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Qatar Airways - Flight From Doha to London in Qsuites - November 2024

1/1/2025

I wholeheartedly recommend the Qatar Airways Qsuites product, with no reservations.

Two portions of Baeri caviar, Taittinger rose champagne & the 'Widow Clicquot' movie. One of my best flights for years and the perfect way to end an 'Epic Trip'.

The Qatar Airways Qsuites product rates an '8 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) score. My flight could not have been better.

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Four Seasons, Doha - The 'Epic Trip' Had To End Here - Doha, Qatar - November 2024

1/1/2025

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The 'Epic 6 Week Trip'

After 6 flights & 5 countries the 14th, and last, hotel on the 'Epic Trip' had to be Four Seasons, Doha.

This was the 7th Four Seasons on the trip & visiting Four Seasons Resort & Residences at The Pearl Qatar, on my last full day, took the total of Four Seasons visited to 8.

A Red Carpet Welcome & A Tranquil Suite

A friendly and cheerful red carpet welcome was waiting for me.

The suite I had been allocated had incredible views of the beach & Nobu, Doha and was in beautiful pale colours & had a huge shower.

I loved the mock up of 'FS Doha News' but was surprised there was no champagne. There was a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne when I stayed in 2022.

Friday Brunch in Curiosa by Jean-Georges

My trip was perfectly timed with Sunday brunch in Bangkok, Saturday brunch in Dubai and now Friday brunch in Doha.

My welcome drink at 'Curiosa by Jean-Georges' was a 'Lychee Passion Martini' (vodka, orange liqueur & Veuve Clicquot champagne) with & gummy bears.

The friends I met for brunch are some of the best friends I have in the world, the live music was brilliant and the food excellent. Brunch could not have been any better.

The Library Lounge & The 'Epic Trip Martini Challenge'

The black pepper & olive oil gin martini entered was the antithesis of what I like and so I decided it was ineligible for the challenge. However, sitting at the bar with one of my best friends was a dream come true.

The Pool Where Frozen Grapes Were Served And Your Sunglasses Cleaned

My lunches by the pool were delicious, & I appreciated The Weekend Financial Times & Wall Street Journal being printed off for me, but some of the touches that made this pool special have been lost over the years.

Nobu, Doha & Four Seasons Resort & Residences at The Pearl Qatar

I had a bit of a disaster with my transport to Nobu, Doha but this was more than made up for PR Director Clara's tour of Four Seasons Resort & Residences at The Pearl Qatar.

Stunning residences and restaurants I want to try. Thanks to GM Mehdi for arranging this at short notice and GM Shadi at Four Seasons, Doha for arranging a Series 7 BMW.

Elements Reopened For My Last Day: Memories of My Almost 10 Years Living & Working in Doha

I was thrilled 'Elements' reopened for breakfast on my last morning. Have so many happy memories made in that room.

Also loved having coffee with one of my former Qatari colleagues from the QFC Regulatory Authority.

Four Seasons, Doha has a very special place in my heart but the lack of a bottle of champagne at my last hotel on my 'Epic Trip' is inexcusable. This, combined with the reduction in the pool service. has to rate a '7 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) score. Tips: get transport for Nobu, Doha from the front of the hotel & do not expect your suite access card to open gates by the water.

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Mandarin Oriental, Doha - Better Than Perfect - Doha, Qatar - November 2024

1/1/2025

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The Best Airport Welcome

No driver with a board to greet me , when I stay at Mandarin Oriental, Doha. Instead Abdollah & Arina were waiting for me. A perfect Qatari & Russian welcome. My niece in Russia had been messaging earlier that day about snow in Moscow and so I was so thrilled by this.

In the Bentley Abdollah offered me chocolate covered dates from Qinwan. These are the best dates I have ever tried.

An Arrival At Mandarin Oriental, Doha That Included Arabic Coffee, A Falcon & A 'We Are Fans of Si Frew' Banner

Being greeted by GM Thomas and his team was so special and the Arabic coffee, falcon and personalised banner was almost overwhelming. An indication of how 'better than perfect' my second stay at Mandarin Oriental, Doha was going to be.

My Vast Stunning Suite With Media Room, Study, Guest Bathroom, Balcony & Kitchen

Hope my photos do some justice to my magnificent suite and all the thoughtful gifts left in it. These included a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne, balloons for 10 years of luxury travelblog www.sifrew.com, MoMo, a very regal new Qatari member of 'the gang' & framed photos of my mother by my bed.

A Martini With GM Thomas; Coffee With My Former QFC Regulator Authority Colleagues & Lunch at Raffles, Doha With The GM of Arab Jordan Investment Bank (Qatar) LLC

My respect for GM Thomas grows even more each time we meet. He is the sort of hotel professional I adore. Meeting my former QFC Regulatory Authority colleagues, two of who I also worked with in Bermuda, brought back so many happy memories and I loved lunch with Khaled, even if the food at Raffles, Doha was disappointing.

Perfect Martinis; Liang's Soup Dumplings; IZU & A Dim Sum Class

Head Barternder Jurgen makes a perfect martini. Liang's soup dumplings still blow my mind. The rich flavours of my chicken in IZU were mouthwateringly good & I would highly recommend the dim sum class I took. All the food at Mandarin Oriental, Doha is on another level.

Mandarin Oriental, Doha really is better than perfect and my stay must rate an '8 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) score, without any doubt. My butler Arina saw to this.

The pool area has improved since my 2022 stay, with new smart pool furniture. My suite's view of Barahat Msheireb could not have been more apt, given the referendum taking place during my visit. This meant I got a message from Simon Casson, now CEO of Corinthia Hotels, during me stay Tips: eat in the less franetic upstairs at IZU & take the dim sum class, even if you cannot cook.

