Conrad Maldives Trip from the US
May 13, 2013, 1:58 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Charlotte, NC
Programs: DL FO, US GP, HH Diamond, Amex plat, Avis Pref
Posts: 56
Conrad Maldives Trip from the US
First crack at a trip report, so here we go..
This trip was our honeymoon so it was booked well in advance of say a regular vacation or a last minute, break glass in case of emergency points/miles trip. I knew that the Conrad was the hotel, as I have been drooling at it for the last several years. The question was now, "how in the world do you get there from the US in a reasonable time?" Well the answer is, you don't. You bite the bullet, and come to terms with the trip length, and just pray that there is enough Merlot to sing you to sleep.
We considered three options on how to get here (all in Y...)
1) CLT-IAD-DOH-MLE on Qatar (which we ultimately chose - with a UA codeshare)
2) CLT-IAH-DME-SIN-MLE on Singapore
3) CLT-(multiple London airports)-MLE on US Air and BA
Now keep in mind, that I am 6'6" and although not a passenger of size in the horizontal direction, I more than qualify from a height stand point. Qatar flies the 777's on the routes that count with 19" width and 34" pitch. The US/BA combo was too troublesome as we flew in and out of different airports in London.
Now for the hotel...
We booked the trip using the HH points and nabbed 9 nights at 37.5k per night. Please show me how to beat that value and I will sing you a song.
Anyway on to the airport for the first flight...
This trip was our honeymoon so it was booked well in advance of say a regular vacation or a last minute, break glass in case of emergency points/miles trip. I knew that the Conrad was the hotel, as I have been drooling at it for the last several years. The question was now, "how in the world do you get there from the US in a reasonable time?" Well the answer is, you don't. You bite the bullet, and come to terms with the trip length, and just pray that there is enough Merlot to sing you to sleep.
We considered three options on how to get here (all in Y...)
1) CLT-IAD-DOH-MLE on Qatar (which we ultimately chose - with a UA codeshare)
2) CLT-IAH-DME-SIN-MLE on Singapore
3) CLT-(multiple London airports)-MLE on US Air and BA
Now keep in mind, that I am 6'6" and although not a passenger of size in the horizontal direction, I more than qualify from a height stand point. Qatar flies the 777's on the routes that count with 19" width and 34" pitch. The US/BA combo was too troublesome as we flew in and out of different airports in London.
Now for the hotel...
We booked the trip using the HH points and nabbed 9 nights at 37.5k per night. Please show me how to beat that value and I will sing you a song.
Anyway on to the airport for the first flight...
Last edited by QCAir; May 13, 2013 at 2:12 am
May 13, 2013, 1:59 am
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Charlotte, NC
Programs: DL FO, US GP, HH Diamond, Amex plat, Avis Pref
Posts: 56
CLT-IAD on UA
So when we booked this trip, United and Qatar still had a somewhat cohesive *A relationship. Living in Charlotte, I too also have a somewhat cohesive *A relationship. Fast forward to Qatar leaving *A for One World or whatever, and you have a somewhat nervous pair of travelers when checking in at the airport at the UA counter.
Here is what 13 days looks like in a suitcase for a FF.
We got there 2.5 hours early (I know, I know, BUT if the QR ticket was somehow on the different eticket number than the UA ticket, there could have been some figuring out to do!) Lucky for us, perhaps not so lucky for the US Air club's white wine of the day, check in was a breeze and off the US Air club for us. The UA staff checked us in and tagged our bags all the way to MLE and printed out the passes CLT-IAD, IAD-DOH, DOH-MLE.
So after getting that lovely olive juice smell from the club all over my hands, it was time to head to the gate. We arrived at the gate at boarding time only to find no airplane. Now most of you are fairly well traveled, so I don't need to spell this out, but in order to fly to your destination, you need an airplane.
The plane finally arrived 30 minutes late and we boarded the small CRJ and headed up to the IAD. I'll save the space on the internet as we have all seen what Y looks like on a 55 minute flight on a regional jet.
