Ita's Trip to Doha
By Ita Comer
Myself and nine others were lucky enough to be flown by Qatar Airways in business class to Doha, the capital of Qatar for a weekend in one of the most rapidly growing cities in the Middle East. I found that there was so much to do for all ages and tastes. After a seven-hour flight we arrived at the very modern Hamad International Airport, which has great duty free and dining options.
Location
Our hotel, the JW Marriott Marquis Doha, was only a 25 minute taxi ride from the airport to the downtown area. The hotel had great views of the city, especially from the upper floors. It also has a really tasty Greek restaurant called Santorini. We did site visits of the Sheraton Doha and the Intercontinental Doha as part of our trip, which were likewise beautiful hotels.
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What I Loved
I loved soaking up the sun at the large hotel pool, as the weather was a very pleasant 28 degrees and sunny. Doha has year-round great weather, as the temperature rarely goes below 20 degrees and it barely ever rains. There were also plenty of palm trees for relaxing in the shade.
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Activities & Places to See
- You can do great half-day safaris into the dunes, with transport you from your hotel and have camel rides on offer, as well as sand boarding and sledding.
- I really enjoyed the museums such as the Museum of Islamic Art, although make sure that you cover your arms and legs as a sign of respect.
- I recommend the Villaggio Mall and Souq Waqif market, as this was a great taste of local life.
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Shopping
Doha has great shopping opportunities, with lots of malls and popular brands. These are a bit more expensive than Ireland, with chains like Zara and Mango being about 10% higher in price.
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Food & Bars
Qatar is generally a dry country, meaning alcohol mostly isn’t allowed. However, many of the hotels serve alcohol in their bars, and we had some cocktails in the JW Marriott and the Marsa Malaz Kempinski. These can be quite expensive, although during happy hour they are much cheaper. There are many nice restaurants, including Santorini in the JW Marriott and Mykonos. Also, I really enjoyed the Persian food at Parisa Souq Wasif Restaurant.
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