Buying a used car in Qatar: 10 tips to help you make the right choice.

20 August, 2022

Buying a used car in Qatar: 10 tips to help you make the right choice.

During our time in Qatar, our family owned a total of 6 cars, 4 of which were bought used. Buying a pre-owned car is always tricky, no matter where you are, so it doesn't surprise me that it's one of the most common questions I’m being asked. And so I gathered everything I've learned from…

Qatar: a comprehensive guide to kids birthday party venues.

16 August, 2022

Qatar: a comprehensive guide to kids birthday party venues.

If you’re a parent in Qatar, chances are that at some point you found yourself…

Umm Bab Coast - a perfect (but not obvious!) anniversary trip!

16 March, 2022

Umm Bab Coast - a perfect (but not obvious!) anniversary trip!

Celebrating anniversary in Qatar without spending tons of money- is it possible? Many people would…

I walked 50,000 steps in Qatar!

17 February, 2022

I walked 50,000 steps in Qatar!

And what do you do for annual Sports Day? When I asked this question in…

Recent Posts

Keeping it real: the not-so-glorious life of a working mom.

25 January, 2022

Keeping it real: the not-so-glorious life of a working mom.

Ladies! Remember when we were young, freshly graduated and (most probably) childless? I do, although this memory is becoming more and more vague each year. That was the time when we were making Grand Plans for our future life. Mine was: "I'll have two beautiful kids, an amazing fulfilling job, and some extraordinary time-management skills…

What I read in 2021 - my top 5 picks.

18 January, 2022

What I read in 2021 - my top 5 picks.

Have you been to this year's Doha International Book Fair yet? (If you haven't and wonder whether it makes sense to go, read HERE). Seeing how much buzz is the Fair creating, I'm surprised (and overjoyed!) to acknowledge that there are actually more book lovers in Qatar than I have suspected! It might also mean…

Our favorite playgrounds in Qatar.

12 January, 2022

Our favorite playgrounds in Qatar.

One of the amazing things that all families with small kids appreciate in Qatar is the abundance of outdoor playgrounds, most of which are free for all to access! My boys got so used to visiting a different one each time that when we went to live in Poland for a while, they were upset…

mamaintransit

𝐃𝐨𝐡𝐚 𝐓𝐨𝐲𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧

A short reel for fun - because we did loooove the

A short reel for fun - because we did loooove the visuals at the Lusail Super Cup! 😍

#mamaintransit #lusailsupercup #worldcup2022 #lusailstadium #qatarbloggers

*𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘈𝘭 𝘍𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘢𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 31𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘖𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳 2022*

I know I’ve been posting a lot about beaches we go to, but I did not do a proper roundup of our favorites yet!

Since it’s 1st of September and the beach season is (almost 😅) upon us (and also, the majority of you chose the beach post in my poll earlier this week!), I present you with those 5 picks, among which you will find both wild beaches and ones with facilities 😊

I’m especially proud of our very own 𝗥𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗸’𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵, which I marked on google maps myself last year, and which became quite a popular spot with a ranking of 4.5 stars 😎 Rekik’s Beach is our favorite spot on Umm Bab Coast, and when we visit the Coast we usually stop there 😊

If you have any questions regarding any of the entries, please feel free to comment or DM! 🏝

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐝 – 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞.

As most of you know, our Danny is a very special boy who needs some extra support, part of which is speech therapy. We’ve tried both private and public institutions, and today I’ll share our insight into ST in Hamad (public healthcare).

𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

We got a referral from PHCC (Health Center). Doctor gives it based on the interview with parents and observation of the child. When referral is in the system, you need to wait for a text message with a date of your appointment.

Note: the first appointment is only an assessment, not actual speech therapy. After assessment you will need to wait longer for your speech therapy sessions to start.

𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴.

We waited 3 weeks for the assessment, and then additional 5 months for the therapy to start. The actual ST appointments are scheduled once every 2 weeks, and each session is 45min long. When it’s finished, you receive an appointment for the next one.

𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Our sessions are in the ST unit of Qatar Rehabilitation Center (next to WWRC hospital). I heard there is also ST in Sidra, but this wasn’t offered to us.

𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁.

Speech therapy in Hamad is free of charge. Your child needs to have a health card in order to avail it.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱?

It’s a free service, so it’s a good option for those who can’t afford the ridiculously priced private facilities. Apart from the session itself, you can get a lot of useful information and advice from the therapist.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀.

Every parent of a child with speech delay knows that 45min every 2 weeks is not nearly enough to achieve anything significant. You will have to do most of the work with your child at home.

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻.

ST in Hamad is a great option, BUT you should not look at it as therapy sessions, but rather as detailed consultations with an experienced therapist. If you see it this way, it’s super helpful. You can ask all questions you can think of and get great advice, for free! However, if you rely solely on those sessions to improve your child’s speech & language development, you might end up disappointed.

Remember to enter the amazing back-to-school givea

Remember to enter the amazing back-to-school giveaway, and win this 6-in-1 school set courtesy of @halamama.online 🥰

Adam loves his so much, he also found a great secondary use for the backpack - “Mama! This is my new airport bag!” 😀 he can’t wait to travel with it!

Check out my giveaway Instagram post to learn how to enter, if you haven’t already! Good luck! 🤞
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#mamaintransit #halamama #giveaway #qatargiveaway #backtoschoolqatar #qatarblogger #expatfamily #qatarfamily #qatarexpat

𝐘𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐲𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐏

𝐘𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐲𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥

Pearl is known to be one of the most pricey neighborhoods in Qatar. So people are generally not expecting to find such a hidden gem of an indoor playground there 😊

I’ve heard of Yippyland before (including some tips from you guys 💕), but haven’t had a chance to visit until recently. We took Danny there for some extra play time before nursery starts, and we really enjoyed it!

Yippyland is not big compared to most indoor playgrounds. It consists of a game zone with all usual suspects (see photos & videos), a small kiosk where you can exchange won tickets to prizes & buy some sweets, and a soft play area.

The soft play is the star of the show. It’s good size and very entertaining (for adults too 😂). And it’s one of the cheapest I found in Doha! (See below 😊).

𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲:

You will need to buy a pre-charged card which you will later use inside. The cheapest card is 125QAR (you get 25 extra on top). Now the best part: 𝟭𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝟮𝟱𝗤𝗔𝗥 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆! 🤩 We also loved the fact that it opens early in the morning (as opposed to many play areas inside malls who remain closed until afternoon!).

𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀:

Sat-Wed: 9am-9pm
Thu: 9am-11pm
Fri: 10am-11pm

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄:

🛝 Kids below 112cm need to be accompanied by an adult - we needed to stay with Danny.

🛝 Accompanying the kids is FUN because you get to use soft play 😂

🛝 Public parking closest to Yippyland: entrance right after 2nd bridge of Porto Arabia (Tower 17). Park on the 2nd level for the easiest access.

🛝 There’s another branch of Yippyland in Muaither (Palms Mall).

🛝 Every Monday they run an offer of 1 QAR only on selected rides!
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#mamaintransit #qatarexpat #expatlife #qatarwithkids #qatarbloggers #indoorplayground #polishblogger #summerinthedesert #kidsinqatar #qatarforkids #iloveqatar #myqatar #yippyland #thepearlqatar

To celebrate the weekend, here’s a great foolpro

To celebrate the weekend, here’s a great foolproof way to make popcorn that doesn’t involve a slab of butter and kilo of sugar 😊

All you need is:

✅ corn kernels
✅ salt
✅ a bit of oil
✅ a bowl
✅ a paper bag
✅ a microwave

Follow the reel to see how it’s done!

Hope you enjoy a small bonus at the end, for fun 😆

Have a lovely weekend, everyone! 💕

#mamaintransit #qatarbloggers #qatarfoodie #homemadepopcorn #expatlife #inthekitchen #qatarlife #qatareats

Ladies and gents, it’s giveaway time!! I’ve t

Ladies and gents, it’s giveaway time!!