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W Hotel, Doha - Never Boring! - Doha, Qatar - October/ November 2024

30/12/2024

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My Halloween night stay at W Hotel, Doha, between Bahrain & Dubai, surprised even me.

The 'Epic Trip' Teddy Bear Theme

After an astonishing welcome, the W Hotel, Doha staff had taken the Teddy Bear Theme of the 'Epic Trip' to another level in my suite.

The soft toys were sown onto the robe, slippers and baseball cap. I will wear the latter to New Year's Eve on the 30th floor of The Barbican tomorrow evening.

Halloween Night in Coya, Doha

I have eaten in Coya, Mayfair but I think my Peru inspired food on Halloween night in Doha was actually better.

A Breakfast Surprise

I left breakfast with shakshouka on my shirt only to bump into Brydon Nelson from Social Media. He is a fellow Doha legend and it was such a nice surprise to meet him.

I am sure the photos below will justify W Hotel, Doha's '6 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) score. It is a tribute to the W Hotel, Doha staff and their unbelievable work (eg the towel art; the panda attached to my suite key etc) that a trendy/ fun, rather than uber luxury, hotel achieved such a high score.

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Jordan International Bank Plc - London, UK - July 2022

8/8/2022

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Hair by Gino at Truefitt & Hill; tie from Hermes; shirt from Turnbull & Asser; suit from Ede & Ravenscroft and experience from the Bank of England; Bermuda; Qatar; Cyprus; Cayman Islands & at Citi

I am proud to be able to announce that in July 2022 I joined the Board of Jordan International Bank Plc. As an Independent Non-Executive Director, I Chair this UK bank's Audit Committee & also sit on their Risk Committee.

I view this as a great honour and a chance to fully utilise the experience I gained at the Bank of England; in Bermuda; Qatar; Cyprus; Cayman Islands and at Citi.

Next week I head to Panama; Colombia & New York. In Bogota I will stay at Four Seasons and in New York at Four Seasons, Downtown and Mandarin Oriental, Manhattan.

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Mandarin Oriental, Msheireb, Doha - An Exquisite New Doha Hotel - Doha, Qatar - June 2022

26/6/2022

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A combination of the refined taste of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser & the David Collins Studio mean Mandarin Oriental, Msheireb, Doha is a jewel of a hotel.

My stay blew my mind but I tried to do too much. I managed to meet a number of former colleagues, and important contacts, but there was no time to see Saif Al Thani, who I used to mentor. As I had to tell him, next time.

Still miss my butler Fiona; treasure my Mandarin Oriental yukata (Japanese robe); ate the best 'club floor food' of my life in the MO Club and cannot compliment hotel Manager Thomas enough. We first met at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok and he is a consummate hotel professional. It was also an honour to, finally, meet GM Martin. Lastly I HAVE to thank Chef Jonas for my personalised raspberry sorbet.

A '7 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) better than perfect stay. Hope the photos below explain this from the balloons in my Maybach; to the rose petals & Media Room in my suite; nitrogen frozen fruit treats by the pool; my face on the ice cream tubs and a farewell like no other. Tips: order the a la carte dumplings at breakfast; make sure you can use the MO Club and visit AmBAR & Gelato.

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Four Seasons, Doha Returns To Its Former Glory - Doha, Qatar - June 2022

23/6/2022

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I felt very privileged to be staying at Four Seasons, Doha, as Qatar prepared to host the 2022 World Cup.

This Four Seasons has a very special place in my heart. I moved to Qatar in 2005, just as it was opening and got to know Four Seasons legend Simon Casson, its first GM.

The Pierre-Yves Rochon refurbishment has lightened & refreshed the whole look and Hermes bath products are a welcome change. However, the refurbishment is not yet complete & so a detailed account is not appropriate.

I would like to thank Milos for looking after my friends & me so well, including refreshing my Veuve Clicquot champagne and GM Shadi for our fascinating chat.

I have sent the hotel some suggestions (eg reintroduce frozen grapes at the pool) and hope to stay again, after the Libary Bar & Cigar Lounge has reopened.

Hope the photos below explain why this was a '6 teddy' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) stay, despite the on-going refurbishment. Tips:- this is a resort hotel & so your sleep may be disturbed by music. If the lights from the new fire prevention systems cause problems, alert the hotel, they can do something to reduce this problem.

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Stay at Four Seasons, Doha in a 'Deluxe Executive Suite' - Doha, Qatar - May 2016

15/5/2016

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The brunch at this hotel is regarded as one of the best in Qatar & was even better on this stay.

I lived in Qatar for more than 9 years & was a 'founding' member of the Doha Four Seasons' spa. I, therefore, had to make this hotel, & seeing my incredible Qatar based friends, part of my GCC Tour.

I was so glad I did. It was a perfect way to 'close my relationship with Qatar'.

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the luxury travel blog

Qatar Airways - Flight From Doha to London in Qsuites - November 2024

Four Seasons, Doha - The 'Epic Trip' Had To End Here - Doha, Qatar - November 2024

Mandarin Oriental, Doha - Better Than Perfect - Doha, Qatar - November 2024

W Hotel, Doha - Never Boring! - Doha, Qatar - October/ November 2024

Jordan International Bank Plc - London, UK - July 2022

Mandarin Oriental, Msheireb, Doha - An Exquisite New Doha Hotel - Doha, Qatar - June 2022

Four Seasons, Doha Returns To Its Former Glory - Doha, Qatar - June 2022

Stay at Four Seasons, Doha in a 'Deluxe Executive Suite' - Doha, Qatar - May 2016

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