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Cost of Going to Qatar
We’ve heard the horror stories about the expense, accommodation, food, drink, travel etc. Listening to Adel Taarabt on 5Live before this afternoon’s game explaining why so many Moroccans leave the country, average annual wage €7,000 as opposed to €27,000 in Spain, for example. How did 30,000 afford to go to Qatar or has Spain emptied of Moroccans?
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
Are there really 30,000 Moroccans in Qatar?
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
Hilts
Are there really 30,000 Moroccans in Qatar?
rent-a-crowd.
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Hilts
Are there really 30,000 Moroccans in Qatar?
That’s only 15,000 pairs for sale on all them market stalls
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
There’s 40 million people in Morocco plus however many more around the place. I’m sure there’s more than 30,000 who could afford to go.
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
Canton Kev
There’s 40 million people in Morocco plus however many more around the place. I’m sure there’s more than 30,000 who could afford to go.
Yup, Diaspora, who have got a few quid.
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
Canton Kev
There’s 40 million people in Morocco plus however many more around the place. I’m sure there’s more than 30,000 who could afford to go.
Be a few more there for the next game I s’pose.
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
I think I spent more at Disney in a comparable amount of time that I spent in Qatar.
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
Wash DC Blue
I think I spent more at Disney in a comparable amount of time that I spent in Qatar.
Maybe there’ll be a World Cup at Disneyland one day. Nothing shocks me nowadays.
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
splott parker
Maybe there’ll be a World Cup at Disneyland one day. Nothing shocks me nowadays.
How can you forget Ronald McDonald Mr P! That was a classic WC.
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
Citizen's Nephew
How can you forget Ronald McDonald Mr P! That was a classic WC.
As mistakes go, it was a Whopper:hehe:
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
splott parker
As mistakes go, it was a Whopper:hehe:
:hehe:
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
splott parker
Maybe there’ll be a World Cup at Disneyland one day. Nothing shocks me nowadays.
Mickey Mouse tournament?
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
Geraint Pillock
Mickey Mouse tournament?
That's the league cup
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
splott parker
We’ve heard the horror stories about the expense, accommodation, food, drink, travel etc. Listening to Adel Taarabt on 5Live before this afternoon’s game explaining why so many Moroccans leave the country, average annual wage €7,000 as opposed to €27,000 in Spain, for example. How did 30,000 afford to go to Qatar or has Spain emptied of Moroccans?
There’s 15,000 Moroccans living in Qatar which I guess helps
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
EastbourneBlue
There’s 15,000 Moroccans living in Qatar which I guess helps
No digs to pay for the travelling fans in that case perhaps, every little helps.
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
Quote:
Originally Posted by
splott parker
We’ve heard the horror stories about the expense, accommodation, food, drink, travel etc. Listening to Adel Taarabt on 5Live before this afternoon’s game explaining why so many Moroccans leave the country, average annual wage €7,000 as opposed to €27,000 in Spain, for example. How did 30,000 afford to go to Qatar or has Spain emptied of Moroccans?
Qatar really wasn’t anywhere near as expensive as was made out. We ate in the mall of Qatar mostly, because our Villa was pretty close. Loads of variety, and prices comparable or even slightly cheaper than home. If you were adventurous and ate in the Souq, it was cheap as chips (and the kebabs were great).
Ubers were significantly cheaper than home. Public transport was reliable, and free.
There were 7 of us in a villa for 10. Booked it via the fifa portal with out much trouble. Again- it really wasn’t that expensive.
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
stevebrickman
Qatar really wasn’t anywhere near as expensive as was made out. We ate in the mall of Qatar mostly, because our Villa was pretty close. Loads of variety, and prices comparable or even slightly cheaper than home. If you were adventurous and ate in the Souq, it was cheap as chips (and the kebabs were great).
Ubers were significantly cheaper than home. Public transport was reliable, and free.
There were 7 of us in a villa for 10. Booked it via the fifa portal with out much trouble. Again- it really wasn’t that expensive.
