Mar 7, 2018, 4:46 am
Last edit by: escape4
Thought it would be worthwhile setting up a Wiki for this so all the information needed is in a single place:
The offer is being able to book 1 night in a 4 Star hotel in Doha for 23 USD or 5 Star hotel for 28 USD
The tickets need to be on 157-xxxx stock (QR) and the layover has to be for a minimum of 12 hours.
Confirmed by QR:
Offer valid for Qatar Airways confirmed ticket holders only.
Offer is available on Qatar Airways flights transiting through Doha during on-ward or return journey. (E.g.
London –Doha – Bangkok).
For two (or more) people travelling together both outward and return hotels can be booked on separate tickets.
A minimum transiting time of 12 hours is required to be eligible for this offer.
Not applicable on codeshare flights.
Other terms and conditions apply. Please review at the time of booking.
A valid visa is required to enter the country.Nationals from a total of 80 countries can now take advantage
of visa-free entry into Qatar. Entry into Qatar will be at the discretion of the immigration authorities.
Discover Qatar is not responsible for the decision taken by the immigration authorities.
Link with full information is : https://www.qatarairways.com/en/offers/plus-qatar.html
Booking page is : https://discoverqatar.qatarairways.com/us-en/plusqatar
Hotels:
To be completed think it would be useful to mention advantages / Distances from attractions here but mine is:
Warwick Doha
Transport:
By far Uber is the best option in Qatar and is easy to book using the Airport and the hotel wifi.
The offer is being able to book 1 night in a 4 Star hotel in Doha for 23 USD or 5 Star hotel for 28 USD
The tickets need to be on 157-xxxx stock (QR) and the layover has to be for a minimum of 12 hours.
Confirmed by QR:
Offer valid for Qatar Airways confirmed ticket holders only.
Offer is available on Qatar Airways flights transiting through Doha during on-ward or return journey. (E.g.
London –Doha – Bangkok).
For two (or more) people travelling together both outward and return hotels can be booked on separate tickets.
A minimum transiting time of 12 hours is required to be eligible for this offer.
Not applicable on codeshare flights.
Other terms and conditions apply. Please review at the time of booking.
A valid visa is required to enter the country.Nationals from a total of 80 countries can now take advantage
of visa-free entry into Qatar. Entry into Qatar will be at the discretion of the immigration authorities.
Discover Qatar is not responsible for the decision taken by the immigration authorities.
Link with full information is : https://www.qatarairways.com/en/offers/plus-qatar.html
Booking page is : https://discoverqatar.qatarairways.com/us-en/plusqatar
Hotels:
To be completed think it would be useful to mention advantages / Distances from attractions here but mine is:
Warwick Doha
Transport:
By far Uber is the best option in Qatar and is easy to book using the Airport and the hotel wifi.
+Qatar - Doha Hotel stopovers no longer free
Jul 8, 2019, 11:37 pm
#916
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,502
Thinking about booking flights ADL-DOH-FCO in Feb 2020, with purposeful 35 hr connection in DOH via multi city function on Qatar website.
Do you think the stopover package will be available for 2020?
Has anyone had any experience with 2020 bookings yet?
If I book now, and stopover details for 2020 are released later in the year, will I still be available to take advantage of it?
Thanks everyone
)
Do you think the stopover package will be available for 2020?
Has anyone had any experience with 2020 bookings yet?
If I book now, and stopover details for 2020 are released later in the year, will I still be available to take advantage of it?
Thanks everyone
)In short, nobody can know if the stopover package will continue in 2020 (some people say that they are optimistic but even then it is only their hunch based on a perception of hotel over-capacity and no clear sense of how or when the blocade might end), it is definitely not possible to book it now, but yes, the stopover can normally be booked until shortly before one's trip, so if it becomes available for your dates, you would be able to book it whenever it is released.
Jul 9, 2019, 1:09 am
#917
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: UK
Programs: Baec
Posts: 191
Got myself booked up for this.
Was silly enough to book Souq Waqif boutique hotels only to find out later that it is a dry hotel.
Was thinking of trying the bus as I'm travelling alone and in no hurry.
