Hello! I was hoping someone could provide me with some guidance about how to spend my time in Doha before and after my 7 night cruise. My friend and I will be arriving in Doha around 10:30 pm on Thursday after a long flight from the US. We will have all day Friday and half of Saturday in Doha before a late evening sailing (I believe we can board in the early afternoon, and we’ll likely board early to relax before the sail away). Here is my general plan, but wanted to ask feedback in case it is not optimal.
Thursday Arrival Doha - Take taxi to hotel. If they don’t take CC, I could take Uber or another ride share? Or should I get cash at the airport? I read ATM fees are high, but wasn’t sure if currency exchanges will be open at that hour. I will have to look into that, but if anyone knows, I’d love to hear. I would plan to use CCs as much as possible when I travel, but would want some cash for incidentals and small purchases where CC isn’t accepted, but wasn’t sure if I need to get cash at the airport.
Thursday & Friday night - We are planning to stay at the Alwadi Hotel Doha - MGallery Collection near Souq Warif. Does anyone have feedback on this hotel? I read that the souq area is one of the recommended locations, depending on interests and schedule. I chose the Alwadi because they said they could hold our luggage post-cruise, even though our hotel stay is pre-cruise, which alleviates having to use luggage storage by a transport station.
Friday - I was considering doing a private full day tour starting late morning, since we’ll probably be very tired after the long flight. I figured after the tour, we could grab a nice dinner and call it an early night.
Saturday - I was thinking to visit the souq and area around the hotel and then board as soon as we’re able in the early afternoon.
The cruise will conclude the following Saturday and we’ll dock at 8 am. The best available flight for us isn’t until 1:25 am Sunday morning, which would leave us almost the full day in Doha before heading to the airport. We’d plan to get there early, just to get ourselves situated. I had considered doing the tour on this day, so I wouldn’t have to mess with luggage storage and so they could just drop us at the airport at the end of the tour, but most full day tours are only 8 hours long, so even if we started at 10 am, we’d still be done at 6 pm, which is even earlier that I’d considered arriving at the airport for our departing flight (I was thinking 8:30 pm).
There are pros and cons either way because of flight time. I would appreciate insights and suggestions from the experts! Thank you in advance!
Thursday Arrival Doha - Take taxi to hotel. If they don’t take CC, I could take Uber or another ride share? Or should I get cash at the airport? I read ATM fees are high, but wasn’t sure if currency exchanges will be open at that hour. I will have to look into that, but if anyone knows, I’d love to hear. I would plan to use CCs as much as possible when I travel, but would want some cash for incidentals and small purchases where CC isn’t accepted, but wasn’t sure if I need to get cash at the airport.
Thursday & Friday night - We are planning to stay at the Alwadi Hotel Doha - MGallery Collection near Souq Warif. Does anyone have feedback on this hotel? I read that the souq area is one of the recommended locations, depending on interests and schedule. I chose the Alwadi because they said they could hold our luggage post-cruise, even though our hotel stay is pre-cruise, which alleviates having to use luggage storage by a transport station.
Friday - I was considering doing a private full day tour starting late morning, since we’ll probably be very tired after the long flight. I figured after the tour, we could grab a nice dinner and call it an early night.
Saturday - I was thinking to visit the souq and area around the hotel and then board as soon as we’re able in the early afternoon.
The cruise will conclude the following Saturday and we’ll dock at 8 am. The best available flight for us isn’t until 1:25 am Sunday morning, which would leave us almost the full day in Doha before heading to the airport. We’d plan to get there early, just to get ourselves situated. I had considered doing the tour on this day, so I wouldn’t have to mess with luggage storage and so they could just drop us at the airport at the end of the tour, but most full day tours are only 8 hours long, so even if we started at 10 am, we’d still be done at 6 pm, which is even earlier that I’d considered arriving at the airport for our departing flight (I was thinking 8:30 pm).
There are pros and cons either way because of flight time. I would appreciate insights and suggestions from the experts! Thank you in advance!
