I have flown Qsuites too many times, but I have not flown Qatar First. Since Avios are so easy to come by, there was no way I would fly business just to save a few points.
Our rendezvous turned into a small party among those forced to work overtime and us passengers. The collective group was disappointed when the now boarding flashed on the monitor, forcing us to hustle to the gate.
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I have narrated how I’ve eaten and drunk my way through Madrid (see Best Tapas Madrid: No Budget Cuts Here as an example). I have also written about how I may have taken it too far (see Espresso? Beer? Both?: My Madrid Morning Routine). To combat this indulgence, I needed a workout plan that I could take not only on this residency but also on any trip throughout the world.
Note: This is a big development compared to my prior stance of never working out on the road (see No More Mobile Gym No Matter What).
For this trip, I loaded up a suitcase with too many gadgets.
Take a left from the gymOnto Calle José AbascalThen your first left back home to Calle De Fernandez De La Hoz
I ended up joining for the month that I was there. Instead of going back to Geico weights, I brought my own toys including the Inertia Wave and all things Auster.
Hans and Franz weren’t particularly impressed with my setup, but I used their preoccupation with my routine as motivation.
What’s great about this gym is that they have many of the tools I use at home e.g., battle ropes, Suples Bulgarian bag.
Results
Combined with running outdoors (see Sunday Fun/Run Day: Spring in Madrid), I was able to stay healthy abroad while continuing to indulge in tapas.
TPOL’s Tip: The gym address is Calle José Abascal 46 28003 Madrid.
I tried napping in the area designated for families but was immediately bored.
Photos
I walked around to take photos for the blog but could not find anything that caught my eye. I guess some people will be impressed by the giant urinal waterfall.
Bar
Looking for inspiration, I turned to alcohol. The best I could find was Leffe Blond. Compare the selection: from Hennessy VSOP in the Qatar Lounge in Bangkok, to this in first? How does that make sense?
Business Better?
Bored, I reached out to my friend whom I met in the business class lounge in Bangkok. He was enjoying his layover at the Qatar business class lounge by having a cigar in the smoking room in the business class lounge. I decided to join him.
Stored my bags.
In Transit
I went from the Al Safwa Lounge to the Al Mourjan Lounge. Why they can’t make it straightforward and call it first and business is stupid. It’s confusing for passengers simply looking to get to their designated lounge.
In the smoking room, we decided to order two tequilas. Both of us remarked that the tequila was smooth and we wondered what tequila was offered. It was not until I went for a refill that I learned that it was none other than Jose Cuervo!
Getting my fix of nicotine.
TPOL’s Trivia: Cuervo is the same tequila served in the first-class lounge.
TPOL’s Tip: So much for my belief that I am a tequila aficionado (see Tacos & Tequila: An Afternoon in Tlaquepaque). In my defense, I naively assumed that they would serve premium tequila in their flagship lounges.
But what can I do given that I am hiding in my basement (see NYC Twice: A Recap of My 2020 Travels) too scared to come out and see my shadow (see Punxsutawney TPOL)? The answer is obvious. Perfect my golf game, buy a mobile fitness studio, and broadcast it all from my beautiful home in Rio Mar, Puerto Rico. There was only one problem. Who would film the reality of how badly I play at golf and how imperfect my gym form is? The answer is Skydio 2, a drone that needs no pilot. And now, after months of waiting, it is on its way to me (via New York). In the groundhog year of 2021, I am ready to defy my old thinking (see TPOL’s Way Out of Poverty Is Not Vlogging) and emerge as the most famous vlogger, golfer, and bodybuilder of all time.
It is rare though not unheard of that someone shows up absolutely hammered for an 8AM flight. I had an excuse because my flight from Bangkok to Doha was delayed without notifying any of the passengers. While I was lucky enough to have a great lounge experience, I do not know how the economy class passengers spent their entire evening at the airport (see Qatar Airways Lounge Review: The Best Is in Bangkok, Not Doha).
First vs. Business
I have flown Qsuites too many times, but I have not flown Qatar First. Since Avios are so easy to come by, there was no way I would fly business just to save a few points.
Ahoy down below!
Welcome Drink
Gregarious, I spoke to another passenger headed to Doha. He was one drink ahead of me in the Krug marathon. Not to be outdone, the flight attendant brought me my own.
Don’t Forget Your Friends
The rapport with the flight attendants was great from the start. They were in cheery moods and indulged in our rambunctious behavior. To that point, I asked if they could send a glass of Krug to my drinking buddy from the Qatar Lounge seated in business. I asked them to include the message that I missed him. They thought it was hilarious and obliged. It was well received.
Krug Again
The photo of Krug being poured with an airplane window in the background is pure art. I never get tired of capturing the moment.
No Suite
The a380 didn’t have a suite like its lauded business-class brother. Since the cabin was empty, the flight attendant prepared one seat for sleeping and the other for drinking.
Caviar
Like Krug, is there anything better than caviar on a plane?
Omelette
I had a light omelette and prepared myself for sleep.