Buy or top-up the Smartcard at ticket vending machines located at Arrivals, Ground Floor, Bus Pavilion at Hamad International Airport. The Ticket Vending Machine is a user friendly, smart device available on a 24X7 basis, providing fast and secure transactions. The touch-screen is easy to use and the device offers voice assistance to customers undertaking the transactions.
The machine only accepts Cash – Qatari Riyal (QR) 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 currency notes. Since it does not have a refund feature, customers are advised to pay using the exact amount.
Three types of Karwa Smartcards to choose from:
For more information, visit Karwa website
Can't decide whether to get a sim card or not...
As you step out of the automatic sliding doors that separate customs from land side arrivals you need to turn left if you want a Vodafone SIM, or right if you want an ooredoo SIM.
Ooredoo
If you walk out of customs and turn right, you need to walk to the end of the building (follow signs for buses) and you will see a big ooredoo stand by the escalators.
Was silly enough to book Souq Waqif boutique hotels only to find out later that it is a dry hotel.
Was thinking of trying the bus as I'm travelling alone and in no hurry.
Paying your bus fare with Karwa Smartcard
Your bus fare can only be paid with a Karwa Smartcard.Buy or top-up the Smartcard at ticket vending machines located at Arrivals, Ground Floor, Bus Pavilion at Hamad International Airport. The Ticket Vending Machine is a user friendly, smart device available on a 24X7 basis, providing fast and secure transactions. The touch-screen is easy to use and the device offers voice assistance to customers undertaking the transactions.
The machine only accepts Cash – Qatari Riyal (QR) 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 currency notes. Since it does not have a refund feature, customers are advised to pay using the exact amount.
Three types of Karwa Smartcards to choose from:
- Classic Card, QAR 30 (USD 8): rechargeable card for long term / future journeys.
- Limited Card, QR10 Card (USD 3) : two inner-city trips within a 24 hour period
- Unlimited Card, QR20 Card (USD 5): unlimited trips across Qatar within a 24 hour period.
For more information, visit Karwa website
Can't decide whether to get a sim card or not...
As you step out of the automatic sliding doors that separate customs from land side arrivals you need to turn left if you want a Vodafone SIM, or right if you want an ooredoo SIM.
Vodafone Qatar
For Vodafone once you have walked to your left you will quickly come across a WH Smiths store. This is where you can buy your Vodafone SIM.Ooredoo
If you walk out of customs and turn right, you need to walk to the end of the building (follow signs for buses) and you will see a big ooredoo stand by the escalators.
Jul 9, 2019, 2:41 am
#918
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,745
Jul 9, 2019, 5:06 am
#920
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
The bus schedules and the network have been beefed up. But if you are heading to Doha over the next few months you really need to work out if the hotel can be reached conveniently from the bus stop: the heat can be brutal.
The metro could be another option. Currently only the red line is in operation, between Al Wakra (south of the airport) to Al Qassar, north of City Centre. But I met some of the team who've been finishing off the airport section, and they say the red line spur to the airport should be ready to enter service very soon.
Fares are QAR2 (about 30p) and if you get a travelcard, a days' travel is capped at QAR6.
The souq station is on another line, but Msheireb station would put you well within a fifteen minute walk of souq waqif. But that would be ten minutes' too long in current temperatures.
So I'd get Uber or Careem from the airport. Ł5 or thereabouts. You could try the bus on your way back, when you are more in the swim.
Jul 9, 2019, 6:48 am
#922
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Doha, Qatar
Posts: 374
The bus schedules and the network have been beefed up. But if you are heading to Doha over the next few months you really need to work out if the hotel can be reached conveniently from the bus stop: the heat can be brutal.
The metro could be another option. Currently only the red line is in operation, between Al Wakra (south of the airport) to Al Qassar, north of City Centre. But I met some of the team who've been finishing off the airport section, and they say the red line spur to the airport should be ready to enter service very soon.
Fares are QAR2 (about 30p) and if you get a travelcard, a days' travel is capped at QAR6.
The souq station is on another line, but Msheireb station would put you well within a fifteen minute walk of souq waqif. But that would be ten minutes' too long in current temperatures.