Here is what 13 days looks like in a suitcase for a FF.
We got there 2.5 hours early (I know, I know, BUT if the QR ticket was somehow on the different eticket number than the UA ticket, there could have been some figuring out to do!) Lucky for us, perhaps not so lucky for the US Air club's white wine of the day, check in was a breeze and off the US Air club for us. The UA staff checked us in and tagged our bags all the way to MLE and printed out the passes CLT-IAD, IAD-DOH, DOH-MLE.
So after getting that lovely olive juice smell from the club all over my hands, it was time to head to the gate. We arrived at the gate at boarding time only to find no airplane. Now most of you are fairly well traveled, so I don't need to spell this out, but in order to fly to your destination, you need an airplane.
The plane finally arrived 30 minutes late and we boarded the small CRJ and headed up to the IAD. I'll save the space on the internet as we have all seen what Y looks like on a 55 minute flight on a regional jet.
Last edited by QCAir; May 13, 2013 at 2:36 am
May 13, 2013, 2:00 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Charlotte, NC
Programs: DL FO, US GP, HH Diamond, Amex plat, Avis Pref
Posts: 56
IAD-DOH on QR 52
We arrived in IAD and went to the Qatar gate. The GA let us know he needed to see our passports and that he was going to reissue our tickets from QR vs. UA. We waited for another 20 minutes or so and boarded away.
This was my first time on QR and I was a mixture of excited and worried from the often intense and always mixed emotion stories from QR. We had row 17, which only has 2 seats on the outside, and was great for a couple.
View from row 17.
And my personal version of hell-like legroom.
So after boarding they passed out hand wipes and some sort of citrus candy. Not much but a very nice touch for Y. Dinner was served sometime around 1am and consisted of a chicken and veggie dish with roll and cheesecake. We both went with the white wine option which was quite tasty as well. After dinner, it was another glass of white and 6 hours of sleep for me.
The inflight entertainment system is top notch. I watched Argo and a view other films that really passed the time on the 12.5 hour flight. The proximity to the lav at row 17 was really not that bad. If anything it provided a large space to stand up and stretch without bugging any of my neighbors.
Breakfast was served somewhere over Iraq and was also pretty good. QR loves its bread though as several pieces were served with each meal.
Long leg and Breakfast location.
The final approach into Doha was scenic for those who have never seen the middle east in real life. After landing, we boarded shuttle buses to take us to the appropriate terminal. Although we had a yellow pass for transit pax, we got off at the first stop for Doha Arrivals (thanks FT) I kept the yellow pass in my pocket to avoid any confusion with staff as they might think we got off at the wrong stop. A 30-day visa upon arrival is available for 30+ countries (the US being one of them) and we paid our 100 QAR fee per person (roughly 30 USD) and entered Qatar.
Now to the hotel that makes US Hilton properties look like motels...
This was my first time on QR and I was a mixture of excited and worried from the often intense and always mixed emotion stories from QR. We had row 17, which only has 2 seats on the outside, and was great for a couple.
View from row 17.
And my personal version of hell-like legroom.
So after boarding they passed out hand wipes and some sort of citrus candy. Not much but a very nice touch for Y. Dinner was served sometime around 1am and consisted of a chicken and veggie dish with roll and cheesecake. We both went with the white wine option which was quite tasty as well. After dinner, it was another glass of white and 6 hours of sleep for me.
The inflight entertainment system is top notch. I watched Argo and a view other films that really passed the time on the 12.5 hour flight. The proximity to the lav at row 17 was really not that bad. If anything it provided a large space to stand up and stretch without bugging any of my neighbors.
Breakfast was served somewhere over Iraq and was also pretty good. QR loves its bread though as several pieces were served with each meal.
Long leg and Breakfast location.
