Jan 6, 2016, 12:46 pm
Last edit by: remdk
Trip report of the tour with pictures and answers to some ambiguity.
http://focusedflyer.com/2016/01/06/qatar-airways-free-doha-city-tour-review/
In post 135 of this thread Brighterside suggests that the free tours have been replaced by tours costing QAR 40. This has yet to be confirmed but be warned that changes may be happening right now.
http://focusedflyer.com/2016/01/06/qatar-airways-free-doha-city-tour-review/
In post 135 of this thread Brighterside suggests that the free tours have been replaced by tours costing QAR 40. This has yet to be confirmed but be warned that changes may be happening right now.
Qatar Airways Launches Free Doha City Tour For Transit Passengers
Nov 3, 2014, 7:08 am
#32
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: ZRH
Programs: QR Privilege Club Gold; Accor LeClub Platinum
Posts: 658
Probably not. You don't pay for the visa, but that means you need to get back with the tour. If you're asking whether you can choose to pay for the visa yourself and still take the tour: that might be, but the guy there seemed a bit.. clueless.. to me, so don't expect too much.
Nov 3, 2014, 8:41 am
#33
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Here
Programs: HHonors Diamond, AA EXP
Posts: 1,496
To answer my own question, no you can't leave the tour in the middle. It's because of not having a visa. If a passenger ever went missing the people who run the tour would be in big trouble.
I did the 7 pm tour. At this time, immigration is quite busy. Surprisingly (or not surprisingly for those of us familiar with this part of the world), the tour hasn't coordinated with immigration to fast track people through. So it's possible that a large part of the 3 hours allotted for the tour could get eaten up standing in the passport line. In our case the tour guide found a friendly immigration officer who opened up a special booth for us.
It can also be a problem if the bus gets stuck in traffic. In our case we had to cut out one stop and the last stop at Souq Waqif was very brief.
Anyway, it's a good diversion if you have a long layover.
I did the 7 pm tour. At this time, immigration is quite busy. Surprisingly (or not surprisingly for those of us familiar with this part of the world), the tour hasn't coordinated with immigration to fast track people through. So it's possible that a large part of the 3 hours allotted for the tour could get eaten up standing in the passport line. In our case the tour guide found a friendly immigration officer who opened up a special booth for us.
It can also be a problem if the bus gets stuck in traffic. In our case we had to cut out one stop and the last stop at Souq Waqif was very brief.
Anyway, it's a good diversion if you have a long layover.
Dec 10, 2014, 10:50 am
#34
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: East or West
Posts: 388
Anyone try joining this tour with a 12-hour overnight layover after staying at a landside hotel? I'm arriving midnight and departing 12:30 PM for 12.5 hours of layover time. Since they are not providing a hotel, I booked a room in Doha. Was thinking of going back to the airport and catching the morning tour, if possible.
Apr 9, 2015, 11:22 am
#36
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Tehran (IKA), Vancouver (YVR), Nice (NCE)
Programs: QR Platinum (Oneworld Emerald), AZ Freccia Alata (Skyteam Gold), Shangri-La GC (Jade)
Posts: 235
I went through DOH a few days ago and there certainly was a desk and signs for the Doha city tour in the transit area. It was in the middle of the night, so it was not staffed, but I am pretty sure they still have it.
Apr 9, 2015, 12:31 pm
#37
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: El Gouna , Hurghada (HRG)
Programs: BAEC:Silver ,IHG:Spire Amb ,QR:Silver,HH:Diamond
Posts: 374
Apr 9, 2015, 2:31 pm
#39
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,944
If you look at http://www.qatarairways.com/global/e...city-tour.page you will see the following:-
Terms & Conditions
Prebooking is not required.
The tour will take approximately two hours and 45 minutes and visit the Museum of Islamic Art, Katara Cultural Centre, the Pearl-Qatar, and Souq Waqif.
An English speaking guide will accompany the tour and guests will be provided with a bottle of mineral water.
Eligibility is subject to immigration approval and is available on a first come, first served basis.
The tour is available to customers with a transit time of 5-12 hours who arrive in Doha between 04:00-19:00 local time (GMT +3).
Additional terms and conditions apply. Please check with the Doha City Tour staff for eligibility.
Terms & Conditions
Prebooking is not required.
The tour will take approximately two hours and 45 minutes and visit the Museum of Islamic Art, Katara Cultural Centre, the Pearl-Qatar, and Souq Waqif.
An English speaking guide will accompany the tour and guests will be provided with a bottle of mineral water.
Eligibility is subject to immigration approval and is available on a first come, first served basis.
The tour is available to customers with a transit time of 5-12 hours who arrive in Doha between 04:00-19:00 local time (GMT +3).
Additional terms and conditions apply. Please check with the Doha City Tour staff for eligibility.
Apr 9, 2015, 3:26 pm
#40
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: AA EXP, DL-Plat, WN-CP | Hotels: Choice-Gld, IHG-Plt, Rad-Gld, HH-Dia, Hyatt-Glob, Marriott-LtPlt
Posts: 2,889
Apr 9, 2015, 8:33 pm
#43
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: ZRH
Programs: QR Privilege Club Gold; Accor LeClub Platinum
Posts: 658
For STPC you don't go through transfer security screening, but head to the transfer accommodation counter -> Al Maha -> hotel
For the city tour you usually go through security and then to the city tour counter. I imagine it's too much for them to combine.
But at that time of day, I suggest you just head out on your own, either to the museum of islamic art if it's still open, or to suq waqif for evening stroll and dinner. The suq is basically the highlight of the city tour, but with limited time there - so just do it on your own and take as long as you want/have some food if anything seems appealing.
Last edited by zehbra; Apr 9, 2015 at 8:40 pm
Apr 9, 2015, 11:59 pm
#44
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 761
If you look at http://www.qatarairways.com/global/e...city-tour.page you will see the following:-
Terms & Conditions
Prebooking is not required.
The tour will take approximately two hours and 45 minutes and visit the Museum of Islamic Art, Katara Cultural Centre, the Pearl-Qatar, and Souq Waqif.
An English speaking guide will accompany the tour and guests will be provided with a bottle of mineral water.
Eligibility is subject to immigration approval and is available on a first come, first served basis.
The tour is available to customers with a transit time of 5-12 hours who arrive in Doha between 04:00-19:00 local time (GMT +3).
Additional terms and conditions apply. Please check with the Doha City Tour staff for eligibility.
Terms & Conditions
Prebooking is not required.
The tour will take approximately two hours and 45 minutes and visit the Museum of Islamic Art, Katara Cultural Centre, the Pearl-Qatar, and Souq Waqif.
An English speaking guide will accompany the tour and guests will be provided with a bottle of mineral water.
Eligibility is subject to immigration approval and is available on a first come, first served basis.
The tour is available to customers with a transit time of 5-12 hours who arrive in Doha between 04:00-19:00 local time (GMT +3).
Additional terms and conditions apply. Please check with the Doha City Tour staff for eligibility.
May I know if there is a fixed departure time for the tour? Or I can just go at anytime between 4am to 7pm?