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Having recently visited Dubai and Abu Dhabi I’m next planning to visit Doha next. Please can you provide any advice on areas / hotels to stay in and nice restaurants. For reference, I liked the Marina area of Dubai with its nicer bars and restaurants but also looking for a relaxing time during the day.
Many thanks
Doha is much more restrained than Dubai so it’s not hard to find peace and quiet. I did a review of the Ritz Carlton last year, it was in a quiet location with nice pool and private beach area:
https://www.headforpoints.com/forums/topic/mini-review-ritz-carlton-doha/
Having lounge access included was a huge bonus, because food and drink (especially alcohol) in restaurants was pretty expensive and there aren’t as many options as in Dubai. The Place Vendome Mall is a nice location for a bit of shopping, eating and watching the fountain display. Ubers (or whatever the equivalent was) are very cheap and reliable to get around.
Doha is much easier to get from one part of the city to another than say getting from the Palm in Dubai to Dubai Creek or Deira, so it’s not so critical to choose the right location. I tend to prefer West Bay, which is a bit farther from the Downtown but it’s still really easy to get to the Promenade via the metro. From the top of the Promenade (near the classic Sheraton pyramid) you can even walk down all the way to the Islamic Art museum or the National Museum (former is much more interesting than the latter imo). Taxis everywhere but from the airport are cheap also.
Souq Waqif is nicer at night than in the daytime, so do stuff like beaches, promenade, museums in the day and leave that till later in the evening.
I had two great stays at IC West Bay and IC City as Diamond Ambassador last year but now I’ve lost my lounge pass and been kicked down to Platinum (and lost Ambassador!) so I wouldn’t get anything like as much joy out of those places now without stumping up for Club.
Well, this actually inspired me to change our Dubai trip in December to Doha! Cheaper hotel prices, only 3 hours time difference plus direct flight home to MAN on QR swings it, really. Booked 7 nights at the IC West Bay (? the beach and spa one anyway) – 4 nights HB, 2 nights with Ambassador cert, 1 night on points, total cash price just over £1k.
Fewer influencers, also!
Well, this actually inspired me to change our Dubai trip in December to Doha! Cheaper hotel prices, only 3 hours time difference plus direct flight home to MAN on QR swings it, really. Booked 7 nights at the IC West Bay (? the beach and spa one anyway) – 4 nights HB, 2 nights with Ambassador cert, 1 night on points, total cash price just over £1k.
Fewer influencers, also!
Well I can return the favour.. I just read your review of the RC Doha with Club and that inspired me to book the exact same thing for a stay there at the beginning of March! February might have made a bit more sense but the rates were a lot higher then, and at least I don’t run into half term either.
It was lovely, @Pangolin, but I pretty much dumped Marriott when they went to dynamic award pricing. It was a great use of my remaining stash of points though. And I fancy something a bit more “beachy” this time.
We do still laugh about that glass toilet door from time to time!
I can highly recommend the raffles hotel in Doha. We stayed there in November as part of a Dubai, RAK and Doha trip. I have also stayed at le meridien in the city but it wasn’t as good. The city is small really and easy to get around by taxi.
Must be this years “in” place, I’ve just booked November Avios flights!
Looking at hotels, I won’t be staying at the ‘lofty’ heights already mentioned, no points and no status (except a measly IHG Silver). Also as a solo traveller I pay the same room price as a duo, so can’t justify the cost.
Looking at either Le Meridien West Bay or Staybridge Suites at Lusial. Whilst I will spend some time sightseeing, the rest will be chilling so need somewhere with an outdoor pool. Le Meridien winning at the moment with a Long Stay B/B package with 20% food discount and 3pm check out.
Nor trying to teach you to suck eggs, but the sun is very low in the winter so avoid places where the pool is going to be overshadowed by tall buildings (if you want the sun, maybe I shouldn’t assume everyone is like me!) The RC was nice in that respect because there was nothing particularly near it, and of course beachfront properties can’t be completely surrounded by other structures.
We were put off the otherwise fabulous Grosvenor House in Dubai because the pool only got the sun between about 11 and 3, and there was another skyscraper being built next to it which would reduce this even further.
It should be easier to avoid them in Doha, though, as there aren’t as many (yet!)
