Short Break: Four Seasons Doha

With stunning ocean and city views, Four Seasons Doha is an ideal holiday or short break destination

 

I must start this post by sending a huge thank you to my dear friend and fellow blogger Pinay Flying High for all her fabulous travel and itinerary recommendations.

The Doha-based blogger was previously living in Dubai and that’s where we met. She was the main supporter since I started my blogging journey. She’s also the mastermind behind most of the amazing holidays that I’ve done since moving to Dubai and my recent Doha trip. I honestly can’t tell you how genuine and kind she is. These days, people like her are so rare to find!

I decided to visit the cultural city last week, since I felt like I could use a break from the work routine and tough print deadlines. This was my first holiday since my Maldives trip last year (apart from the AD staycations), but I’m hoping to escape more often once my internship ends (end of June).

The Four Seasons hotel group is known for its outstanding hospitality and their Doha property was no exception. Located on the corniche, the Four Seasons Doha offers beautiful ocean and city skyline views. The hotel’s rooms are designed in a classical, vintage and homely decor with dark wood furniture, striped white wallpaper and retro-inspired accessories and bathroom fittings. My sea-view room had a small balcony with stunning ocean views.

With high attention to detail in every corner of the room and cozy, homely interiors, the hotel has a distinct charm that truly matches my personality. Classy, elegant, chic, vintage and with a strong royal feel.

Being a person who always has music playing in the background when at home, the bathroom’s built-in speakers which are connected to the TV made my stay even more rewarding. And if that’s not enough, you can even adjust the speaker volume with a control switch on the washroom’s wall. Nothing beats listening to VH1 classics throughout the whole room while you’re getting ready.

To make the most of my relaxing break, I visited the lavish three-storey spa for a rejuvenating sports massage. The deep-tissue one-hour treatment was done by a friendly Thai therapist, May. The treatment room had a warm feel with a zen-like ambiance. Pure bliss indeed.

On Friday evening, I went to the Jaccuzi at the spa to unwind. I then found out from a spa staff member that there’s a plethora of facilities to be enjoyed at the expansive spa. So those will definitely be experienced at my next stay at the magical hotel.

There are five outdoor swimming pools, a private pristine beach and a luxury yacht marina at the Four Seasons Doha. One thing to note is that the sun is only visible at the beach area until 4:45 pm. So, if you’re planning a day at the beach, then you should plan to get there early and not at around 5 like me. This is mainly because of the hotel building’s architecture which hides the sun from 4:45 pm onwards. I managed to spend some time on the beach on Saturday though and it was the most peaceful and  tranquil experience. The sun was shining bright, there was some breeze in the air, the water temperature was just right and the birds in the surrounding garden were chirping.

For ultimate relaxation, swim over to the deck in the middle of the ocean (it’s not that far away) and lay back as you top up your tan and forget about everything around you. It truly is a surreal and original experience not to be missed.

What I liked the most about the Four Seasons Doha is the exclusivity that it offers its guests. The hotel is definitely in a world of its own, you just can’t compare it to anything.

With its laid-back and relaxed feel, distinctive charm, classic decor and beachside vibes, you truly feel transported to another era. A time when life was simple, hotel staff were friendly and there were good vibes everywhere.

A hotel that has a white sandy private beach with an adjacent marina, a separate three-storey spa with spectacular facilities, an expansive 26,000sqft Nobu restaurant and lounge with panoramic ocean and city views, a distinct classic charm and Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries in its rooms is certainly worth returning to whenever I’m in the cultural beachside city.

Stay tuned for another post from my Doha trip with some tips on where to eat and drink in town.

Saudi Diva signing off XXX

Vintage, classical decor at the Four Seasons Doha rooms

 

Escape to an era where life was more simple and people were friendly

 

Attention to detail, a distinct charm and a laid-back, old-school feel at the Four Seasons Doha

 

Picturesque views and a relaxed vibe from my Four Season Doha room balcony

Maldives Holiday Packages with Emirates Holidays

A beautiful bright day in the Maldives

In the previous post, I explained to you about the room rates at Anantara Dhigu resort and how they vary depending on the season and hotel occupancy. For those of you who live in Dubai, I have great news for you!

No, I’m not offering my readers a trip to the Maldives if they follow me on social media. I’d rather grow my following organically – even if it takes ages. However, I can give you insider information and tips (which is what most journalists do) and which is what I think I do best and where my passion lies. Basically, if you live in Dubai and would like to fly to the Maldives from there, all you have to do is book your flight through Emirates Holidays. As they always have excellent rates to the dream-like island. What I like about booking with Emirates, is that I don’t have to worry about looking for a place to stay or booking the hotel on my own. Which believe me, I have done in the past and it’s not the most enjoyable experience for a diva like me 🙂  All you need to do is tell the staff at the Holiday shop your destination, and what type of holiday you’re looking to have. Also, what hotel range you’re thinking of staying in, and what activities are you looking to do while visiting. They will give you a couple of options to choose from. Then you can decide according to your preferences and pay for the whole trip in one go! doesn’t that sounds like a magical way to plan and book a holiday?

What’s even better news is that they can sometimes do it all in one single visit! which is exactly what I experienced in my last visit to the shop when booking my Maldives trip.

Bonus Tip: If you want to speak to someone knowledgeable about many destinations (including New Zealand and Australia), then you should request to meet with Cherry Ann from the Emirates Holidays store on Sheikh Zayed Road.

Honestly, I found Cherry very helpful, friendly, and very comfortable to deal with. She was recommended to me by my dear blogger friend Pinay Flying High. And I’m so thankful to her as I had a great experience booking my holiday package with Cherry.

I think I’ve covered the most important things from my recent Maldives trip. But feel free to connect with me and add a comment if you have any questions about anything.

