When I started looking to book our trip to Finland, the obvious choice was Finnair – not only because they seemed to be the only full-service scheduled airline with Business class from Edinburgh to Finland’s capital Helsinki, but also that it was an airline I have wanted to experience for some time now, and this was the perfect opportunity.

Once we had booked international flights to Zanzibar and back from Johannesburg, our original intention had been to stay in Zanzibar for a week (two different locations) before going to Giraffe Manor after a stay at And Beyond Mnemba, then onward to Mozambique with And Beyond too. As it turned out however, we couldn’t (initially) get booked for either And Beyond property, so I changed things around such that we would travel to Mauritius for Christmas, still initially going to Zanzibar and finishing up in Johannesburg for New Year.

Qatar Airways stands as a pinnacle of luxury, innovation, and unparalleled service in the realm of aviation. Renowned for its opulent cabins, state-of-the-art amenities, and a commitment to delivering an extraordinary travel experience, Qatar Airways consistently elevates the standards of air travel. Stepping into the world of Qatar Airways is an invitation to immerse oneself in the epitome of sophistication, where every flight becomes a seamless blend of comfort, elegance, and world-class hospitality.

I have a huge interest in spas either as a destination in their own right, or as part of a normal vacation, so I booked to visit the Bürgenstock Resort at Lake Lucerne then I looked to see how best to get there. There was a decent choice of daily direct flights with SWISS Air (albeit operated by Edelweiss Air), or alternatively some indirect options too. The flight times suited for the direct, taking just 2hr 15mins between Edinburgh and Zurich, and the same on the return. There was an early morning flight on the outbound, getting me to Switzerland for lunchtime, then a later afternoon flight on the return.