Welcome
A warm welcome
A few words from Jad & Shelby about what Lebanon means to them.
[ Personal note ]
The Guide
A little of Lebanon
While you're here, we'd love you to taste, wander, and rest a while. A few of our own recommendations — with real details to be added.
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Eat
Where to eat
In Beirut: Em Sherif for the grand Lebanese feast, Beihouse in Gemmayzeh (named Lebanon's best restaurant) for a modern take, Tawlet in Mar Mikhael for home cooking from a different village every day, and Liza for dinner in a beautiful Achrafieh palace. Heading north, book a harbourside seafood lunch in Byblos' old port — and don't leave without manakish from any bakery you pass.
Reserve dinner spots a few days ahead — Beirut books up in June.
See
Places to visit
Jeita Grotto's vast caverns and underground river are 20 minutes from the hotels and genuinely world-class. Ride the téléférique from Jounieh Bay up to Our Lady of Lebanon at Harissa for the coastline view. In Byblos, wander one of the world's oldest ports — Crusader citadel, old souks, harbour. In Beirut, walk Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhael's stairs and galleries, and give the National Museum an hour.
All within 40 minutes of the hotels — easy half-day trips.
Coast
Beaches & coast
This is beach-club country: expect loungers, restaurants, and DJs rather than quiet sand. Try Amarilla or the clubs along the Kaslik–Jounieh strip minutes from the hotels, or make a slow day of it at Eddé Sands in Byblos. In the city, Beirut's Sporting Club is the classic seawater swim with sunset views.
Entry usually runs $20–40 with loungers included — weekdays are calmer.
Culture
Customs & hospitality
Lebanese hospitality is real and relentless — you will be fed, refilled, and adopted. Accepting a second helping is the sincerest compliment. Dress is stylish but relaxed; churches ask for covered shoulders. A warm hello and a thank-you in Arabic will earn you delighted smiles everywhere.
If you're invited to someone's home, come hungry — resistance is futile.
Phrases
Useful phrases
Marhaba (hello) · Shukran (thank you) · Kifak / Kifik (how are you, to a man / woman) · Sahtein (enjoy your meal — said to you constantly) · Yalla (let's go!) · Tikram (you're welcome). English and French are spoken nearly everywhere.
One 'shukran' goes a very long way.
Money
Currency & payments
Lebanon runs on US dollars in cash — bring what you plan to spend, in small bills ($1s, $5s, $10s, $20s), and crisp notes. Cards are increasingly accepted at hotels and larger restaurants, but cash is still king and ATMs are not dependable. You'll receive change in dollars or Lebanese lira.
Rule of thumb: cash for everything, card as a backup.
Weather
Weather & packing
June is dependable: sunny days around 28–30°C (mid-80s °F) on the coast, with warm evenings that soften after midnight — Kfour sits in the hills, so a light layer is welcome once the dancing pauses. Pack sunglasses, a swimsuit, and comfortable shoes for old-town cobblestones.
Rain in June is vanishingly rare — plan for sunshine.
These are personal suggestions, not official tourism advice. Opening hours, prices, and travel conditions change — please confirm current details before you rely on them. Any safety or practical guidance should be checked against up-to-date official sources close to your travel dates.