Hi everyone,
Apologies for being absent for a while but I've been busy getting my travel business start-up Expectme Travel started ( you can also find it listed on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ExpectmeTravel?fref=ts).
Back to the post.
I've visited Algiers at least 10 times over the last 10 years, all on government, business or cultural trips. In that time I learnt that Algiers could serve as the ideal entry point for a visit to Algerian coastal resorts. There is only one caveat: you need to be reasonably conversant in French and/or Arabic or you need to know your way around the country already.
I would therefore be comfortable to visit coastal Algeria through the Algiers entry port.
From the US one should find passage on a British Airways, Lufthansa, Air Egypt, Air France, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, TAP, Alitalia, and Air Algerie (mostly from Europe!). From elsewhere one will have to fly either via participating European, the Middle Eastern airlines or Cote d'Ivoire.
Houari Boumediene International is a clean, modern airport and follows the norms and standards of all international airports in terms of checking in and baggage procedures. There was a time at the old airport where you still had to identify your baggage on the apron before boarding the plane but those times have been gone for many years.
One thing that visitors may have to get used to is the fact that the aged, infirm and special government visitors may receive priority at queing time. This is not unusual in many places but definitely unusual for passengers from certain countries. To be honest, I am very impressed with the practice!
There are enough taxis at the airport, if you did not get a hotel airport shuttle. The people I spoke with in Algeria indicated that hotel airport shuttles are normally on time and otherwise pretty reliable. Most of them speak very little English, if at all. The other taxis are also well operated but thou shalt speak reasonable French.
Driving through some of the narrow streets of Algiers are sometimes unnerving at peak times. Once I was caught in a peak hour traffic jam on the Boulevard de L'Armee de Nationale Docteur Hammouche and I witnessed a traffic officer pulling a motorist over. I was not close enough to hear what the reason was but it was clear from the interaction that it was not a social call. I watched with great interest while the motorist loudly protested his innocence. Voices were raised by both parties to the point where I thought a more violent interaction was about to occur. There was a lot of swinging of arms and ginger point and this went on for about 15 plus minutes. In most other countries, the motorist would have been pinned to ground, cuffed and taken to the nearest police station to be incarcerated until he calmed down but not in Algiers. After some more time, the altercation ended inconclusive with the motorist getting into his car and driving off.
I would not recommend for a foreigner to take that same tack with Algerian police though. I cannot vouch for their safety, like in most other countries. This reminds me of a taxi driver that drove me from Jomo Kenyatta International in Kenya in 2006. After watching his driving style for some time, I ventured a question: "What are the rules of the road in Nairobi?" Without hesitation he said: "There are only two rules:1) If you can get your bumper in front of another car at roundabouts and other intersections, you have right of way." When he stopped talking rather abruptly, I enquired as to the second rule. He then continued: "Rule number two is: When a traffic cop stops you, you stop!!" I asked why and he said: " If you don't stop he shoots!". I'm sure things have changed for the better in Nairobi in the intervening eight years.
Hotels in Algiers range from those far-out to central. Although many foreigners prefer Sofitel, Hilton and the Sheraton Club des Pins, I am happier in more authentic local hotels like the Djazeera and Hotel Al-Aurassi.
The al-Aurassi is closer to the port, which one can walk to, if you can manage the steep walk back (but one can easily take a taxi back). The Djazeera is architecturally more authentic and it has a British history when, at some stage, it was called the St Georges Hotel.
The food and security is good as many of the guests are important foreigners.
In Algiers one will find a mixture of many cultures. In summer, one will find girls in burka and hijab mixing with girls wearing mini skirts. One will also find many female drivers, who drive like their male counterparts during peak hour traffic :-). Persons used to middle eastern muslim countries, will find this aspect most uncommon.
On the beaches, near the Sharaton, one will find the occasional local girl in a bikini - another unusual sight in a majority muslim country. I suppose one can easily write these anomalies down to the French influence on Algerian society.
Obviously, when using Algiers as an entry point one may take note of its museums, the Jardin D'Essai du Hamma (Botanical Gardens), the Basilica Notre Dame d'Afrique which is perched overlooking the Bay of Algiers (a functioning State supported Roman Catholic Church - another anomaly in a Muslim country), the Casbah is a living museum with tours conducted daily, amongst many other attractions
.
The best tourist Mediterranean beach resorts are found near the town of Oran, which one can fly or drive to from Algiers.
I can go on
ad nauseum about Algiers but I suggest you go and experience it for yourself.
