Embassy meal cards from the C-130 base ops before going down town (then your meals will be paid for without using your perdiem!). Has a great pool and health club. Be careful, the Flight meals you order from the ATOC support guys cost $15.00 a piece, there a some KFCs, Pizza Hut, etc. on the way back to the airport, and the drivers were happy to stop for us to get food.  Deploying for OSW?  Going to Seeb AB on an AEF - read the latest Newcomers' Welcome Letter.  Latest AEF deployment information is here:

It is in fact tent city. No longer are folks living downtown.  Services here is GREAT--lots of movies, 6 Playstation 2s, 2 movie theaters, full basket ball court and volleyball court, and there is a great gym. We (COMM) also run a rather large computer/DSN morale tent. The living tents have bunk beds--no cots. Bathroom trailers are VERY nice--the showers have hardened locking doors. There is also a Pizza Hut and Baskin Robins in the center area (it's called the Pentagon).  You get the good ol' 3 beer/day card and beer is only served 4 days a week and they stop serving at 2200. The days they don't serve beer, you are allowed to go to the Brit side of the base and drink at their pub. The Brits are supposedly about to leave, however. There are also plans laid out for a pool, but I have heard rumors that those plans are canceled. Everybody says this is still one of the nicer places to come to. Off base travel is allowed, so people still frequent the beaches/shopping malls.  There are a very limited number of places we are allowed to go to, but they include the Intercontinental (buffet, pool) and a nice shopping center. Seeb is likely the best base  in the AOR to deploy to. The army has begun sending down large amounts of troops for a few days at a time for a little R&R, and they usually don't want to leave. If you come here and complain, you are a spoiled brat.  The Fudruckers is now open, so you can get a big sloppy American burger if you want. The plans for the base pool are underway, however it will likely be several months before it materializes. We've had a couple of days where the temperature has gotten up between 115-119 (in April). Being by the Gulf, we pick up a lot of humidity as well. Be warned: don't come here and expect to shred weight. If you don't stay in the gym and temper your appetite, it is very possible to put on a few pounds. Read the latest Newcomers' Welcome Letter.

Salala, Oman - I've diverted into Thumrait; but this was before the US buildup after Sept 11.  We traveled to Salala for the Hilton (perks of flying a KC10).  This was a 1.5 hour drive from Thumrait, but 15-20 minutes from downtown Salala or the airport.  The Hilton in Salala is located on the edge of town on the Gulf heading towards the Yemen border.  The complex is new and it is very very nice.  The rooms are large and very plush.  There are four restaurants and a couple of bars.  The food is outstanding; especially the restaurants outside near the pool and beach.  Check out the stir fry huts (the best I've ever had).  The breakfast buffet wasn't all that considering the cost (the most expensive meal there) but it is acceptable.  I would rate the Hilton in Salala a green star.   

Islamabad, Pakistan - If you ever get stuck at PAF Chaklala overnight, there is a one man TALCE crew that will take you to the Serena Hotel, about 30 minute drive. This place is the best kept secret in the AOR. Not only is meal per diem $63/day, but this place looks and feels like a palace. I would not wonder far off from the serena, but if you have plenty of time and need a drink, catch a ride to the AmerEmbassy (about 4 blocks away). Go to the only club/eating establishment on the compound (it is called the American Club). They have no limits on the alcohol consumption and relatively good prices too. Eat at the Serena unless you are craving American food (or you cant stomach the Pakistani stuff), then eat up at the embassy

Al-Udeid, Qatar - I also spent several days as a transient at Al-Udied in Qatar. That place just went up after Sept 11th. It's so new, on the rotator out, NOBODY could tell me where Al-Udied was. It wasn't until I was in Bahrain that anybody had a clue. They still have a lot of stuff to work out. Persco/billeting was a disaster. We had to fight to get our flight from there to Seeb--calling ATOC several times per day. They also use the 3 beer/day rule, but it's 7 days a week. They serve from 0700-1300 and 1900-0100. Services are ok, they have a tent with about 8 rooms with TV/VCRs, and a couple with DVD/Playstation 2s. They also have a snack bar, one TV which they occasionally show movies on, and a dart board. The bar has lots of board games and 4 TVs showing 2 different stations. There are 2 volleyball courts there. Transients sleep 12 to a tent on cots. Not sure how nice the permanent tents are. There is officially no travelling off base, however I did hear one guy trying to rally people to go on a trip to a shopping center once (not sure if it was an opportunity or a petition).  Check out Al-Udeid updated maps and satellite photos.  Also, read more about the base.

