Discovering Qatar: A family Vacation in the Heart of the Middle East

Introduction

I’ve been wanting to go to Qatar for quite some time now. Ever since the World Cup was held there in 2022, I’ve been interested in traveling to Qatar to see it for myself. Not to mention that the internet somehow figured out I want to go, so the “travel to Qatar” ads haven’t stopped. I finally got a chance to go this summer with my family. So, here’s my review of our trip to Qatar.

The Trip Planning Experience

When traveling, I’m usually someone who plans everything. I create an itinerary and plan everything out, down to where we’re going to get coffee every morning. But this trip was very last minute, making it very casual. I just had a long list of places to visit on my phone, and every morning over breakfast, we would decide what we wanted to see that day.

We spent five days in Qatar, and it was just enough to see everything. We rented a car there, which I would recommend if you are planning on traveling to Qatar and doing some shopping (trust me, you want to shop there). As for where we stayed, we chose a hotel in the Msheireb area called The Golden Lux. It was exactly what we were looking for: centrally located, very comfortable, clean, and reasonably priced. I would stay there again.

Qatar’s Unique Attractions

In general, I would say the attractions in Qatar can be divided into two categories: malls and walks. Both are not what you expect.

Malls in Qatar

In Qatar, malls are not just the place you go to get a quick pair of shoes for your upcoming event and grab a burger from the food court on your way out. In Qatar, malls are where you go. Whether you want to walk around an architectural masterpiece, dine at a fancy restaurant, shop luxury brands, shop everyday brands, take your kids to a theme park, grocery shop, or grab a cup of coffee, malls are the destination.

It is probably because of the hot weather that they invested in these cooled indoor malls. Whatever the reason, in Qatar, malls have a different meaning. Here are some of the malls we visited:

• Palace Vendome

• Festival City Mall

• Villagio

Walks in Qatar

As for the walks in Qatar, they are long roads lined with cafes, restaurants, and stores to your left and right. These walks are outdoors, and some of them are air-conditioned. Of course, we know better than to go anywhere outdoors in the middle of the summer when the temperatures reach over 40 degrees Celsius. But everyone kept saying it was air-conditioned, so we went.

When we got there, we found that to be almost true. Sure, there were vents in the ground pushing up cold air. But that hardly did anything in the scorching heat. As beautiful as these walks were, and they were stunning, we really could not enjoy them due to the heat. Therefore, I highly recommend you visit Qatar in the cooler months. I definitely plan on visiting again in the winter. Here are some of the stunning walks we visited:

• Lusail Boulevard

• 21 High Street

• Souq Waqif

• Al-Hazm

Al-Hazm: A Unique Blend of Malls and Walks

We need to take a moment to talk about Al-Hazm. Al-Hazm is technically considered a mall, but I think it’s more of a walk, and here’s why. It’s mostly restaurants and cafes with only a few stores, but most importantly, it’s outdoors and air-conditioned. Now, this air-conditioning somehow worked. It was unbelievable. We were walking around at night, and it actually felt chilly. I have no idea how they pulled it off, but it was amazing.

We had dinner at an Italian restaurant called Sasso. Their pizzas were out of this world. I would highly recommend you visit Al-Hazm, especially at night.

Qatar vs. Dubai

I think a lot of people draw similarities between Qatar and Dubai. They are similar in some ways, but they are also vastly different. Dubai is more of a touristy city. It’s centered around tourists; every corner is some kind of amusement, and you hardly see the locals.

Qatar is different. It’s a small country, and sure, they have plenty of amusements, but the Qataris don’t see these places as just tourist attractions. They go there for fun too. I guess what I’m trying to say is Qatar is more casual. It’s beautiful, but it isn’t just about the tourists. Seeing the Qataris everywhere we went gave us a sense of their culture and how proud they are of it. In general, Qatar is a lot more slow-paced and peaceful, and I enjoyed every second of it.

Conclusion

Our family trip to Qatar was a delightful experience filled with incredible architecture, delicious food, and a blend of cultural attractions. I highly recommend visiting during the cooler months to make the most of Qatar’s unique outdoor offerings. Whether you’re interested in luxury shopping, exploring cultural sites, or simply soaking in the local atmosphere, traveling to Qatar offers a rewarding travel experience.