"Hello to everyone! I've been in Bahrain less than a year now and thought I might contribute some info to new expats and those thinking about moving to Bahrain..."

Good places to shop, when you're new:

Bahrain is a small country and it is likely that you will end up living in the main city centre or its environs, depending upon your employment and personal preferences.

The two main shopping malls in the Bahrain are the Seef Mall and the Bahrain Mall, both located in the Seef district. The Seef Mall is quite extensive and impressive...it features two cinema multiplexes and two food courts, in addition to the multitude of shops, boutiques and stores. A good place to shop, eat and watch a movie or two. The Bahrain Mall, though not quite as big as the Seef Mall, is also a good place to visit...the main advantage is Geant - the biggest hypermart in the country - this store offers the whole range of consumer products that you can imagine -from electronics to food to household items and more. A good place for one-stop shopping. Other shopping malls in Bahrain include the Al Dana Mall, Riffa Mall, Marina Mall, GOSI complex, etc.

Getting around may not be that easy when you're new, unless you have ready access to transportation. The public transport system does not have very wide coverage, though a basic bus service does exist. Taxis are the best bet and you can usually travel short distances for as little as 800fils (BD0.800). Ensure that any taxi you get in is metered, and if not, insist on it! You can also rent out small saloon cars for as little as BD10.000 per day. Fuel is relatively cheap and you should be able to use your International Drivers License for upto a month (We drive on the right here, by the way (Left-hand-drive vehicles)).

One thing that struck me when I moved to Bahrain was the contrasts in character and establishments in different parts of the city - there are ultra-modern buildings in parts of the city...and then just adjacent you will find historic structures and old souks. There are areas of Bahrain where you will find lots of ethnic and eastern establishments, including grocery stores, restaurants and theatres. The Indian and Filipino communities are quite firmly rooted in Bahrain and you will have no trouble finding supplies and a wide variety of food items from these countries.

The price ranges vary considerably depending on where you shop, of course. If you are planning to settle down, you'd probably be better off buying consumables and groceries from big supermarkets or hypermarts, who offer volume packages and discounts - weekly shopping trips seem popular locally. For quick shopping for a few items, there are plenty of small stores to be found near you. Dining out and ordering food from home is also extremely easy...and in some cases beats cooking at home (especially for Bachelors!) The variety of food types available is mind-boggling and so are the price ranges. At the low-end you can get a satisfactory (individual) meal for as little as BD 1.000 (less than 3 US Dollars)...the higher end, of course has very few limits...but I'd venture a guess of about BD 3-5.000 for a moderately expensive meal.

Well, that's all I can think of at the moment...hope this helps somebody! :) If anyone knows good places to shop and get good deals, pls post a comment. Thanks, JJ.

Original Article: iXpats.com - Online community for expatriates (expats) living and working in Bahrain - New in Bahrain: Shopping, getting around, eating In...

tags: bahrain, shopping, dining, moving, prices, expats