Epic Maldives: QR QSuites / Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi
Feb 12, 22, 10:19 am
#1
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Join Date: Dec 2008
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Posts: 669
Epic Maldives: QR QSuites / Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi
While this trip took place at the end of 2021, it had been planned (and replanned and replanned again) several times because of the pandemic. The destination: Waldorf Astoria Maldives for 15 days using points. Luckily, our last time replanning for September stuck - as the timing aligned both with work schedules and the fact that covid cases were lower than they soon would be because of the Delta and Omicron variant.
So our trip would take us from SEA-DOH-MLE, then those two weeks at one resort, and then back the same MLE-DOH-SEA. I have had the privilege of traveling one some of the best airlines (think Emirates Game Changer First Class) and countries - but I have to say this was my favorite trip Ive ever taken. Perhaps some of it was the fact travel had been curtailed for so long so going anywhere would be amazing. And that is partially true. But the other aspect was the service the WA in particular was truly spectacularunlike anything I have ever experienced, even at other high end brands like Ritz Carlton. See below for the details.
Qatar Airways: SEA-DOH
There is nothing like boarding the mighty 777-300ER and Qatar Airways truly does have the worlds best business class. I had flown QR J before but not the QSuites - which was especially exciting given that my family of four secured the Quad seats in the middle. Im sure all are familiar, but it turns four individual seats and turns them into a four-person suite.
Before boarding in Seattle
The quad seats
Hot towel and champagne
After takeoff
Tapas
Soup
Sliders
Cod
Afternoon tea
One of the many Americanos consumed on this flight
Cereal starter
Egg breakfast
Service on this flight was impeccable. We had a Japanese purser who loved our kids and got us everything we needed and more. Qatar had just brought back many of the service elements that were missing during the height of the pandemic (including hot towels, candle etc.). Food was still not presented on individual plates as they are doing now on many routes, but the food quality was very good and as I mentioned, the service was great. After a long 15 hour flight to DOH, it was time to spend the night in Doha. We spent the evening at the Al Mourjan Lounge which was terrific, albeit crowded given the fact some non-J passengers were allowed to partake. We ate many times throughout the evening - both in the sit-down restaurant with table service and in some of the more informal places like the sandwich area. After a layover longer than I care to remember or admit, it was time to board our flight to the Maldives.
Qatar Airways
DOH-MLE
After taking a bus to the dreaded remote stand gates, we boarded our comparatively short four hour flight to the Maldives. Service was again very good, but with such a short flight we mostly slept the whole flight. For anyone who has traveled to the Maldives, you know that the best entertainment is looking out the window. It was absolutely a delight to look out the window and see the thousands of little island formations pop up over the ocean.
Overnight layover in Doha
Spotting from the lounge
The short journey to Male
Taxing for takeoff in Doha
Breakfast
Beautiful view from above
View of the Waldorf from Above
Getting close
Four Qatar planes on the ground, including this one
The yacht awaits to WA
Waldorf Maldives
After waiting in a long line at immigration, the staff at Waldorf Maldives met us to take our luggage and there is where the trip really gets good. We had approximately three people greet us, gathering all our luggage, entertaining our kids and whisked us to the boat which was waiting for us on the short 45 minute journey to the Waldorf Maldives. I will say up front, there are no words to describe the WA Ithaafushi. But here are a few highlights, with a bunch of pictures below to look at.
I have never been to a hotel where the staff are A) So friendly, B) So down to earth and C) So incredibly professional and service-oriented. It was a perfect mix. From the little things (like desert left in our room every evening during turndown to the fact they clean the rooms twice a day) to the care they show (holding our children, giving them hugs, and showing them sharks at the beach during breakfast) to the luxury (the rooms are larger than our house and are made of incredible materials and furnishings) to the choice (every room has its own pool, an indoor and outdoor shower, multiple large pools, a dozen restaurants, huge buffet breakfast spread). I would also say something about the time: we were there for 15 days. I have read people who said they would have gone crazy at this duration, but we found it the prefect duration. It was enough to really let the cares of back home roll away, it allowed us to become incredibly close with some of the staff (Lovely, Ahseed, Katarina, Firo, Ahleaf etc.)
