Hello Salsera!

I LOVE Lebanon, I had an amazing time there, and planning to go again..soon I hope. I copied/pasted the comments I posted in my last thread, I hope this will help

If you've never been to Lebanon, you really need to go...it's a great country, beautiful people, I've met the nicest people there, amazing places, and I don't even need to talk about the food.

The party scene in Beirut is incredible, some of the best rooftop clubs in the world, it's so lively and modern. The city is a real paradox, you will be walking in the streets where modern constructions just sit next to ruins of buildings destroyed by the previous war, you can feel and see the changes but also the history and the past still present.

I only booked 3 days at first, and my friend organised a complete tailor-made program, allowing me to see all the places I wanted to visit in Lebanon, here's my program to give you an idea (I had a driver all the time):

Sunday:

Start rather early and go up to the beautiful Chouf mountains via Deir El Qamar, a charming village on the way, and take a short coffee break if you wish at Mir Amine palace Hotel (Only an option, not necessary.  It is the one whose picture you’ve seen having a carpet floor swimming pool overlooking Beiteddine palace).  Then move to Beiteddine palace for a short visit.  After that, drive straight up the mountains to the Cedar reserves and take a walk inside the forest among the breathtaking trees.  From there, proceed towards the Bekaa on a picturesque route that overlooks the Bekaa Valley and the Qaroun Lake, and have lunch at Kefraya, the famous Lebanese wine producers.  Proceed from there directly to Baalbeck to visit the most impressive Roman site!  Back to Beirut.

Monday

Visit of Jeita Grotto (natural caves) north of Beirut, then go to Jounieh and take the cable car up to Hareesa, and enjoy the beautiful bay view from up there, visit the church, etc…Then go back down and proceed to Jbiel (Byblos).  Jbeil is a charming port city with a beautiful castle and a great old town.  Have a yummy fish treat in one of its nice restaurants, then walk to the old port for some drinks in its great outdoor pubs in the narrow alleys. And ended up in one of the private beach "Eddie Sand" http://www.eddesandsresort.com/resort_overview.html

If you want to go to Lebanon I highly recommend you contact my friends at http://www.mymiddleeast.me/ and whatever you wish to do, they will help you organise it.

A great photograph (and friend, yes I am a little biased) after 2 years of work, just released his book "The Lebanon". Beautiful!

To give you an idea http://www.maxmilligan.com/current_projects/lebanon

A cool gift idea http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lebanon-Max-Milligan/dp/0954587642/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1288645603&sr=8-1

PS: Hotels in Beirut, I can highly recommend

35 Rooms - www.35rooms.com/index1.php

Very good and friendly service, great location in the heart of Hamra district, modern, free wireless internet and very reasonable prices

Golden Tulip Serenada (also in Hamra)

http://www.goldentulipserenada.com/Gallery.aspx

More traditionnel, in an old beautiful building, they have a nice rooftop terrace with a swimming pool (tiny but still nice, when swimming at sundown and listening to the call of the prayer...soothing), free wireless internet

Le Gray

http://www.campbellgrayhotels.com/le-gray-beirut?lang=EN#/le-gray-beirut

And my favourite! the gorgeous 5*, modern and design, free wireless internet, fantastic rooftop terrace with a very good restaurant and bar. So close to all the great rooftop clubs (White, Mybar, Capitol, Skybar...) But it's not cheap, from $350 (not incl. all taxes) for the standard room.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions

Best

Phoebs

http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/middle-east/lebanon/beirut/overview.html?scp=1&sq=beirut&st=tcse

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/02/arts/02iht-scbeirut.html

Hello, thanks very much for the information, very valuable indeed. I will only stay for 8 days in Lebanon but will make the most of it. Thanks again and Happy Easter. Anne.