#qatarairlines

The day has finally arrived!  We left for the Maldives for 8 nights at the JW Marriott Resort.  Before we could get too excited about over-the-water villas and drinks on the beach, we had to get there, and getting there is no easy feat.  What does it take to fly across the world to a remote island in the Indian Ocean? Well, let us share with you our trip.  To set the stage, let’s look at the itinerary.

• Oklahoma City to Dallas 1 hour
• 4-hour layover in Dallas
• 15-hour flight to Doha, Qatar
• 8-hour layover in Doha
• 5-hour flight to Malé
• 3-hour layover in Malé
• 1.5-hour seaplane flight to the resort

That’s right travel to the Maldives from Oklahoma is 37.5 hours!  The Maldives is also 12 hours ahead.  We left Oklahoma on Thursday at 1130am and finally set our bags down in our room on Saturday around 230pm.

Our first flight from Oklahoma City to Dallas was uneventful.  We booked our OKC to DFW flight separately from our Dallas to Maldives tickets; which meant we needed plenty of time to retrieve our luggage and recheck in for our flight in Dallas.  There is always some risk in booking flights this way, so we try to allow ourselves plenty of room for delays.  Side note, luggage restrictions are stringent for the Maldives, due to the seaplane weight limits.  Make sure to check them out before you pack!

We flew into terminal E and flew out of terminal D.  Due to COVID restrictions on international flights, electronic boarding passes are not available.  We had to travel by bus between terminals.  This was a first for both of us.  The bus was easy to find, but it was very slow.  If you have to go this way, once again give yourself plenty of time.  Finally, we made it to Terminal D, which is one of Dave’s favorite places in the world.  Sometimes I think we could just take a trip to the terminal and he would be happy.  What it means for him is the place where all our adventures begin.

On this trip, we flew Qatar Airways Business Class.  Qatar is known for having some of the most amazing services and as you will see they will not disappoint, but first we had to check-in.  As we walked up to the Business Class counter, I was well prepared. I had our hotel reservations, PCR tests, Maldives health inspections, and passports in hand, happily announcing we would like to check in for our flight.  The smiling agent took our paperwork and begin our check-in process.

After a short time had passed she came back with a very grim face.  Dave and I braced as she shared devastating news. She said that our lab results were not good enough for the Maldives, and there was PCR language missing that the Maldives required.  At first, we were in shock, what were we going to do!  4 hours from home and 3 hours from boarding our flight, we were feeling quite stuck.  The agent advised there was a lab that could give us a test in time and that we should prepare to Uber there as a last resource.  Before we panicked further, I took a deep breath and called the lab in Oklahoma City.  They had provided us with the lab results but not the travel results paperwork.  The lab quickly sent us the correct paperwork, the smiling agent signed off, and we were ready to fly.

I will forever be thankful for the lab that corrected their mistake and saved us hundreds of dollars on a last-minute test, but there is also an important travel lesson in that experience.  First, we had not traveled since COVID and did not confirm the lab results were acceptable ahead of time, it is always important to check and recheck that you have met requirements before going to the airport.  Second and maybe even more importantly, ALWAYS leave time for the unexpected.  Traveling internationally always has hiccups, long lines, and frustrations.  If we had needed to get the last-minute test, there would have been time.  If we did not plan for the unexpected, we could easily have missed our flight.

With our crisis averted it was time to board our flight!

The flight to Doha from DFW was very full and the waiting area was full of chaos (this became a theme throughout each airport).  Qatar required everyone’s tickets to be exchanged from their origin airline to a Qatar ticket, which meant there were very long lines at the boarding gate and only 1 agent helping everyone.  Dave and I had checked in at Qatar and did not have to go through the process, we just sat back and watched it unfold, while quietly being thankful this was one line we had avoided.

When Business Class was called, we both jumped up unable to contain our excitement to try out our QSuite.  Qatar Airways is known for its amazing suites.  Each suite has complete privacy with walls and a door.  In our case, the wall in the middle can be taken down and the seats turned into a full-size bed.  It was really incredible.  Here is a look at the suites from the Qatar website. https://www.qatarairways.com/en-us/onboard/qsuite.html

The service on this flight was truly exceptional.  Each passenger is given an exclusive flight attendant that takes care of them throughout the flight.  On long-haul flights, everyone is given a pair of pajamas and a toiletry kit.  You can also request the seats be turned into a bed.  The attendants add a mattress and sheets to your seats, which lay completely flat.  The beds stretch out to about 6 feet long, and Dave was perfectly comfortable at 6’5″.   Outside of the amazing comfort of the flight, the food and beverages were our favorite parts.  The wine and alcohol list is extensive and the food menu is exceptional.  Meals are not served at a specific time, but à la carte when requested.  We were surprised over and over again by the quality of the meals.  These were not airline meals, but truly gourmet dining in the sky.

