Dammam to New Orleans Flights

  About Dammam

Dammam is the sixth-largest city of Saudi Arabia and capital of the Eastern Province of the kingdom. It got its name from the Arabic word 'Dawwama' which means whirlpool. The city has grown potentially and now accounts for about a quarter of the world's total oil reserves. It was the discovery of oil wells in this region that led to its overnight growth and quick success. The city has a growing population of about 1.5 million. The locals here follow their culture and traditions strictly, no matter how much they embrace modernisation in terms of their standard of life. As the city is developing, it is also focusing on making it more tourist-friendly. Dammam has quite a lot of tourist attractions in the city, mainly for you to go with your families. The Dolphin Village has become quite popular and is one place your kids will definitely love. Like most cities in UAE, Dammam also has a vibrant and active shopping scene. You can buy from the top brands, or you can go shopping in the local markets, the choice is yours. Not to mention, you will love the food here.

Best Time to Visit Dammam

Most cities and countries in the UAE witnessed only two seasons, extreme summer and extreme winter. November to April is when Dammam experiences winter. The temperature ranges from 13 to 30 degree Celsius and while the days are warm, the nights get chilly. This is a high tourist season for Dammam. Make sure you book your hotel in Dammam several weeks in advance because the prices will increase closer to winter and availability also might be an issue. You will also have to book your flight tickets to Damman in advance. If done at the last moment, it might get difficult to get cheap flight tickets to Dammam. All the tourist attractions will be accessible during this time. The weather is slightly warmer in March and April as compared to the previous month. Dammam has a couple of diving academies that you can visit during this time if you want to learn diving. The water will not be too cold as compared to December, January and February. It will neither be too cold nor too hot. You can also go on a food tasting tour in winter.

May to October is summer in Dammam, and the temperature reaches up to a maximum of 41-degree Celsius. June to August are the hottest months in the city. The scorching heat makes it unbearable for you to step out or sign up for any sightseeing tours for the day. However, evenings and nights are comparatively pleasant. Since the locals also observe fast during Ramadan, a lot of them are given week offs from work. This is a low season for tourism in the country, and you won't even get access to all of the tourist attractions in the city. Needless to say, the hotel prices drop during summer, courtesy the low season. You might, however, come across interesting flight deals to Dammam online and at better prices. It is highly recommended that you travel to Dammam only during winters.

Places to Visit in Dammam

Dammam has a couple of beautiful corniches and also houses a human-made Coral Island. The city is slowly rising as one of the hot vacation destinations and already has a couple of interesting things lined up for tourists. Dolphin Village is one of the major attractions in Dammam. It is situated at the entrance of Coral Island and offers air-conditioned lounge seats so you can catch the dolphin and seal shows with your family and friends. You will have to pay a nominal fee to enter, but it is worth every penny. Make sure you get the best seats though, and to get that, you might have to reach quite early. You can also head to Adventure World that has indoor games, rides and play areas for kids along with some dining options. You can also head to Murakkabat Mountain Park to enjoy the lush greenery amidst a desert. You can either jog here or take a stroll in the park. Share Al-Hob (Love) Market is another tourist spot that you must head to if you want to go on a shopping spree. You can buy a lot of traditional goods here and a couple of souvenirs for your family and friends, too.

Coral Island is a human-made wonder in Dammam that you cannot miss. This is one of the best tourist attractions in the entire city. You can also head to Heritage Village to get a feel of the Saudi culture. Tarout Castle is yet another marvellous tourist attraction that was built in 1600 BC. You can also visit the Dammam Regional Museum. The speciality about the museum is that there are six halls here, each of them showcasing six different categories from the stone age. You can head to Half Moon Bay if you want to learn how to dive and King Fahad Park to relive your childhood.

Things to do in Dammam

One of the first things to do in Dammam is to try the food here. Middle Eastern cuisine is popular all over the world, and there is nothing better than trying it in the Middle East itself. You can either sign up for a guided tour of the city or explore the city on your own. Head over to Heritage Village to get a glimpse of the Saudi culture. Dammam is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, and even though it has embraced a modern way of living, the locals make sure they keep their tradition alive. Dammam is the perfect place to head to for a family vacation, especially if you have kids. The Dolphin Village and Adventure World are two of the most entertaining attractions in the city. You can also head to the Tarout Castle, which was built in 1600 BC. If you go for a guided tour of the castle, you will get to know more about the inception of the castle and interesting stories around it. The King Fahad Park is another tourist attraction you can head to spend some leisure time with your family and to relive your own childhood. The city also has several diving academies that you can enrol into and learn how to dive. However, this might only be possible during early winter and late summer when the temperatures are normal. It might get a tad uncomfortable to dive underwater during winter when it is already cold outside, and while summer is the best time to go underwater diving, that's probably the only thing you will get to do on your trip.