Good to hear from someone who was actually there.
How about the all-important benchmark of the cost of a beer?
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
Rock_Flock_of_Five
Good to hear from someone who was actually there.
How about the all-important benchmark of the cost of a beer?
So, my view on that was that I can get pissed any day of the week at home. I’m unlikely to go to a World Cup again where all teams and games are in such close proximity. So I just watched football. 9 games in the time I was there- 2 a day except the first day against USA where we explored and got our bearings. It was tiring, and I didn’t enter a bar once, although we did pay an expat to smuggle beer into our villa.
The alcohol free beer in the stadiums was £7. Red Lion pub was widely mooted as one of the cheaper venues - £7/£8 a beer. So, probably a bit more expensive than London prices.
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
Rock_Flock_of_Five
Good to hear from someone who was actually there.
How about the all-important benchmark of the cost of a beer?
My father does the same, go well out of his way to save 50p on a Stella
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
Quote:
Originally Posted by
stevebrickman
Qatar really wasn’t anywhere near as expensive as was made out. We ate in the mall of Qatar mostly, because our Villa was pretty close. Loads of variety, and prices comparable or even slightly cheaper than home. If you were adventurous and ate in the Souq, it was cheap as chips (and the kebabs were great).
Ubers were significantly cheaper than home. Public transport was reliable, and free.
There were 7 of us in a villa for 10. Booked it via the fifa portal with out much trouble. Again- it really wasn’t that expensive.
Agreed. Yet more misinformation.
We stayed in Dubai which was a bit more expensive (but a bit nicer I think)
The only thing that was really expensive was alcohol, not surprisingly.
Everything else was fine as you say.
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
Quote:
Originally Posted by
stevebrickman
Qatar really wasn’t anywhere near as expensive as was made out. We ate in the mall of Qatar mostly, because our Villa was pretty close. Loads of variety, and prices comparable or even slightly cheaper than home. If you were adventurous and ate in the Souq, it was cheap as chips (and the kebabs were great).
Ubers were significantly cheaper than home. Public transport was reliable, and free.
There were 7 of us in a villa for 10. Booked it via the fifa portal with out much trouble. Again- it really wasn’t that expensive.
Great information, :thumbup:
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
Quote:
Originally Posted by
stevebrickman
So, my view on that was that I can get pissed any day of the week at home. I’m unlikely to go to a World Cup again where all teams and games are in such close proximity. So I just watched football. 9 games in the time I was there- 2 a day except the first day against USA where we explored and got our bearings. It was tiring, and I didn’t enter a bar once, although we did pay an expat to smuggle beer into our villa.
The alcohol free beer in the stadiums was £7. Red Lion pub was widely mooted as one of the cheaper venues - £7/£8 a beer. So, probably a bit more expensive than London prices.
We stayed in apartments close to The Red Lion in AL Mansoura...couldn't get in there though the day we wanted to so didn't bother after that.
We drank in 2 of the Marriot bars mainly and had one night out at a nice rooftop pool bar.
I'd say I was paying $15 a pint.
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
You could get apartments for 2 for $85, these were widely available. All transport was free. Pint could be had in the fanzine for £11. I didn’t mind laying that as everything else was so cheap.
Food was around £5 a meal and a bottle of water around 17p. I was there for 8 days and spent £300 and that was mostly presents for the kids. Brilliant city and very cheap.
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
Bruce Parry
You could get apartments for 2 for $85, these were widely available. All transport was free. Pint could be had in the fanzine for £11. I didn’t mind laying that as everything else was so cheap.
Food was around £5 a meal and a bottle of water around 17p. I was there for 8 days and spent £300 and that was mostly presents for the kids. Brilliant city and very cheap.
That's great to hear that you were pleasantly surprised that it wasn't as expensive as many had thought it would be.:thumbup:
If I may ask, what did you find brilliant about the city, aside from the atmosphere generated by a World Cup taking place there?