15 hours flew by, quite literally, and then we were in Doha, Qatar.  The airport is large and beautiful.  There are many places to eat and shop.  Unlike any airport we have ever traveled through, it is truly a 24-hour airport.  It was busier at midnight than at 5 in the afternoon.  None of the shops or restaurants ever close.  We spent some time browsing the stores and checking out the very interesting artwork located throughout and had “afternoon” tea at Harrods, but we spent most of our time in the lounge resting and snacking during our 8-hour wait.

Our flight to Malé left Doha at 230am.  We were both thankful to be back in the sky.  We were both exhausted and ready to sleep.  We woke to dawn breaking over the Maldives and caught our first glimpse of the beautiful islands and atolls that awaited.

We could not believe the beauty we were witnessing, words and pictures cannot describe it.  We did not know then this was nothing compared to the view from the seaplane we would witness in a few short hours.

The Maldives sits at 3 degrees latitude and it is very evident as you step off the plane that you are basically at the equator.  We disembarked outside and took a bus to the terminal and headed to customs.  The customs process was very easy and we flew through with no problems.  Waiting for us on the other side of customs was a representative from the JW Marriott with a sign with our names on it, and this is where the JW 5-star experience began.   She whisked us away quickly from arrivals and took us straight to the seaplane terminal check-in.  She handled everything, and then we were taken by van to the seaplane terminal, which is about 15 minutes from the main airport.  At the terminal, we were invited to a VIP lounge with food, drinks, and air conditioning (something we would come to prize over the coming days).  Because the seaplane is very small (only 12 seats) if there are others coming to your same resort, within a 2-hour window, you are required to wait.  We of course got there at the beginning of the window and had quite a long wait.  This was definitely the hardest wait so close yet hours more to go.

Finally, it was time to head to the seaplane!  We were almost “home” for the next 9 days.  We were both very excited about the seaplane ride, as neither of us had been on one before.  The ride was incredibly beautiful.  They fly at 500 feet when they hop islands, giving you the most incredible vantage point.  We stared in awe at the atolls, the yachts, and the resorts.

While we loved the views from the plane, it is important to be realistic about the journey as well.  The plane is VERY small.  While there are 12 seats, they are tiny seats much more like jump seats than actual seats.  Only through sheer will did Dave fit on the plane and tolerate it for an hour and a half.  The plane is very hot, there is no air conditioning, just the outside air coming in through vents.  You must still wear your masks during these flights as well.  It can be a very claustrophobic feeling.  The JW is one of the most northern atolls and we had to drop people off at 2 atolls, so you must also be prepared for multiple landings and take-offs.  For many people, flying in a plane may be a real hindrance to traveling to a remote island, however, there are atolls that are closer where you can travel by boat or stay in Malé.

First stop, had to add fuel. The plane is heavy at first so they leave a little less fuel in it to start. Then add fuel at a stop. Small plane flying is different than a large airliner.

After 2 days and  37.5 hours of travel, we landed at the JW Marriott Maldives resort.  As the seaplane landed, we could see many people standing on the dock waving to greet us at our arrival.   Stepping off the plane many of the resort staff stood there in greeting.  The resort staff played the drums and sang a beautiful Maldivian song.   Each of us was given a necklace, handed a drink, and led to a couch under the shade of a cabana.  Once under the cabana, we were welcomed by name and introduced to our private butler, Ahmed, who would be with us throughout the trip.  One of the most fascinating things we found from our time at the Marriott is everyone, from the General Manager and butler to the waitstaff knew our name and our villa number.  We were never able to figure out how they were able to accomplish this feat, but it was very impressive.  We had made it, time to relax, recuperate, and marvel at the beauty of the atoll for the next 9 days.

Here are some links to short videos on our youtube channel. More to follow.

https://youtu.be/IkGlNLLbS88 Short walk to the seaplane in Male’

https://youtu.be/0tQNgyglNBE Take off from Male’

https://youtu.be/biA6WjhWSso Brief video of arrival to our resort