40 Days in Medina: Traveling with Two Babies
If I was single, maybe I would always look for cheaper flights. But as a father, making things easier is the priority, so this time we took Turkish Airlines to Medina. It was my first time staying this long, almost 40 days. The tourist visa was very easy. I applied online and got it within a few minutes. For babies it costs the same as for adults.
Flying with Two Under Two
For the flight, I booked a front seat for my wife for the baby basinet, which costs extra money. But lucky for me, I also got a second basinet seat assigned for free at the counter! This was pure luck, but having the basinet really helps when you have babies under two.
The Long Transit in Istanbul
I purposely chose a layover longer than 12 hours in Istanbul so we could have some free time to visit the city. If you have a long transit with Turkish Airlines, you can apply for a free tour at the Touristanbul desk. We chose the full-day tour, which was nice and included free buffet breakfast and lunch. However, I do not suggest this tour if you have babies. It involves too much walking and is tiring, even with trolleys.
The visa is free. And I applied through their official website, which doesn't look very official.
After the tour, we went to the airport Care Center desk and got a free meal voucher. This is available for Turkish Airlines transits over five hours, and you can exchange it at supported restaurants (the value is around $20 USD). Babies are not eligible. They used to let you get the voucher QR code via the app, but now you must get it through the Care Center. I'm not sure whether they will still provide this service in the future.
Medina: Bikes and Contactless Payment
We stayed at my wife's family home, about 3km from the Haram, between the Haram and Masjid Quba. A new thing I noticed is that Medina has become more bike-friendly. They have Careem Bikes, which are similar to Taiwan's YouBike, but they are all electric-assist bikes (電動輔助車). You could rent it by scanning the bike's QR code. Since there was a stop near my place, it was perfect for going to the Haram or Quba often.
The government also seems to be heavily promoting contactless payment, which is very convenient. I used my card or Samsung Pay almost everywhere, so I didn't need to worry about exchanging Riyals or carrying cash.
A monthly pass is much more affordable (60 uses, 30 minutes each, expires in a month).
Food, Fitness, and Umrah
I was trying to stick to my diet and workout routine. You can find protein powder at supermarkets like HyperPanda, and there are specific supplement shops. Gyms, however, were expensive and mostly required long-term (3-month to 1-year) passes. So, I kept it cheap: I bought dumbbells and jogged on Quba Street.
Something interesting: most restaurant menus now show the calories count next to each item. This must be a policy to make people aware of the obesity issue. There are also many protein milk drinks in supermarkets, like date and Greek yogurt flavors, but watch out, some are still high in calories!
Of course, I ate Al Baik many times, but there are also many new and delicious fast food, cafe, and shawarma brands worth trying:
One of the best kunafah shops in Medina. I love their Nabulsi kunafah. You can either dine in or take away, they have a few seats on the first floor and some more on the second.
Love their latte and tiramisu! I heard this coffee shop is also famous among young people. Sometimes it's not easy to find seats. There are outdoor seats as well, but since people might be smoking, it's better to sit indoors with babies.
Love their burgers and fries! However, they do not have a dine-in option, so we had to take away and eat in the car.
One of the best fried tenders I tried in Medina! It tastes even better with their garlic sauce. Their chicken arab wrap is also worth trying.
I heard they have good fried chicken and burgers. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to try it, but their photos look nice.
Reasonable price and open 24/7. It's super convenient for people who want a snack early in the morning (since many restaurants are closed then) or at midnight.
Reasonable price. I haven't been to Turkish restaurants in Taiwan for a while because they're expensive, but restaurants in Saudi aren't as pricey and are more authentic. Their carrot-shaped baklava is tasty and even cheaper than a nearby baklava shop!
Alhamdulillah, I had the chance to perform Umrah 3 times by taking the high-speed train to Makkah. I also had the chance to visit Rawdah 3 times during my stay.
Driving Culture in Saudi Arabia and Istanbul
We also drove to Yanbu for a day trip. Car rental was okay, maybe cheaper than Taiwan. The driving culture is totally different, you must drive by instinct and go with the flow of the cars. Don't expect people to follow the rules exactly. Driving on the highway at night was scarier, as some sections don't even have street lights!
On our way back, we had a transit in Istanbul again. I rented a car to visit some AVM (shopping centers), eat breakfast at MADO, and meet with friends. Driving here is easier than in Saudi Arabia but still harder than in Taiwan. MADO surprisingly didn't accept my Samsung Pay, but cards worked fine everywhere else in the shopping centers.
Final Takeaway for Travel
Flying with babies is very tiring. My advice is to keep it simple: don't bring too much stuff, and wear clothes without accessories or belts so you can focus on the babies at airport security.
While my children won't remember Medina, these are precious memories for us as parents.