So I'd get Uber or Careem from the airport. Ł5 or thereabouts. You could try the bus on your way back, when you are more in the swim.
The metro could be another option. Currently only the red line is in operation, between Al Wakra (south of the airport) to Al Qassar, north of City Centre. But I met some of the team who've been finishing off the airport section, and they say the red line spur to the airport should be ready to enter service very soon.
Fares are QAR2 (about 30p) and if you get a travelcard, a days' travel is capped at QAR6.
The souq station is on another line, but Msheireb station would put you well within a fifteen minute walk of souq waqif. But that would be ten minutes' too long in current temperatures.
So I'd get Uber or Careem from the airport. Ł5 or thereabouts. You could try the bus on your way back, when you are more in the swim.
Jul 9, 2019, 8:05 am
#923
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: BA Gold, IB Silver, TP Gold
Posts: 95
I'd say I got very much interested in the Grand Hyatt now! I do love a bit of Beach Club with Ibiza feelings 
Why can't we have the luxurious The Westin with a Beach club
- I saw there's some kind of artificial beach/poor there... I don't mind Ubering around...
Why can't we have the luxurious The Westin with a Beach club
- I saw there's some kind of artificial beach/poor there... I don't mind Ubering around...
Jul 10, 2019, 7:59 am
#925
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: BA Gold, IB Silver, TP Gold
Posts: 95
How did you get a 157- ticket using Avios? Normally, Avios tickets are issued by BA (125-) or Iberia (075-).
I am not sure what you mean by "Anyone got lucky with free hotel?" If you mean "Has anyone booked a free hotel using +Qatar after they started charging," then there have been no reports of that here. If you mean "Will I get 27 hours at the hotel as one night" then that depends on the hotel. Some hotels may charge you for any stay beyond 24 hours, some might be more lenient. Best to check with the hotel before booking with +Qatar, since those bookings cannot be changed.
I am not sure what you mean by "Anyone got lucky with free hotel?" If you mean "Has anyone booked a free hotel using +Qatar after they started charging," then there have been no reports of that here. If you mean "Will I get 27 hours at the hotel as one night" then that depends on the hotel. Some hotels may charge you for any stay beyond 24 hours, some might be more lenient. Best to check with the hotel before booking with +Qatar, since those bookings cannot be changed.
Jul 10, 2019, 10:20 am
#926
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,502
That means unfortunately you are not eligible for the stopover promotion. Thankfully, Doha hotels are pretty cheap anyway but directly booked hotels (except the very expensive airport hotel) are likely to stick to standard check in/check out times.
Jul 11, 2019, 5:54 pm
#927
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Yes, I have stayed at the Hilton using the +Qatar program and have had lounge access. However, no free upgrade to the deluxe exec rooms with balcony (nor, of course, points).
Jul 11, 2019, 6:21 pm
#928
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: BA Gold, IB Silver, TP Gold
Posts: 95
Called today the Concierge at The Westin Doha (48h after QPlus booking), they found my booking
, just asked to forward my itinerary to their email to accommodate my early check-in request if available - I want to check out 7:30 Sunday (total 30h in the hotel)
Last edited by DTCFlyer; Jul 11, 2019 at 6:38 pm
Jul 11, 2019, 6:57 pm
#929
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Just an update in regards Award ticket (British Airways EC) 125-XXXXX
Called today the Concierge at The Westin Doha (48h after QPlus booking), they found my booking, just asked to forward my itinerary to their email to accommodate my early check-in request if available - I want to check out 7:30 Sunday (total 30h in the hotel)
Called today the Concierge at The Westin Doha (48h after QPlus booking), they found my booking
, just asked to forward my itinerary to their email to accommodate my early check-in request if available - I want to check out 7:30 Sunday (total 30h in the hotel)
Jul 12, 2019, 12:05 am
#930
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,502
Also from past experience, many hotels will allow any check in time but will count the check out time as 24 hours from then on as per the stopover rules. I hope for the OP that this will not be the case, but in my experience, I'm worried that this booking has a lot of potential for bad surprises on the day.