We stayed at the Al Najada by Tivoli which looks like it’s close to your hotel. We thought the location was perfect. I don’t know your hotel, but I will say we loved our hotel, one of the nicest stays we’ve ever had. And returning from a safari as we had, the bed felt like heaven!
We did a private city tour, I think through Get Your Guide, but it was only 4 hours. The guide walked us through the Souq which was very interesting. We went back on our own a few times and felt comfortable having learned the lay of the land from our guide. He also took us to the “new downtown area” which we also liked. I was very surprised to see a Galleries Lafayette and we went back the next day as it’s always a favorite place for us in Paris. Beautiful store but practically devoid of customers other than us, seemed strange. Also on our own, we went to the National Museum of Qatar which we really liked.
We took a second Get Your Guide tour to the sand dunes where we did dune bashing and a camel ride. Both were a lot of fun but 15 minutes on a camel was plenty for me!
As for taxis and credit cards, I’m almost positive we used credit cards. We were in Doha for 3 nights post-safari and I really don’t remember getting cash from an ATM. We did use US dollars for scarves that we bought in the Souq as that’s what the merchant requested.
Very interesting city, have fun!
We did a private city tour, I think through Get Your Guide, but it was only 4 hours. The guide walked us through the Souq which was very interesting. We went back on our own a few times and felt comfortable having learned the lay of the land from our guide. He also took us to the “new downtown area” which we also liked. I was very surprised to see a Galleries Lafayette and we went back the next day as it’s always a favorite place for us in Paris. Beautiful store but practically devoid of customers other than us, seemed strange. Also on our own, we went to the National Museum of Qatar which we really liked.
We took a second Get Your Guide tour to the sand dunes where we did dune bashing and a camel ride. Both were a lot of fun but 15 minutes on a camel was plenty for me!
As for taxis and credit cards, I’m almost positive we used credit cards. We were in Doha for 3 nights post-safari and I really don’t remember getting cash from an ATM. We did use US dollars for scarves that we bought in the Souq as that’s what the merchant requested.
Very interesting city, have fun!
tracilee - Thank you for your reply and insights. The Alwadi is quite close to where you stayed, so I’m happy to hear you were pleased with the location! 
We’re doing the desert safari/dune bashing in Dubai, so we’ll have lots of time in Doha. Glad to hear you enjoyed the Msheireb area as well, as I was planning to explore the area and the souq! And thank you for the note about the CCs/cash….. I wasn’t aware than some vendors might like USD! Thanks so much for sharing your experience!
We’re doing the desert safari/dune bashing in Dubai, so we’ll have lots of time in Doha. Glad to hear you enjoyed the Msheireb area as well, as I was planning to explore the area and the souq! And thank you for the note about the CCs/cash….. I wasn’t aware than some vendors might like USD! Thanks so much for sharing your experience! 
You don't need a guide for anything within the city (National Museum, souq, etc.). It's all very walkable and very safe.
I don't like having guides follow me around museums, but that's personal preference. The Museum even has a free audio guide, IIRC.
The souq / downtown area is self explanatory and doesn't need a guide either.
I don't like having guides follow me around museums, but that's personal preference. The Museum even has a free audio guide, IIRC.
The souq / downtown area is self explanatory and doesn't need a guide either.
Quote:
I don't like having guides follow me around museums, but that's personal preference. The Museum even has a free audio guide, IIRC.
The souq / downtown area is self explanatory and doesn't need a guide either.
Thank you, LAX Esq, for your reply. I was only thinking to take a tour to get us from Point A to Point B since time is relatively limited and mostly because we will be pretty ragged after a full day of travel to get to Doha, but I ended up opting to self-tour, since I have a pretty good game plan to see things, and we can just take some form of public transport, taxi or rideshare as necessary to get us around, if we're not as gung-ho to walk as I typically am. I appreciate your reaffirming that self-touring is not a bad way to go. Your input ins appreciated!Originally Posted by LAX_Esq
You don't need a guide for anything within the city (National Museum, souq, etc.). It's all very walkable and very safe.I don't like having guides follow me around museums, but that's personal preference. The Museum even has a free audio guide, IIRC.
The souq / downtown area is self explanatory and doesn't need a guide either.