The lobby
View after arrival
Villa entrance
Bathroom
View out to deck
Tub
Welcome amenity for the adults
Welcome amenity for the kiddos
Cool sinks
Outdoor shower
Room service
Good morning
Outdoor deck
Still morning waters
Regular reef shark visitor under one of the hammocks
Biking to breakfast
Tasting table
Pancakes
The best French yogurt and croissants
Avocado toast
Staff made these for our kids from palm leaves
Nava beach club
Family pool lunch set up
Amazing pizza
Family pool
Adult pool
The spa
Waiting area
Entrance
Welcome drink
Beautiful views
Sunset at dinner
Center of the island
Quiet morning
Incredible staff
Sunset views from Amber
Another sunset view
Bike rides
Sunset
Sunset beach walk
Yasmeen courtyard
Arabic coffee
Yasmeen food, among our favorites!
Incredible fresh bred
Dessert every night at turn down
I will miss this
Kids club
Afternoon bike ride at overwater villas
Our last breakfast
Goodbye WAI
View of Male
Qatar Airways
MLE-DOH-SEA
Traveling with two kids is exhausting, so I didnt take very many pictures on the return (and our flight left Male around 10pm). All I can say is the WA employees were again a lifesaver. The airport was PACKED and having them carry our luggage, get us good spots in line for the business class check-in etc. was amazing.
MLE-DOH
Welcome champagne and nuts
Tomato soup
Dinner - Chicken Biryani
Americano
Chocolate pudding
Then the DOH-SEA flight after overnight at the cube hotel.
Welcome champagne
Hot towel
Seafood soup
Arabic mezze
Cod and lobster
Cheese plate
Chocolate brownie dessert
Afternoon tea
Shashuka breakfast
So our trip would take us from SEA-DOH-MLE, then those two weeks at one resort, and then back the same MLE-DOH-SEA. I have had the privilege of traveling one some of the best airlines (think Emirates Game Changer First Class) and countries - but I have to say this was my favorite trip Ive ever taken. Perhaps some of it was the fact travel had been curtailed for so long so going anywhere would be amazing. And that is partially true. But the other aspect was the service the WA in particular was truly spectacularunlike anything I have ever experienced, even at other high end brands like Ritz Carlton. See below for the details.
Qatar Airways: SEA-DOH
There is nothing like boarding the mighty 777-300ER and Qatar Airways truly does have the worlds best business class. I had flown QR J before but not the QSuites - which was especially exciting given that my family of four secured the Quad seats in the middle. Im sure all are familiar, but it turns four individual seats and turns them into a four-person suite.
Before boarding in Seattle
The quad seats
Hot towel and champagne
After takeoff
Tapas
Soup
Sliders
Cod
Afternoon tea
One of the many Americanos consumed on this flight
Cereal starter
Egg breakfast
Service on this flight was impeccable. We had a Japanese purser who loved our kids and got us everything we needed and more. Qatar had just brought back many of the service elements that were missing during the height of the pandemic (including hot towels, candle etc.). Food was still not presented on individual plates as they are doing now on many routes, but the food quality was very good and as I mentioned, the service was great. After a long 15 hour flight to DOH, it was time to spend the night in Doha. We spent the evening at the Al Mourjan Lounge which was terrific, albeit crowded given the fact some non-J passengers were allowed to partake. We ate many times throughout the evening - both in the sit-down restaurant with table service and in some of the more informal places like the sandwich area. After a layover longer than I care to remember or admit, it was time to board our flight to the Maldives.
