Originally Posted by
RSDoha
I think this is the right place for this question:
I have a friend coming through Doha with an overnight layover and we would like to meet up in town. She would like to stay at one of the airside oryx hotels. Can she go from her arriving flight to the hotel (through the transit channel) to check in, leave the airport to have dinner with me, then return to the airport/hotel later that evening before her flight the next morning?
If this is possible, how does one leave the departures area of the airport and go through immigration?
In terms of leaving the airport it seems more straightforward to me for her to book a hotel outside of the airport, but I can see how it would be a little more pleasant to head back to the airport in the evening before then just wake up and go from the airside hotel the next morning.
Thanks in advance for your insights!!!
This is what i do when i have a long stay in Doha:
1. After arriving, I first go through security and into the lounge for dinner/lunch.
2. At around 6-7 pm Doha time i head back to the security check via the elevator and tell the staff there that I want go to arrival. They then assign me a position where I can get back into the transit area through the security control.
3. I go to arrivals and go through immigration. If you have a business class ticket, you can use the arrival lounge there to pass the immigration. There is an immigration counter inside the lounge and usually no queue. You find the lounge very easy if you just turn left after the escalator. When you go back to the airport you can also use the business class desk or if you are first class or business class+Platin QR member you can even use the first class desk which will lead you directly to the Al Sawfa lounge there. This all speeds up the re-entry into the airport.
4. I take the metro to go to my hotel that i have booked at discount price through "Qatar discovery". I prefer now "Crowne Plaza Doha"
The hotel is only 4 metro stations away with the red line from the airport and much cheaper than the Oryx Airport Hotel. From the arrival station "Al Doha Al Jadeda" its is only a 5 min. walk to the hotel.
5. The next morning i book Uber Taxi to the airport which takes maybe 15 minute to the airport. There is usually an Uber in front of the hotel so you dont need to wait for the taxi.
All in all, it's a quick, easy process which takes maybe ~1 hour more time than checking in at the airport hotel but only costs a fraction of what the airport hotel costs. 45$ for a 5 star hotel in doha vs. 360$ for Oryx Airport hotel.