Fly to Cape Town from €659, Tokyo from €729 and the Maldives from €759 return in the Qatar Airways Black Friday Sale.

Save on dream destinations with the world’s best airline! Qatar Airways Black Friday offers include amazing prices to Maldives, South Africa, Japan and lots more. Sale fares are available to book from the 22nd of November until the 30th of November, for travel from 11th January to 22nd November 2023 – note peak blackout dates apply. 

I have flown with Qatar Airways on a few occasions and I am not a bit surprised that they have been voted the world’s best airline seven times – an achievement held by no other airline. Read my review of Qatar Airways service here and you will see why.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Sarah Slattery – Travel Expert (@the_travel_expert)

Economy class passengers can enjoy a generous baggage allowance, free seat selection and unlimited drinks on board – all included in the cost. And that’s not all – Qatar Airways has over 4,000 entertainment options to choose from.

Children are well catered for too, with kids traveller packs and children’s meals available. Wi-Fi is available on selected flights and lounge access is available to purchase – see more here.

Qatar Airways fly to 150 different destinations. I have chosen a few destinations to highlight from the Qatar Airways Black Friday sale below, but many more are available on their website, with all-inclusive return fares starting from €599.

Male, Maldives: from €759 return 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Maldives is on most travel bucket lists, but it may surprise you that it can be affordable, especially with airfares such as these. I have been fortunate to visit three islands in the Maldives, and I am already planning a return visit – it is paradise!

Enjoy a morning dip from your over water bungalow, relax on pristine white sand beaches, go snorkelling or diving in the Indian Ocean, and witness some of the best sunsets in the world.

Search and book here
 

Cape Town, South Africa: €659 return

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Cape Town is another favourite destination of mine. I went there on honeymoon and returned in 2018 for a family holiday. We stayed in Cape Town, visited the wine lands, travelled the Garden Route and finished off with a safari at Amakhala Game Reserve. Home to one of the best cities in the world, amazing wildlife, stunning beaches and plenty of adventure, South Africa is a superb holiday destination.

How to plan the perfect South Africa road trip

Search and book here
 

Zanzibar, Tanzania: from €839 return

Tanzania is home to some of the best safari adventures in the world. Whether you choose luxury tented camps in the Serengeti, or eco-friendly lodges at Ngorongoro Crater, you are bound to see some incredible wildlife. A few days on safari followed by a beach holiday in Zanzibar is the ultimate holiday for honeymooners, and those looking to combine adventure with a beach holiday.

Search and book here
 

Tokyo, Japan: from €729

Visitors are flocking to Japan after it re opened to tourists recently, so I was surprised to see such good value airfares in the Qatar Airways Black Friday sale. Packed with culture, adventure and amazing cuisine, it is a country that is firmly on my own wish list.

Search and book here
 

Add a stopover in Qatar from $14:

Why choose one destination when you can have two? Qatar Airways offer some of the world’s best value stopover rates, with luxurious hotels available in Doha from just $14 per night in 2023.

Visit the National Grand Mosque of Qatar, enjoy a desert safari, shop till you drop, and take in the waterfront views at La Corniche walkway. 

Read: My Doha travel guide featuring 15 top things to do in Doha
 
See more here

And that’s not all…

You can collect Avios when you fly with Qatar Airways. To coincide with the  FIFA World Cup™ you can collect a bonus of 5,000 Avios when you join Privilege Club using the code WC22JOIN.

See more here
 

Black Friday Sale Terms and conditions:

• This promotion applies to Qatar Airways operated flights only.
• Sales period: 22nd November – 30th November 2022 ( online only 22-23rd November, all channels 24th-30th November)
• Travel period: 11th January – 22nd November 2023. 
• Minimum stay: 3 days.
• Maximum stay: 1 month.
• Seasonal surcharges, weekend surcharges, and blackout dates apply. Please review at the time of booking.
• Fares shown are the lowest fares for a specific route in the next 6 months from today.
• Fares are refreshed daily and may change.
• Fares shown include taxes, fees, and airport surcharges, and are subject to availability.
• Specific fare rules apply. Please review at the time of booking.
• Check out full Ts & Cs here.

Search and book here

I hope this post on Qatar Airways Black Friday offers will inspire you to book a trip soon. This post was sponsored by Qatar Airways, but all views, as always, are my own.

From the world’s tallest twin towers, to the world’s best Irish bar – here are 7 things you must do in Kuala Lumpur!

