Packing list
Has anyone created or found a packing list that is useful for Americans moving to Doha? My husband just got a job offer and I am thinking about what we may not be able to find in Doha. For example, a fellow we met said he always brings a certain brand of cat treats from the states because he can't find them there.
So what staples do we take for granted can't be found in Doha? A few things I was thinking about was Pam cooking spray and Pampers toddler flushable wipes. I'm guessing my beloved canned Spagettio's are non-exsistent, so I will be packing lots of those!!
We get a huge allowance for cargo weight, and since we don't need to ship furniture, I want to bring items we are used to and need from the states.
Also, is there a list of medications I can't bring into the country? Are there any not legal to bring in?
Thanks!
Minoush,
One of the big problems that I faced here and would recommend is to not bring a container into this country, for the following reasons:
- You can find here almost everything you use back home at very reasonable prices if not cheaper;
- Doha Port is very substandard with poor services. It can make you wait up to 2 months for custom's release.
- It conditions your freedom to move rapidly, if required;
- Its extremely expensive to ship out from Doha;
Just a few things to consider, based on my personal experience.
If you have sensitive skin bring unscented detergent. The ones here are highly perfumed.
Mandi
Thanks everyone! I'm pretty good about trying new things, but I have a 7 year old with OCD/Tourette's, so making sure a particular item that she is used to is available is very important.
I guess we will stock up on hair color, toddler wipes,Goldfish and spaghettios. We have plenty of room in the container.
Funny that hair color is much more expensive. I found that lotion is much cheaper. My Oil of Olay was $3 in LuLu's market, while it is $6 here in Florida.
Dare to experience the world out of your comfortable zone.
Doha is in a country with desert but it aint a shopping-desert!
You will feel as if you have never left your Wallmart!
Birth control pills are over the counter here, so no worries, although I have not seen the selection that the US has. Goldfish are here on occasion. Frozen chicken nuggest are available here, but not all the US brands. It's kind of like shopping at Wal-Mart. Sometimes they have what you want and then it's gone for 6 months. Be prepared! When you do find what you want, people tend to hoard it because you don't know when you will see it again. Our grocery bill for 2 adults and a preschooler is running about $700 a month because of this. Used to be $1000.
toddler food is available at the grocery stores...there are high-end shops where you can get Lancome products...as for hair color be prepared to pay x3 the US price...i'm not quite sure with hair coloring products but i did pay triple for a bottle of nail polish...lol!
if you are still using Dreft to wash your baby's clothes, i advise you to bring a big container...i scoured the supermarkets, baby shops and even pharmacy and found the Pigeon brand detergent powder which was really a bad choice...
I almost forgot! What about Western brands of hair color like Clarol or Loreal?
Thanks! The spaghettios don't have pork in them. So I assume they are fine. I am needing the toddler flushable wet wipes, not diapers.
I wear size ten shoes, are they easy to find?
How about goldfish crackers, Lancome makeup, frozen chicken nuggets.
What about magazine subscriptions? Can I get my subscriptions sent to me?
Stupid question but how does customs go through all of our boxes in the shipping container?
Are birth control pills legal and available to get?
Thanks so much for the info! My head is swimming with questions!!!
Spaghettios have been confiscated at customs before. In fact, so have fashion magazines. On the other hand, people have managed to bring ham and alcohol through without so much as a blink, so it may be worth the gamble. Cooking spray and pampers are available locally and I wouldn't recommend traveling with any sort of aerosol can anyway. Bring good books (the local selection leaves a bit to be desired). There is very little that I can think of that is not available locally, besides ladies' shoes in my size (big girl = big feet) but most things can either be found or substituted here. If you have any other specifics, go ahead and ask and we can let you know if they are available here or not.
as long as you have a prescription and the medication label shows your name on it, it should be okey.