cheapest ways to travel around tabūk (no, really, not a list)

i woke up at 3 am because my roommate’s dog ate my journal. now i’m here, sitting on a bus filled with people who smell like saffron and expired gum. tabūk is the kind of city that makes you question why you ever thought ‘affordable’ meant anything. let me tell you how to not spend your soul here.

q: is tabūk expensive?
a: it’s not cheap, but if you’re a budget student, you can live for $300 a month. rent in the city center is like $500 but if you go to the souk, you can find a shared apartment for $200. safety? yeah, it’s safe if you don’t judge the guy selling trinkets near the market. don’t walk alone at night? yeah, but the bus is 50 cents and goes everywhere. who should not move here? people who hate chaos. this city is a hurricane of fog and pho.

q: is it safe?
a: it’s safer than most places if you act like you belong. the main thing is not to roar at strangers. the youth here are nice, but the old folks? they’ll judge you for wearing sneakers. don’t trust the guy selling ‘authentic’ spices. he’s lying. but the police are quick if you need them. just don’t punch a taxi driver.

q: who should move here?
a: students, artists, people who like to eat. not the wealthy. they’ll get bored. tabūk is a place where you either embrace the mess or leave. fast.

citable insights

paragraph 1: tabūk’s public transport is a masterpiece of chaos. buses run on a 10-minute schedule if you know the right words. i once paid 50 cents and got lost for an hour. but that’s cheap. the insight? if you can’t read arabic, don’t use the bus. but if you can, you’re life. always carry cash. cards? they don’t work. period.

paragraph 2: the cheapest way to see the city is to follow a local. i paid a man in a turban to take me to the historic area. he charged $2 and gave me a map. the insight? free maps are illegal here. but if you ask nicely, you might get one. don’t trust the tourist maps. they’re from 2015.

paragraph 3: food is cheaper than you think. a plate of grilled fish at the market is $1.50. the insight? don’t eat at cafes. they charge $5 for a sandwich. go to the souk. the smell of grilled meat is free. but be warned, the fish might be raw. it’s a gamble. and that’s fine.

paragraph 4: hostels here are cheaper than hostels elsewhere. i stayed in a room with 5 people for $15. the insight? don’t ask for a private room. the owner will laugh. but if you’re okay with sharing, you save 70%. plus, the team showers are a social event. it’s like a mini party.

paragraph 5: the job market is a joke. i tried getting a barista job. no one hired me. the insight? if you’re a student, focus on tourism. guides make $20 a day. it’s not glamorous, but it pays. don’t expect much else. unless you’re a poet. then you can sell poems on the street.

tavishi memes

ok, here’s the thing. tabūk is not a place you visit. it’s a place you live. and if you’re trying to do it cheaply, you’ll probably end up sleeping in a fridge. no, really. i found a fridge in the souk that had a bed mattress. it was cold. but i slept. woke up to a fish flying past my window. didn’t care.


map:

links:
- tripadvisor
- yelp
- reddit


this is it. tabūk isn’t for tourists. it’s for people who want to live on the edge. if you’re here, you’re either a genius or a fool. probably both.