My Doha Transit Experience with Qatar Airways!
Hi everyone! It's me again. Previously, I wrote a post asking about flying Qatar Airways and transiting in Doha. Now that I'm back, I want to share a comprehensive guide for you all! (Warning: Long post with lots of info!)
1. Short Transit (< 4 hours)
Depending on your flight, with transits under 4 hours, there aren't many activities available. Mostly, you can wander around shopping or take photos at the Duty Free Plaza South (look for the golden bear statue), or head to the Orchard area in the North zone (which has a pretty cool indoor glass garden).
Just a small note: these two areas are quite far apart. Walking or using the travelator can take more than 7 minutes, and finding and getting to your next flight's gate can take about 7-15 minutes. So, keep an eye on the time to avoid missing your flight!
2. Transit of 4 Hours or More
For these flights, you'll have more options for activities (packages/tours), specifically:
Minimum 4 hours: You can participate in activities like (a) exploring Hamad International Airport or (b) sports activities like golf, gym, etc., with costs ranging from Qar 120~400 per person.
8 hours or more: You'll have the option to explore Qatar with a city tour lasting about 3 hours. Qatar is a super small country, consisting of 95% mainland and 5% desert. Taking the city tour will allow you to see almost the entire country in those 3 hours. However, based on my experience, if you want to explore the city, it's better to go during the day, as it's brighter and easier to see the sights. I went in the evening, so I didn't see much, mainly just views through the car window. They only stop at a total of 3 places.
- First is an area like a square with a panoramic view of the skyscrapers for about 5 minutes.
- Second is an area with not much special, also only 5 minutes.
- Third is an area housing animals right in front of the royal palace. From the animal area, you'll be taken to Qatar's traditional market, lively but rushed as you'll only have about 20 minutes before heading back to the airport.
Depending on your feelings about the money and views, it is up to you to decide on whether this trip is worth it. This tour runs every 2 hours from 8am to 9:30pm.
The desert tour is more special, with trips every 60 minutes from 6am to 2pm. I haven't had the chance to try it yet, so I can't review it further.
Note: If you buy a tour, you need to go to the information desk (Duty Free Plaza South, near the golden bear) 2 hours in advance for check-in procedures. Whether your transit is short or long, whether you stay inside the airport or go outside on a tour, you don't need to prepare anything. Just present yourself, and they'll guide and assist you with the necessary procedures, so don't worry.
3. Currency
At the airport, they accept common foreign currencies in cash and card. However, if you pay with foreign cash, like USD or EUR, they'll return the change in Qatari Riyal.
When you go out to the market, you can use your card. They also allow you to pay with foreign currency (cash), but I'm not sure which currency they give the change in.
4. Where to Rest?
Hamad Airport has plenty of waiting chairs, but if you're transiting overnight or for too long and want to lie down, you'll have several options.
Paid: There are hotels, sleep pods, etc., with hourly rental rates, usually quite expensive. The quality is excellent.
Free: The best option is the Quiet Room, with separate rooms for men, women, and families, and almost every floor has one. The distance between the men's and women's rooms is very far, so if you're traveling in a group of 2 or more, you should stay together in the family room. Alternatively, you can go to the Garden area, where the artificial grass or benches are used as sleeping spots. However, this area is quite noisy and not as private as the Quiet Room.
Because it's free, you should know that sleeping at the airport without renting a hotel will be uncomfortable if you're not used to sleeping outside or in noisy places. Even the Quiet Room, though more private, isn't entirely comfortable (hard chairs, noise from announcements, people talking, etc.).
IMPORTANT: It's VERY COLD at the airport at night, so bring a thick jacket or blanket to stay warm.
That's it for my review. I don't check my inbox or comments often, but I'll try to reply as much as possible if you have any questions. Wishing you a pleasant trip!
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