My second stop in Malaysia brought me to Kuala Lumpur, a modern bustling city where skyscrapers stand along side colonial buildings, mosques beside Chinese temples and street markets beside designer shopping malls. Find out what you must do in Kuala Lumpur below.

Most people fly into Kuala Lumpur, but we drove from Penang, (read my Penang travel guide here). We crossed the Penang bridge, a 13.5km bridge that crosses the Penang Strait, and the drive in total was a leisurely four hours.
 

 
We only spent two nights in Kuala Lumpur, but I saw enough to know that it is a city I would like to come back to. Many choose KL as a short stopover on route to Asia or Australasia, but I recommend spending at least three nights there to enjoy all the highlights. Kuala Lumpur is very easy to navigate, as most of the sights are all within walking distance of each other, so my list of top things you must do in Kuala Lumpur are easily seen over a short stay.
 

1. Visit the Petronas Towers

No visit to KL would be complete without seeing the Petronas Towers. These iconic towers are not only synonymous with Kuala Lumpur, but they are the tallest twin towers in the world. 
 

 
Night-time is the best time for photos as the lights shine so brightly. It is impossible not to get a good photo, even on your phone! Purchase a wide angle lens from the street vendors outside. They will try to charge you about €20 but after haggling you should settle on about €5, or 25 Malaysian ringgits. This lens will allow you to fit both towers into the frame.

 

A post shared by Sarah Slattery (@the_travel_expert) on Mar 10, 2018 at 11:39am PST

Make sure you visit the Petronas Towers during the day too. As well as having an enormous shopping mall inside, you have the opportunity to cross the Sky Walk bridge on the 41^st floor.
 

 
This is 179 meters above street level and you can walk between the towers, which is a great way to see the city. Be sure to book in advance online, as they only allow 1000 people to access the bridge each day. Don’t miss the observation deck on the 86^th floor, at 370 meters above street level, you can see the second tower up close.

 

A post shared by Sarah Slattery (@the_travel_expert) on Mar 22, 2018 at 12:46am PDT

2. Go to Independence Square

The colonial quarters of Kuala Lumpur, this area is very different to the modern skyscrapers of downtown. The pretty Moorish buildings as well as the grass lawns of Independence Square, are definitely a ‘must see’.
 

 
This is where the Union Flag was lowered and the Malayan flag hoisted for the first time in 1957. It happens to be home to the world’s tallest flag pole too!

The Kuala Lumpur City Gallery is also located here. You will see miniature replicas of the cities most popular attractions and get free tourist information, as well as getting some great photos!
 

 
The featured image for this post, where I have skyscrapers as wings, was taken there. The ‘I love KL’ sign is right outside too, which is another great spot for selfies.

 

A post shared by Sarah Slattery (@the_travel_expert) on Mar 12, 2018 at 3:46pm PDT

3. Visit the KL Tower

Adrenaline junkies will love the Sky Box at the KL Tower, a ledge that extends out with a glass floor, 300 meters above street level. Face your fears and get incredible photos at the same time!
 

There is also revolving restaurant here, where you can get great views of the skyline. I would suggest trying it at night to catch the bright lights. We went for lunch and it was not as dramatic, although if you want to walk the Skybox, daytime is probably best!
 

4. Step inside the National Mosque of Malaysia

What I love about this Mosque is that all races and religions are allowed enter. It has what looks like a half open umbrella at the top, not a traditional dome. This symbolises that, rain or shine, you can get many people under an umbrella, from all walks of life.

 

A post shared by Sarah Slattery (@the_travel_expert) on Mar 22, 2018 at 1:38am PDT

The Masjid Negara mosque holds 15,000 people and has beautiful reflection pools as well as amazing architecture throughout. Women need to be covered when entering but robes are available at the entrance.
 

5. Stay at the Majestic Hotel

I can’t say enough good things about the Majestic Hotel. This landmark which dates back to 1932 was one of the first hotels in Kuala Lumpur, the original building is a national heritage site.

Prince Charles stayed here last winter and it is the venue for many glamorous social events and receptions. The rooms, service and food are terrific.
 

 
What amazed me the most was how reasonably priced it was. Standard rooms in the new wing cost from €100 per night including breakfast and junior suites from €140 per night. The junior suites are huge with a free standing bath, two TV’s (one over the bath) and even a small office desk.

The buffet is superb with a wide selection of local and international dishes. From prawns to pizza, steaks to sushi, you name it, they have it, and all exceptional quality.

They also offer a great ‘unlimited wine’ deal for 70 ringgit, about €15. Wine is expensive in KL, in fact all alcohol is heavily taxed, so this is excellent value. If you have time, treat yourself to a Malaya massage, trust me you won’t regret it.