I’ve teamed up with @halamama.online, an awesome local online shop for children & mom essentials, and we’ve got a great back-to-school giveaway for y’all 😀

The prize is a cool 6-in-1 school set of your choice (please swipe photos of this post to see available sets 😊) and the rules are very simple:

1️⃣ Follow @mamaintransit and @halamama.online on Instagram.

2️⃣ Like & share this post.

3️⃣ Tag 5 friends.

Multiple entries are allowed 😊 You need to be in Qatar to participate! (Items will be delivered to you locally).

This is a great option if you’re like me and never did the proper Back to School shopping this year 😅 (or if you feel that you want to have a second set of things, because why not 😎).

The winner of this giveaway will be randomly selected on 29th of August! Good luck! 💕
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#mamaintransit #qatarexpat #qatargiveaway #backtoschoolgiveaway #qatarlife #qatarbloggers #halamama #backtoschoolqatar

During our time in Qatar, our family owned a total

During our time in Qatar, our family owned a total of 6 cars, 4 of which were bought used.

I’ve been asked many times for advice when it comes to buying a car that’s not new, and finally found some time to gather all the tips and pour them into one post!

Some of what you read here may seem obvious for long-time residents, but newcomers are most probably not aware of what’s the process like in Qatar and hopefully will find it useful!
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#mamaintransit #qatarexpat #lifeinqatar #myqatar #carsinqatar #preownedcarsqatar #qatarbloggers #qatartips #iloveqatar #qatarliving #visitqatar

Do you know Fox Hills Residents park next to Lusai

Do you know Fox Hills Residents park next to Lusail Stadium? Someone decided to install Disco lights on the Arches there and they’re the best 😂😂

#mamaintransit #lifeinlusail #qatarexpat #qatarlife #lusailcity #lusailfoxhills #qatarblogger #thisisqatar #qatarliving

“Wild Farm” is the name of the place where we’re staying now.

It’s a secluded eco farm adjacent to a deer reserve. The house was originally built in 1883 and it’s preserved in next to original condition. The owner is on board with the concept of “slow life” so if you’re after that, it’s a perfect place for you!

We went with 5 adults and 5 kids and managed to fit in comfortably 😀

There’s a huge garden with veggies which are available for the guests to eat, plenty of fruits too! There’s also a Finnish sauna, jacuzzi, playground and a bbq area.

The owner lives in Germany but there’s a caretaker around able to help you with anything you need, including bringing fresh eggs and taking you for a deer feeding experience 😻

The downsides for me, as someone staying with very small kids, are the distance to the nearest supermarket (10km on a very bad road 😂), as well as the fact that there are two fish ponds on the property, which are secured but in a way that a smart toddler will still be able to jump in (and they’re deep!!).

I would recommend this place to families with older kids (3+), and couples.

Price depends on the season, but it’s generally not expensive at around 400PLN (90USD) per night for a whole house.

For more info you can visit: www.wildfarm.pl

#mamaintransit #qatarblogger #wildernessvibes #qatarexpat #ecolife #slowlifestyle #vacationwithkids #vacationideas #discoverpoland #beautifulpoland

Since Instagram wants the creators to make reels n

Since Instagram wants the creators to make reels now, I decided to post some 🤷🏼‍♀️

This is the first part of my coverage of Poland, hopefully encouraging you to visit one day 😍

#mamaintransit #beautifulpoland #ilovegdansk #expatlife #qatarblogger #vacation2022 #visitpoland #polandwithkids

Our first vacation outside Qatar since 2019, and i

Our first vacation outside Qatar since 2019, and it’s a great one! I can’t get over how beautiful Tunisia is, and it’s a shame that most people who visit hardly go outside of their fancy resorts. 🌴

This is the first of the series of reels showcasing the beauty of the country seen outside of a hotel premises 😀
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#mamaintransit #qatarblogger #visittunisia #beautifultunisia #tunisia2022 #expatfamily #expatfamilytravel #vacation2022 #travelwiththreekids #undiscovered

Let them play outside, they said. It will be fun,

Let them play outside, they said. It will be fun, they said 😂

Desert kids meet the garden!
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#mamaintransit #qatarblogger #momlife #letthemexplore #toomuchfun #kidswillbekids #expatliving #instatunisia

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐓

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐚 - 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬.

