Doha Qatar

I purposely planned an 8 hour layover in Doha so that I could go out and visit. This was my second time in Qatar. The visa is $28, however if you're flying with Qatar Airlines check to see what daily tours you can purchase from them to avoid buying a visa. Taxis are really the only way to get around the city. They use the meter and it's a fare price but obviously the price will be cheaper for you if you don't have to pay the tab alone. 

Our 8 hours were during the day on a Friday. In many Muslim countries, Friday is the holy day. A lot of stores were closed and don't open until late afternoon. Doha is more of a business town and, not including its many malls, doesn't really have much to visit. 

The downtown area looks really nice but it's mostly just tall office buildings and hotels. A walk along the Corniche is the best place to take pictures of the downtown area and the beautiful bay. The Islamic Cultural Center is free and gives a thorough history lesson of the Islamic faith. 

Souk Waqif is the local but also touristy area to go shopping. Many local crafts are available and some vendors are willing to barter. Fancy buying a falcon? The Falcon Souk is located close by and merits a visit. 

Like many big cities in the Middle East, Doha has many malls. It's a great place to go and cool off on hot days. You'll also find all of your favorite Western eateries. 

Oman

The country of Oman is my favorite underrated country! It's an region that not a lot of people think about visiting or even know about. When I told people I was going to Oman the response was usually, "Where's that? Oh you mean Amman Jordan? I've never heard of it!"  However, Oman is a huge melting pot of friendly people always willing to help, great food, reasonable prices and sunny weather. 

 

We took a bus from Dubai to Muscat, Oman. The bus was $15 and we left at 11pm arriving in Muscat around 5. You have to pay about $10 to leave the UAE and $50 for the Omani visa. 

 

Not finding any available hostels, Airbnb was the cheapest accommodations we found. Muscat doesn't have great public transportation and taxis get expensive real quick. Renting a car is the best and cheapest way to get around. However, be careful to check if you have restricted mileage. We thought we had unlimited mileage and ended up having to pay extra when returning the car. 

 

The Sultan Qaboos Mosque is spectacular. Allow yourself a good hour to visit it and the beautiful gardens. Be sure to dress appropriately or you might have to rent/buy something to cover yourself. Driving around the city you will see numerous picturesque mosques. 

 

Take a day trip out to visit Wadi Shab. This is a Must See while in Oman. From Muscat it's 1.5 - 2 hours. You'll pay less than $1 to cross the river by boat then you'll start hiking. You can hire a guide, but it's not really needed if you're up for an adventure. The hike can take a good hour or so, depending on your speed and how many pics you take. Bring WATER!! You eventually arrive at a body of water and will swim to the caves where you can cliff jump or just enjoy the scenery. 

 
The Wadi Dayqah Dam is very beautiful with its mountains and rugged terrain. Depending on the season they will open the dam and you can go swimming in the creeks at the bottom of the Dam. Not far away is the Bimmah Sinkhole. The water is a beautiful greenish blue and beckons to be photographed. Both of these attractions are FREE!!

 

 

 

United Arab Emirates

Telling people that you're traveling around The Middle East always evokes a wide variety of responses. It's a region of the world that's not always fairly portrayed by the media. Yet, I love the Middle East and hope to see of it as much as possible. Certain countries are fairly wealthy thus not making it a cheap getaway. 

Flying Pegasus, a low cost Turkish airline, was the cheapest way there from Europe. First stop was Dubai! Fortunately there are a few reasonably priced hostels that are centrally located. We paid $16 a night to be on the 66th floor and over looking the beach.

Some beaches require a fee to be paid or they're connected to your hotel. If where you are staying doesn't have a beach, ask where are the closest public (FREE) beaches. 

Another cool area to visit is The Creek where you can take a boat ride to the Spice and Gold Souk. The metro and trams make the city easy to navigate but be sure to allow yourself enough time to arrive at your destination. Dubai has many malls, all pumping the AC to keep you cool on those hot days. The malls also have numerous American shops and restaurants and a heap of activities to keep you busy.

Visiting Burj Khalifa is expensive. Dubai mall is located right next door and puts on an amazing fountain show. It's better to go right before or after sunset to truly enjoy it. Standing inside the Apple store gives you the perfect vantage point. 

In Abu Dhabi we only had time to visit the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. Words can't properly describe its beauty; this mosque leaves you breathless. Be sure to dress appropriately or you will be given appropriate attire to wear.