Stay tuned for more exciting posts. Including spas, hotel stays and some insightful posts on the Arab and Gulf region culture.

Leaving you with snap shots from my last day in the Maldives. It was a very sad day, as I wasn’t ready to leave at all. As I mentioned earlier, the trip was very short and I barely got time to switch off and relax. Since I also spent a considerable time for the photo shoots and updating my Instagram feed.

I hope that you enjoyed my posts and that you will get the chance to visit the Maldives one day. In my opinion, it truly is paradise on earth.

Saudi Diva signing off XXX

Farewell message from Anantara Dhigu Maldives

Very sad moment on my last day at the resort

Sad times on my last day in the Maldives

Very strong emotions when it was time to leave this paradise on earth

As you could see from the photos, I looked and felt very sad and vulnerable when it was time for me to leave. I hope I can make another visit to this surreal destination next year.

XXX

Maldives Anantara Veli Resort – Sunset Photo Shoot

Paradise on earth in the Maldives

This photo shoot took place at the other resort on the island – Anantara Veli Resort. It’s the resort recommended for honeymooners and couples on a romantic holiday. Veli is also known for its great dining options and beautiful photo shoot locations. The photos in this post were taken at sunset on a mostly cloudy day. But, the photographer tried to do his best to take good photos, even though the sunset wasn’t clearly visible from behind the clouds.

Captivating sunset at Anantara Veli Maldives resort

A cloudy day overshadows the sunset on the magical island

Contemplating life – in the Maldives

Maldives Anantara Dhigu Resort – Saudi Diva Style (Part Two)

Maldives state of mind – simply surreal

Since I’m in a goofy mood today, and since I am beginning to run out of things to say about my 6-day trip to the Maldives, I decided to make this post into a photo essay. You know, photos with captions. Hopefully, my photos will be interesting enough to tell a story on their own. Without the need for much words from my side.

Oh and another reason for writing a photo essay post is that I’m currently working from a cafe that doesn’t have unlimited wi-fi connection. So, I need to be quick in composing and publishing this post 🙂

Saudi Diva being lazy on a hammock 🙂

Heavenly moment in the Maldives!

Unmatched tranquility in the Maldives

Best spot for living the moment 🙂

Time stands still in the Maldives

Stay tuned for a new photo essay post from my Maldives holiday tomorrow.

Saudi Diva signing off XXX

Maldives Anantara Dhigu Resort – Resort Activities (Water Sports)

Saudi Diva in the Maldives!

A friend of mine was surprised when I told her that I didn’t go snorkeling on my recent trip to the Maldives. To be honest, I’m very content with my decision and I don’t regret not doing any activities one bit. That’s because for me, the main reason to go on holiday is to relax. And when you’re a blogger doing two photo shoot sessions, then sitting down with the photographer to view, select and finalize photos, believe me, it doesn’t leave much room for relaxation!

So, my short trip ended up being more of work. Which I don’t completely regret either. But, next time, as I mentioned earlier, I would like to take a longer holiday. I simply need more time to unwind and relax.

If you’re the adventure, adrenaline, sporty type, then you’ll be happy to know that Anantara Dhigu has a water sports center; namely Aquafanatics.

You can rent out snorkeling gear from the Aquafanatics center and head to the nearby island Gulhifushi for a day of snorkeling and barbecue at the beach 🙂

Other activities that you can do at the resort include:

• Diving – with or without sharks 🙂
• Kayaking
• Windsurfing
• Water-skiing
• Wake boarding
• Surfing

Gulhifushi is a picnic island located near the resort. You can get to it by taking the Pontoon or by kayaking to it (if you’re that skilled) and enjoy a day of relaxation, snorkeling or a simple barbecue dinner 🙂

Or, if you’re someone who leads a very busy lifestyle and just needs to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, then you can choose to simply chill in the pool or by the beach like me 🙂

In the next post, I’ll be telling you about other activities that you can do at the resort.

Till then,

Saudi Diva signing off XXX

Maldivian tranquility at the pool

Contemplating life at Anantara Dhigu pool

Pure Bliss in the Maldives

Maldives Anantara Dhigu Resort – Best Time to Visit The Maldives

Maldives – the perfect beach holiday destination

I visited the Maldives in the last week of August. Some days were sunny and beach weather perfect, while others were cloudy and rainy. For someone who chose the Maldives as a destination for a beach holiday, the cloudy days were very disappointing. On those days, you spend the day at the outstanding Anantara Dhigu Spa or at any of the other great spas at the other Anantara resorts on the island.

During my six-day stay, I had two full spa days. I’ll be writing about the spa and the treatments that I had in another post.

For now, let me share with you some information about the Maldives weather around the year. This knowledge was shared to me by the locals who I met on the island.

The best time to visit the Maldives

The best months for visiting the Maldives are from September through April. This is considered to be the best season for sunny and clear skies. During December, a lot of activities take place at the resort for the New Year. So a lot of entertainment, live bands and fun events are held during this period.

The Rainy Season in the Maldives

The rainy season starts in May and continues until the end of August. Which is why I experienced the Monsoon rains while I was there. Honestly, coming from the desert, it was nice to get some light showers in the evening. But I wasn’t very happy when it rained during the day and I couldn’t lounge by the beach or swim in the ocean.

So, if I were to visit the Maldives again, then I would consider going there sometime in November. And I would try to stay for at least ten days. Yes, 10 days! because that way, even if I experience cloudy days, I would still end up with many sunny days by the beach. Another reason is that one week in my opinion isn’t enough to relax and de-stress. Especially coming from a busy city like Dubai. Where the lifestyle is so fast-paced leaving us with little room to breathe 🙂

Saudi Diva signing off XXX

Maldivian bliss

The epitome of tranquility at the Maldives

Paradise on earth at the Maldives

See ya XXX