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
Rock_Flock_of_Five
That's great to hear that you were pleasantly surprised that it wasn't as expensive as many had thought it would be.:thumbup:
If I may ask, what did you find brilliant about the city, aside from the atmosphere generated by a World Cup taking place there?
Speaking personally, I think calling Doha a brilliant city was a bit strong.
It exceeded my expectations but they were admittedly low. The atmospheric Souk Watif and a couple of forts aside, you would be hard pressed to find a building less than 40 years old. West Bay and Lusail have sky lines similar to Chicago.
That said, the Corniche along the bay is attractive with some pretty parks and mooring areas. We were spoiled though as it was closed to traffic and the city is pedestrian unfriendly at the best of times where wide concentric highways through the centre dominate.
The modern metro is great, driverless and super swift and frequent. Most of all some of the civic buildings are truly fantastic inside and out. The Museum of Islamic Art, featuring artefacts from across the Islamic world was delightful. The National Museum of Qatar and the National Library are spectacular buildings. Though if money is no object and land is plentiful then you can buy the best architects in the world to deliver this.
To be honest we didn't see many Qataris. The place runs on immigrants from Bangladesh, India, Africa and the Phillipines. Some of these are obviously working for peanuts but many of the Indians we spoke to were working in a vibrant IT sector. As you would expect many immigrants have also set up restaurants and fast food outlets where as others have mentioned the food is both delicious and cheap as chips.
.
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
cyril evans awaydays
Speaking personally, I think calling Doha a brilliant city was a bit strong.
It exceeded my expectations but they were admittedly low. The atmospheric Souk Watif and a couple of forts aside, you would be hard pressed to find a building less than 40 years old. West Bay and Lusail have sky lines similar to Chicago.
That said, the Corniche along the bay is attractive with some pretty parks and mooring areas. We were spoiled though as it was closed to traffic and the city is pedestrian unfriendly at the best of times where wide concentric highways through the centre dominate.
The modern metro is great, driverless and super swift and frequent. Most of all some of the civic buildings are truly fantastic inside and out. The Museum of Islamic Art, featuring artefacts from across the Islamic world was delightful. The National Museum of Qatar and the National Library are spectacular buildings. Though if money is no object and land is plentiful then you can buy the best architects in the world to deliver this.
To be honest we didn't see many Qataris. The place runs on immigrants from Bangladesh, India, Africa and the Phillipines. Some of these are obviously working for peanuts but many of the Indians we spoke to were working in a vibrant IT sector. As you would expect many immigrants have also set up restaurants and fast food outlets where as others have mentioned the food is both delicious and cheap as chips.
.
Interesting to read that. I was going to post that if Doha is a 'brilliant city' then it must have changed out of recognition from how it was when I worked in West Bay. Admittedly that was a time when the Metro was still under construction and it was clear that a step change in public transport would help address some of the traffic issues, especially in areas such as the Corniche. Must say that the Museum of Islamic Art stood out as a beacon of beauty in a landscape of modern, ostentatious, willy-waving high-rises and shopping malls. Like you, I was also struck by how few native Qataris you actually come across - even in the working environment. I think they only represented less than 30% of the population back then. Possibly even less now.
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
I’ve been to Dubai and my experience was that it wasn’t that expensive if you swerved alcohol and the hotel we stayed in (Atlantis ) was very reasonable if you purchased a drinks package. (Tax free watches are very cheap compared to Uk prices)
London is way more expensive. Portugal this summer was very expensive compared to pre Covid days.
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cyril evans awaydays
Speaking personally, I think calling Doha a brilliant city was a bit strong.
It exceeded my expectations but they were admittedly low. The atmospheric Souk Watif and a couple of forts aside, you would be hard pressed to find a building less than 40 years old. West Bay and Lusail have sky lines similar to Chicago.
That said, the Corniche along the bay is attractive with some pretty parks and mooring areas. We were spoiled though as it was closed to traffic and the city is pedestrian unfriendly at the best of times where wide concentric highways through the centre dominate.
