My first impressions of living in Qatar and a few ideas why you should put it on your travel list.

My first impressions of living in Qatar and a few ideas about why you should put it on your travel list.

A wave of unbearable heat kicked me in the face the moment I got off the plane. It has been a few months already since that moment and I managed to see and live a small part of the Qatari life. As you might have noticed, the last post I wrote was still in 2017. I don’t really know what happened, but maybe I needed a break from blogging or simply I had no idea how to organize my thoughts and share them with you.

Since the move I took an incredibly lovely trip to a dreamland (hopefully this time it won’t be long before I share the details with you) and settled in the style of life in a Muslim country. I must say…if you are ever wondering if the culture is very different from what you are used to, Qatar is a good place to start. It’s beautiful here to learn the traditions even though they are not as visible as I imagined. It is a multicultural country that very quickly is being modernized. As a result visitors need to make a bit of effort and research to find places and events to observe the traditional side of Qatar. The modern side is clearly visible around the city. I would like to share with you some observations I made since I moved to Qatar.

Did you know that you can now download this post (and many more) via GPSmyCity and have access to it and the maps without using your data?

Quick tips for traveling to Qatar

Qatar is a lovely and easy country to travel to. A while ago I wrote this and this post with tons of tips for traveling to this little country, so please feel free to check it out.

Where to stay:

Qatar’s capital, Doha, is full of excellent hotels that will bring your trip to the next level of luxury. Here are a few of my favourite hotels that I use for weekend escapes (even if it’s just 10 minutes away from home), for romantic dinners or drinks with my pals.

• Sheraton Doha– I love this hotel for many reasons. It is the first luxury hotel in the country, but over 30 years after its opening, it is still modern, classy and full of attractions. I especially like the main hall, where some entertainment happens from time to time, for the tastiest chocolate smoothie, an outdoor swimming pool with great views and a restaurant with the sea view.
• W Hotel-this hotel is one of my favourite chains as they always manage to create a boutique-like style and pretty interiors. Depending on a country,  they surprise with unique design. In Doha, this hotel is also home for some of the most trendy restaurants and bars. Whether you stay here or not, you should visit it for a night out or a nice dinner. I especially recommend sushi.
• St. Regis- if you fancy a great pool, trendy clubs and excellent spa experience,  this hotel is for you. It is also at a walkable distance to Katara Cultural Village (which is a must) and The Pearl (by car though).
• Intercontinental– just next to St.Regis, Intercontinental gives great dining options and a beautiful beach.
• Kempinski Marsa Malaz– a really fancy option for the fussy travellers. This hotel is located in The Pearl   a modern residential part of the city.
• Mondrian– apparently this is one of the most instagrammed places in Qatar. It’s a bit further from the main attraction of Doha, but it has a beautiful indoor pool and other designed areas that just ask to  be photographed.

If these hotels are not appealing to you (although I doubt it), you can use the form below to compare the offers of various websites:

See also: Make your flights easier. Mindfulness exercises for stressful flights.

During these last few months of living in this tiny country there have been a few surprises I stumbled upon that destroyed a few stereotypes about Qatar. I have also discovered several little habits that I cannot imagine in other places.

A few things I learned from living in Qatar:

1. Taxi drivers might ask you to guide them to the destination.  It happened to me so many times that a taxi driver did not know how to get to places, even if I wanted to get to some of the most popular landmarks in the city. They would often ask me to put waze or google maps on my phone and guide them.
2. It’s not always hot. Sure, it never gets cold in Qatar and winter here is like a lovely spring in  Europe with fewer rain days. For a few months the weather is rather pleasant and mornings often are cool.
3.  When it gets hot, it’s unbearable. That’s right. When the heat arrives, it gets so hot and humid that it makes it an effort to cross a street.
4.  Qatar is worth more time than a one-day stopover. Many people visit Doha only because of a flight connection. The country or even the city itself deserves much more attention that a short layover. In Doha (apart from the typical tourist attractions)  you can find so many cool events that are much more easy to access than in other places. It is probably because the popularity and tourism are still low and there is no crowds. I recently attended a film festival that was small, but of a very high standard. In an intimate atmosphere we were able to meet some incredible actors or directors, which would be much more limited at more popular festivals. There are top class sport event, music festivals and art exhibitions that are affordable or even free of charge.                                                                                                                                                                                                         Outside of Doha what you mostly see is a desert, but I was surprised to find mangrove park where you can kayak. This is a landscape not really    expected to be found. There are a few nice beaches to relax, places to do some extreme off-road driving on dunes, camel riding or forts where you can   learn about Qatari culture and traditions by attending a workshop.
5. Qatar is one of the safest places I’ve been to.  Whether you travel with someone or alone, you will be safe. Walking around the streets during the day or night is totally fine, people are usually very respectful and not bother you and I even haven’t heard of any pickpocket incidents. Have you ever seen mobile phones left unattended  on a charger in a park? In Doha people actually do it.
6. People from Qatar are helpful. You find find lots of kindness in Qatar and if you get lost somewhere or need an information, there will always be someone willing to help, most likely if it a Qatari person though.  The people will take time to assist you and they will do it with a smile.
7. Doha changes from one month to another. Literally. The city is all like a huge construction site and new skyscrapers and malls appear one of nowhere all the time.
8. Doha is not for walking. Even if you manage the long distances, it still would be difficult for you to walk around, because there is not many pavements or pedestrian crossing around the city. You can surely walk within some neighborhoods, but any further than that would be impossible (unless you are willing to try your luck walking along a high speed road).  The distances are big between places of interest and the heat and humidity during summer months won’t be any helpful.
9. You can charge your phone in a park. In a few popular places for walking in Doha you can find charger posts free for you to use. I was quite surprised the first time I saw mobile phones left charging while their owners enjoyed a walk.
10.  Doha has many faces.  The most visible part of Doha is filled with mighty skyscrapers standing like a crown in Westbay area. If you wander around you will find neighborhoods where traditions are still alive, like Souk Waqif. The cultural village of Katara is a perfect place to blend with the locals and attend some exhibitions.
11.  You will be spoiled by attentive staff and luxury. Obviously, as anywhere else, there are luxurious parts of the city and just ordinary ones. What does not change (as far as I experienced) is the attention the staff will give you. In any restaurant or hotel you will be looked after so well, that after leaving Qatar you will remember the special attention for long. Doha is also known for excellent hotels  that offer typical branches, which are super fun. If you decide to put Qatar on your travel wish list, you can book your hotel here.

See also: Travel coaching and planning

As far I remember I loved reading books set in the Arab lands. You probably heard of “The kite runner” or “A thousands splendid sands” by Khaled Hosseini. The stories were filled with fragrances and music that I almost could smell and hear on the other side of a book. I’ve never read any books set in or about Qatar (maybe you have any recommendations for me), but the curiosity was planted long ago. Maybe that’s why I enjoy so much visiting all the museums in Doha, read with attention the country’s history and attend traditional events.

See also: 11 curiosities you did not know about Madrid

Since I moved to Qatar I discovered that this little country is just a perfect distance from almost everywhere. The flight connections are really good too and in my opinion it is a perfect place for a longer stopover, so if you were thinking to go on a short holiday or are headed on a longer trip with a stopover, book a flight  to Qatar. You will get a wonderful experience here.

See also: Desierto Florido. Flowering desert of Atacama.

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Disclaimer: This posts includes some affiliate links for which I get little cash at no cost for you, which helps me to travel and share the stories with you. I only share my favourites with you that I do or would use myself.