How To Travel To Iraq
For a country so rich in history and culture, Iraq has suffered the shackles of terrible insurgency, political and religious strife since long. It once was a nation where the great Mesopotamia civilization rested and the biblical Garden of Eden is said to have been situated in what is today Modern Iraq.
Today, in its war-weary condition, the common man of Iraq looks forward to finding peace and stability of his motherland. Tourism in Iraq was once its major business functions. Sadly, it is also a business which suffered the most in the past forty years or so.
Travel to Iraq today is not without danger, especially for the westerner. Visas are hard to come by and are issued only to certain personnel like aid workers, journalists or people raveling for certain business needs. This policy may change in the coming years as the country stands up on its feet again.
Iraq was situated in the famous Silk route and Baghdad was a major stop for travelers. In modern day, it is accessible through air, water and land - though entry is restricted in all options. All ports and railroads have been closed, until further notice. Roadways do not allow non-Iraqis to travel to or from the country to neighboring countries of Jordan, Syria and Turkey. It is best accessible through air. Baghdad airport is the biggest and finest of the country. Although it has been the target of many attacks, it does boast of the basic travel amenities. These include banks, a post office, money exchange desk as well as the duty free shops and various restaurants. The airport lies in the south of the city and taxies traveling to and fro can be found. Fares on single or shared basis can be negotiated.
Passport and visa is necessary to travel to Iraq and so is a valid return ticket. Tourist visa or a visit visa, allowing a single or multiple entries can be obtained. But these are issues only to a handful group of people - students studying in Iraqi, wives or families of non Iraqi-personnel working in Iraq, businessmen with valid papers indicating the nature of business and aid workers - to name some. Make sure that all your travel papers are in order because checking is very stringent at the airport and throughout various checkpoints around the city.
The official currency is Dinar and can be exchanged at the foreign exchange desk at the airport. A certain amount of cash needs to be kept at all times because ATM machines do not work in the city and traveler's cheques are also not widely accepted. Some establishments like hotels or bigger shops may accept foreign currency, especially the dollar.
Travel to Iraq is not easy and scheduled flights are rare to come by. Flying with a convoy of aid workers or other personnel traveling to Iraq is more of a possible option. Make sure that ample research goes into planning your travel to Iraq. It is indeed the most important factor which will make sure that you have a safe and enjoyable trip.