Pajamas
The only thing missing from these clever pajamas was the Urban Turban.
Do you know where the best Qatar Airways Lounge is in the world? It’s certainly not the business class lounge in Doha. It’s also not the sterile first-class lounge in Doha either. By process of elimination and my personal experience, I declare that the best Qatar Lounge in the world is in Bangkok. Here’s why:
Flight Delayed
I had timed it perfectly. I was going to finish playing night golf by 11PM (see Night Golf Bangkok: First Time for Everything) and then head to (somewhat) nearby BKK to catch my 2AM first-class flight on a Qatar a380 bound for Baku, Azerbaijan. Instead, I arrived at the airport to find a small mob of angry passengers. The flight to Doha was changed from 2AM to 8AM, yet no one was told that the flight was rescheduled.
TPOL’s Tip: If a flight is delayed, it does not mean that the passengers can arrive at the airport later. If the delay is resolved and the plane takes off on time, it would be the passengers’ fault for not being there. This is different than what happened here where the flight was canceled then rescheduled.
I was told to go the business class lounge where I would be very comfortable.
Lounge Itself
This is a small lounge that is only meant to operate for a few hours. It does not have places to accommodate passengers overnight.
My Rest Area
Fortunately for me, I found one of the places where I could sprawl out and sleep. Unfortunately, there were no blankets in the lounge and the AC was on full blast.
Food
The food was spectacular. I tried everything from the biryani in the buffet to the a la carte sushi and pad thai.
Do you recognize the purple cups?
Drinks
I believe the normal bartender wasn’t available when I was there. Instead, it was a few workers who did their best to make cocktails.
TPOL’s Tip: A warm dirty martini is just warm vodka and olive juice.
I switched to champagne and Hennessy VSOP, a cognac not offered in either the business or first-class lounge in Doha!
Better list than in Doha.
NFL Week One
It didn’t matter to me that the flight was delayed. I had a makeshift bed, alcohol, and the disappointing Lions streaming. It was perfect.
Open Bar
I saw a passenger joking with the impromptu bartender that it was not his fault that the flight was delayed. The sarcasm was lost on the bartender who kept apologizing for the delay. I learned that my fellow lounge refugee was also from New York, though he was flying in business, not first, to Doha. We struck up a conversation about everything and anything as lounge goers tend to do. Meanwhile, the drinks kept rolling in.
Our rendezvous turned into a small party among those forced to work overtime and us passengers. The collective group was disappointed when the now boarding flashed on the monitor, forcing us to hustle to the gate.
Overall
Qatar Airways could have told its passengers the flight was rescheduled. It worked out because the lounge, staff, and company were great.
Years back, I stayed at Le Meridien Suvarnabhumi Bangkok. Imagine my excitement when I checked in and found a golf course on the premises. And that the golf course was open at night. Fast forward to this trip when I made a reservation to play.
Location
Summit Windmill Golf Club is near the airport. I planned to play and then head to BKK to catch my flight to Doha.
TPOL’s Tip: 72 หมู่ที่ 14 Bang Na-Trat Alley, Bang Phli Yai, Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan 10540, Thailand
Cost
It cost $108 to play. This includes the caddy, cart, and rentals.
Pre Eat
Hungry? Why wait?
Caddy
Because it is night golf, a caddy is compulsory. Aided with a flashlight, my caddy was able to find most of my errant shots.
TPOL’s Tip: A tip of $10-$15 is suggested.
Date the Caddy?
There are many videos on YouTube of sexy caddies. Many have misinterpreted this entertainment as sex tourism. While I have heard of numbers being exchanged after a round, these are serious caddies with great knowledge of the game of golf.
Course
Is there anything more beautiful than this course?
Estates
The houses along the course were anything but small. I may have hit a few.
Bad Golf Shot Footage
Novelty aside, I was here for a serious game of golf. I seriously sucked. The caddies were laughing.
Many friends offer unsolicited recs. Typically I find the tips are useless (see Giordano’s Pizza Chicago: Trust Your Taste Buds, Not Your Friends). I like what I like and do as I please. I have been wrong twice in my life so I still hear what they have to say.
On this occasion, I am happy I listened. The location was Cannes. The town was buzzing. Only I had a serious issue. With nowhere to turn, I confided in my friend the unstoppable problem I was facing. He replied, “I have the cure for that. All we need to do is find a pharmacy.” All of a sudden finding a pharmacy seemed impossible. Google Maps did not help. Finally, I saw the green sign of relief and entered. I asked for the magical potion and the pharmacist audibly said, “Oh for diarrhea?” I meekly said yes.
On the street, I opened a tube of this peanut butter gummy and found immediate relief.
Because timing was limited, I had to choose between seeing American Samoa (see I Blew It: Missing Blowholes in Samoa And Tuna in America) and a place I had never heard of nor could I pronounce, Kiribati. Given the outsized points redemption, 20,000 Avios and $37 versus $1484 out-of-pocket one-way, I chose Kiribati, a place whose slogan is ‘For Travelers, not Tourists.’
