Our latest trip got under way at about 5pm when we picked Den and Sue up in the hire car and set off to the Perth Airport.
We made excellent time and by just after 7pm we were at the International Departures, having negotiated the major roadworks currently around the airport - thanks to Den sussing it all out earlier in the week.
After returning the hire car and gathering up our luggage we checked in for our Qatar Airlines flight to Vienna via Doha, then purchased some Duty Free booze (to be picked up on our return) and grabbed a quick snack and a couple of drinks while we killed some time.
Duly did the Security and Customs procedures and headed to the departure gates for a brief wait before we boarded our 777 aircraft for the leg to Doha. It was the first time any of us had flown with Qatar and we enjoyed great service and reasonable meals in a newish plane. The seating was still cramped though - nothing changes in that department - and Mumsie unfortunately was sitting beside a very large man who could not even put his tray table down because of his huge gut!
Needless to say she was rather cramped and had to share my space!
The 11 hours passed quickly enough, with a supper and then 7 or 8 hours of trying to sleep before breakfast. We both managed to get a decent amount of shuteye despite a crying baby and a bloke with an awful cough - and when we landed in Doha at 4.45am local time we weren't half as knackered as we thought we would be.
Our luggage was checked right through to Vienna so all we had to do was screen our hand luggage and then proceed into the huge Hamad International Airport where we had a 3 hour stopover. Hamad was only opened last year and while it is not quite as opulent as Dubai it is very impressive, with hundreds of shops, all facilities and free WiFi throughout.
We wandered for a bit and found where our next flight left from, then had a very expensive mug of tea $6.50 while we contacted all at home. After a some more browsing we made the 20 minute walk to our departure lounge where a bus took us out to our Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and then we sat for 45 minutes or so while latecomers got to their seats.
We took off right on time - very comfy in the flash new plane and enjoyed some excellent service and the smoothness of the plane through to Vienna!
After a very easy customs clearance we collected our cases- which had thankfully arrived - and proceeded to find our car driver who was taking us to the hotel.
He was waiting right outside and we were off in a flash taking only 15 minutes or so to get to our hotel (Hilton Vienna Danube) located right on the banks of the Danube River.
At reception we were asked if we wanted to upgrade to a river view room - naturally they had put us in the city view rooms - and after a brief haggle on the price we upgraded. It was a very wise move as our rooms were spacious and very well equipped, with huge windows looking out over the river - an excellent introduction to Vienna!
After showers and a change of clothes we took a walk along the riverfront through some parkland - not for very far though as we were starting to feel the pinch of our long flight. One thing we did notice was that many of the trees along the river had been chewed around the base and had mesh protection around them - it turned that Eurasian beavers have been re-introduced along the Danube and it seems they are already making their mark.
A unanimous decision was made to abandon further walking and proceed to the beautiful decked bar/restaurant in front of the hotel, and once again it was a wise choice as we enjoyed a few drinks and a snack before collapsing into bed at 7.30pm!