Tunisia is a truly wonderful holiday destination! Here are the details of our trip, and some general information you might find useful if you decide to go 😊

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏?

We went in July because hubby wanted to join his family for the Eid. However, in my personal opinion best time to go is May-June or around September. It’s VERY hot now, especially considering no aircon (see below).

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆?

Most of our stay is in Haouaria- a laid back small town in the North of Tunisia, with amazing beaches and greenery. This town is mostly unknown to foreigners, so it’s best to rent a place via AirBnb. Another great non-touristic option to consider is Kelibia. If you fancy places with nice hotels and foreign crowd, my vote goes to Mahdia.

𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉?

For the family of 5, we spent around 12,000qar on plane tickets, 5,000qar on accommodation for 12days (3-bedroom house), around 200qar (PER DAY) to rent a car. Everyday expenses are minimal. Comparing to Qatar, most things are very cheap in Tunisia.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘?

🌴 Most houses in Tunisia don’t have aircon, or only have one unit in the living room/master bedroom, which makes it tricky to rent during hot months, unless you choose to stay in a hotel.

🌴 During the summer, life begins in the afternoon. Which means that going places in the morning will help you avoid crowds.

🌴 People in Tunisia are friendly and adore kids, don’t be surprised by all the attention that your baby will be getting 😀

🌴 Many local dishes are exceptionally spicy, so if you’re not familiar with the cuisine, better ask before ordering!

🌴 Tunisia is not “dry” like Qatar. Alcohol is available in bigger supermarkets as well as some restaurants (not only in hotels). It’s sometimes harder to buy tobacco than alcohol 😀
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#mamaintransit #visittunisia🇹🇳 #beautifultunisia #elhaouaria #vacation2022 #qatarexpat #qatarblogger #travelwith3kids

Hey! If you’re wondering what’s the big deal a

Hey! If you’re wondering what’s the big deal about packing cubes - this one’s for you! 😀

I think that’s the fastest I’ve ever packed a bag AND I know exactly where to find whose clothes, which makes all the difference if you have many kids 😂

The only place I found those in Qatar is Muji, which is currently running a Buy 2 Get 1 promo on them! (Which is helpful because sadly they’re not cheap 🙈).

#mamaintransit #packinghacks #qatarblogger #parenthacks #familyvacay #expatlifestyle

The third installment of my travel posts is here!

The third installment of my travel posts is here! This time I prepared a short version of my blog post about flying solo with kids 😊 (full post is available on my blog, under “Travel Tips” category).

I’ve been getting many messages from ladies who are going to fly with kids and no other adult with them during this Eid period. Hope this will make it a tiny bit easier for you 💕

In today’s Mama Soon-To-Be In Transit post I’l

In today’s Mama Soon-To-Be In Transit post I’ll walk you through our carry-on must haves 😊

The list would have been longer but unfortunately I can’t upload that many photos so had to stick to Top 5 😀

Hope you find this useful for your travels!
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#mamaintransit #expatlife #traveltipsandtricks #flyingwithkids #qatarexpat #qatarwithkids #qatarbloggers

I’ve got lots of travel content on my blog (www.

I’ve got lots of travel content on my blog (www.mamaintransit.com), but decided to update it and put it into a more Instagram-friendly form 😊 Everything you read in my travel posts is based on experience.

To give you a background, I’ve been flying multiple times per year, ever since I finished high school 😅 It was much easier when I was single and in my 20s, but I managed to adapt pretty well to travel as a part of family with kids! Adam had his first flight when he was about 2 months old and visited around 10 different countries before he turned 5, lucky bug 😀 Then we traveled some more with Danny, and then Covid came. This year we will have our first trips with 3 kids, but we plan to stick to our tried-and-tested pre-Alex routines 😊

In the first post I’m sharing our favorite packing tips!

#mamaintransit #expattravel #flyingwithkids #packingtips #qatarblogger #polishmom

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