 

A post shared by Sarah Slattery (@the_travel_expert) on Mar 9, 2018 at 11:12pm PST

6. Shop till you drop.

Shopping is great in Kuala Lumpur.  Although renowned for its cheap electronics (many international brands are actually made here), Malaysia also has excellent designer and high street clothes shops.

The shopping mall in the Petronas Towers is a must visit with many brands about 20% cheaper than you will find at home.

The Central Market is one of KL’s most famous shopping areas, with indoor and outdoor shops selling everything from local souvenirs to antiques! Just around the corner is Chinatown where you can find designer bags, sunglasses and copies of the latest trends. Petaling Street has the best selection but make sure you haggle!

7. Pay a visit to  Healy Mac’s Irish Pub

This bar was voted the best Irish pub in the world by the Irish Times and Diageo, so they must be doing something right! We watched one of 6 Nations rugby matches here and the atmosphere was electric.
 

 
You can also go to listen to some music, enjoy some pub grub and some famous Irish hospitality. It is located just minutes from the Petronas Towers, so you can grab a night time photo before, or after your visit. Visit their website here.

How to get there:

Qatar Airways fly daily from Dublin Airport to Doha with onward connections to Kuala Lumpur four times weekly and Penang three times weekly. They will also be starting a new service to Langkawi later this year.
 

 
You can choose to avail of a free overnight stay in a four star hotel in Doha, or connect straight to Malaysia with a short layover. At the time of issue, return economy tickets to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, are available from €602, with return business class saver tickets from €3098, both including taxes and charges. For more details visit Qatar Airways or see your local travel agent.

 
Like Long haul holidays? See more destination advice, travel guides and the best travel deals here.

 
Sarah

Qatar Airways have been repeatedly voted the world’s best airline and world’s best business class. I had the pleasure of flying with them to Malaysia, and more recently to the Maldives. Read my review of Qatar Airways service and find out why.

Gazing out at the bright blue skies, with a glass of pink champagne in hand, it felt almost surreal. For once in my life I didn’t want the plane journey to end. In fact I would have been quite happy to just stay on the plane for 24 hours. Being wined and dined with Qatar Airways service on the world’s best business class was a far cry from the school runs….

When we book holidays, we tend to focus on hotels and destinations rather than the airline who takes us there, but maybe it is time to change that. I like to think of airlines in the same way as hotels. Qatar Airways is a five star airline, that offers five star service.
 

 
Think of the difference between booking a three, four or five star hotel; airlines have a similar grading. Flying with Qatar Airways is the equivalent of staying in five star hotel. Qatar Airways have been voted the world’s best airline six times – an achievement held by no other airline.
 

 
They have also won the world’s best business class, best business class seat, business class lounge, and catering. I was flying with Qatar Airways for the first time and was going to make sure I appreciated every minute of it.

Read: Top things to do in Doha – Doha travel guide

Normally the first thing I do when I get on a long haul flight is to check out the inflight entertainment. I browse the latest blockbusters that I haven’t seen, and try to catch up. Not this time! The menu, or should I say ‘menus’, were my first port of call.
 

 
They were given to me by my flight attendant, Praveem, who courteously introduced himself to me before take off. He called me by name and said he would be looking after me throughout the flight. I received a hot towel, noise cancelling headphones and a luxury amenity kit, packed with toiletries. I was then asked if I would like an aperitif before take- off? Sure it would be rude not to……

The drinks menu consisted of fine wines and champagne as well as premium spirits and soft drinks. I enjoyed a few glasses of Lanson pink champagne (as you do!) and opted for a delicious Bordeaux with dinner. Speaking of dinner, this too is an experience.
 

 
While white linen table cloths and hot towels may be standard in business class, Qatar Airways extra touches are the reason it is rated a five star airline. My drinks were served in beautiful champagne and wine glasses, and they served on demand.

There were no trollies up and down the aisle. When Praveem came out from behind the curtain with my drinks or snacks, I felt like he was bringing it from a kitchen, that there was a chef somewhere making it just moments before it was served. These subtle touches made for a special dining experience.
 

 
The substantial menu was available at any time throughout my flight. Qatar Airways offer a dine on demand system. If you want to eat immediately and settle down for a nap, you can. You also don’t need to worry about missing breakfast, you can simply have it whenever you wake up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The food options were superb. For dinner I enjoyed the traditional Arabic Mezze to start, followed by a delicious spiced chicken for main course and a cheese plate to finish. If I had to find fault, I would say the cheese plate could be improved, but I’m probably being petty here! Some of my colleagues opted for the fillet steak and said it was excellent.