Qatar Airways
DOH-MLE
After taking a bus to the dreaded remote stand gates, we boarded our comparatively short four hour flight to the Maldives. Service was again very good, but with such a short flight we mostly slept the whole flight. For anyone who has traveled to the Maldives, you know that the best entertainment is looking out the window. It was absolutely a delight to look out the window and see the thousands of little island formations pop up over the ocean.
Overnight layover in Doha
Spotting from the lounge
The short journey to Male
Taxing for takeoff in Doha
Breakfast
Beautiful view from above
View of the Waldorf from Above
Getting close
Four Qatar planes on the ground, including this one
The yacht awaits to WA
Waldorf Maldives
After waiting in a long line at immigration, the staff at Waldorf Maldives met us to take our luggage and there is where the trip really gets good. We had approximately three people greet us, gathering all our luggage, entertaining our kids and whisked us to the boat which was waiting for us on the short 45 minute journey to the Waldorf Maldives. I will say up front, there are no words to describe the WA Ithaafushi. But here are a few highlights, with a bunch of pictures below to look at.
I have never been to a hotel where the staff are A) So friendly, B) So down to earth and C) So incredibly professional and service-oriented. It was a perfect mix. From the little things (like desert left in our room every evening during turndown to the fact they clean the rooms twice a day) to the care they show (holding our children, giving them hugs, and showing them sharks at the beach during breakfast) to the luxury (the rooms are larger than our house and are made of incredible materials and furnishings) to the choice (every room has its own pool, an indoor and outdoor shower, multiple large pools, a dozen restaurants, huge buffet breakfast spread). I would also say something about the time: we were there for 15 days. I have read people who said they would have gone crazy at this duration, but we found it the prefect duration. It was enough to really let the cares of back home roll away, it allowed us to become incredibly close with some of the staff (Lovely, Ahseed, Katarina, Firo, Ahleaf etc.)
The lobby
View after arrival
Villa entrance
Bathroom
View out to deck
Tub
Welcome amenity for the adults
Welcome amenity for the kiddos
Cool sinks
Outdoor shower
Room service
Good morning
Outdoor deck
Still morning waters
Regular reef shark visitor under one of the hammocks
Biking to breakfast
Tasting table
Pancakes
The best French yogurt and croissants
Avocado toast
Staff made these for our kids from palm leaves
Nava beach club
Family pool lunch set up
Amazing pizza
Family pool
Adult pool
The spa
Waiting area
Entrance
Welcome drink
Beautiful views
Sunset at dinner
Center of the island
Quiet morning
Incredible staff
Sunset views from Amber
Another sunset view
Bike rides
Sunset
Sunset beach walk
Yasmeen courtyard
Arabic coffee
Yasmeen food, among our favorites!
Incredible fresh bred
Dessert every night at turn down
I will miss this
Kids club
Afternoon bike ride at overwater villas
Our last breakfast
Goodbye WAI
View of Male
Qatar Airways
MLE-DOH-SEA
Traveling with two kids is exhausting, so I didnt take very many pictures on the return (and our flight left Male around 10pm). All I can say is the WA employees were again a lifesaver. The airport was PACKED and having them carry our luggage, get us good spots in line for the business class check-in etc. was amazing.
MLE-DOH
Welcome champagne and nuts
Tomato soup
Dinner - Chicken Biryani
Americano
Chocolate pudding
Then the DOH-SEA flight after overnight at the cube hotel.
Welcome champagne
Hot towel
Seafood soup
Arabic mezze
Cod and lobster
Cheese plate
Chocolate brownie dessert
Afternoon tea
Shashuka breakfast
Last edited by ffman999; Feb 13, 22 at 5:03 pm
Feb 14, 22, 2:36 pm
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Join Date: Feb 2014
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Feb 17, 22, 5:45 am
#13
Join Date: Mar 2012
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If you don't have any luck with that, then most people I know resign themselves to paying cash for a couple of nights dotted between sporadic availability. So maybe they get 2 nights on points, then book the 3rd cash, then have 3 nights availability, and then book a final cash night.
