Karen's Trip to Doha

By Karen Masterson

Karens Trip To Doha


Last year I travelled with my colleagues to Doha and spent 4 days enjoying this cultural and sunny city. We flew direct with Qatar Airways from Dublin to Doha in business class. The Hamad International Airport has a wide variety of shopping, dining, and relaxing facilities that we were able to enjoy while we were there. From the Airport we took a taxi to downtown Doha which took about 20 minutes.

 

Location

Doha is a cosmopolitan and vibrant destination with both modern and traditional elements to it, from its stunning skyline and modern shopping malls to its heritage and traditional Souqs. It is a dynamic city and there are plenty of restaurants, outdoors activities, bars, and entertainment to choose from. We stayed in the 5 star JW Marriott Marquis Doha Hotel which has stunning views of the Arabian Gulf and Doha City. The hotel is in the downtown area of Doha, close to Doha City Centre Mall. The hotel has a sophisticated atmosphere and all rooms are modernly decorated in an elegant and welcoming manner. It has a large lagoon-shaped swimming pool as well as various recreational amenities such as a gym, hot tub, saunas, and steam rooms. It has 4 restaurants and 3 bars, and on the 43rd and 44th floors there is a Shisha Terrace and Chinese restaurant called the Shanghai Club, which has breathtaking views of the city. It is an amazing hotel for all ages.


What I Loved

I loved our visit to the Museum of Islamic Art, which has the largest collection of Islamic art in the world and lots of amazing pieces to be admired. I also loved the Souq Waqif area which was bustling with locals and tourists, and had a wide selection of restaurants, traditional shops and music.

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Activities & Places to See

  • Visit the Museum of Islamic Art which represents Islamic art including metalwork, ceramics, and jewellery from over 3 continents and over 1,400 years.
  • Do not miss Souq Waqif with its traditional garments, spices, handicrafts, and souvenirs. Full of colours and traditions, this cannot be left off your itinerary!
  • Experience Falcon Souq. It is famous for its shops and the hundreds of falcons which are there.
  • Explore the Katara Cultural Village which is full of art, culture and architecture and includes an opera house, amphitheatre, souqs, art galleries and heritage centres.
  • Enjoy a day tour to the luxurious Banana Island and to the incredible Inland Sea. Banana Island is an artificial island with luxury resorts and white sand beaches. Inland Sea it is just over two hours from Doha, and it is a natural reserve with various species of plants and animals.
  • Experience a Desert Safari with an SUV ride through the golden dunes or on a camel ride. You can also camp out in the desert and have a traditional meal with oriental music playing while you sleep under the stars.
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Shopping

The shopping opportunities in Doha are fantastic. The massive retail outlets attract thousands of visitors each season. From the Mall of Qatar with its fabulous shops to the amazing experience at the Villaggio Mall with its Venetian-inspired interior and many brand shops, shopping has never been so beautiful!


Food & Bars

The food in Doha is incredible! Everything was really tasty and there were plenty of options, with cuisine from all over the world on offer. Some of our favourite places to eat included The Z Lounge, a stylish bar located on the 61st floor of the Kempinski Hotel which has a fantastic panoramic view of Doha; The Sheraton Hotel, which offers a wonderful and tasty Friday brunch, is a must as it has an extensive choice of fresh food as well as a wonderfully lively atmosphere and overlooks the awesome Arabian Gulf; finally the Parisa Souq Waqif Restaurant, a stunning building adorned with intricate mosaics, chandeliers and mirrors, provided us with a great authentic Persian dining experience. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants to be found on Doha Bay too.


Beaches

The Pearl Beach area and Katara Beach are great for swimming, sunbathing and water sports such as water skiing, boating and parasailing. For a relaxing and luxurious day, the TaliaMare Beach Club is great. For a fee, guests get access to a range of facilities including sunbeds, showers, lockers, and a trendy cafe. There are also beach toys to keep the children entertained while you relax!


Book a Doha holiday with Escape2. Browse the website or call us on (01) 435 0005.

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