FASCINATING QATAR

This small Gulf state has flown under the tourist radar, but hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup puts it in the spotlight. Lucy Gornall headed out to explore it

I began my trip in Doha, a welcoming, spectacularly clean capital city, which is home to three of the eight stadiums that were built or redeveloped for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. My base was The Ritz-Carlton, a hotel that oozes peace; just stepping through its doors and out of the blistering heat was enough to transport me to total serenity. The hotel's spa facilities are second to none, with an array of treatment rooms, as well as various sporting facilities such as tennis and squash courts. There is also a women-only gym alongside the mixed gym (which, by the way is enourmous, and comes complete with picture-postcard views of the outside marina).

Desert adventure

There are plenty of great excursions that give you a taste of life beyond the glitzy hotel. A 20-minute boat ride away from Al Shyoukh Terminal took me to Banana Island, home to Anantara Resort, a magnificent place of epic proportions. Every day, holidaymakers cross the small stretch of water and head to the island for a day of adventure, pampering, relaxation and beach/poolside drinks.