Will Getting There Finally BE Half the Fun?

 

The phrase "Getting there is half the fun" was birthed as an advertising slogan for the Cunard Cruise line in the 1950's.  In that context, it was probably true!  

In the ensuing decades, however, "getting there" has morphed into being nothing more than a means to an end - at least for the casual traveler with a healthy, but not unlimited, budget.  

The pendulum has swung making most transit experiences a necessary evil wrought with shrinking seats, added fees, longer waits, more restrictions, and a painful absence of anything remotely resembling "fun".  We painstakingly look to balance efficiency of transit with the best value our budget can withstand. For example, paying a bit more for a direct flight than less for a 2 stop itinerary with far greater risks of plans going sideways.  In short, "travel" has become much more about the destination and "getting there" the required inconvenience that can make the end of an otherwise lovely vacation dreadful.     

For Adam and I, and our plans for a 50th birthday blowout vacation, this may be about to change...

We are planning to book flights to the Maldives flying Business Class on Qatar Airways.  Out of Boston their aircraft have the QSuite configuration which is currently touted as one of THE BEST Business Class products in the WORLD! 

Lay flat seating, privacy doors, large entertainment screens, plenty of power plug-in options, on demand a la carte dining, in-flight English style tea service, ambient mood lighting, storage space, amenity kits (of course), "do not disturb" indicator lights, and even pajamas with slippers.  It could be argued that the flight alone in a QSuite is a vacation destination! 

But it gets better... Flying in a QSuite also includes access to the Al Mourjan Lounge(s)* in Doha's Hamad International Airport (DOH).  

With likely 6-10 hour layovers in Doha, the airport itself becomes something of a destination with the newly opened Garden Concourse which includes a second Al Mourjan Lounge and Oryx Hotel option; as with the existing lounge and hotel, both are on the security side of the airport allowing pass through travelers to avoid the hassle of customs and immigration.  

While an argument could also be made that DOH is destination itself, the beautiful and spacious original Al Mourjan Lounge (South) takes it up a notch.  This lounge is 107,000 square feet in size (yes, THOUSAND).  Amenities include: open 24/7, WiFi throughout, lockers to store your bags while you relax, a 3000 square foot water feature, sleeping pods, quiet areas, prayer rooms, 2 restaurants, multiple self service beverage stations, luxurious shower facilities, designated family areas with game rooms, private work stations with full size computer screens. seating areas with installed iPads.  

DOH opened in 2014 with the most recent expansion, The Orchard, opening in November 2022.  The Orchard covers 60,000 square feet of terminal space with lush gardens, walkways and retail.  A second Oryx hotel (Oryx Garden) is located here and a second Al Mourjan lounge (North) will open and is currently operating out of a temporary space.  These lounges are larger than most airport terminals that we've been in...

The research is certainly promising!  I will be thrilled if I really can say "getting there was half the fun!" when this trip is done!