Discover Qatar Stopover offer

[Mattg]

Has anyone used the Discover Qatar stopover package for QR customers with a transit time between 12-96 hours?

I have an award booking coming up on QR (booked with Alaska miles) with an overnight stop in Doha (more than 12 hours) and it seems to be a pretty good deal. You can choose from a selection of 4-star hotels for QAR103 (approx. AU$46) and 5-star hotels for QAR175 (approx. AU$77).

Any catches to be aware of? Or thoughts on which is the best hotel to choose?

Stopover in Qatar | Discover Qatar

Experience Qatar during your Stopover. Make the most out of your journey with Discover Qatar by turning your transit into a wonderful Stopover in Doha.

www.discoverqatar.qa

 

[OZDUCK]

We used it in 2018 for 2 nights and got a very nice hotel. The only problem was that initially QR said we weren't entitled to use it but after a couple of e-mails they agreed that we were. So a litle clumsy dealing with the QR back office, as many others have found, but good value.

We stayed at Marriot Marquis City Centre which was connected to a large mall. They provided a very nice room and all the staff we encountered were excellent.

 

[Willie]

It works very well... in 2024 we were allocated 2 rooms (2 males) ... J class immigration with snacks. black Audi A8 transfer both ways, and enough time to spend 27 hours in Doha. Gee looking forward to returning,

 

[Mattg]

We used it in 2018 for 2 nights and got a very nice hotel. The only problem was that initially QR said we weren't entitled to use it but after a couple of e-mails they agreed that we were. So a litle clumsy dealing with the QR back office, as many others have found, but good value.

Why did QR initially say you weren't eligible to use it?

It works very well... in 2024 we were allocated 2 rooms (2 males) ... J class immigration with snacks. black Audi A8 transfer both ways, and enough time to spend 27 hours in Doha. Gee looking forward to returning,

Did you book the transfer as a paid add-on?

 

[Willie]

no… just plus 8 hrs transfer. It was well over delivered!

 

[Austman]

Any catches to be aware of? Or thoughts on which is the best hotel to choose?

Check Ramadan dates. Although it's a very interesting time to visit.

I chose the Hilton. It was available at the time. I received all HH Diamond benefits (limited somewhat during Ramadan) but no HH points or nights.

 

[Mattg]

Check Ramadan dates. Although it's a very interesting time to visit.

I chose the Hilton. It was available at the time. I received all HH Diamond benefits (limited somewhat during Ramadan) but no HH points or nights.

Not going during Ramadan.

I ended up choosing Hyatt Regency. The hotel looks nice and is close to the airport. Booking through QR was less than half price compared to booking a regular room rate. Wonder if I'll get any World of Hyatt benefits (I assume not but am prepared to be surprised).

 

[OZDUCK]

Why did QR initially say you weren't eligible to use it?

No reason was given just a bland statement after I had paid for the stopover.. I sent an e-mail with our flight details again and said that we should be eligible. Then all of a sudden we were eligible again. I just put it down to the oft complained about QR on-ground services.

 

[PlaneCrazy]

It works very well... in 2024 we were allocated 2 rooms (2 males) ... J class immigration with snacks. black Audi A8 transfer both ways, and enough time to spend 27 hours in Doha. Gee looking forward to returning,

I assume you arranged/paid for the A8? Curious as I just booked the Dusit for a night through this program.

 

[jase05]

Sounds like a pretty good deal. Have never used it as we have our favourite hotel in Doha and don’t twant to lose the benefits that come with it. The hotels all look nice though so perhaps we may consider it if only having a really short stay

 

[Mattg]

I assume you arranged/paid for the A8? Curious as I just booked the Dusit for a night through this program.

I was wondering the same thing. The booking engine offered airport transfers for an additional charge but I assume I will only get a hotel room as that’s all I paid for.

 

[Willie]

The A8 was waiting for us outside... just lucky I guess!

Ooh Roo

Willie

 

[woolloomooloo]

We just used this service it yesterday; the stopover time was estimated to be 21 hours.

The immigration process took really, really long—much longer than in other countries, e.g., Oman or Sri Lanka. So even with no luggage to collect and being from a country that gets a transfer visa, we spent a really long time at the airport just waiting in line.

