What do you think about when you think of a Doha vacation? Dune-bashing drives into the desert, perhaps? Or splashing out in style inside vast malls and seaside strolling in the shadow of glitzy skyscrapers?
Just off the coast of the Qatari capital lies a whole different proposition.
The aptly named, crescent-shaped Banana Island is a luxury island resort. Since opening four years ago, it’s quickly become a top destination for luxury-seeking vacationers.
Operated by Thailand-based Anantara, the resort can be reached via catamaran setting off from Dhow Harbour (just by the spectacular Museum of Islamic Arts), by private yacht, or by helicopter.
Its accommodation options range from 55-square-meter sea view rooms to 360-square-meter overwater bungalows fully equipped with lounging decks and private infinity pools.
The 141 guest rooms, villas and bungalows are decorated with Arabic designs and feature deluxe mosaic-adorned bathrooms. They’re all stocked up with automatically controlled curtains, flat-screen TVs, mini-bars and coffee machines.
Since its launch in 2015, after construction work that took some three years to complete, the resort has welcomed more than 1.4 million guests, according to Anna Claudia Calderon, the resort’s communications marketing manager.
Apart from overnight guests, particularly from Qatar itself as well as Germany, Russia and the UK, the resort has become popular with day-trippers seeking fun and calm away from Doha’s traffic-clogged streets before taking the ferry — or the helicopter — back to the vibrant Gulf metropolis.
