First of all, I am sorry for giving you a late reply as I hadnât visiting the website since few months. Now, today, I came online here and found your inquiry.
Here are the answers from the my side
1)Please tell me, how was weather there in Mid December in Mashhad & Qom?
Ans: Itâs very cold at the Mashhad especially during the mid (from 10 December) onward. When I was leaving the Masshad on dec 18. First snow fall of the winter was expected. Inside the hotels and in the Shrine of Imam Ali Raza A.S âŚ.there is no problem at all as heating system remains on 24 hrs. Hot water is also available all the time. But when you move/walk in the open area then strong cold just penetrates into your warm cloths and then chill your bones. So, weather in the Mashhad is too cold during that period of the time.
Weather in the Qom is also cold but after living in the Mashhad, you shall feel the less cold in the Qom. But be sure that weather in the Qom is also much colder than cold weather of the Lahore. So, you must bring the warm cloths along with you especially legging too. Without woolen legging, your legs would be freezed. I seen few Pakistani people wearing double legging there.
2) Also in your total expenses you didn't mentioned Hotel/Accommodation charges. I understand a single person can stay at cheaper hotels without worrying much, but can you give me an idea on how much a nice hotel will charge per night where you can stay comfortably with your family?
Ans: Yes, I have mentioned it it. You can read the sentence above the headline of âMis. Expensisâ. Actually, out of the 29 daysâŚ.I stayed just 8 days in hotels ( Rs 800 each night in Qom & Shiraz) = Rs 6400. Most of the times, I stayed at my local Iranian friendâs house. I visited few hotels at Mashhad near shrine to get the idea of the prevailing rates.
First thing, you must remember that there is no concept of the single person rate in those hotels. They charge for the complete room. If room has a 2 bed, then they shall charge you a complete rent. One more thing, if they say â Roomâ then this meansâŚ.it is a just room. On each floors, there will be 6-10 rooms and all guests use the common bath room area. Usually, one for mens and one for ladies. But if they say âSuite roomâ then this means room with attached bath. Some suit rooms also keep a small open kitchen too. Other wise, common kitchen is available where you can cook your self too.
As you shall be with family , so you better take a suite room. Rate of the rooms are variable but 25000 Toman (1000 Rs) is a good rate to live in. Bargaining is the must. On Thursday and Friday, rates are high especially in the Qom because lot of local Iranian families come from the different cities to offer Friday prayers at the Shrines. Rooms are easily available. Donât pay more than 25000 Toman for the double bed because it would be a over charged price. There would be a rooms with 3 and 4 beds too. So, bargain as much as you can to get the less rates.
3) Do Hotels offer complementary breakfast?
No, they donât offer the complementary breakfasts unless, it is a 3 star or 4 star hotel. There is not a bread (Double rotti) available in the Iran like we have in the Pakistan. They eat Naans and Rotis. Iranians donât make rotis at the home. Every one get it from the Naan shops. There are plants in each naan shop.In Mashhad, butter and âMalaiâ/cream is pure and too tasty. Most of the Pakistanis eat it with the Naan in their break fasts. There is no âPakistaniâ tea available there. They drink âKahwaâ all the time. So, donât forget to bring few packs of the black tea from the Pakistan to make it your own self.
4) Also, how much food costs per day each meal Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner?
Ans:In Iran, Food quality is excellent. So any where , you either see a small food shop or small restaurant or big restaurantâŚâŚ.just eat it there without any hesitation. Usually, between 5000-8000 Toman (Pak Rs 200/300), one person can eat lunch and dinner. Iranian foods are not as tasty as Pakistanis because there is no spice in it. So, I suggest you to take few national masalas, bryani masalas or qorma masalas if you would like to cook yourself. Get the beef, mutton or Chicken from the chicken shop and cook it your self. This would be a cost effective in case of living with family. Otherwise, keep in mind cost of the food Rs 200/300 for each person.
5)And what kind of foods are available there?
Persian food and fast food like burgers are easily available there. Different kinds of Kababs, Rice, roast chicken are available too. Food is easy digest able and not put any burden on the stomach. But definately, the Iranian food is much different than Pakistanis. I was so hungry for Pakistani masala food that I saw "Haleem" at one shop and I thought that it was atleast little bit spicy but when I ate it....can you believe, it was a sweet haleem? I saw a Samoosa in the market. Again, I thought that it would be spicy but when I ate it, .....even it was a sweet smoosa. 
so, don't expect even a little pakistani type flavors in their food. So, you may be like it or not.
Feel free to ask any question : )