~Beer tent ... 0700-1400 and 1900-0200 (3 beer daily limit).  The beer tent has both a sports tv section and a news section. A tv/movie tent plays tv shows and movies 24hrs and has pingpong and pool tables.  Weights and conditioning facility (acceptable).  Three chow halls, one by OPS/Flightline, two in tent city. If the food at the main chow hall in tent city isn't to your liking, do a touch-n-go and head to the smaller "american" chow hall which serves hamburgers, hotdogs and cold cuts. A miny BX is open 0900-2100 daily. There is also a barber and beaty shop if you need to get a "slappy".  To go downtown, you have to get the OSI briefing and a qualified driver (not going to happen for transient crews).  If you need flight meals, you have three options.  In all cases, you need an AF FORM 2039 filled out by your AC.  The OPS/Flightline chowhall will allow carry out.  They also can provide you with box nasties.  The meals consists of two pre-fab sandwiches (usually turkey or ham with cheese) two bags of chips and a cookie. You have to get your drinks from the chowhall fridge.  If you so desire, MRE's can be had from the main chowhall in tent city.  For billteting, expect a field tent with cots.  PERSCO can hook you up with a foam pad and blankets and pillows (it sucks).  

~Update to the Deid. All the tents are gone. All of the living quarters are white double wide trailers with 15 12x12 rooms down each side. Most TDY rooms have a phone, but dialing CONUS is blocked. If you are deployed there, you can receive calls from outside lines though. All rooms have a cable tv connection; tv's not included. All rooms have bunk beds. Whether or not you have a room mate is up to your squadron. The gym in the compound is mediocre. It is packed in the evenings. I recommend the Ops Town gym. It's smaller, but you can get a quiet workout. The chow hall in compound is open 24/7. The food is ok; the taco bar is great! The Ops Town chow hall has certain hours of operation. Be prepared, the lines get long. Beer is from 0900-0200 everyday- three beer limit. They have also started serving mixed drinks. There are also coffee shops around base. Couldn't tell you what transient services are like because I deploy there on a regular basis.

PSAB, Saudi Arabia - The Coalition Complex is not bad for Saudi. Rooms with beds, day rooms with TV from home. Food is free but greasy though the ice cream machine rules. Movies at the theater are free (first run) and the gym is excellent. There is a BX, Burger King, Baskin Robins, and few other fast food things. The pool is new and very nice.

Dakar, Senegal - Presidential Meridian is decent and is the nicest hotel around. It is on the water and offers plenty to do right there at the hotel/resort. The poolside restaurant might be the most ideal spot for seeing the topless French ladies and the food is pretty good. Nine of us on the crew decided to go downtown to the market (free hotel van both ways) for some shopping; Don't Do It! Usually nine crewmembers all together are pretty safe....not here. As soon as the van rolled away, we were mobbed by 50+ africans who tried to pick-pocket us while shoving their products for sale in our face. We hid out in the first bar we could find for a few hours until the van came back to get us. The hotel has a beach, topless pool, 3 or 4 restaurants and a few bars. The rooms are a little older and a little musty. If you are a C-5 crew....the place where they have you taxi the airplane to get gas in not even close to legal for wingtip clearance. We had to take the wing over a blast fence...be very careful and put several scanners on the ground. ~Le Meridien President 00221-869-6969 was the best place to stay in Dakar. Decent restaurant, within walking distance of other restaurants and small market (out the gate, go right until the beach). Rather expensive, but you make $87/day. Large pool frequented by South African, Belgian, Air France flight crews. Lousy golf course, but it's there. (No, I mean LOUSY as in fairways=rough, greens=??) 20 minute car ride to the airport, Senegalese military side easy to work with and very helpful. Ask for Lt Col Touba Lo, the base Ops Officer.

~Hotel Ngor Diarama was a dump! Insist on any other hotel if possible, numerous crewmembers had no A/C and i found a spider in my bed. The only benefit is its close proximity to the airport. It was clean, but that's about it. The runway is a black hole, but it and the ramp areas are in good condition.

