Top Tips for travelling to Qatar on a Budget for World Cup 2022

The fact that World Cup 2022 is happening in the Gulf means there is a golden opportunity to travel to watch it, and being able to do so on a budget means that the possibility will be open to more people.  And the good news is; if you spend less on your trip to Qatar, you will have more money for future adventures!
If you're looking for ways to travel on a budget, there are plenty of things to consider. It begins with careful planning of your travel budget before you leave and includes the decisions you make (for example, food, places etc.) whilst on your trip.
When travelling on a budget one of the most important things you can do is purchase travel insurance! It may appear to be an extra cost at first, but you will save a lot of worry and money should unexpected events occur, such as the trip being delayed or cancelled, your luggage, passport, and cash being lost, or becoming ill whilst abroad.

Top Tips for Travelling to Qatar World Cup 2022 on budget

1. Make sure you have a valid Hayya Card: A Hayya Card, also known as a Fan ID, is a document that is issued by FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and anyone attending any of the matches held in Qatar will be required to hold such an ID. It has been clarified that travelers must hold a Hayya card as well as a match ticket in order to enter the stadium.

2. Get travel insurance: Perhaps this is the most important tip for travelling on a budget! Sure, it’s initially an extra expense, but you’ll thank yourself for sorting it out if your trip gets cancelled, or you become ill abroad.  Benefit from GIG Gulf Travel Insurance and get 50% off your travel insurance cost as cashback if the team you root for wins!

3. Book accommodation in advance: It’s often cheaper - and less stressful! - to book accommodation in advance.  Because Qatar is expecting millions of visitors throughout the tournament, various accommodation options have been set up to ensure no shortage of places to stay.

4. Decide on your budget and stick to it: There are free things to do in every destination, so you just need to manage your expectations of how many expensive activities you can do there or how often you can eat out at restaurants.

5. Use flight comparison websites to find the cheapest flight deals.

6. Fly mid-week and/or travel overnight: Flights are more expensive at weekends, because more people are free to travel. Try to fly between Tuesday and Thursday, if you can. If you have a long journey to complete as part of your trip, one way to save money is to travel overnight.

7. Pack well & light: It’s also important to check that you take everything you need, not forgetting anything! If you forgot something, it could cost a lot of money to buy that essential missing item when you’re abroad. 

8. Search for things to do in Qatar ahead of travelling: Qatar is the first country in the Middle East region to host the World Cup and only the second in Asia, and is looking to take advantage of the hundreds of thousands of visitors attending the mega-event. “Come to Qatar for the football’’. To celebrate the event, the country is also hosting a bunch of other events throughout the match, including the FIFA Fan Festival, The Corniche, Arcadia Music Festival, MDL Beast Presents – ARAVIA, and Lusail Boulevard.

9. Get a local SIM: One way to save money when you’re travelling is to get a local SIM card with locally priced data packages. You’ll want the data for navigating your way around and keeping in touch with home!

10. Be aware of ATM charges: ATMs can charge a lot of money to withdraw and exchange your money. However, it is often the cheapest option to take money out on your travels than to get it exchanged before you go.

11. Match day shuttles: If you are not planning to stay overnight in Qatar, Match Day Shuttle services are also available – offered by a host of regional carriers such as Saudia, flydubai, Air Arabia, Kuwait Airways, and Oman Air. The day trip service will allow fans to watch a game of their choice and return to their point of origin within 24 hours.

12. Getting around Qatar: Because Qatar is smaller than previous World Cup host countries, the eight stadiums (the fewest in World Cup history) are separated by at most 74 kilometers. This makes each stadium easily commutable for fans. Public transport is free on match days, but private transportation, such as Uber, is also available.

13. Get recommendations from the locals: Speak to someone from the area - perhaps someone at the hostel reception - and find out their favorite hotspots.