Food and Restaurants in Dammam

Dammam is popular for its middle eastern cuisine. Though you get to try cuisines from all over the world in every city in Saudi Arabia, it is the middle eastern food that people love the most. Heritage Village is a very popular restaurant with a very comfortable decor that makes the dining atmosphere delightful. If you are in the mood for some American-style steaks, you can head to Steak House. Manoosha Alreef is popular for its fast food and Lebanese cuisine. Head over to Brasa de Brasil Churrascaria for authentic Brazilian food and to Fayrouz Lebanese Restaurant for lip-smacking middle easter and Lebanese cuisine. You can also try some of the high-end restaurants in the city like Asahi Oan-Asian Restaurant for Japanese and Asian food, Kunefeci for Turkish cuisine, View Cafe for Indian and Arabic cuisines, and Al Diwan for barbecue. Finding a decent restaurant that serves vegetarian food might be a tad difficult since most tourists and locals, too, are meat lovers. However, the food scene is barely disappointing in Dammam, and you will leave both impressed and satiated.

How to reach Dammam (Transportation)

King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia is the third major hub for Saudia, which was called Saudi Arabian Airlines before. The flight connectivity to Dammam from India is excellent. Gulf Air and AirArabia have frequent flights to Dammam from India with layovers at Manama and Sharjah. Getting cheap flight tickets to Dammam is not very difficult if you book at the right time. You can also look up exciting flight deals to Dammam online. You might end up getting a good deal if you have planned an impromptu trip. Getting a taxi or shuttle service from the airport to your hotel is quite convenient and not much of a hassle. The staff at the airport is also quite helpful. If you have to wait for a long time to board your flight, you have lots of options inside the airport to help pass the time. The airport is well-equipped with WiFi, smoking areas, restaurants, lounges, cafes, duty-free shops, currency exchange, ATMs and a lot more. In fact, you will also get through immigration and all the other formalities quite quickly since the staff is very efficient.

  About New Orleans

New Orleans is a popular tourist destination in the United States of America. It is known for its Creole cuisine and European-style architecture. The city is known for its dynamic music scenes, too. You will hear a lot of jazz, rock 'n' roll, blues and Zydeco music in the city. Mardi Gras is one of the main reasons for tourists to plan a trip to New Orleans. Parties are happening in the city throughout the year with or without Mardi Gras. You can head to the clubs at Bourbon Street if you want to go partying till the wee hours. There is always one festival or another happening in the city. The city has also been victim to environmental disasters like Hurricane Katrina, BP Oil Spill and Hurricane Isaac, but it stands strong. A lot of tourists prefer taking a walking tour of the city. You can walk through the French Quarter and other major architectural sites. You can end your day with a delicious plate of jambalaya and a couple of drinks. You will have the time of your life in New Orleans.

Best Time to Visit New Orleans

February to May is a popular time to visit New Orleans, majorly because of Mardi Gras. Make sure you book a hotel in New Orleans several weeks in advance because not only will the hotels be packed but also, you will find it difficult to get cheap flight tickets to New Orleans. Since it is also when Mardi Gras takes place, a lot of popular tourist attractions are shut. If you want to add sightseeing for your trip, it is best not to plan it during Mardi Gras. The temperature ranges from 10 to 29 degree Celsius and is quite pleasant. It is comfortably warm, though the days can get pretty hot towards the end of the spring season. While Mardi Gras is one of the most popular reasons for people to visit New Orleans, you can attend the other festivals in the city, too, during the spring season. Tennessee Williams/Literary Festival, French Quarter Festival, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and New Orleans Wine and Food Experience are some of the other popular events that you can attend during these months.

June to August is when summer kicks in and the days can get pretty hot. The temperature ranges from 24 to 33 degree Celsius. Since there is barely any precipitation leading to humidity, the heat will be quite uncomfortable and scorching. It also rains a lot in summer, so you will have to pack your umbrellas, too. It is not the best time to visit the city if you can't deal with the blistering heat. You can attend the Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival, New Orleans Pride Festival, COOLinary New Orleans, Satchmo Summerfest and Red Dress Run in summer. Make sure you are well-hydrated and carry sunblock with you at all times. September to November is the autumn season in New Orleans, and it is an ideal time to visit the city. The temperature ranges from 13 to 30 degree Celsius. It gets colder towards the end of autumn, but there is also the risk of hurricanes from June to November. Despite the hurricane threat, there are quite a few events hosted in the city. You can book a hotel in New Orleans at a low price since it is not peak tourist season. You will also come across exciting flight deals to New Orleans online. You can attend events like the Louisiana Seafood Festival, Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival, New Orleans Film Festival, Voodoo Music + Arts Experience, Oak Street Po-Boy Festival and Celebration in the Oaks.

