Bahrain

Bahrain is a small country comprised of 30 plus islands bordering Saudi Arabia. Our visa only cost about $13 at the airport. Flying into Bahrain you see beautiful turquoise waters that seem inviting. Yet upon arrival you learn that the hotels have created the nice beaches and you have to pay to go there... 

Airbnb was our best bet seeing that we couldn't find any hostels. Most all of the Airbnb locations were located in residence buildings that had access to a pool, gym, sauna etc. It gets very hot in Bahrain so being close to a pool is a necessity.

Bahrain is not really a cheap country but not super expensive, your average Western prices. The best way around is by taxi. They use the meter but be prepared to spend some money. Dinner in a restaurant can average anywhere between $10-$20. We went to the local grocery store and cooked in our apartment thus reducing how much money we spent. 

The main city of Manama doesn't have a ton of things to visit. Fortunately a local friend took us around to the ancient palace, the old city, and a drive out to the desert to see The Tree of Life. A car was definitely needed to go to the desert. There are numerous malls to go to, all with different special attractions. 

The Al Fateh Grand Mosque offers tours almost everyday. The largest in the country, this mosque is beautiful. The tour is Free and the tour guides are very informative and friendly.