Continuing our compilation of passenger service information here is the lowdown on Beirut International Airport.

TOURIST INFORMATION

Lebanon , a democratic republic , is located in the Middle East , bordering the Mediterranean Sea , Syria , and Palestine . The capital is Beirut . Despite its small area ( 10,452 square kilometers ) , this is a land resplendent in its diverse geography , landscape , culture and history .

Lebanon's varied geographical areas fall into four features . First there is the narrow costal plain where five of Lebanon 's great historical cities developed : Tripoli , Byblos , Beirut , Sidon and Tyre . The 220 kilometers long coastlines is marked by indentations and rocky outcrops wherever the sub -coastal range joins the sea.

The second geographical feature is a north - south mountain range known as Mount Lebanon . Appearing at times to rise abruptly from the sea , Mont Lebanon covers more than a third of the country . Its western slopes are well wooded and are frequently broken by wild valley.

The next of Lebanon's four areas is the Bekaa valley which is between 8 to 15 kilometers wide and about 120 kilometers long from north to south .A fertile plain , the Beqaa valley was known as the breadbasket of the Roman Empire in ancient times .

On the eastern side of the Beqaa , the Anti - Lebanon mountains and Mount Hermon rise . A chain of rocky , almost treeless mountains running parallel to the Lebanon range, the Anti-Lebanon is lower but more complete than Mount Lebanon. These mountains form the frontier between Lebanon and Syria .

CLIMATE

Lebanon enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate with an average of 300 sunny days a year . It almost never rains between June and September ,but July and August are often hot and humid , with temperatures around 30º Celsius. Winters are generally cool with heavy rain on the coast and snow in the mountains .Nevertheless, winter brings many pleasant days , making Lebanon ideal for winter sports .

There are six winter resorts : The Cedars , Faraya Oyoun as Siman , Laklouk ,Fakra , Qanat Bakiche and Zaarour .

Lebanon's long varied coastline and its Medierranean climate make it an ideal place for water sports . Numerous resort complexes , beaches and swimming clubs have aquatic amusements and sports on offer , including water skiing , surfing , underwater fishing , sailing , scubadiving and snorkeling .

Byblos : One of the Oldest Town in the World Tyre : A World Heritage City (Unesco 1979)

GETTING THERE
Visitors to Lebanon must have a valid passport and a Lebanese visa. Visas are delivered by Lebanese diplomatic missions abroad . Tourists from the US and many Arab and European countries can obtain visas at the airport or any Lebanese border upon arrival .

Examination of traveler's luggage is carried out rapidly and courte- ously , All ordinary personal effects are exempt from customs duty .

All the world,s great cities are linked by air with Beirut . The Beirut International Airport at Khaldeh ( 7 km from Beirut ) , is used by many international airlines plus the national carrier , Middle East Airlines ( MEA ) . In addition , several steamship lines connect the ports of Beirut , Jounieh and Tripoli with the rest of the world

LANGUAGE

In addition to his native Arabic language , the average Lebanese is often fluent in English or French . Many well educated Lebanese are tri-lingual .

ECONOMY

Lebanon capitalizes on the initiative of its people and its geographical location to make up for a lack of natural resources.

A service-based economy , its trading , banking and financial facilities as well as its free currency market made Lebanon the region's commercial and tourist center before the war . With peace established and reconstruction under way, Lebanon is once again serving as commercial and touristic capital in the area .

Baalbeck : Lebanon 's Greatest Roman Treasure Tripoli : A Living Museum

About 38% of the country is under cultivation , with wheat , vegetables , fruit, tobacco and olives the main crop categories . There is considerable livestock farming as well . Industry ranges from cement and cables to textiles , clothing furniture , canned goods and light metals . Tourism , one of the mainstays of the pre- war economy , is being revived.

CURRENCY AND BANKING

Movement of currency into and out of the country and all exchange transactions are completely free of any kind of control . Gold and silver coins may be freely exchanged ,imported and exported . The monetary unit is the Lebanese pound .

Banking is a major industry in Lebanon with strict banking secrecy one of its important features . more than 75 banks operate in the country and transactions are performed efficiently and at low cost .

