Hi! Travelling to Doha for the 1st time | ExpatWoman.com
 

Hi! Travelling to Doha for the 1st time

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 January 2011 - 16:58

Hi All,

Live in Dubai - planning to travel to Doha as have heard so much about Qatar recently. Is it easily seeable and can I rent a car there or will have no choice but to rent taxis?

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 January 2011 - 11:56
Thanks Jonners - have noted down Delowars number. Thank you!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 January 2011 - 08:45
Andy7 - if you are looking for a driver for the day then I can recommend one that we use frequently - Delowar, +974 6689 6603. Hope you enjoy your time in Doha :)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 January 2011 - 00:38
Thanks !
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EW GURU
Latest post on 03 January 2011 - 22:13
Ok sorry to contradict some of the other posts but if you're coming from Dubai there's no point heading to the malls or fancy hotels (although latter are good for a drink in the evening). Dubai has these better and cheaper. You really want to hit Souk Waqif, Islamc museum, cultural village and the corniche. Most of that is West Bay based but a car would make your life easier. If you're used to driving in Dubai you'll get along fine hiring one here. Traffic is a bit less cvilised than Dubai but prob less traffic jams. All the places I've mentioned have good parking. You'll need your passport to get into any bar.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 03 January 2011 - 20:11
Having recently returned from a holiday in Dubai, I can say that variety is much more there and so that might be a better option for shopping. Cant comment on prices though as I dont know.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 03 January 2011 - 19:59
Nearly everything is cheaper in Dubai (or surrounding emirates) than Doha. And choice is much greater in UAE as well. Having lived in Oman, UAE and Qatar - choice and price are better in the Emirates
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EW GURU
Latest post on 03 January 2011 - 19:55
If you stay in West Bay, I really don't think you need a car. The Four Seasons, Sheraton, the W and Kempinski, City Centre Mall and the Corniche are all in walking distance from each other. The Souq Waqif is only about 4 miles away but too hot to walk int he day and a taxi is cheap like Dubai. From City Centre you can always get a taxi anywhere you are going like to Villagio (mall) or Landmark Mall. The driving here is going to be easier than Dubai because we are not as crowded, yes the driving here is bad, but I felt Dubai was worse. Not sure about the jewellery, I would guess it is not cheaper because we do not have as many shops as in Dubai. Jillmv is right, you can see all of Qatar in a day or 2. From what I have seen, the bulk of the touristy stuff is in West Bay to best to stay as close as you can. As for your passport, you have to show it to get into anywhere that has alcohol as far as I know. They actually scan it (take a copy of the picture) at some places. <em>edited by ccdoha on 03/01/2011</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 January 2011 - 19:32
I believe carrying the passport is a must and the W hotel is a good place for drinks? Also where can one go for shopping? Jewellery buying in Qatar is cheaper or in Dubai?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 January 2011 - 19:26
Thank you all for your comments. I must admit Expat Woman is a really helpful community. Appreciated all the help.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 03 January 2011 - 18:27
ooh - smart idea Linda Dee! You can try Al Muftah Rent-A Car. They will provide a driver with a car for a few days, no idea abobut the price. www.rentacardoha.com.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 January 2011 - 17:51
Another option for getting around could be hiring a driver for the day/weekend. I use someone who costs around 30-40 Qr's a trip, more for waiting time. If you would like the number/s of a driver that you could possibly book from Dubai to meet you at the airport, let me know and i'll pass it through. You could then arrange the rest of your weekend from there.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 03 January 2011 - 17:35
You could easily see all of Doha in a weekend. Parking is generally available everywhere touristy. You can rent a car easily -- there are a bunch of companies at the airport, but the only thing that would be tough is trying to navigate the city and drive at the same time. Traffic is a little hairy here, so if you are stressed about finding your way around without crashing into someone, the vacation might not be so much fun! Signage is better than it used to be, but not great. You might prefer to take taxis because they know where they're going. Luckily a lot of the things you would want to see are all basically along the corniche road and its extension to the pearl. There isn't a metro and I don't know anyone who takes the bus, so if you don't rent a car, you're limited to your feet and taxis.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 January 2011 - 17:29
Thanks alot Addaya - for the advice. And is it safe for women to walk around on their own like it is in Dubai or do you get hassled by men ?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 January 2011 - 17:20
Hi Andy, I will recommend to rent a car, taxis aren't very easy to find in Doha and they can be expensive if you rely on the limousine at the hotels. My first month here I rent a car with Strong rent a car, I was very satisfy with the service you can check the website online. Good luck. N