I agree with U.A.E, Saudi, Qatar,& Kyrgystan. Manas (Kyrgystan) was a nice, quiet little transition center where a person could decompress after 6 months of Bagram, or a year or longer in Afghanistan. U.A.E, Qatar, and Saudi are sweaty hellholes, but I never felt in imminent danger when visiting or transition. Don’t have any desire to go back, even if there was a monetary incentive involved.
I do however disagree with pulling R&R. Deployments do wierd things to military and civilians alike. People need time to decompress and readjust to being home again, before they’re ready for work.
Spent 9 months in Oman during first Gulf War. Never felt I was in any danger but wouldn’t call it a garden spot, at least where I was. Troops stationed in Muscat said it was pretty nice.