Traveling to Qatar and attending the three matches of Spain in the first phase of the World Cup, against Costa Rica, Germany and Japan, as well as an additional match, costs about 4,000 euros. It is the cheapest price, which includes, in addition to the tickets to the stadiums, a round-trip plane ticket to Doha, arriving on the opening day of the World Cup, November 20, and departing on November 3. December, after the dispute of the group stage. There would be thirteen nights in a hotel, with breakfast included and possible transportation by cruise to the different venues where the Spanish team will play: Doha, Al Khor and Al-Rayyan.
Accommodation
(13 nights, breakfast and possible cruise)
Tickets for the group stage
Accommodation
(13 nights, breakfast and possible cruise)
Tickets for the group stage
Accommodation
(13 nights, breakfast and possible cruise)
Tickets for the group stage
Accommodation
(13 nights, breakfast and possible cruise)
Tickets for the group stage
Once there, we have to take into account the currency exchange. One Qatari riyal is equivalent to 26 or 27 euro cents, approximately. We are helped on this simulated journey by Anna, a friend who has lived in Doha for ten years.
After a flight that lasts around seven hours, we will most likely prefer to take a VTC to go to the accommodation and leave our suitcase. There is also the possibility of buying the transport card. From the third trip on the same day, the rest of the journeys of that day are free.
And now how do I get to the stadium?
I believe that
I’m going to take
and VTC…
Although for this price… I could take the card
carriage!
1 trip = 2 QAR
Daily pass = 6 QAR
And now how do I get to the stadium?
I believe that
I’m going to take
and VTC…
Although for this price… I could take the card
carriage!
1 trip = 2 QAR
Daily pass = 6 QAR
And now how do I get to the stadium?
I believe that
I’m going to take
and VTC…
Although for this price… I could take the transportation card!
1 trip = 2 QAR
Daily pass = 6 QAR
And now how do I get to the stadium?
I believe that
I’m going to take
and VTC…
Although for this price… I could take the transportation card!
1 trip = 2 QAR
Daily pass = 6 QAR
However, we should know that on the occasion of the World Cup they have created the ‘Hayya card’, a card that is necessary to enter the stadiums and that includes free travel on trains and buses.
With the suitcase already in the accommodation, we went out to see the atmosphere of the city. People waving the flag of their country, jerseys of all the teams and a lot of fuss to celebrate the start of the World Cup.
I just
find with
another group of
Spanish people!
Do you know where we can have a beer here?
Yes! There is only one store where you can buy, but I think you have to have a special permission…
and in the bar? I’m sure they televise the opening game.
I just
find with
another group of
Spanish people!
Do you know where we can have a beer here?
Yes! There is only one store where you can buy, but I think you have to have a special permission…
and in the bar? I’m sure they televise the opening game.
I just
find with
another group of
Spanish people!
Do you know where we can have a beer
here?
Yes! There is only one store where you can buy, but I think you have to have a special permission…
and in the bar? I’m sure they televise the opening game.
I just
find with
another group of
Spanish people!
Do you know where we can have a beer
here?
Yes! There is only one store where you can buy, but I think you have to have a special permission…
and in the bar? I’m sure they televise the opening game.
In Qatar there is only one shop where alcohol and some pork are sold, but to buy there you have to have a special permit and make an appointment in advance. Until now, only non-Muslim residents with a job, declaring their salary, could obtain the permit. As a curiosity, our private guide explains that you can only spend 10-15% of your base salary on alcohol each month. However, there are rumors that with the arrival of international fans they will open the shop for them too. A beer costs around nine riyals (2.39 euros), while in the bar the price is five times higher. Of course, the organizers of the World Cup have prohibited the sale of alcohol in the vicinity of the stadiums.
Better
we pay to
cleavage, that a beer here is worth between 9 and 12 euros…
Better
we pay to
cleavage, that a beer here is worth between 9 and 12 euros…
We better pay at the neckline, than a beer here is worth between 9 and 12 euros…
We better pay at the neckline, than a beer here is worth between 9 and 12 euros…
Therefore, the first day we can spend, since we landed in Doha, about 50 euros, including transportation by taxi from the airport and dinner with beer. If what we want is to spend as little as possible during at least the two weeks that we are going to support La Roja, it is best to use public transport (or the cruise that includes travel to the stadiums where the Spanish team plays) and make a shop at the supermarket for the rest of the days.
morning
I will buy something in
the supermarket, otherwise I won’t make it to the end of the month. Good thing breakfast
is included in
the hotel…
morning
I will buy something in
the supermarket, otherwise I won’t make it to the end of the month. Good thing breakfast
is included in
the hotel…
I will buy tomorrow
something in the supermarket, otherwise I won’t make it to the end of the month. Good thing breakfast is included
at the hotel…
I will buy tomorrow
something in the supermarket, otherwise I won’t make it to the end of the month. Good thing breakfast is included
at the hotel…
After breakfast, we go to the supermarket to do the shopping for several lunches or dinners. The basket costs us the same as a daily menu in Spain, according to the Spanish Hospitality Business Confederation.
Yesterday’s beer cost me the same as today’s meal…
(Lunch and dinner of one day)
Yesterday’s beer cost me the same as today’s meal…
(Lunch and dinner of one day)
Yesterday’s beer cost me the same as today’s meal…
(Lunch and dinner of one day)
Yesterday’s beer cost me the same as today’s meal…
(Lunch and dinner of one day)
The first game of the Spanish team against Costa Rica is approaching. We got to the stadium by public transport, following a wave of fans chanting all kinds of football anthems. Inside the enclosure we don’t know how much drinks and food can cost us, but Anna assures that prices will go up during the month that the World Cup lasts.
Can’t wait to see La Roja in action!
Can’t wait to see La Roja in action!
Can’t wait to see La Roja in action!
Can’t wait to see La Roja in action!
Since we didn’t eat or drink during the game for fear of the prices, we left hungry and browsed different restaurants. In Qatar it is easier to find restaurants with food from all over the world than a typical one from there. The price is quite similar to what we can find in the same type of establishments in Spain.
I don’t know whether to have a hamburger or something Asian for dinner…
I don’t know whether to have a hamburger or something Asian for dinner…
I don’t know whether to have a hamburger or something Asian for dinner…
I don’t know whether to have a hamburger or something Asian for dinner…
During this second day we have spent around 23 euros. If we continue with this rhythm during the first part of the World Cup, we could spend around 4,500 euros between the package that we have bought from Spain, transportation in Qatar, lunch and dinner outside the hotel and some other extra expense.
If Spain qualifies for the round of 16, the two-game packages for that tie are still available, with an estimated price of 3,500 euros. The departure would be on December 3 and return on December 7. With locations for two meetings, four hotel nights, of variable category, and possible cruises. In other words, the price for six games, four from Spain and another two from different teams, with 17 hotel nights, would amount to at least 7,500 euros.
The purchase process through official channels can still be managed from the FIFA website through Qatar Airways, although many packages have already sold out. The so-called quarter-final, semi-final and final packages have already all been sold with Spain as ‘favourite team’ and, although they can still be purchased with other teams, most are no longer available either. Only the quarterfinal package, to witness two games in this tie, had an estimated minimum price of 3,650 euros, while the semifinal and final package cost almost 10,000 euros, for the matches between the four best teams and the duel for the title on 18 from December.
