We stayed here from 4-7 Feb as it broke our journey up on QR. With hind sight, 3 nights is far too long on Doha as a tourist, but as neither of us had been to Qatar before it wasn't such a big deal.
We had both the concierge and also the lovely Westin experience specialist reach out to us before hand, and booked an airport pick up in an Audi A6 for 125 Riyals (30 GBP approx.)
I also mentioned we were celebrating our anniversary.
On check in they appeared slightly confused as to whether I was Gold or Plat. (I'm Plat) and told us we had been upgraded to an Executive room on the 5th floor. I had used points here at 10,000 per night so was a nice touch.
(Normally I'm on my own so UG's don't mean that much to me overall, apart from when I have Mrs Beano HK in tow! What will be interesting is when the 2 programs become fully integrated and the use of the app to flag when the trip really means something special to you and can interact directly with the property.)
We were led up to the room and were suitably blown away. The hotel room was not only very impressive but the hotel team had really gone the extra mile and comped us a nice bottle of red, an anniversary cake, a beautiful bed decoration, a bunch of red roses for my wife and a rose petal bath. I wasn't too familiar with the Westin brand before, but this has ensured that at least when I have the missus with me, it's going to be a Westin!
A really comfortable bed with fresh new linen - it looks like I'm now going to have to buy a new bed for home!!
Location wise it's just out of town. It's located opposite the Radisson Blu (it's actually very blingy gold) at the Ramada lights. (Radisson bought the Ramada but the junction name remains the same. There isn't too much in walking distance nearby but again opposite is a small mall called the "Centre". A few clothes outlets, plenty of jewellery and watches, and a fully stocked Tesco! Outside is a small pharmacy.
The lounge is on the 1st floor at the end of the corridor, past "The Mix" (which appears to be a smoky nightclub, we didn't go in). Open most of the day for tea, coffee etc. Happy Hour is 6-8 with a selection of various nibbles. Staff zealously guard the booze fridge and wanted my name and room number before serving me a beer!
I chose breakfast as my amenity, and you can take in the lounge or the restaurant. We used the restaurant and was very good, especially so if you like your carbs.
Four pools in total that I counted. We used the small indoor one next to the squash courts (2). A large outdoor one which must be great in season if a little too cold this trip, a smaller kiddy type one, one which is designed to look like a beach and appears shallow (we weren't sure about this one whether it is in dis-use or not) and a nice little indoor one (heated).
Squash court can be hired by the hour for 50 Riyals, they supply racquets, balls, iced towels, towels, fruit - use non-marking soles as Qataris's are fastidiously clean! If you have forgotten your gym gear, you can also hire trainers, shorts and a top for 20 QR, a nice touch.
Staff were excellent, one in particular, you know who you are and welcome to Flyertalk and went out of their way to be helpful.
Use a taxi rather than Uber to Souq Waqif, 10 QR from the hotel, 20 QR by Uber...
We booked an airport transfer, an A6 booked, received an A8, 80 QR.
The one small irritation was the motion sensors in the room for the night lights. Try as we might, and the staff, we couldn't turn the thing off resulting in me awaking many times in the night as I need total black out.
Would I stay here again? In a heartbeat. Excellent stay and one of my best ever.
I do have some photos but will post these after we return home as according to one of the other forums they are posting sideways from my iPad....