Taxi fares:

Beirut 20$

North
Tripoli 50$
Zghorta 70$
Cedar 80$
Ehden 80$

South
Saida 35$
Tyre 50$
Nabatieh 50$
Jezzine 50$
Marjouyoun 50$

Mount Lebanon
Antelias 30$
Aley 30$
Bhamdoun 35$
Broumana 35$
Jounieh 35$
Baabdat - Bickfaya 35$
Ajaltoun 40$
Jbeil 40$
Hamana 45$

Bekaa
Chtaura 50$
Zahleh 50$
Baalbeck 50$
Sed El Keraoun 75$
El Bikaa El Gharbi 75$
El Hermel 80$

Car Hire and Trains:

AVIS
Web Site : www.avis.com.lb/

Email : info@avis-lebanon.com

Avis Agencies In Beirut
Solidere 
Army Street, Daouk & Kurban Bldg.
P.O.Box 
11-3466

-Tel: (01) 367 124

-Fax: (01) 367 125

Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport

-Tel: (01) 629 890

-Fax : (01) 629 891

Achrafieh 

Amine Gemayel St., Sioufi Garden

-Tel : (01) 611 000

-Fax : (01) 611 125

-Email avis.lebanon@kurban.com.lb

Horch Tabet 
Metropolitain Hotel

-Tel (01) 482 137

-Fax  (01) 511 720

Hamra 
Hotel Le Méridien, Comodore, Comodore Street

-Tel: (01) 749 997

-Fax :(01) 749 998

Raousheh 
Dolphin Center - Raousheh Boulevard

-Tel: (01) 861 614

-Cell: (03) 723 722

-Fax: (01) 861 614

Ain El Mreisseh 
Phoenicia Inter-Continental Hotel

-Tel:(01) 363 848

-Fax : (01) 363 851

Avis Agency In Jal El Dib 
Jal El Dib High Way

-Tel / Fax: (04) 720 721

-Cell: (03) 962 963

Avis Agency In Tripoli
El Mina Area, Train Station

-Tel: (06) 614 740 / 615 712

-Fax : (06) 616 096 

Avis Agency In Zahle

Kadri Grand Hotel

-Tel:(08) 813 920

-Fax: (08) 803 314

Avis Agency In Tyr

-El Salam Street, Kashour Bldg, ground floor

-Tel / Fax: (07) 347 777

National

Web Site : www.nationalcarlebanon.com/

-Email : nationalcar@terra.net.com

Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport
-Tel : (01) 629857 - (03) 261251
-Tel / Fax: (01) 629857 - (03) 261251 

Cola
Naous Center, Ground Floor

-Tel: 01 853 797 / 854 321 / 854 322
-Fax : 01 853 794
-Cell:03 893 974 

Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport
-Tel: 01 629 676

Tyr
Al Ramel Str., Near Elissa Hotel

-Tel: 07 349 328
-Fax: 07 349 327

Sin El Fil 
Confidence Center

-Tel: 01 511 390 

CA TRANS
-Web Site : www.catransonlines.com/

INTERCONTINENTAL LE VENDOME BEIRUT

-Adress : Ain Mreysseh, Beirut, Lebanon
-P.O.Box : 13 5518, Ain Mreysseh, Beirut, Lebanon
-Tel : (+961 1) 369 280
-Cell : (+961 3)212 791
-Fax : (+961 3)360 1691
-Web site : www.intercontinental.com
-E-mail : beirut@interconti.com

INTERCONTINENTAL MOUNTAIN RESORT ET SPA MZAAR LEBANON

-Adress : Ouyoun el Siman, KfardeRHIABnne, Lebanon
-P.O.Box : 30 Reyfoun - Lebanon
-Tel : +961 (0)9 340100
-Cell : +961 (0)3 777991
-Fax : +961 (0)9 34 101
-Web site : www.intercontinental.com
-E-mail : mzaar@interconti.com

INTERCONTINENTAL PHONECIA BEIRUT

-Adress : Minet El Hosn, Beirut, Lebanon
-P.O.Box : 11/846, Minet El Hosn, Beirut, Lebanon
-Tel : +961 (0)1 369 100
-Fax : +961 (0)1 369 101
-Web site : www.intercontinental.com
-E-mail : phoenicia@interconti.com 

LE MERIDIEN COMODORE BEIRUT

-Adress : Commodore Street, Beirut, Lebanon
-P.O.Box : 11-3456 Riad El Solh Beirut, Lebanon
-Tel : +961 1 350 400
-Fax : +961 1 345 806/7
-Web site : www.lemeridien-beirut.com
-E-mail : info@lemeridien-commodore.com

MARRIOTT VACATION CLUB INTERNATIONAL

-Adress : Adnan Al Hakim Street, Jnah District, Beirut, Lebanon
-P.O.Box : 114-5095, Beirut, Lebanon
-Tel : +961 1 857 808
-Fax : +961 1 857 811
-Web site : www.intercontinental.com
-E-mail : lebanon.marketing@.com