Ha, as my user name on here might suggest, I’m not that keen on long periods of intense sun, so not too concerned about shady areas.
It might just be me, but there’s just something about being in the sunshine (not scorching, 25 C is fine) which gives me the most incredible sense of wellbeing. It’s like a tonic for the body and soul!
*It might just be a reaction to spending most of my life in northern climes …
I’m now also looking at a trip to Doha next year. Travelling with a (would be) 5 year old, so would want something with a kitchen area, and ideally a washing machine and balcony. Have Hilton and Marriott Gold via Amex Plat.
Any experience of Hilton Doha The Pearl? Seems to tick our requirements.
There’s also the WA West Bay, which have studios but those are several categories above the standard rooms. Obviously, wouldn’t expect to be able to get upgraded from a double to a studio, but is it possible to book the standard room as a redemption, and then enquire with the hotel about cash upgrade cost to a studio? I know it may vary by hotel, but is that something that you can do at Hilton’s? I would be transferring Amex MR to HH, and based on current pricing, could get better than 1p per MR by booking the standard room, but way worse if I booked the studio as a redemption, as its Premium reward pricing (do you also not get the 5th night free with Premium reward rooms?).
Hi just returned from Doha ,we like many on here have been to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, we always book a cheaper hotel for the first night as the flights arrive late , we stayed at the al messila hotel half board the hotel was amazing very relaxed and a short distance from attraction raffles rooftop is a must book first enjoy
I’m currently looking at spending a few days in Doha next March and wanted to get peoples thoughts on arrival times. I have a 241 to use so am currently looking at BA flights which arrive either at 23.10 or 05.30. Rather than arrive at 05.30 and have to wait for a hotel room I’m wondering about arriving at 23.10 and staying at the airport for a night to then move on to our preferred hotel the next day. We’ve transited Doha in early morning and the middle of the night previously which were fine but just wanted to get peoples experiences when staying there for a few days. Thanks.
I’m currently looking at spending a few days in Doha next March and wanted to get peoples thoughts on arrival times. I have a 241 to use so am currently looking at BA flights which arrive either at 23.10 or 05.30. Rather than arrive at 05.30 and have to wait for a hotel room I’m wondering about arriving at 23.10 and staying at the airport for a night to then move on to our preferred hotel the next day. We’ve transited Doha in early morning and the middle of the night previously which were fine but just wanted to get peoples experiences when staying there for a few days. Thanks.
Don’t discount Hilton day room rates for early morning arrivals. I paid £35 for a Hilton in Dubai after an early arrival. Was well worth it for sleep and a shower before heading to my actual hotel around 14.00
We arrived into DOH at 2300 and just got a taxi straight to our hotel (the RC, about 20 mins away at that time of night.) We’d only flown in from DXB, however, and the disembarkation and immigration process was surprisingly long (over an hour), so if you’ve come off a longer flight you may want to stay somewhere closer. I’d get all the transferring out of the way in one go, however, if your main hotel is reasonably near the airport.
I used to spend a lot of time in the Gulf when I was a travel writer, and Doha is a close second to Muscat as my fave city. For a “rural” type escape in Doha, I’d recommend a couple of nights at the Al Samriya Autograph Collection. It’s like a country house/castle surrounded by horse farms and attached to a grand museum about 20 mins from downtown. Quite a calm area and gives you a bit of a flavour of “real life” away from the skyscrapers.
I’m currently looking at spending a few days in Doha next March and wanted to get peoples thoughts on arrival times. I have a 241 to use so am currently looking at BA flights which arrive either at 23.10 or 05.30. Rather than arrive at 05.30 and have to wait for a hotel room I’m wondering about arriving at 23.10 and staying at the airport for a night to then move on to our preferred hotel the next day. We’ve transited Doha in early morning and the middle of the night previously which were fine but just wanted to get peoples experiences when staying there for a few days. Thanks.
Before planning your trip, make sure that Ramadan in Qatar will not affect your travel plans. It will be observed from 17 Feb to 18 Mar next year. There is a great thread on flyertalk explaining what you can expect.
Thanks very much for the responses, in particular @philuk as I had thought about Ramadan and then it completely slipped my mind so good reminder. I’ll have a look at Al Samriya too. I think that if we end up staying at a hotel in the main tourist area I’m minded to get the late arrival flight and transfer straight there.
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