IC Doha City
Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive? We booked the cheapest entry level and were upgraded to a one king bedroom suite, four or five level upgrade, no CSU voucher required. The suite sold for 50% more than the room we booked.
How are the rooms? The suite was beautiful, light and airy with new looking furniture and clean carpet. Very Kelly Hoppen, all beige and cream soft furnishings and colour co-ordinated sheer drapes with marble bathrooms. We were on the 44th floor, which was one floor below the lounge. Entry was into the living room. There was a guest cloakroom on the left and floor to ceiling windows straight ahead. View was over several hotels and the bay beyond. We had a sofa and a chaise longue with large TV opposite. There was an L shaped desk, stocked minibar with alcohol, Nespresso machine and kettle. Capsules were generic and there was no guide to say what they contained. Lots of different tea bags. Through the door into the bedroom there was a second TV and armchair opposite the bed. It was a corner suite and there were floor to ceiling windows on both sides. Soft fluffy gowns and thin slippers. Into the bathroom, with a freestanding bath looking out of the floor to ceiling windows. It was lovely soaking in the tub whilst looking out over the bay. There was a separate shower cubicle, again with full windows and another cubicle with the second lav and a bidet, no windows! There were, of course, blinds but we didn’t bother with them as the room wasn’t overlooked. Amenities were Byredo, screwed down and including bar soap.
View from the tub
How is the exec. lounge? Snacks all day. Brekkie from 6-10.30 with an egg to order menu, afternoon tea from 3-5 and happy hour from 6-8.30. No champers but plenty of beer, wine and spirits to choose from. Staff were helpful and friendly. I had read online that louche behaviour was frowned upon in ME but booze was flowing with constant refills. The food offering was rotated each day so plenty of variety.
What was good and what was bad? Good - generous suite upgrade. Ambassador welcome gift of fruit, a tray of macaroons and a bottle each of still and sparkling with a handwritten welcome card. Received 600 points plus a cocktail voucher as our Diamond welcome amenity. Compact pool with attentive pool man and well equipped gym on the top floor plus a decent spa. We booked five assorted treatments, including cupping and hammam. We could have eaten breakfast in the restaurant but the lounge was quiet and perfect for our needs. We were given a late check out of 6pm then welcomed into the Club Lounge for a bonus happy hour before catching a cab to the airport for our 1.20am flight.
Pool to ourselves in the afternoon
Bad - I prefer decaf coffee but could not tell which capsules contained decaf. When we used our cocktail voucher in the bar on the 2nd floor, the bartender poured the ingredients of my Negroni into a cocktail shaker and gave it a good shake. I prefer it stirred.
Value for $ or Priority Club Points? Would you return? We debated staying here or at the beach resort out of town and the nightly cost swung it. Our holibobs was only five nights so too short to visit both hotels as we couldn’t be bothered packing up to leave twice. City was half the price and located a quick cab ride from everything we wanted to see. Plus the weather was scorchio and we preferred to be close to indoor activities rather than frying ourselves on the beach. We paid approx £85 per night and would be happy to return if we visit Doha again. It was excellent value for money. I imagine Doha has a surfeit of rooms following Qatar’s hosting of the footie in 2022. Cab between the airport and the hotel cost just north of £8.