BRITS looking to holiday like an A-lister should consider booking a break to Doha for ‘cheap luxury’.
The capital of Qatar is often regarded as being an expensive destination, but both celebs and travel experts have hailed the city for its affordability.
While Doha is often considered to be an expensive destination, it has been hailed as ‘cheap luxury’ by expert visitors[/caption]
Five-star hotels in Doha can be booked from as little as £119 per night[/caption]
TV personality and former Big Brother winner Josie Gibson has hailed Doha as an affordable luxury destination.
She previously told Sun Online Travel: “I was really taken back by Doha, they had some of the best hotels I’ve ever been to.
“In London, they’d be something like £1,000 a night, but in Doha, you’re only looking at £200 – it’s very much a cheap luxury.
“They do everything bigger and better in the Middle East, the architecture is unreal, and everywhere’s so Instagrammable, it’s like being in another world.”
Sun Online Travel has found over-night stays at five-star hotels in Doha from £119 per night.
Stays at Raffles Doha start from £634 per night, which is nearly £200 cheaper compared to Raffles London at The OWO, with stays from £830 per night.
Raffles Doha is an ultra-luxury hotel set inside one-half of Qatar‘s iconic Katara Towers.
Set inside the other side of the building is Fairmont Doha, which has overnight stays from £384 per night.
Meanwhile, stays at Fairmont Windsor Park in London start from £418 per night.
There are other elements of cheap luxury dotted through the Qatari capital too, something the Sun’s Assistant Travel Editor, Sophie Swietochowski, knows all too well after visiting Doha Beach Club for just £6.
She said: “Doha Beach Club is less than a 20-minute drive from the airport and bang in the centre of the city with views of glimmering skyscrapers from the white sands.
“Entry prices vary, but mid-week and during off-peak times, such as Ramadan, you can gain access for just £6, or ladies can visit for free on a Tuesday.
“Entry gets you a towel to plonk on any number of comfy beanbags sheltered under a palm-leaf umbrella – there are also rows of four-poster bali beds, facing towards the sea and swaying hammocks.
“For children, there’s an inflatable obstacle course on the water (supposedly the largest of its kind in Doha), ping pong tables and even kids clubs at certain times of year, offering treasure hunts, sports games and competitions.”
The beach club hosts a brunch every Friday and Saturday for just under £60 per person, which includes all-day beach entry, a drinks package and enough grub to keep you full for the whole day from pizzas and mini sliders to salads and fried fish.
And because it isn’t a public beach, visitors don’t need to cover up or dress modestly.
Doha Beach Club has entry from £6 on set days and set times[/caption]
Doha Beach Club is less than a 20-minute drive from the airport and bang in the centre of the city[/caption]
Although Brits should aim to dress conservatively in Doha.
Despite its expensive image, Doha is home to several free attractions, including Katara Cultural Village and Hills.
The cultural hub is home to alleyways filled with galleries and artists’ workshops.
There’s also Katara North and South Hills, a group of manmade hills with scenic views overlooking landmarks like the Pigeon Towers and Katara Mosque.
The Al Thuraya Planetarium, which is free to enter, is also located at the Katara Cultural Village.
Visitors will learn about astronomy, geology, atmosphere, weather and all things science.
Souq Waqif is regarded as a cultural treasure with stores selling perfume, jewellery, carpets, spices, souvenirs and traditional clothing[/caption]
Other free attractions in Doha include the Mina District, which is home to pastel-coloured buildings, and Souq Waqif.
Souq Waqif is regarded as a cultural treasure with stores selling perfume, jewellery, carpets, spices, souvenirs and traditional clothing.
There’s also the Corniche, a 7km-long waterfront promenade lined with palm trees and dotted with quirky public art pieces.
One-way flights to Doha start from £114 per person, with services taking 10 hours and having a stopover in Bahrain, or opt for direct flights which start from £377.
Sun Travel’s Review of Qatar Airways
SUN Travel’s Deputy Editor Kara Godfrey reviewed Qatar Airways’ business class Qsuite on her flight to Doha.
“I was lucky enough to recently be invited onboard with Qatar Airways, to try out their Qsuite Business Class – and I’m not sure how I will ever go back to economy.
“Feeling more like First Class, it often dominates other airlines when it comes to awards.
“Most business class seats have lie-flat beds, three-course meals and some extra privacy.
“But the Qsuite felt like a hotel on a plane – having its very own private door you can close.
“Along with the high walls around you, it felt like you were in a little bedroom, where no one can see inside.
“The cabins run with a 1-2-1 format, so if in the middle you can pull the middle wall down if travelling with a companion, although I opted for a window seat.
“The lie-flat bed was obviously fantastic, with a cosy fleece blanket and pillow, as well as White Company pyjamas.
“Despite nearly seven hours on a plane, I didn’t want it to be over, and was almost sad to be arriving in Doha.”
Meanwhile, these super cheap beach holiday packages are under £199 per person.
And here are a load of ways parents can save money during the summer holidays.
One-way flights to Doha start from £114 per person, with services taking 10 hours and having a stopover in Bahrain[/caption]