~Le Meridien President (PH 221-869-69-69 FAX 221-869-69-24) was a decent hotel considering you are in Africa. The hotel is clean and the rooms are equipped with cable internet. No sign of insects in my room. The sink and toilet would not drain. There is a business center with limited hours of operation that is cheap and you can print IMT crew papers there, provided it's open. The two restaurants are decent and the bar is good. Do not drink the water or consume ice. Bring bottled water. The mosquitoes were very bad ... take your Doxy. Verizon's world-wide cell works here. The hookers fill the hotel at night ... beware. The concierge recommended a good spot for quick shopping. The taxi was disgusting. You can shop in the hotel but it is more expensive.

Waterkloof AB, South Africa - USDAO Pretoria will set you up well. They provide a contracted embassy driver to take you wherever you wish to go. The drivers know the best places to go (as well as where to avoid) for food, clubs and souvenirs. The embassy will even set you up for a photo safari. South African Air Force is a great host. They'll set you up with anything you need flight wise and will normally greet you with at least a case of the local brew. Holiday Inn Johannesburg Airport is a nice hotel with good facilities but is good drive away from the food and clubs in Pretoria. Try to get a hotel closer to Pretoria if possible. Food and drink here are cheap, so you can eat like a king and still make a good profit.

Erkelit, Turkey - Hilton Hotel was a palace!  Just returned from a week-long trip to the European Tactical Airlift Meet in Turkey. Erkelit AB is the home of most of Turkey's Airlift forces. Hotel was incredible. Most rooms have California Kind-Sized beds (some have 2 twins... roll of the dice). Bathrooms have real Turkish Cotton towels and large, CLEAN bathtubs with showers. The breakfast buffet was included in our $50/night room rate and is second to none: 3 kinds of eggs, sausage, fruit galore, about 30 kinds of jams/jellies/preserves for their bakery-fresh breads, 5-6 kinds of fresh-squeezed juices (orange, cherry, peach, mulberry, etc.), great coffee... and the list goes on!  You can find the hotel's information by going to the Hilton Website and select their locations in Turkey.  Plenty of sight-seeing to be done here. Right across the street from the old city where the bazaar is located. Oriental Rugs, pottery, and jewelry beyond your dreams. Be sure to bargain the merchants down! Per diem rate was $79/night and we ate & drank like kings.  If you can swing it, talk with the Turkish Air Force folks and see about going to their Officers/NCO Club on base! Great pool, food, and drink. So very inexpensive! 15 beers (a round for our crew) + dinner for the pilot only cost $23 US. Crazy!

Incirlik AB, Turkey - Mostly ONW folks. Complex is huge and the facilities aren't bad. Boots shined like corframs within 30 minutes for $2. Dining hall is not to bad but meat is overpriced. Off-base experience Mudjat's (cheesebread is excellent). If you are just passing through and getting hungry: when you are checking in with ATOC, place an order with Mudjat's--they will make the food and have it delivered via cab to ATOC. Short ground times are no problem (<30 min). Recommend Chicken Tava w/cheese, Chicken Chop, or Shrimp Tava; cheese bread always, with spicy ketchup. Gold is cheap and carpets are a good deal too. ~2 years after spending a TAD in Incirlik I still miss it. You can't go wrong with Pop's Leather in town for all your aircrew gear and leather needs. Get one of the shotgun cases for $109 and bring back as many Winchester Supreme Sporting Clays over and under shotguns as the ATF will let you. The forms are on the BATF website and make sure you use the one for the military. I sold all the ones I brought back for $750 and paid $350 for them. You need to be there over a month for it to work out with the paperwork. Agree on the cheesebread. Ask a cabby to take you to McDonalds in Adana on Sunday afternoons the locals call it ass-central. Tons of twenty something Turks in tight pants. ~If you are planning to RON, you will need NATO orders to inprocess the country. The 728 AMCC (DSN676-3286) will get your NATO orders "Red Stamped" into the country and "Out Stamped" when you leave. If you lose your "Red Stamped" orders, you will be charged $45 for a VISA. NATO orders can be done on-the-spot if you divert.

