QL Special: 11 destinations for a quick escape from Qatar

The 11-themed posts are going to continue for a while on the occasion of Qatar Living's 11th year aniiversary, so stay tuned for more awesome reads.

Here are 11 amazing places you can take a quick vacation to, to escape from the daily Doha grind. How many have you visited?

Salalah, Oman – This is probably the best escape from the Gulf, without actually leaving the Gulf. Book a nice resort, and have the most relaxing vacation ever.
Travel time – 2 hours 10 minutes
Return fares – QR 2,000 (direct)

Dead Sea, Jordan – If you're all about that resort life, you have to spend a weekend soaking in the Dead Sea minerals in Jordan! There are no direct flights to here, you'll have to roadtrip it from Amman – which is again a beautiful drive!
Travel time – 2h45m
Return fares – QR 2,000 (direct); QR 700 (1 stop)

Beirut, Lebanon – Beirut is the hub of shopping, nightlife, history and culture, and makes for a perfect weekend escape.
Travel time – 3h45m
Return fares – QR 1,700 (direct); QR 850 (1 stop)

Shiraz, Iran – Shiraz is all about the beautiful gardens, tombs, mosques and other important aspects of Islamic history. The common factor in all these is beauty. While you get to see some great sights, you also get to have some of the best Persian cuisine right here.
Travel time – 1h20m
Return fare – QR 5,300 (direct); QR 1,800 (1 stop)

Tbilisi, Georgia – Tbilisi is beautiful with its cobbled streets, history and architecture clubbed with its nightlife and shopping. This destination has it all, and it's inexpensive.
Travel time – Depends on layover time
Return fare – QR 900 (1 stop)

Manama, Bahrain – It's the closest destination to visit from Qatar – only 20 minutes by flight! Bahrain is small, but dynamic and you can find some of the best cafes to laze at, or have a good night out on the town.
Travel time – 45m
Return fare – QR 400 (direct); QR 550 (1 stop)

Abu Dhabi, UAE – While there isn't much to see here, you do have the amazing options of Yas Island. Ferrari World is world-famous now, and weekend is good enough time to enjoy this.
Travel time – 1h15m
Return fare – QR 800 (direct); QR 550 (1 stop)

Larnaca, Cyprus – This southern Cyprus city is great for beaches and diving. You can even find lively nightlife on the waterfronts.
Travel time – 3h35m
Return fare – QR 4,300 (direct); QR 2,800 (1 stop)

Alexandria, Egypt – Old-world cafes, sandy beaches and some fantastic Egyptian history makes Alexandria a must visit spot!
Travel time – 3h40m
Return fare – QR 1,900 (direct); QR 1,100 (1 stop)

Istanbul, Turkey – Istanbul is a gorgeous city laden with beautiful historic sights and architecture, and the best shopping in Turkey. It's also the only city in the world that falls on two continents – Europe and Asia.
Travel time – 4h15m
Return fare – QR 900 (direct)

Dubai, UAE – The concrete jungle might be your best and quickest escape from Qatar. Dubai has a zillion things to do and to see, so you can never get enough of it.
Travel time – 1h10m
Return fare – QR 270 (direct)

*All prices are rounded off from starting fares. Prices may vary depending on booking dates.