Doha New Year
Jul 30, 2016 | 11:44 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 37
Doha New Year
Hi All
We are planning to have a 2 night stop-over in Doha from 31 Dec to 2nd Jan.
We are my wife, 1yr son and myself, and will likely book Hilton Doha as West Bay.
We are not looking for party or any fancy dinner for new year. We arrive DOH 5pm on 31 Dec, and our flight is 7am on 2nd Jan.
We would like to do shopping on 1st Jan - but can anyone advise if malls and shops will be open on 1st Jan? (it is a Sunday)
Kind Regards
Namlakhorn
We are planning to have a 2 night stop-over in Doha from 31 Dec to 2nd Jan.
We are my wife, 1yr son and myself, and will likely book Hilton Doha as West Bay.
We are not looking for party or any fancy dinner for new year. We arrive DOH 5pm on 31 Dec, and our flight is 7am on 2nd Jan.
We would like to do shopping on 1st Jan - but can anyone advise if malls and shops will be open on 1st Jan? (it is a Sunday)
Kind Regards
Namlakhorn
Aug 19, 2016 | 8:46 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Doha, QA
Programs: Emirates, Qatar Airways
Posts: 76
Yes Sunday is technically 'Monday' to the Western World here. The malls etc will be open as usual. You will be 5 mins away from City Centre Mall where you are staying but maybe the new mall of Qatar or Doha Festival City will be open by then. The best mall is still Villagio which will be about a 30 min taxi ride for you.
Aug 19, 2016 | 9:52 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 37
Hi Deleerious
Thanks for your reply, and perhaps I should have provided below update to the forum.
My wife is thai national and she needs a visa for travelling into Qatar. Unfortunately, Thailand is not on the list of VOA countries.
We tried first to get the visa via Qatar Airlines, but they said that this service is temporarily suspended. Then I learned that hotels can arrange for it, so we asked at Hilton Doha, and they informed us that they would try if we wanted, but they have experienced the past 3 months that all visa applications from thai nationals have been rejected by Qatar immigration services, and if rejected the full amount is lost (in that case it would both be the visa fee, the hotel processing fee and the hotel room charge at that was prepaid).
We didn't wanted to take the risk, so we called the Qatar embassy in Bangkok to get info straight from the authorities. We were told that it is only the Qatar immigration office in Doha that can issue visas and the Qatar embassies mandate are limited to only receive the applications in the respective foreign countries. The embassy in Bangkok confirmed that no visas are granted to any thai nationals for the moment. They couldn't give or indicate any reason for this, but it didn't matter if it is tourist visa, business visa or if you are travelling in a group that carries passport from a country that is allowed to use the VOA option (myself and our son has that). Immigration in Doha just rejects all applications from thai nationals.
Anyone that have some info on why this is the case ???
Since we are not welcome as a family in Qatar, we decided to fly with Turkish Airlines instead - with a New Year stop-over in Istanbul. We are all visa-free in Turkey - and due to the latest events in Turkey - the hotel prices are very attractive. I believe shopping is also quite good in Istanbul - so we look forward to enjoy some Turkish culture.
BR
Nam
Thanks for your reply, and perhaps I should have provided below update to the forum.
My wife is thai national and she needs a visa for travelling into Qatar. Unfortunately, Thailand is not on the list of VOA countries.
We tried first to get the visa via Qatar Airlines, but they said that this service is temporarily suspended. Then I learned that hotels can arrange for it, so we asked at Hilton Doha, and they informed us that they would try if we wanted, but they have experienced the past 3 months that all visa applications from thai nationals have been rejected by Qatar immigration services, and if rejected the full amount is lost (in that case it would both be the visa fee, the hotel processing fee and the hotel room charge at that was prepaid).
We didn't wanted to take the risk, so we called the Qatar embassy in Bangkok to get info straight from the authorities. We were told that it is only the Qatar immigration office in Doha that can issue visas and the Qatar embassies mandate are limited to only receive the applications in the respective foreign countries. The embassy in Bangkok confirmed that no visas are granted to any thai nationals for the moment. They couldn't give or indicate any reason for this, but it didn't matter if it is tourist visa, business visa or if you are travelling in a group that carries passport from a country that is allowed to use the VOA option (myself and our son has that). Immigration in Doha just rejects all applications from thai nationals.
Anyone that have some info on why this is the case ???
Since we are not welcome as a family in Qatar, we decided to fly with Turkish Airlines instead - with a New Year stop-over in Istanbul. We are all visa-free in Turkey - and due to the latest events in Turkey - the hotel prices are very attractive. I believe shopping is also quite good in Istanbul - so we look forward to enjoy some Turkish culture.
BR
Nam