The modern metro is great, driverless and super swift and frequent. Most of all some of the civic buildings are truly fantastic inside and out. The Museum of Islamic Art, featuring artefacts from across the Islamic world was delightful. The National Museum of Qatar and the National Library are spectacular buildings. Though if money is no object and land is plentiful then you can buy the best architects in the world to deliver this.
To be honest we didn't see many Qataris. The place runs on immigrants from Bangladesh, India, Africa and the Phillipines. Some of these are obviously working for peanuts but many of the Indians we spoke to were working in a vibrant IT sector. As you would expect many immigrants have also set up restaurants and fast food outlets where as others have mentioned the food is both delicious and cheap as chips.
.
Cheers for that, very interesting!
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
TWGL1
Portugal this summer was very expensive compared to pre Covid days.
Some of those €1 a pint bars in Tenerife are now charging €1.50, bastard scandalous!!!!!!!!!
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
Its on the dubious country list of tax havens
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
life on mars
Its on the dubious country list of tax havens
What, Tenerife? No wonder the beer is so cheap!
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cyril evans awaydays
Speaking personally, I think calling Doha a brilliant city was a bit strong.
It exceeded my expectations but they were admittedly low. The atmospheric Souk Watif and a couple of forts aside, you would be hard pressed to find a building less than 40 years old. West Bay and Lusail have sky lines similar to Chicago.
That said, the Corniche along the bay is attractive with some pretty parks and mooring areas. We were spoiled though as it was closed to traffic and the city is pedestrian unfriendly at the best of times where wide concentric highways through the centre dominate.
The modern metro is great, driverless and super swift and frequent. Most of all some of the civic buildings are truly fantastic inside and out. The Museum of Islamic Art, featuring artefacts from across the Islamic world was delightful. The National Museum of Qatar and the National Library are spectacular buildings. Though if money is no object and land is plentiful then you can buy the best architects in the world to deliver this.
To be honest we didn't see many Qataris. The place runs on immigrants from Bangladesh, India, Africa and the Phillipines. Some of these are obviously working for peanuts but many of the Indians we spoke to were working in a vibrant IT sector. As you would expect many immigrants have also set up restaurants and fast food outlets where as others have mentioned the food is both delicious and cheap as chips.
.
Are the joys of modern slavery.
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
life on mars
Are the joys of modern slavery.
Thank **** you didn't write the 'Bisto' Ad
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
Tuerto
Thank **** you didn't write the 'Bisto' Ad
What's wrong with.. "Are Bisto"! :hehe:
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
Tuerto
Thank **** you didn't write the 'Bisto' Ad
I don't watch telly so never see ads. Are the Bisto ads still going?
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
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Originally Posted by
Citizen's Nephew
I don't watch telly so never see ads. Are the Bisto ads still going?
I can picture you and Mrs Citizen’s Niece-in-Law (so much better than Mrs CN) singing along to the Ovaltinies on your Bakelite steam radio. I would consider getting a telly though, there’s even a BBC 2 now, on 625 lines though and talk of colour TV eventually.:hehe:
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Tuerto
Thank **** you didn't write the 'Bisto' Ad
Whatever you do don't tell LoM where a fair proportion of his gas is coming from. I wouldn't want him to freeze this winter because of his strong principles!
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
We stayed in an hotel in Dubai all inclusive, food superb, 24 hr bar, bars in airport, Dubai city centre and inter continental hotel Doha £13 a pint, 9 days cost us under £3000 including match tickets at £180 each for two games.
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Re: Cost of Going to Qatar
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ABLUEBIRD
We stayed in an hotel in Dubai all inclusive, food superb, 24 hr bar, bars in airport, Dubai city centre and inter continental hotel Doha £13 a pint, 9 days cost us under £3000 including match tickets at £180 each for two games.
£13.00 is the same price as a few London hotels I’ve stayed at. It’s £8.00 a pint at Cardiff City premier lounge !
Dubai is against drinking so they are not going to make it cheap.