~If you are looking for hand-made carpets, Top Gun is the place. Cheesy name but  great selection and prices. 1/3 of the way down alley on the left. They will sit  you down and teach you all about them, as well. No hassle or pressure. Decent  selection of machine-mades as well. I purchased a hand-made Persian at Abe's (near  Pop's Leather) (poor selection and higher prices) and saw the same carpet at Top Gun  on my next trip for $200 less. Abe's is OK for machine-mades. Talked to a guy from  USAFE that used to be stationed there - bought 30 carpets from Top Gun!  Leather: Pop's. Baker's Racks: Big John's. Food: Mujahts, Red Onion, Midnight Cafe.

~Comments on Airbase carpets...In January '04 I was there, made a deal for two carpets. Wanted the tassles cut off, then finish the edging. I was told no problem. I was on a C-21, so I couldn't fit them with me (large rugs), the salesman (CJ) told me he would finish the rugs within two days then MPS them to me and I'd get them (at Ramstein) within two weeks. Two months later, after repeated phone calls, I received the rugs. Small one ok, but the new edging on the ends didn't quite match the sides. The large rug had the tassels cut off, but was just left like that...looked like crap. He also told me if my wife didn't like it, bring it back for a full refund. Wife didn't like it. I called him, he said no problem, bring it back. In May 04 I got another trip there. I called him the night before asking if I could still bring it back, he said ok. Next day, I get it in his shop, pull it out, and he says he can't do anything for me. He would give me an even exchange on another carpet, but I wanted some $$ off another one for all my hassle, not to mention not being able to get a full refund. No deal. He wouldn't do it. So, after 45 minutes of arguing with him, I told him I would just take my carpet back with me and file a complaint with the legal office on base, which I did. Legal office said they've had other complaints with him telling buyers they get a 100% wool rug when it isn't. So, bottom line, DON'T BUY FROM AIRBASE CARPETS!!

~Totally agree on Top Gun carpets. Yes, the name is a little weak but it's leaps and bounds above Abe's Carpets. Quality product, better prices and you can even walk out without being harassed into coming back in.  ~If you go through Incirlik and don't have much time, order the breakfast burritos from the bowling alley. They are the best breakfast burritos I've ever had. Awesome bread and no grease. ATOC will give you the number. They will deliver them to the front of the Pax terminal 30 minutes after order was placed.  The cost is $3.75 and they take American dollars. If I had known how good they were, I would have ordered 2 or 3.  ~Update Jan07: Turkey was fun. The guy from Top Gun moved further down the road into a 2 story building next to the gas station. He explains everything with no pressure. Basically loves teaching about carpets. Mr Rolex (next to Mudjat's) had good prices on the fake watches. Picked up 2 Brietling imitations for $100 total and they still work. Food was awesome everywhere. Great Baklava right outside the main gate.

Fujairah, UAE - When TDY to Fujairah you are at the whim of the Navy ATOC. There are four hotels they will send you too. They are the Hilton, Siji, Oceanic, and the Ritz. Stay in them in that order. The Hilton is on the water and is really nice. The Siji has just been renovated and is downtown, the rooms are the size of racquetball courts- pretty nice. The Oceanic is on the water and the hotel is nice. It's flaw is that it's a 45 minute bus ride away- standard tiny buses, it sucks. The Ritz is to be avoided. Like the other hotels they include meals, but they took 1+15 to prepare a disgusting steak for me. They have 5 bars in the hotel that don't get a lot of use. The music shakes the hotel all night. For the Siji and Ritz there is a supermarket within easy walking distance. There are no inflight meals at Fuj. Overall a good moneymaker, but not too much to do unless you are at the Hilton.

~If you're going to stay the night in fuj, stay at the Hilton.  I've been there three times and the Hilton beats the Siji.  I'm not familiar with the other two hotels you have listed on the site.  The staff at the Hilton will hook you up with any request.  Our flight was scheduled to leave before they  served breakfast.  The staff opened the breakfast buffet early for us.  The food was awesome and would satisfy any american diet/tastes.  During my last trip there, the staff made boxed breakfasts for crewmembers who had to miss breakfast due to crew duties (free of charge even)!  I would give the Hilton a Green Star.  If you want to go shopping (gold, cheap electronics, etc. etc), tell the staff and they will hail you a cab and give the cabbie instructions.  The Hilton in fuj has been one of my best hotel experiences overseas. 

Termez, Uzbekistan - Finca hotel was okay.  If you have to stay in Termez, Uzbekistan, this is the "best hotel" in town. Very cheap and friendly staff. They have a bar and domestic food. The beer, "Baltika 3", is ok but take it easy with the food..........

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