Sounds intriguing - a leisurely stroll near the Garden of Eden.
But don’t reach for the Samsonite just yet.
A handful of merchants may want Americans to believe they can have fun in the sun in Iraq’s capital city, but nobody else seems to think it’s a good idea.
“We couldn’t help you with that at all,” said Kathy Daniell, manager of Megatrends Travel in Temple.
She offered to put together an outing to Kuwait City, but advised that getting from that point into Baghdad would be your own problem.
And, she’d really prefer just not to have your business at all if you want to get into Iraq, she said, because of the potential liability.
The U.S. government is not pushing tourism in Iraq, either, even though some officials have said that the insurgency is over and peace is rapidly returning.
The State Department advises: “The security environment across Iraq is dangerous, volatile and unpredictable. Attacks against military and civilian targets throughout Iraq continue, including in the International (or “Green”) Zone. Targets include hotels, restaurants, police stations, checkpoints, foreign diplomatic missions, and international organizations and other locations with expatriate personnel. Such attacks can occur at any time.”
The government’s reluctance to tout Iraq as a tourist destination is reinforced by the fact that it will not issue visas for civilians to visit there.
There are no flights for civilians into Baghdad.
Yet.
Air Iraq is preparing to offer jet service, according to its Web site.
“We are proud to announce our new weekly direct flights beginning soon from Washington, D.C., to Baghdad International Airport,” the site says.
The planes, promised to be state-of-the-art but of unspecified origin, will have limited seating and cargo space. The cost will be $1,800. Whether that is one-way is not disclosed.
At least 13 hotels are open for business in Baghdad, according to a Yahoo travel search.
And English-speakers do stay at them. Their reviews are online, thanks to Yahoo.
The Palestine International, which rates four stars from reviewers, says it costs $90 U.S. to stay there for one night. One visitor posted his impression: “Well, I was not beheaded, so that alone is a plus. The pool is a great place to avoid shrapnel.”
But reviews of some of the hotels have an insider flavor. One wrote: “To start of let me say that this is the BEST HOTEL IN THE WORLD!!!!! Everyone must go there it was the best experience of my life… The food was amazing I didn’t get food poiened at all if you are looking for and nice clean family hotel this one is for you. They have special activities for the kids and for the adults to (if you no what I mean)!!!! Other wise it’s a great sensable hotel so enjoy your stay and the BEST HOTEL IN THE WORLD!!”
A military security contractor who is familiar with the Green Zone, supposedly the safest part of Baghdad, gave his own assessment in an e-mail interview, and it was less enthusiastic:
“Tell folks who want to go there but do not want the problems with the IEDs and getting shot or kidnapped to drive the southern route to California along the Mexican border. Find the single most desolate part of the road they can. Get out of the car and walk 5 miles into the desert. Make sure it is August and wind is blowing. Sit on a hot rock (check for scorpions, Gila Monsters and snakes first) and stare at the distant hills. Imagine you are in Iraq. IF you can get back to your car, continue on to California where you will drink wine, eat good food and ogle the babes on the beach.”
