I guess I am the king of typos. We were in Iran in 1997, not 1979, as stated in my prior post. 1979 was the peak of the Iranian Revolution so i was watching on television! The planned opening of Iran during the World Cup could provide some affordable alternatives for getting to and from Doha. For example, I just checked Chicago -Tehran Chicago, departing November 17, returning December 30, and it was only $870 round trip One way Tehran to Doha was $388. Al Jazeera, London Daily Mail, Tehran Times and other online sources ran articles around April 12-14 about high level meetings between Qatari and Iranian officials concerning mobilizing Iranian transport for the World Cup. It appears that Iran will reposition older and more modern ships from the Iranian ports of Bushehr, Khuzestan and Hormozgan to Doha. They are very close to Doha and some boat rides from Iran can reach Doha in 6 hours. If you have a bit of time this could be a very cheap and interesting way of reaching Doha. Chicago to Doha round trip for $1100 is possible. Our flight from Tehran to Shiraz in 1997 cost 12 dollars one way! Shiraz is pretty close to Doha. Iran is also talking about doing what Russia did in 2018, and having a ticket to any World Cup game act as a visa to Iran, valid for up to 40 days. It is not clear if this proposal applies to Americans, but it might. Based on my research and personal experience, Americans traveling in Iran would be well-treated and quite safe. We were there on Death To America Day in 1997, a national holiday at the time (it still is). No problems, people were happy to meet Americans! There is another cheap alternative via Saudi Arabia, which started issuing tourist visas December 1, 2021. More about this later.
From another thread.. sharing here: Accommodation hack: currently you need a ticket authorization code to access the official lodging. For those without, looks like FIFA is just assigning auth in sequential order. So if you get someone's ticket auth and just change the last 1-2 digits then it looks to be working. I tried it multiple times with a bunch of random code endings and they all worked. (I already have accommodations but this maybe helpful for others)
Is there a threat you'll be booted when the number doesn't match to your name? They won't let one ticket authorization code be used to book many rooms, will they? (I booked accommodation via a flight/accommodation/ticket package through Qatar Airways, so I am out of this hunt and have not read any of the fine print, so have no idea if there would be reason to be concerned).
There’s no risk of being denied once the code has been entered, since it’s not tied to the ticket application info. It basically functions like an access code to unlock the site and allow booking. The booking details come from your logged in qatar2022.qa account, so make sure those are a valid email, passport, and address. As you said, the codes can only be used to book a limited number of rooms, based on the amount of tickets that were purchased. So in using the code, you might be denying a stranger the chance to use their own ticket code for booking. But that’s an interesting philosophical problem for another discussion
just curious where did you book? Me and 2 buddies (a Canadian and an Aussie) booked a 3BR apartment in the Al Mansoura neighborhood. Seems like sort of a working class (i.e., no Qataris) area, small restaurants, nearby grocery store, 10 minute walk to Metro. We booked for 20 NOV thru 3 DEC (the whole group stage).
in my case it definitely does NOT help. I signed up on the hospitality web site and have been getting emails and 2 phone calls/voice mails (I was on international travel so just saw them) from my hospitality rep/sales person. The prices are astronomical. I was only interested in hotels, and the "Basic" hotel package for the 8 days including the Semis and the Final is listed as $6500 but that's double occupancy, the room is twice that at $13K for 8 nights, or $1625 a night. That is just for the hotel room and airport transfers. No other extras (ok you get "Remote concierge service daily" which looks useless to me). This does not include any match tickets, it's literally just the hotel and a 4-star hotel not a 5-star hotel. If you want a 5-star hotel with 4 tours included get the VIP package which is only $25K for 8 nights or $3125 per night. bargain! I don't know about you guys but there is no f'ing way I'm spending $1625 a night and I'm sure that's before taxes and fees.
just in case any of you guys are interested, there is the "Bucket List" hospitality package. For the mere cost of US $154,000 you and your buddy/SO can get all this: Five star hotel stay (8 nights) 24/7 Private Driver at your Disposal South Dunes Camping Experience Private Dhow Boat Dinner Experience Gyrocopter Tour over the Mangroves Souq Visit w/lunch or dinner Pro/Am Soccer Game in the Desert Personal concierge with you days and evenings Golden Goal Members Club that's just $77K each for 8 whole nights, so actually less than $10K per night each! Go for it.