We selected a 5-star hotel from the airline’s catalog. We arrived after check-in time, but there was no room ready at the hotel. So we asked for luggage storage for our cabin baggage. The hotel advised us not to store expensive items like laptops in their storage and they didn't want to store anything at the reception. As a result, we waited for the room until 5 p.m. In the room we discovered that the safe was not working. However, we didn’t want to lose any more time by asking for assistance at the reception, so we just left with our valuables in the room.

We took a taxi to the National Museum and arrived at 5:30. The museum was the best option since it closes at 7 p.m. Unfortunately, they started asking people to leave at 6:45, so the actual time we spent at the museum was only 1 hour and 15 minutes. Afterward, we took a 20-minute cruise to see the skyline.

The next morning, we had to get up early to catch our flight. An airline employee told us to arrive 3 hours before the flight, even though we only had cabin luggage and already had our boarding passes. We thought this was crazy and went there 2 hours before the flight. The airport is huge, and since the little train isn’t always running, you need to account for walking time.

We found out that the flight was delayed by 3 hours—not really enough time to go back to the city to do anything. So we spent the additional 3 hours at the airport.
When the 3 hours were up, the flight was delayed by another 90 minutes. In hindsight, it would have been enough time to go back to the city if the airline had given an accurate estimate from the start.

I would only do this again if my first flight arrives very early in the morning or if the second flight leaves very late. With a flight arriving in the middle of the day, it was not a worthwhile experience.

 

[RooFlyer]

I was wondering the same thing. The booking engine offered airport transfers for an additional charge but I assume I will only get a hotel room as that’s all I paid for.

How did that go, Matt? What did you do for transfers, if not the Discover deal?

I'm going to book it for next February (coming back from Saudi ) and I figure its only the hotel at a steeply discounted rate (A$440 Vs rack rate of A$1,208 for the St Regis) and by the look of it transfers, tours are all extra, but also discounted.

 

[Mattg]

How did that go, Matt? What did you do for transfers, if not the Discover deal?

I just caught the metro!

 

[jase05]

Karwa taxis are dirt cheap in Doha.
I’ve looked at the stopover packages but never gone ahead with them as we have our favourite hotels that treat us like royalty plus whenever I’ve looked the packages don’t seem to price correctly

 

[RooFlyer]

I’ve looked at the stopover packages but never gone ahead with them as we have our favourite hotels that treat us like royalty plus whenever I’ve looked the packages don’t seem to price correctly

The 5* ones I've just priced on Discover Vs rack rate are 1/2 to 1/3 the price. EXCEPT for the Fairmont - no discount

I'll probably book the St Regis - only time I'll be able to afford them - A$450 for 2 nights; $1,500 rack rate and the room catagory is above most others' 'standard king'.

I've found - confirmed in an e-mail - that you get 24 hrs each day; so if you check in at 10pm, you have the room until 10pm the next day, or the day you check out. Terrific benefit for a late flight out like I'll have.

 

[jase05]

The 5* ones I've just priced on Discover Vs rack rate are 1/2 to 1/3 the price. EXCEPT for the Fairmont - no discount

I'll probably book the St Regis - only time I'll be able to afford them - A$450 for 2 nights; $1,500 rack rate and the room catagory is above most others' 'standard king'.

I've found - confirmed in an e-mail - that you get 24 hrs each day; so if you check in at 10pm, you have the room until 10pm the next day, or the day you check out. Terrific benefit for a late flight out like I'll have.

Yeah, I’ve just never found it to price anywhere near it.
Whenever I’ve looked for example return J flights for 2 might be $20k but the stopover package always prices out at a couple of thousand more

 

[RooFlyer]

Whenever I’ve looked for example return J flights for 2 might be $20k but the stopover package always prices out at a couple of thousand more

Can you expand on that? I have my TA booking flights including a 48hr layover (same price as a through ticket) and we'll book the hotels separately, I assume at the prices I'm getting on the hotel section of the web site, separately. Are you saying the hotels price may jig when married with the flights?

 

[jase05]

Can you expand on that? I have my TA booking flights including a 48hr layover (same price as a through ticket) and we'll book the hotels separately, I assume at the prices I'm getting on the hotel section of the web site, separately. Are you saying the hotels price may jig when married with the flights?

Maybe I’m just imagining it but it has always seemed like they charge extra for the flights if it’s part of a stopover deal. Maybe they book the flights in a higher fare bucket or something for stop over packages.
We have just ended up booking the flights and hotels separately for this reason.