ON THE WATERFRONT: The view from the three-bedroom overwater villa at Banana Island Resort Doha. Photo by Anand Holla
By Anand Holla
Upon setting foot on Banana Island, you can instantly sense that it meets the foremost prerequisite of an island – it actually feels like a getaway.
After setting off in a swanky yacht on a 20-minute ride from Al Shyoukh terminal on the Corniche, which is located next to the Museum of Islamic Art, you get off at a fancy pier in a sufficiently marooned locale.
Cut off from the hubbub of Doha’s city buzz and yet looking out at West Bay and The Pearl-Qatar in the far distance, the newly opened Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara promises to be Qatar’s one-of-a-kind multi-faceted luxury destination.
Built on an exclusive 13-hectare island that boasts of its own marina and reefs in the turquoise waters of the Arabian Sea, the resort, developed by Al Rayyan Hospitality, aims to cater to everyone from honeymooners to families or even groups of friends looking to unwind or indulge in adventure activities.
For accommodation, there’s a lot to choose from the resort’s 141 units – 54 premier pool view rooms, 16 deluxe sea view rooms, eight sea view suites, 18 Anantara suites, 34 sea view pool villas, eight two-bedroom overwater villas, and three three-bedroom Anantara overwater villas. The standouts, of course, are the expansive overwater villas that tantalisingly embrace the sea while packing in overwhelming splendour all through its rooms.
The Maldivian-style resort incorporates Thai elements topped with what they call “a Qatari touch,” and the combined effect certainly seems interesting – both, to the eyes and as an experience. The place has a pleasant, laidback feel to it, and the private 800m beach or the uneven, sandy bylanes coursing through the lush landscaped gardens only add to its easy charm.
A quick run through the features would include the Anantara Spa, holistic wellness lifestyle programmes, nine dining options, fitness centre, tennis court, private marina for up to 30 boats, 100m-long lagoon pool, two lane surf pool, children’s pool with water slides, indoor botanical garden, children’s and teen’s clubs, beach volleyball court, water sports, fully equipped diving centre, 9-hole golf putting course, eight pin bowling alley, cinema, helicopter pad, and an observation area.
The Balance Wellness Centre, for instance, offers a tailored holistic approach, “which assesses your lifestyle, as well as physical, mental and emotional state, to devise a results driven programme that is personally prescribed for your individual needs.”
On offer is a choice of specialist retreats for relaxation, detox, fitness, weight management, yoga and alternative therapy, which are complemented by a whole range of fitness classes and revitalising activities, coupled with a nutritious spa wellness cuisine. But if it is sports that you seek, you can choose to stay on land and play some golf, basketball, tennis or such, or take to the waters by opting for personal watercraft rentals and tours, banana boat rides, ocean kayaking, sport fishing, wake boarding, wind surfing, or snorkelling.
For the more explorative sorts keen to encounter sunken shipwrecks, exotic sea creatures or just learn about the fascinating marine life, the resort offers scuba diving lessons for beginners, and even courses for professional dive instructors at the resort’s Diving Centre. And if you wish to take a trip out into the sea as a beginner or a seasoned angler, pro fishermen will join groups of up to four people to help discover the area’s very best fishing spots.
For many, surfing in the big blue sea may seem daunting. Here, you can learn to surf without having to brave the ocean, in a controlled environment with professional instructors. At the retreat, two lane surf pool waves can be stirred up to suit your skill level, allowing you to quickly grasp the techniques instead of leaving you all at sea.
One good look at the Cool Mint Kids’ Club and Pepper Mint Teens’ Club and you know that the kids needn’t feel left out. Professional child minders tend to and play with your little ones, while teenagers can help themselves to some video gaming fun in their arena above.
As for food, there’s everything from the Arabic-Mediterranean Al Nahham to the Italian Riva, from the wellness and organic café Zest to the American joint Ted’s; all to be savoured with calming sea views in this alcohol-free retreat.
In many ways, the resort is a fine getaway without really getting away from the city and yet getting away well enough to slip into pure holiday mode.
