i took my driving license 7 months back and i havent yet droven a car on my own here. u know why??? i still dont know the routes. just about wondering if there any easy way to learn the routes here, not using the map... any other easy way???
i spend half my time finding my way BACK to where i started..but on purpose...Jack's ideas were good..learn landmarks also..out by Villagio mall, is the Khalifa tower..you can spot it if you are anywhere close by..just point and drive towards it. Corniche...the sky is blue at the bottom as opposed to the desert..sky at the bottom is tannish..If you get lost and want to find the Corniche, just follow the city center signs, then look for the Corniche...Rydges is another good landmark..Ramada also...out by the Ritz are the wavy towers..you can see them from just about anywhere in the downtown area. Sheraton...and 4 Seasons...close to the end of Corniche.
Still working on street names...but then so are the locals since if you ask for a particular street, they just look at you like you are from Mars...lol Keep a map in the car and a cell phone, a full tank of gas and you are good to go!
jimmis....the map is so important here...because there is hardly anybody on the Road to ask directions. And its not easy to rememeber oral directions.
A Good driver has to be a good map reader. Each vehicle should have a Map & a Compass.
Fix Friday morning 7 to 10 as driving time.
First learn the C-ring Road which is most important road. Most of the Big offices, Shopping Malls, Restaurants fall on this road. (But you will not know where it starts & where it ends unless you look for it on the Map).
Then learn the entire stretch of corniche.
Then do the Corniche along with the C-Ring Road.
Then learn the (Industrial) Salwa road stretch.
By now you will know about 50% of Doha!!!
Keep repeating the routes until you are good at it before switching to a new route.
Last when you are a good driver learn the A & B ring roads, which are the National Area, Souk Area, Gulf Exchange Area.
If you depend upon someone to accompany you to learn the routes then I guess it will take atleast 30-40 trips. With a map & 3hrs daily you can learn it in 7 days flat............ The whole of Doha.
Google earth is very good too...if you donot want to spend QR30 on an excellent map.
i appreciate all the encouragements you have given... the thought of being on the road knowing nothing.... is really giving me shivers!!! anyway i know everyone has a bad beginning.... and there is always somebody like me... FROG!!!
I was here for eight months and new how to get from home to say city center and home to ramada but no idea how to get from ramada to city center. Once I started driving it all came together real quick. Doha is to small to get really lost in. If you get lost eventually you will find a roundabout or a road sign that you recogonize and get back on track.
is to get a car and drive. Don't worry you won't get lost, I've been here for 26 years ... did not know the town until i got my driving license 6 years ago :) Don't be afraid ... just go around and if you get lost [doubt it] stop the car and take a taxi :)
------------------------------------
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. (Gautama Buddha)
I've been looking for a match so a long time hahaha. I had the same problem , but I think I've progressed a little bit lately. You know what ... you just cannot get lost in DOha, there are so many signs . My advice is not to go inside small districts and avoid highways like the one I took last time lol. I found myself going to Abu samra. I would be happy to meet you, but we'll certainly get lost both of us lol. Good luck :)
When i first started driving here i started with my accomodation to the airport thats a good easy route to start everywhere has signs to the airport. Then from there along the Corniche to Westbay, not too much difficulty. Then just try to add a route every couple of days or even every week.
Just take it easy and don't worry if you make a mistake, you can always head back to the airport and start again.
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i spend half my time finding my way BACK to where i started..but on purpose...Jack's ideas were good..learn landmarks also..out by Villagio mall, is the Khalifa tower..you can spot it if you are anywhere close by..just point and drive towards it. Corniche...the sky is blue at the bottom as opposed to the desert..sky at the bottom is tannish..If you get lost and want to find the Corniche, just follow the city center signs, then look for the Corniche...Rydges is another good landmark..Ramada also...out by the Ritz are the wavy towers..you can see them from just about anywhere in the downtown area. Sheraton...and 4 Seasons...close to the end of Corniche.
Still working on street names...but then so are the locals since if you ask for a particular street, they just look at you like you are from Mars...lol Keep a map in the car and a cell phone, a full tank of gas and you are good to go!
Have a Safe Journey
BEST WAY TO LEARN TEH ROUTES IS TO DRIVE .SO FILL UP THE TANK AND DRIVE YOU WILL LEARN SOON
HAVE A GOOD DAY
jimmis....the map is so important here...because there is hardly anybody on the Road to ask directions. And its not easy to rememeber oral directions.
A Good driver has to be a good map reader. Each vehicle should have a Map & a Compass.
Fix Friday morning 7 to 10 as driving time.
First learn the C-ring Road which is most important road. Most of the Big offices, Shopping Malls, Restaurants fall on this road. (But you will not know where it starts & where it ends unless you look for it on the Map).
Then learn the entire stretch of corniche.
Then do the Corniche along with the C-Ring Road.
Then learn the (Industrial) Salwa road stretch.
By now you will know about 50% of Doha!!!
Keep repeating the routes until you are good at it before switching to a new route.
Last when you are a good driver learn the A & B ring roads, which are the National Area, Souk Area, Gulf Exchange Area.
If you depend upon someone to accompany you to learn the routes then I guess it will take atleast 30-40 trips. With a map & 3hrs daily you can learn it in 7 days flat............ The whole of Doha.
Google earth is very good too...if you donot want to spend QR30 on an excellent map.
Good luck.... its a small place.
i appreciate all the encouragements you have given... the thought of being on the road knowing nothing.... is really giving me shivers!!! anyway i know everyone has a bad beginning.... and there is always somebody like me... FROG!!!
I was here for eight months and new how to get from home to say city center and home to ramada but no idea how to get from ramada to city center. Once I started driving it all came together real quick. Doha is to small to get really lost in. If you get lost eventually you will find a roundabout or a road sign that you recogonize and get back on track.
is to get a car and drive. Don't worry you won't get lost, I've been here for 26 years ... did not know the town until i got my driving license 6 years ago :) Don't be afraid ... just go around and if you get lost [doubt it] stop the car and take a taxi :)
------------------------------------
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. (Gautama Buddha)
what signs are we talking about
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I would rather have one rose and a kind word from a friend while I'm here
Than a whole truck load when I'm gone
One good tip will be to remember the names of roundabouts with their signs.
Just learn the ring roads, A to E, if you get lost just drive on and you will surely hit one of the ring roads and you'll get back your bearings.
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You can try driving particularly during weekends say in the early mornings with no traffic, try to start the D Ring Roads (e.g. A,B,C,D,E)....
LOL jummis,
I've been looking for a match so a long time hahaha. I had the same problem , but I think I've progressed a little bit lately. You know what ... you just cannot get lost in DOha, there are so many signs . My advice is not to go inside small districts and avoid highways like the one I took last time lol. I found myself going to Abu samra. I would be happy to meet you, but we'll certainly get lost both of us lol. Good luck :)
Some are Wise ... Some are ...Otherwise
Hi Jimmis,
When i first started driving here i started with my accomodation to the airport thats a good easy route to start everywhere has signs to the airport. Then from there along the Corniche to Westbay, not too much difficulty. Then just try to add a route every couple of days or even every week.
Just take it easy and don't worry if you make a mistake, you can always head back to the airport and start again.
Good Luck