Doha transit and hotel advise
Aug 25, 2014, 1:51 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Oslo, Norway
Programs: BA Gold +++
Posts: 51
Doha transit and hotel advise
Hi everyone,
Flying Qatar for the first time this X-mas, roundtrip OSL - DOH - BKK in biz. On the return we have chosen a 22 hour stop in Doha, on purpose, to break up the journey and check out Doha. We have a 4 year old boy, so I would ask you for some advise here:
1) Apparently we have to apply for visitor visa. Qatars website says the following for visa: Hotel accommodation must be booked through Discover Qatar for the total period of stay in Qatar. I.have tried, but the search engine here says no rooms available. Can I book directly at other hotel websites without being rejected entry?
2) Hotel advise (location)? What is the transfer time from the airport to downtown hotels?
3) What to see / not so see? Attractions, shopping, whatever.
Thanks for any help you can give us.
E
Flying Qatar for the first time this X-mas, roundtrip OSL - DOH - BKK in biz. On the return we have chosen a 22 hour stop in Doha, on purpose, to break up the journey and check out Doha. We have a 4 year old boy, so I would ask you for some advise here:
1) Apparently we have to apply for visitor visa. Qatars website says the following for visa: Hotel accommodation must be booked through Discover Qatar for the total period of stay in Qatar. I.have tried, but the search engine here says no rooms available. Can I book directly at other hotel websites without being rejected entry?
2) Hotel advise (location)? What is the transfer time from the airport to downtown hotels?
3) What to see / not so see? Attractions, shopping, whatever.
Thanks for any help you can give us.
E
Aug 25, 2014, 5:06 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
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Hi everyone,
Flying Qatar for the first time this X-mas, roundtrip OSL - DOH - BKK in biz. On the return we have chosen a 22 hour stop in Doha, on purpose, to break up the journey and check out Doha. We have a 4 year old boy, so I would ask you for some advise here:
1) Apparently we have to apply for visitor visa. Qatars website says the following for visa: Hotel accommodation must be booked through Discover Qatar for the total period of stay in Qatar. I.have tried, but the search engine here says no rooms available. Can I book directly at other hotel websites without being rejected entry?
2) Hotel advise (location)? What is the transfer time from the airport to downtown hotels?
3) What to see / not so see? Attractions, shopping, whatever.
Thanks for any help you can give us.
E
Flying Qatar for the first time this X-mas, roundtrip OSL - DOH - BKK in biz. On the return we have chosen a 22 hour stop in Doha, on purpose, to break up the journey and check out Doha. We have a 4 year old boy, so I would ask you for some advise here:
1) Apparently we have to apply for visitor visa. Qatars website says the following for visa: Hotel accommodation must be booked through Discover Qatar for the total period of stay in Qatar. I.have tried, but the search engine here says no rooms available. Can I book directly at other hotel websites without being rejected entry?
2) Hotel advise (location)? What is the transfer time from the airport to downtown hotels?
3) What to see / not so see? Attractions, shopping, whatever.
Thanks for any help you can give us.
E
There are quite a lot of threads on this (including on the forum's first page) where you will find a lot of useful information.
Basically, to benefit from free transit hotels, you would need for the shortest possible transit on your itinerary to be over 8 hours, so if your layover is 22 hours by choice while an under 8 hour transit exists in the schedule, you will not be eligible to free transit.
If you are happy to pay for it, you can either book a paid stayover through QR or make your own arrangements. In the former case, I believe that the cost is $150 and I don't believe that this can be done over the internet (I may be wrong) so the way to go is to contact QR by phone or at a ticket office (or airport).
Aug 25, 2014, 11:59 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2005
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Posts: 3,192
If you are eligible for Visa on Arrival, they cost $27 USD - 100 QAR by credit card only on arrival.
You can make your own hotel arrangements through whichever website you prefer.
You can make your own hotel arrangements through whichever website you prefer.
Aug 25, 2014, 5:45 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: New York, Atlanta, Amsterdam, KSAV
Programs: QR Gold, EK, Accor, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold VIP, Delta
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