THE METROPOLITAN PALACE HOTEL

-Adress : Komeir Building, Naoum Labaki Street, Horsh Tabet, Sin El Fil
-P.O.Box : 55555, Beirut, Lebanon
-Tel : (961) 1 496666 or 502502
-Fax : (961) 1 511 721
-Web site : www.methotels.com
-E-mail : beirutpalace@methotels.com

As part of our series of airport profiles, here is some useful information on Bahrain Airport.
Details on Car Parking: Car parking at the terminal is quick, easy and cost effective.
Passengers arriving at the airport by car may be dropped off with their luggage at the front of the terminal at the departures level. 
Drivers are requested not to park at the kerb whilst seeing off passengers. This is due to the security measures in place at Bahrain International airport which do permit cars to park at the terminal kerbside.
Once passengers have alighted and luggage has been unloaded please follow the road around to the car park entry and park the car if you wish to visit the terminal to bid farewell to your departing passengers.
BIA public car parks are designed to cater for both short and long term parking.

A fee is payable for short term public parking (as shown below)

Parking Fees:
First 20 Minutes FREE
First 6 hours BD 0.200/hour
Over 6 Hours BD 0.100/hour
1 Day BD 3.000
Over 1 Day BD 1.500/day

How to Pay:
The cashier counters are available at the exits and they are open 24 hours. No credit cards are allowed, only cash payment.
Airport Lounges
The airport currently has three discrete lounges for premium passengers. Located on an upper level accessed by escalators from the departures area at Gate 15 and overlooking the main apron, the Gulf Air First and Business Class lounge offers an exclusive concept of waiter service, a separate family room and electronic video games room for children as well as full business facilities.

A further two new luxurious airline lounges 200 m² and 700 m² in size also accessed by escalator opposite Gate 16 were opened in 2005. The first for Cathay Pacific's premium passengers and the second the "Dilmun" Lounge(operated by Bahrain Airport Services for other airlines premium passengers) includes the latest wi-fi technology permitting free internet access.The lounges offer complimentary snacks and beverages, business and family facilities as well as rest rooms, shower facilities and satellite.
 Details of Airlines, weekly frequency and type.

AIR ARABIA 14 Passenger
AIR FRANCE 3 Cargo
AIR INDIA EXPRESS 11 Passenger
ALEXANDRIA AIRLINES 1 Passenger
BRITISH AIRWAYS 7 Passenger
CATHAY PACIFIC 7 Passenger
CYPRUS AIRWAYS 2 Passenger
DHL INTERNATIONAL 182 Cargo
EGYPT AIR 3 Passenger
EMIRATES AIRLINES 17 Passenger
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES 3 Passenger
ETIHAD AIRWAYS 14 Passenger
FALCON EXPRESS 17 Cargo
GULF AIR 358 Passenger
INDIAN AIRLINES 7 Passenger
IRAN AIR 4 Passenger
IRAN ASEMAN 9 Passenger
JAZEERA AIRWAYS 19 Passenger
K.L.M 7 Passenger
KUWAIT AIRWAYS 7 Passenger
LUFTHANSA 4 Passenger
LUFTHANSA 6 Cargo
MALAYSIA AIRLINES 3 Passenger
MARTINAIR 1 Cargo
MONARCH AIRLINES 3 Charter
MY TRAVEL AIRWAYS 2 Passenger
OMAN AIR 7 Passenger
P.I.A 2 Passenger
QATAR AIRWAYS 37 Passenger
ROYAL JORDANIAN 5 Passenger
SAUDI AIRLINES 7 Passenger
SRILANKAN 5 Passenger
SYRIAN ARAB AIRLINES 1 Passenger
TUNISAIR 2 Passenger
TURKISH AIRLINES 4 Passenger
YEMEN AIRWAYS 4 Passenger
Banking and Foreign Exchange
There are several banks and money exchange facilities located throughout the terminal building.

National Bank of Bahrain
P.O. Box 106
Airport Office Tel.No. 17231212
Main Office Tel. No. 17228800

Ahli United Bank
P.O. Box 2424
Airport Office Tel.No. 17339295
Main Office Tel. No. 17585858
Fax No. 17339297

Bahrain Financing Co.
P.O. Box 243
Airport Office Tel.No. 17321938
Main Office Tel. No. 17228888
Fax No. 17223495

Travelex
Currency exchange is available at five outlets in the terminal building. One at the meet and greet area at the airport ground level, one at the departure public area, one at the arrival concourse and two at the departure hall. The company provides 24 hour service of money exchange.
Tel.No.17339283

ATM's
Many Automated Teller Machines (ATM) are located at several different sites at Bahrain International Airport.

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