Joanna James
Doha is a very exciting contemporary city, which offers a range of thrills for the discerning tourist. A place to savour exotic new cultures and experience ancient traditions, hence, a trip to Doha City must be carefully planned for the best encounter; here are some tips to do so.
Picking the right hotel is very important, choosing one which boasts a great location, as well as, fab dining options and loads of leisure activities will make your holiday all the more enjoyable. Choosing an established hotel chain to stay at like Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara, will not only place you in exotic settings but ensure the staff is well trained, to not only make your stay pleasant but offer helpful information on area attractions, making your resort in Doha an oasis you can relax in.
You need to have a flexi-schedule especially since Doha experiences will be all new to you and you will want to explore certain places more. For instance, the Souq Waqif, located close to most Doha hotels is a not to be missed attraction for a taste of ancient Arabic markets. The place is a labyrinth of vendors and stalls, selling all manner of exotic items from Arabic perfumes to aromatic spices, textiles, shoes, and beautiful fabric. Once you enter the market it's easy to get lost, and quite the delicious experience to savour too! Qander around and enjoy, you need to forget your schedule to do this and at the end of your market spree, sit down for a traditional Qatari meal at one of the many restaurants located at the souq.
Breaking the myth that museum tours are a bit of bore, if you are not culturally inclined, the Qatar National Museum will turn out to be quite fascinating. You will discover a comprehensive array of displays which well-chronicle the city's past and evolution to the modern hub it is today. Ideal to learn about ancient rituals, traditions, and tribes the museum should be a part of your tour.
Qatar as an exotic new destination will certainly turn out to be a foodie's delight, and Doha has a good share of restaurants and eateries to explore. Must try traditional dishes include Machboos, which is a combination of savoury rice, chicken, pine nuts, etc. cooked in an aromatic broth. Then there are shawarmas, for fast food on the go, which is delicious flatbread into which fresh salad and grilled meat are wrapped up. There are plenty of local dishes to try including sweet desserts, and if you do have a sensitive stomach, try sticking to the restaurants at your Doha resort and the more popular local restaurants rather than the street food vendors.
Doha shopping is a super treat, where one can shop for luxury clothing as well as the latest in sports cars. Pretty awesome, the malls and markets are teeming with all sorts of goodies, catering to both the budget shopper and those with deep pockets. Either way, do your research on malls and markets in Doha and plan a shopping spree of immense proportions!
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