December to January is winter in New Orleans and is another good time to visit the city. The temperature ranges from 8 to 17 degree Celsius, and the city gets relief from the scorching heat. This is the perfect time to get good deals on hotels, and you can also witness the festive spirit of New Orleans first hand. Sugar Bowl is a very popular event that has families hooked to their televisions. You will also find a lot of pubs and sports bars in the city screening it so that you can enjoy it with lots of beer.

Places to Visit in New Orleans

Bourbon Street is one of the most happening places in New Orleans. It is one of the oldest streets in the cities. If you want to go out partying, Bourbon Street has a lot of pubs and nightclubs. You can also go club-hopping here and have the time of your life. The French Quarter is another place in the city that is worth a visit. You can catch street performances here and a lot of historical buildings that you can visit like the St Louis Cathedral, Cabildo and Presbytere. French Quarter has a very Bohemian feel to it. Add a little spook to your trip by visiting the Voodoo Museum. It has historical and mystic relevance to it. It is believed that in the 1800s, an amalgamation between Creole culture and Voodoo dancing created jazz music. You can also visit the Moonwalk Riverside Promenade. Take a stroll by the Mississippi River and enjoy a romantic sunset. New Orleans also has a lot of museums for art lovers, nature lovers and history buffs. Make sure you attend the New Orleans Jazz Museum, too, if you are a fan of the genre.

Your sightseeing and outdoor plans might get affected a lot if you are heading to New Orleans during Mardi Gras. A lot of sightseeing spots are shut during Mardi Gras since the entire city wants to enjoy it and ensure that tourists do the same. The city also has a lot of beautiful swamps that offer activities like fishing, kayaking and air boating. Preservation Hall is a popular spot in New Orleans where a lot of live music events and jazz brunches are hosted. St Louis Cathedral is one of the most important landmarks in New Orleans and was built in the 1700s. The cathedral was destroyed twice but was rebuilt again.

Things to do in New Orleans

Mardi Gras is a big reason for people to fly to New Orleans. Apart from enjoying the carnival, you can also try a lot of things to spruce up your holiday. New Orleans has a very active and vibrant nightlife. Bourbon Street and Frenchmen street are quite popular party destinations. You can go partying or shopping at one or both of these places. You can also sign up for a sightseeing tour of the city or a New Orleans Swamp tour. As strange as it might seem, the city also organises cemetery tours. Make sure you also visit the Voodoo Museum for a spooky tour.

Foods and Restaurants in New Orleans

If you are planning a trip to New Orleans, make sure you give your diet a rest. It is a culinary delight, and you won't forget it for a long time. You can enjoy cuisines from all over the world in New Orleans. However, it is known for its Creole and Cajun cuisines. You can try traditional New Orleans dishes like red beans and rice and PO-boys, Cajun and Creole jambalaya and gumbo are some of the popular dishes you will find in menus here. Cafe du Monde is a popular cafe that serves the best Beignets in the world. It also got featured in the popular Hollywood film, Chef. The French Quarter has quite a lot of Creole restaurants and French restaurants, too. It is best to sign up for a food tour or attend one of the food festivals. You might come across discounts and offers on the menus during festivals. If you are in the mood for dessert, head over to Angelo Brocato Ice Cream. You can also try Olde Nola Cookery for traditional Cajun and Creole cuisine along with some seafood. Paladar 511 is popular for serving the best pizzas in the neighbourhood. Head over to The Rum House for the Caribbean and Latin food.

How to reach New Orleans

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is owned by the New Orleans city and is about 18 km from downtown New Orleans. The flight connectivity to New Orleans from India is quite good. KLM, American Airlines, United Airlines, Lufthansa have frequent flights to New Orleans with layovers at Amsterdam, London, Chicago, Dallas and Newark. If you book well in advance, you might get exciting flight deals to New Orleans from India. You will get a taxi or car rental service from the airport quite easily. The airport has quite a lot of facilities like premium lounges, restaurants, cafes, shopping areas, currency exchange and so on. You can also book a hotel in New Orleans near the airport if you have an early flight to catch or if you want to avoid the commute. You can also get cheap flight tickets to New Orleans if you book several weeks in advance or if you are travelling during the offseason.