Originally Posted by
platbrownguy
It's a fantastic hotel though and people are willing to pay it. I've done so a few times and thought it was well worth it -- particularly during covid to be able to de-mask in peace, etc. The pool is great, the spa is actually great too, and it's just so darn convenient. Plus it's not hard to bounce over to Al-Mourjan to eat and then come back. I booked the executive suite once and got random-upgraded to the presidential.
During 2019 and 2020 I used it a lot, enough that most people in the reception knew me by sight. It is *very* conveniently located, you can literally be in bed sleeping 10-15 minutes after getting out of your seat. For those 6-8 hour connections that is extrememly handy. I've had it for some 20+ hour stays as well, and it is still very nice. I never got around to use the pool, but it looks real nice.
I've had pretty much all room types and they are all nice, with these three caveats:
- use the food in the lounge if you have to eat, the room service is poor.
- wifi is poor in some rooms (but hey, that's a thing all over the airport)
- rooms have very few power sockets, even the bigger rooms.
There is one thing that I noticed, that I found a bit weird, though. In the Winchester Chapel, the porcelain is slanted forward, makes for a very weird and unsual sitting experience. Never had that in any other hotel anywhere in the world. It's the same in all rooms.
-A