Qatar Complete Residents' Guide
I saw this book on Amazon, and then I got a couple of minutes to look at it in Carrefour when I was interviewing in Doha but couldn't get a good feel for it. Is this book worth buying, or does the Marhaba give basically the same information?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9768182539/ref=wl_it_dp/002-0131844-860...
Yeah, I nicked the Marhaba out of the hotel room on recommendation from the relocation specialist, as the new one is coming out anyway and you couldn't even buy the Spring/Summer in the shops (or I would have). So I've got that to look at for now, and I 'spect I could find the Fall/Winter when I got to Doha. It just seems that a lot of information in the Qatar Residents' Guide was duplicated from the Marhaba, or that's what I got from my quick 2-3 minute look.
I've always had fairly good luck with LP, but I haven't looked at the Arabian Peninsula. A new one is supposed to come out in September. You're right, though, amnesia. They obviously need to do some more reconaissance work.
Question, then. If I were to purchase a guidebook for the Arabian Peninsula, what would you recommend based on experience?
Problem around here (rural America) is that people think that all the Middle East is a terrorist attack waiting to happen. I guess people think the same about rural America too, although what are the terrorists going to blow up around here--a grain silo?? Very sad, the closeminded attitudes I come across. I'm actually very excited to be going to Doha.
Anyway. Point being you can't walk into the shop and preview guidebooks for the region before purchasing, as they aren't stocked since, as I'm told, "the Middle East is dangerous" (even though I'm going to the Gulf, and I frankly felt safer in Doha than when I lived in southern Arizona...). Might be able to get from Barnes & Noble, then return to the shop if I didn't like it, but I'd have to check.
I don't know much about that book but I can say
STAY AWAY FROM LONELY PLANET GUIDES.
I've constantly emailed them for the past two years and received NO reply.
According to their website, Qatar's water and food is toxic or poisonous, we don't have pasteurized milk and we've only got ONE airline allowed in and out of the country. Which we all know is complete BullS***
They don't even ATTEMPT to fix their errors because they don't give a crap.
Anyway, just a friendly warning that Lonely Planet is a junk.
__________________________
I Love Qatar - http://www.iloveqatar.net
Both books are pretty good, I prefer Marhaba, is not on-line.
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds..
I haven't read that one, but my colleagues use it. I have Marhaba, and some of them think Marhaba is better. So between the two, you should be covered!!