My husband and I have been here 1 year and are still sharing a vehicle. I don't work so, for the time being, I can be flexible about when I have the car. In the days when he rides into work with a coworker, I will do all of my running around. If I have alot going on or he is too busy to leave me the car, I will take a taxi. It's not perfect, we both make compromises but it's not a huge inconvenience and, for the moment, I don't think we need a second car (this may change next year when I am running our son to school everyday).
For my first few months here, I had no liscence so I took taxi's everywhere. Took fix limo at first because they were recommended by friends -cars are clean, not smelly and they are reliable. Soon switched to Karwa because they are WAY cheaper and have yet to be left waiting when they say they're coming. You have to book at least a few hours in advance however. U can't just pick up the phone and have a cab show up within a half an hour. Returning home is no problem as there are taxis waiting at all the malls and shopping outlets and just driving down the main roads. There are also guys with cars who will offer a ride and give u thier card or number so u can use them as a driver - be careful about this. I would recommend using a driver who is referred to u by a friend. I've used a couple and had one guy who would come right away when I called but then sent me a happy valentines day text so I had to stop using him. A friend of mine also knows someone who was a victim to a sexual predator who picked her up at a mall posing as a driver but then took her someplace, raped her and left her there. Scary! Qatar is a safe place and I feel completely comfortable going about my business on my own or with my kids but it's always a good idea to consider safety and not get into a car with a strange man if ur a woman on your own.
And no, I won't take the bus. I'm sure it's perfectly safe, that's not my issue. Just thinking it would be hot and smelly loaded up with labourers who've been working and sweating in the heat all day. No thanks.
My husband and I have been here 1 year and are still sharing a vehicle. I don't work so, for the time being, I can be flexible about when I have the car. In the days when he rides into work with a coworker, I will do all of my running around. If I have alot going on or he is too busy to leave me the car, I will take a taxi. It's not perfect, we both make compromises but it's not a huge inconvenience and, for the moment, I don't think we need a second car (this may change next year when I am running our son to school everyday).
For my first few months here, I had no liscence so I took taxi's everywhere. Took fix limo at first because they were recommended by friends -cars are clean, not smelly and they are reliable. Soon switched to Karwa because they are WAY cheaper and have yet to be left waiting when they say they're coming. You have to book at least a few hours in advance however. U can't just pick up the phone and have a cab show up within a half an hour. Returning home is no problem as there are taxis waiting at all the malls and shopping outlets and just driving down the main roads. There are also guys with cars who will offer a ride and give u thier card or number so u can use them as a driver - be careful about this. I would recommend using a driver who is referred to u by a friend. I've used a couple and had one guy who would come right away when I called but then sent me a happy valentines day text so I had to stop using him. A friend of mine also knows someone who was a victim to a sexual predator who picked her up at a mall posing as a driver but then took her someplace, raped her and left her there. Scary! Qatar is a safe place and I feel completely comfortable going about my business on my own or with my kids but it's always a good idea to consider safety and not get into a car with a strange man if ur a woman on your own.
And no, I won't take the bus. I'm sure it's perfectly safe, that's not my issue. Just thinking it would be hot and smelly loaded up with labourers who've been working and sweating in the heat all day. No thanks.