The final approach into Doha was scenic for those who have never seen the middle east in real life. After landing, we boarded shuttle buses to take us to the appropriate terminal. Although we had a yellow pass for transit pax, we got off at the first stop for Doha Arrivals (thanks FT) I kept the yellow pass in my pocket to avoid any confusion with staff as they might think we got off at the wrong stop. A 30-day visa upon arrival is available for 30+ countries (the US being one of them) and we paid our 100 QAR fee per person (roughly 30 USD) and entered Qatar.
Now to the hotel that makes US Hilton properties look like motels...
Last edited by QCAir; May 13, 2013 at 3:03 am
May 13, 2013, 2:00 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Charlotte, NC
Programs: DL FO, US GP, HH Diamond, Amex plat, Avis Pref
Posts: 56
Hilton Doha
So here is the free tip of the day - ready? The state-run or government-run cabs at DOH are to the right when you walk outside. There are 50+ people yelling "taxi! taxi!" at you. Thanks to FT, I knew that the light green cabs are the ones to get. We grabbed a cab and told the drive "We are going to the Hilton, Doha" His reply was "yes, hotel in Doha, which one?" After a few minutes back in forth, the driver asked his supervisor and he gave him directions. No fuss, and no stress after we were all squared away. The cab ride in took about 25 minutes with traffic and costs 40 QAR which was about $15 USD. I gave him $30 USD and called it a day as it was now 8pm local time and I left my house the previous day at 5pm; there are times to work out the exchange rate, but this wasn't one of them.
Pulling up to the Hilton is impressive to say the least. We were greeted by the gentleman out front and helped with our bags while being escorted to the check-in desk. Now what happened next was the most amazing thing a Hilton has done for me in several years of 150-200+ night years.
I paid for the room using points and put a little note saying "en route to Maldives for Honeymoon". During check-in we were really treated special and thanked for being a Diamond and congratulated for the wedding. Very nice folks working the desk. They also took it upon themselves to upgrade us to the top floor corner room with an open air balcony. On top of that we were personally escorted up to our room. When we walked in we found this:
The honeymoon hookup!
Hello Doha!
We made arrangements for transportation back to DOH at 3:45am the following morning. The price is 150 QAR which is like $40. We walked downstairs and an Audi A8 ^^was waiting for us with perfect timing. This was a great experience at the hotel for the 10 hours, I can't imagine what the rest of it is like and 100% recommend it for any time spent in Doha.
Pulling up to the Hilton is impressive to say the least. We were greeted by the gentleman out front and helped with our bags while being escorted to the check-in desk. Now what happened next was the most amazing thing a Hilton has done for me in several years of 150-200+ night years.
I paid for the room using points and put a little note saying "en route to Maldives for Honeymoon". During check-in we were really treated special and thanked for being a Diamond and congratulated for the wedding. Very nice folks working the desk. They also took it upon themselves to upgrade us to the top floor corner room with an open air balcony. On top of that we were personally escorted up to our room. When we walked in we found this:
The honeymoon hookup!
Hello Doha!
We made arrangements for transportation back to DOH at 3:45am the following morning. The price is 150 QAR which is like $40. We walked downstairs and an Audi A8 ^^was waiting for us with perfect timing. This was a great experience at the hotel for the 10 hours, I can't imagine what the rest of it is like and 100% recommend it for any time spent in Doha.
Last edited by QCAir; May 13, 2013 at 4:18 am
May 17, 2013, 1:55 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Charlotte, NC
Programs: Alcoholics Anonymous - Platinum, Gamblers Anonymous - Gold
Posts: 212
Very much looking forward to the rest of your report! I am getting married in December and my fiancee and I are also taking the trip from CLT to MLE. Also stopping in HK and Macau on the return.
Our routing is as follows (all in First and Business):
CLT-IAD-NRT-SIN-MLE (USAir, ANA, United & Singapore)
MLE-SIN-HKG (Singapore)
HKG-SFO-CLT(United, USAir)
Our routing is as follows (all in First and Business):
CLT-IAD-NRT-SIN-MLE (USAir, ANA, United & Singapore)
MLE-SIN-HKG (Singapore)
HKG-SFO-CLT(United, USAir)
