There’s an October chill in the East London air when the dubious uber drive deposits me in front of an Edwardian style building. “Is it open?” he asks me, peering through his windshield. This is a valid question, because the building looked like…a town hall. Primarily because it is or was, a center of local government. This brings its own set of (admittedly, triggering) memories for me, both my parents were elected local officials, so a large part of my childhood was spent within buildings just like this. Late evenings, doing my homework while half listening to debates about curbs, guttering and the like. I digress… This building has now…
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Checking into Paradise: Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kura Hudaa
Just four and a half hours from Doha, this family friendly resort allows you to choose your own adventure while delivering some incredible, luxurious service As the speed boat navigated the choppy approach to the Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kura Huraa, I admit openly that the iconic White Lotus theme song was playing on a loop in my already crowded brain. Quiet luxury island vibe. A boat trip to access it. Staff waiting on the dock. And…FOUR SEASONS But no monkeys. Or pong-pong fruit. Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kura Hudaa certainly qualifies as a bucket list destination for me, or anyone really. There are two Four Seasons resorts in the…
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Bodrum is your next great foodie travel destination
With incredible food and world class chefs Bodrum on Türkiye‘s Aegean coast should be your next great foodie vacation destination Türkiye’s beguiling capital of Istanbul garners most of the plaudits for its ever evolving food scene. But Bodrum, stretching from the country’s southwest coast into the Aegean Sea, is a culinary destination in itself. The foodie renaissance has also been fuelled by the 2024 arrival of the MICHELIN Guide – with local chefs and produce taking centre stage. Blessed with seafood from the Aegean, wine from grapes grown in the surrounding hills and fresh farm produce, there is a growing community of chefs and restaurateurs showcasing the area’s bounty. Bodrum…
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What is it Like to Dine in Qatar Airway’s Al Safwa First Class Lounge?
Have you always wondered what it is like to dine in Al Safwa, Qatar Airway’s first class lounge at Hamad International Airport? I took a spin back in 2018 but had been itching to get back inside it’s cavernous and classy space. So when an offer to book the Al Safwa experience for an additional fee popped up when I was booking a flight on Qatar Airways recently, I keyed in my well used credit card. How to Access Al Safwa Lounge? When I say for a fee, I mean QR585. Yep , the price of a very nice meal and drinks in Doha. But, research. Otherwise, access to Al…
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Visiting Tbilisi, Georgia – the perfect post COVID vacation destination
I’m calling it now – at just three hours from Doha and with wine and natural beauty for days, Tbilisi, Georgia could well be the perfect Post- COVID vacation destination. And with the country open to tourism and accepting fully vaccinated travelers (with documentation), there has never been a better time to go. Here’s my guide to getting there, getting in, where to stay and importantly how to get back! Getting there Tbilisi is just three hours and five minutes flight time from Doha on Qatar Airways. At the time of writing flights were arriving at a challenging 1am so factor that into travel plans. Flights start at QR2795 return…
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Seven Reasons to Visit Doha in 2019
It’s official – Doha is one of the world’s hottest destinations right now and this has been confirmed by both the Forbes Travel Guide and the New York Times. And with the 2019 Asian Football Cup under its belt, the 2022 World Cup coming in hot and a string of exciting new openings and events in between, there is no better time to visit Doha. In addition, Qatar has been named one of the safest countries in the world and thanks to the nation’s flagship carrier, you can easily access Doha from one of its 160 plus destinations around the globe. Here are my top reasons by you should visit Doha…
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Six Ways You Can Fly Business Class For Less
Let’s face it, while traveling is great, sometimes the process can be a huge hassle – that’s why we all love a little pampering in business class. But our travel dollar doesn’t always stretch that far. The good news is that there are some hacks and tricks that you can use to fly premium for less and save that cash for shopping, or in my case, also eating. Codeshare is your friend Thanks to the airline alliances like OneWorld and Star Alliance, you can book with partner airlines and still earn points on your loyalty program. But there is a way to fly business class for less by booking codeshare…
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Lounging Around – Your Guide to all the Lounges at Hamad International Airport
Let’s be honest, we all love to travel but most of the time, the process of traveling can drain the life and soul out of you. With the Summer travel season in full swing, for those passing through Hamad International Airport (or, like me, departing from there) on Qatar Airways or another carrier like Sri Lankan, there are a few options to lighten the load and make the process a little more comfy. even the most basic lounge (without the bells and whistles) can make traveling a little better. What’s the best way to access lounges when flying? Flying business or first class – this is a no brainer…
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Five Foodie-Approved Short Breaks to Take this Summer
I’m in the process of researching and booking my Summer holiday destinations. The criteria always remains are unchanged from the last year: solid foodie credentials, direct flights on Qatar Airways and as few visa entanglements as I can muster. If you are, like me, when choosing a destination, food is a major consideration. Well, let’s be honest, it’s probably top of the list along with easy (or no visas) visas and bearable flight times.And many times, I book a food tour before I book a hotel. All the below destinations are a manageable four to five hours from Doha and have visa on arrival or e-visas AND have the Life on…
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Airline Review – What is it Like to Fly Sri Lankan Airlines’ Business Class
I’m a diehard Qatar Airways fan but I also know a flight bargain when I see one. So, in need of a quick vacation, when I saw a fare to Singapore on Sri Lankan Airlines for just over QR3000 in business class, I pounced. But what was it really like to fly this airline? Here’s my honest feedback after my recent trip: Pros: Many interesting options flying east: Out of Doha, this is a legitimate possibility. Through their hub in Colombo, you can connect with Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and several cities in China as well as The Maldives and Japan. They even fly to Australia (Melbourne) – which,…
