Doha family holiday?

[LaurenMichelleFx]

We are currently looking to book a holiday for myself my husband and our son (3) and have found that the usual destinations are coming up very expensive.

In widening our search we have found a 10 night all inclusive stay at the Hilton Salwa Beach Resort Villas for the price of 7 days in a mediocre hotel in Greece! We would have to push the trip back by a few months owing to the intense heat of the summer but that is not a problem. We will look to go October/November instead.

The hotel itself looks incredible, but I’ve never really thought of Qatar as a holiday destination. I’ve read about Sharia Laws and I suppose these are my biggest concerns. Are the hotels as strict as public places with the likes of holding hands/hugging and a peck on the cheek? I don’t do PDA, but a peck on the lips is something we do out of habit sometimes and I’m worried we will end up in trouble.

We don’t smoke and although we like a drink, with a 3 year old this will be reserved to a glass of wine with a meal anyway!

Any advice from anyone who has been is welcomed! x

There has been so much appalling maligning of the Middle East by the West. The odd kiss here and there is fine but you’ll raise eyebrows having a full snog in a mall.

one thing I’ll say - you’ll go to Qatar and the UK will look like a decrepit, underfunded shit hole when you return. You won’t regret visiting. Have a great time.

You’ll have a great time. You’ll need to dress a bit more conservatively outside the hotel - it’s not Dubai! - no tiny shorts or crop tops. The people are lovely and the hotels are top class.

Second that - everything is top tier. Just make sure you go to the old town during your stay. Absolutely stunning and a great introduction to Arabic and Middle Eastern culture if it’s your first time in that region.

It’s an awful place. My sister lives there - I visited once but never again.

It's fine. My parents lived there for a long time before it was all shiny. There isn't loads to do.

You’d be fine in the hotel so if you just want a nice hotel to stay in it will be lovely. The sea isn’t especially nice but obviously you’d have a pool anyway. I didn’t think Qatar had much in terms of culture especially compared to other Middle Eastern countries, even Dubai, but that doesn’t really matter if you just want sunshine.

I wouldn't consider it - appalling human rights record for local women / workers etc. all artificial with no wildlife or culture, just shopping and money and consumerism.

I wouldn't go if you paid me.

if you have flexibility with dates, why not look at greece or spain or portugal in september when the weather is not too hot and it will be cheaper.

Would you go to America at the moment given their track record of destruction in this region? And of course the horrors they’re bankrolling now.

@LaurenMichelleFx sorry to resurrect!, but we're considering Doha - did you go in the end?, did you enjoy it?