- Mr Plane Guy
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 3 hours ago
Doha Stopovers & Free 5-Star Stays with Qatar Airways
Updated November 2025 – Everything you need to know about Qatar Airways’ free Doha stopover and 5-star hotel program.
By Mr Plane Guy, Flight Expert & AvGeek Who Knows His Qsuites
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It keeps this blog cruising high (and fuels my habit of buying overpriced airport lattes). Thanks for your support!
Welcome to Doha, The World’s Most Luxurious Layover
Qatar Airways doesn’t just fly you halfway across the world it tempts you to stop halfway and live a little.
If you’re connecting through Doha on a long-haul route, you can score a free or ultra-discounted 4- or 5-star hotel stay, airport transfers, and even a transit visa, all courtesy of the Qatar Airways Stopover Program.
Think Champagne, skyline views, and Arabian sunsets, without the usual price tag.
Plane Tip: If you’d rather pick your own hotel or extend your stay, check out the latest Doha hotel deals on Booking.com. You’ll often find the same five-star hotels used in the Qatar Airways stopover program.
What Is the Qatar Airways Stopover Program?
In short: it’s your ticket to a mini-holiday between holidays.
When your connection in Doha is between 8 and 24 hours, and there’s no shorter onward flight, Qatar Airways will cover a complimentary hotel stay (yes, seriously) through its Transit Accommodation Service.
You’ll get:
A hotel room (usually 4★ or 5★)
Airport transfers to and from Hamad International
An entry visa to explore Doha, free of charge
It’s part of Qatar’s big push to make Doha the Middle East’s next stopover hub and it’s working.
Why It’s Worth It
Flights with Qatar Airways often connect awkwardly overnight, so this turns an annoying wait into a luxury city break.
You could be lounging by the pool at the W Doha, sipping Arabic coffee at the Souq Waqif, or checking out the National Museum of Qatar, designed to look like a desert rose all while your next flight waits.
Even better: the government subsidises these rates to boost tourism. Some travellers have bagged five-star rooms from just $14 a night, or completely free stays on longer connections.
This blog runs on caffeine and affiliate clicks, find your next Qatar Airways flight below and keep me flying high!
How to Book the Qatar Airways Free Stopover
Here’s the step-by-step plan that actually works:
Head to qatarairways.com and choose the “Qatar Stopover” option on the booking page.
Search for flights with at least 8 hours transit in Doha (up to 24 hours for the free package).
Pick your hotel tier – Standard (4★), Premium (5★), or Luxury Collection, or some other category like Premium Beach.
Complete your booking, then submit an online request at least 72 hours before departure to confirm your hotel and transfers.
Things to do in Doha
Plane Tip: The MIA café offers incredible views of Doha’s skyline perfect for that first coffee of the day.
Plane Tip: Don’t forget the little comforts. I never board without my noise-cancelling earbuds and travel adapter with USB-C ports both from Amazon, both worth every penny on long-haul flights. You should also get a airplane bluetooth adaptor, now you can pair your headsets on Qatar flights, but it may not be possible on lots of other aircraft so it's worth having!
Where You Can Stay (and My Top Picks)
Some of Doha’s best hotels take part:
W Doha – chic, vibrant, and one of my personal favourites. Read my full review here →
Al Najada Hotel by Tivoli – close to the Souq Waqif, perfect for sightseeing.
Pullman Doha West Bay – modern and business-class sleek.
Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park – great for one-night layovers.
Marriott Marquis City Center – upscale with a resort-like pool deck.
Check out my post Flying in Style: My Qatar Airways Qsuite Experience on the 787 for how seamlessly this stopover fits into a Business-Class journey.
What to Do on a Doha Stopover
Even 24 hours is plenty of time to experience Doha’s highlights:
🕌 Visit the Museum of Islamic Art and National Museum of Qatar
🐫 Take a half-day desert safari or a dhow boat cruise along the Corniche
🏝️ Hop to Banana Island Resort by Anantara for lunch
☕ Wander Souq Waqif for spices, perfumes, and rooftop cafés
Book tours and desert safaris on GetYourGuide →
Plane Tip: Stack It with Avios
Because Qatar Airways now shares the Avios currency with British Airways, you can use your points to pay for your flight and still unlock the free stopover.
I once redeemed just 40,000 Avios for a Business Class flight from Dublin to Doha way cheaper than from London (and lower taxes too).👉 Read that full redemption story here.
Lounge Access Before You Fly
🍸 Start Your Trip in a Lounge
Why queue at Pret when you could sip prosecco in peace before your Qatar flight? Priority Pass gives access to 1,700+ lounges worldwide. Including Doha Hamad's Al Maha Lounge.
Plane-Approved Travel Essentials
Flying with Qatar soon? Here’s my secret to making those flight hours disappear Audible for just 99p. Whether you’re heading to Doha or Delhi, you’ll have endless stories, travel podcasts and escapism ready to go.
Start your 3-month Audible trial before you fly it’s ideal for flying on long haul flights with Qatar.
Start your 3-month Audible trial today and turn your next trip into a story worth listening to.
Key Rules & Fine Print (in Plain English)
Transit must be 8–24 hours (no shorter connections available).
Submit request ≥ 72 hours before departure.
Not every fare class qualifies, promo or award tickets may vary.
For bookings made < 72 hours before travel, arrange stopover on arrival.
Entry is subject to Qatari immigration approval (usually instant for UK citizens).
Final Boarding Call
If you’re flying Qatar Airways and your layover is long enough to unpack your toothbrush, do it the free stopover is one of the best travel hacks in the sky.
A few hours in Doha can turn an ordinary journey into a 5-star mini holiday, and it might just convince you to plan a full trip back.
From skyline sunsets to desert dunes, it’s the ultimate Luxury Escape for Less.
Related Reads
Hello, I’m Paul a professional jet-setter and all-around plane travel pro. After 15 years working in and around planes, I became a flight delay expert at a London Airport and mastered plane travel hacks, a PLANE flight expert with BIG travel plans but small carry-on.
Now, I share PLANE travel news, tips, reviews, and deals with honesty, humour, and zero baggage! Thanks for reading Doha Stopovers & Free 5-Star Stays with Qatar Airways.
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