Dusted off my BigSoccer login to start prepping for November. Although this will be my 4th World Cup I'm a little more stressed about the lodging this time around - and that I'm likely traveling solo for most of the tournament (getting old sucks!). Right now the only viable option appears to be a $390/night apartment on the FIFA site. I booked an airbnb for the start of tournament and the rd16, only to have the host cancel saying the place wasn't actually available. If there was a free cancellation policy from FIFA accommodations then I'd book it now, but that would be too much to ask wouldn't it
more options will open up, but i think you will be left choosing between expensive hotels and cheaper more basic apartment type lodgings that have been converted to accomodate visitors
here's my current status and thinking as far as accommodations. I booked the Group Stage with 2 friends (Aussie and Canadian) in a decent looking apartment near Metro. We got a 3BR/2BA with kitchen and we're 10 minutes walk from a big supermarket and lots of small local eateries. From some photos I was sent by someone in Doha it looks relatively new so we hope it'll be OK. For the end of the tournament I'm sitting tight for now. As @thethinwhiteduke said more options will open up. At that official teleconference thing they held they said hotels would start being offered "in about a week" and it's been a little more than a week ago now. Hospitality hotels (4 star) are running in the US$800/night range for the least expensive options. I was quoted $5500 for a 7 night stay. I was momentarily considering it, but hopeful cheaper options will come out as that's way beyond what I was expecting to spend. I'm gonna guess though that any 4-star hotel will be at least $500/night but that less nice places may be cheaper, but I really don't know. It's a wild guess. I am still keeping the cruise ship option open at about $300/night but it's not my first choice due to the cramped rooms and the inconvenience of where they are docked. One big plus is they have many bars on board. But as I am only looking for a room for the 2 Semis and the Final which I will attend in person, the importance of a bar is way less than if I was using a cruise ship during the Group Stage where I would watch some games on the ship. If you're looking at Group Stage or even R16s it might be a good option for you especially if you're solo.
Depending on who/how many may go with you there are some 1 bed rooms (i think +1 living room for most) for about 240$ usd a night but you will have to break up the dates, the high volume seems to be 24-26 many apts are unavailable those dates. Assuming you want to move once or twice during the tourney to save some money.
Not directed for your specific apt, but just in general... I read on a qatar tour comment on youtube that many places in doha are not walkable due to lack of a sidewalk or crosswalk. So just take a note when an apt looks close to a metro on a map try using the directions function to make sure that road is crossable (assuming that's even correct after the recent constructions).
yeah construction is making things a mess as described by people who are in Doha now. I looked at a YouTube video of a lady who just shot from her car driving the streets of my apartment's neighborhood for like 20 minutes and it looks like many places are walkable as it's a residential area. Also, I have been exchanging messages with a guy who actually lives in that area and he has been telling me I am x-minutes walking distance from various places, so I don't think he would cite those times if it was in fact not walkable due to lack of sidewalks. But you make a good point as I have heard this about other areas. And also that there is so much construction going on and that blocks sidewalks too. So it is a concern. Note also that Google Maps street view doesn't work at least my neighborhood which BTW is Al Monsoura.
Where did you see the $240/nt rates? I agree that splitting the dates and being willing to move will provide a few more options - that's how I was searching yesterday and found the airbnb (that ultimately fell through) A few months after the tournament I won't even remember that I shelled out $400/nt though and only remember how awesome it was, so maybe I should just suck it up!
From 19-23 if i search 1 room 1 guest https://www.qatar2022.qa/book/en/detail/57739/4065-Madinat-Khalifa-South-Apartments shows $218 a night 18-21 this is 242 https://www.qatar2022.qa/book/en/detail/57613/4016-Umm-Ghuwailina-Apartments also this at 242 https://www.qatar2022.qa/book/en/detail/57488/3248-Fereej-Kulaib-Apartments I bookmarked a few of the 250ish apts and kept searching different date combos but so far cant connect more than a week. There are 350-400 a night options and those seem to be more available. Rumor has it we will see more releases as we get closer.
Ah, maybe that's why they call it a "fan" village (sad trombone) Jokes aside, I can't possibly imagine a building in Qatar without AC, that's practically the first thing they put in. Anyway, doubt you'll need one as it will be cool in November / December. Most people run their heaters during that time...
I booked 11/19-11/22 in Doha, 2 bedroom in Fereej Bin Derhem. Curious if any solo or duo USMNT travelers want to take the other bedroom and split the cost 50/50? Fereej Bin Derhem is just west of Al Mansoura and looks to have some hotels nearby (will they have bars??), I know some of the folks here are in Al Mansoura. The available bedroom should have 2 single beds or pushed together to make 1 (I'd assume). Message me if interested. (I also may have 2-3 tickets for the first USMNT game to sell, preferably with the bedroom).
I'm a solo going for the entire tournament, so I'm looking for about the cheapest accommodation I can find. I'd love to split with someone, and am more than willing to move around. The fan village seems to be the least expensive and has two beds. DM me if interested.