Doha, Qatar (December 15, 2025)
I’m cheating. While I’m writing this blog post in Doha, Qatar, what I need to disclose up front is that I’m in the airport. But here’s the thing. I completely feel like I’m getting the Doha experience. I know there’s more, because there’s ALWAYS more. This is just a taste of what Doha is like, and I can say I love what I’m experiencing.
I think Doha, specifically, Hamad International Airport is now the coolest airport I’ve ever visited. This airport has been voted, “Best in the World” and I can totally see why.
What other airport have you visited that looks like a botanial garden?
I have one other confession: I’m flying business class on Qatar Airlines and I’m being spoiled rotten. Many airlines deny you access to their lounges when you fly business class (i.e. United, American, Delta, etc.) but today has been a first class experience from the moment I was dropped off at the Ho Chi Minh airport (SGN).
Yes, you have the shorter business line to drop your bag, but then you go straight to the business class lounge and enjoy all the amenities. I opted not to take a shower as I had already done that this morning, but among other amenities, they had a massage chair. After a filling breakfast, that was a wonderful way to spend a good 15 minutes before I boarded my flight.
I walked from there right onto the plane and took my seat (which was both a “window” and an “aisle.”) They had a ton of “mocktails” and first run movies in addition to the pajamas and slippers they provided.
My seat on Qatar Airlines on their Boeing 787 Dreamliner
I was too wired to sleep, so I worked on writing my book and reading in between eating and watching movies. The first 8 hours of this 25 hour flying experience flew by. Then I was moved from that first flight through the amazing Doha airport to the largest business class lounge I’ve ever witnessed let alone been inside of.
So yes, I still have another 15 hours of flying from Doha to JFK, but for the first time I can remember, I’m throughly enjoying my 25 hour flight experience. To be clear, this is the first time I’ve flown business class this entire trip. All told I’ve flown more than a dozen flights so far (probably closer to 20). I’ve struggled to pay more than I need to for transportation, but when I saw that I would have a 25 hour travel day, I figured this was the time to upgrade.
And so, here I am writing in the business lounge, enjoying all the high-end meals and comfort that is provided to me both in the air and on the ground. I’ll see how I feel tomorrow, but if I’m able to sleep for 4-6 or so hours on my next flight, then this will really be a step in the right direction to minimizing the jetlag and getting onto East Coast time.
And now I really want to come back and visit Doha (and more of the Middle East) for real next time around. If this airport is any indication of what the “real life” experience will be like, I’m excited to discover this part of the world in a much more focused way.
