Lebanon

In tems of currency exchange, US dollars are very easily accepted. ATMs are present nearly everywhere and they give out cash in both LBP and USD.

The nightlife of Lebanon was great, but has toned down a bit because of the current situation and as unrest can break out at any time with Israel. However, Beirut is the destination of choice for the nightlife. It has the most number of bars, clubs and pubs to visit. Lebanon has a lot of wine drinkers, as there are many wineries here. Beach parties are also very common and take place at the popular beach resorts.

There are plenty of malls to shop from in Lebanon. However, there are also traditional souks where you can easily shop for souvenirs. There are also quaint little boutiques here selling different designs as well as home accessories. If you look closely, you will even come across tiny arts and crafts stores selling beautiful items such as ceramics, soaps, traditional clothes and more.

Some important festivals of Lebanon are the Al Bustan International Festival of Music and the Arts, Workers' Day, Byblos Festival, Baalbeck International Festival, Tyre and South Festival, Eid-al-Fitr, Beiteddine Arts Festival and Zouk Mikael International Festival.

Locals drink the tap water here freely. It is considered to be potable, but it is always safer to settle for bottled water. Public toilets are also available, but people have complained about the cleanliness.

Treat everyone with respect here, as it is the thing they value most. Tipping is widespread and is expected. "Marhaba" is how you greet locals, accompanied by a handshake and a smile. If greeting a Muslim woman, do not extend your hand first, but wait for her to do so.

Do not walk around alone in any remote areas. Always stay safe and alert and keep checking the news, because of the current tense situation. Dress conservatively, especially when visiting a religious place.

The roots of Lebanese cuisine can be traced back to the Phoenicians. A lot of pure grains, vegetables and fruits are used in their preparations. Fresh fish and other types of seafood are also popular. In terms of meat, the Lebanese are more partial to poultry. Apart from that, you will find the use of a lot of chickpeas in their cuisine, as well as garlic, olive oil and various other herbs. The Lebanese mezze or platter is very popular and typically comes served with salads like fattoush and tabbouleh, dips such as hummus or baba ghanoush, patties and stuffed grape leaves. Pita, which is their flat bread is also eaten on a large scale. Baklava and Lebanese ice cream in different flavours are commonly eaten as dessert. In terms of beverages, Lebanese coffee, which is like Turkish coffee, is quite popular.

The airlines that go from India to Lebanon are Kuwait Airways, Emirates, Air Arabia, Etihad, Jet Airways, Gulf Air, Egypt Air, Turkish Airlines, Saudia and Qatar Airways. There aren't any non-stop flights. One stop or two stop flights are most common.