On my flight to the Maldives I enjoyed marinated tuna, prawn and scallop with a quinoa salad, and it was delicious.

Breakfast was also impressive, the menu was so extensive I didn’t know which to choose. There were three choices of juices including a carrot and ginger energiser, followed by a choice of five appetisers and four main courses.
 

 
If this all sounds too much, you can just have an express breakfast of coffee and croissants, before you disembark. On my return flight home, I opted for a light-option for dinner, a Thai noodle beef salad. It was perfectly balanced, full of of flavour and something I would expect to find in an upmarket oriental restaurant.

After I was wined and dined I was able to recline my seat and watch a movie on my 17-inch flat screen TV. Qatar Airway’s Oryx One system has over 4,000 in-flight entertainment options. Suffice to say, I was spoiled for choice!
 

 
I also tried the WiFi on board which was a little patchy. It was slow and unresponsive on the Dublin Doha leg, but excellent on the return. I think its best to pay $10 for unlimited use, unless you just want to send a quick message or upload one social media photo, in which case it is free.  

It was then time to convert my seat into a fully lie-flat bed and get some sleep for a few hours. This comfortable 80 x 30 inch lie-flat bed, together with a heavy velour blanket and The White Company pyjamas, made it very easy!

Seat preferences on Qatar Airways:

On the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft from Dublin to Doha, the seat configuration is 1-2-1. If travelling alone I would suggest booking a window seat where you can have complete privacy. The two middle seats are ideal if travelling as a couple. One of the huge advantages of this configuration is that all seats have aisles.

On the A330 from Kuala to Doha the configuration was slightly different and there were no single seats. I happened to be sitting in seat 1a on this flight. The problem was when my colleague was sleeping, it was difficult climbing over her when I needed to go to the bathroom.
 

 
In this configuration I would choose an aisle seat rather than a window. Qatar Airways even have a love-seat on their Dreamliner aircraft, which is typically booked for honeymooners. Located at the back of the business class cabin, it is separated from the other passengers, although it is close to the bathrooms…
 

 
However the pièce de résistance for me was getting the opportunity to fly in a Qsuite on our return leg from Male to Doha. The Qsuite is Qatar Airways newest Business Class that offers doors and dividers to give complete privacy.

I was in a single pod with a sliding door, but you can also enjoy pods for couples, as well as pods for four which can be used for business meetings or family trips. In the couples pod, a mattress can be placed on a double bed for the ultimate in relaxation.

Flying in a Qsuite with Qatar Airways is often described as the equivalent to First Class with other airlines – it was certainly my best flying experience to date. See more here
 

Economy class benefits:

It is not only in business class that Qatar Airways service excels. Their economy class service is excellent too, with a generous baggage allowance and the same 4,000 in-flight entertainment options, that are available in business class.

The Dreamliner’s spacious cabin is not only visually attractive with mood lighting, but this state of the art aircraft comes with all mod cons, such as USB ports, apple iPorts and individual 12 inch touch screen TVs.
 

 
I particularly like the large windows. Not only are they much bigger than comparable aircrafts, but they are also dimmable. If you fancy a snooze during the day time, you can reduce the light coming in, with the touch of a button!

I was amazed at how quiet it was in business class, but the Dreamliner has reduced cabin noise in both cabins. The cabin pressure is set to a lower altitude which means there is more clean air circulating the cabin. This reduces travel fatigue and headaches.
 

 
Menus are given in economy class too. I managed to get a glance at the breakfast menu and there were three choices available, grilled sausage with omelette, fish congee or buttermilk pancakes. Another highlight of Qatar Airways service is the unlimited drinks available throughout the flight, including premium spirits – a rarity in economy class these days!
 

 
You can also avail of WiFi on-board. There is a 30 minute free option which probably allows for one selfie post, but for $10 you can have unlimited use throughout the flight. All passengers receive an amenity kit with socks, toothpaste, eye masks etc and blankets and pillows are also given.
 

 
Kids are not overlooked either, I was really impressed with the kids packs. I brought one home to my daughter and she played with it for hours.

Qatar Airways fly daily from Dublin Airport to Doha with onward connections to 140 destinations. At the time of issue return economy tickets to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, are available from €602, with return business class saver tickets from €3098, both including taxes and charges. For more details visit Qatar Airways or see your local travel agent.

Note: I was on a press trip with Qatar Airways and the Malaysia Tourism Board but all views, as always, are my own.