Luxury Travel US 2022 Vol 2 | Page 44

Al-Balad , Jeddah
GENUINE JEDDAH
Perched on the shores of the Red Sea , Jeddah originally made its name as the gateway to Mecca due to its proximity to the holy city . But now , the port city is rapidly growing as a top-tier tourist destination filled with exceptional hotels , restaurants , beaches , museums , and souks . Just one look at its historic old town area — a UNESCO World Heritage Site that charmingly showcases a history that dates to 552BC — and you will fall in love with this city by the sea .
As a coastal destination , water sports , especially diving , are very popular . You can ’ t visit Jeddah without a trip out on the water , and happily , there are loads of options at the Red Sea City , including yacht charters and sunset cruises . Underwater , though , is where the real magic happens , for this is one of the best places in the world to dive or snorkel thanks to stunning coral reefs to explore , shipwrecks to discover and sea life to get up-close-and-personal with .
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