remymartin

Any more recent reviews than gtp4all's review from June 2014? Are the points gtp4all raises addressed or for the worse these days? I've stayed at DT and spg properties as a comparison. The DT was very different from my other hotel choices.

cjd

We enjoyed or stay there in March 2017. On arrival, as a Hilton Honors Diamond member, we were upgraded to a large corner Executive room with comfortable King bed and large bathroom with free standing bath, separate walk-in shower and separate toilet/ bidet enclosure. Nice Executive lounge with good choice of food each evening and also wine and beer available. No spirits or sparkling wines as in some other Hilton Executive lounges. Great choice at the breakfast buffet in the restaurant each morning. Loved the pool area and private beach, which were very quiet during our visit. All staff were friendly There was some motorbike noise late at nights and we did hear this on a couple of nights even on the 11th floor, so if possible try and get a higher floor. Enjoyed our stay and would definitely return.

anabolism

I'm not sure what exactly you asked the hotel or the Diamond desk. You can always add a second guest to the reservation, booking either a paid rate or using points, and can easily do that online. As has been discussed, if you want to book a room only in your sister's name, that can be done using points by calling in. The issue with a second guest checking in without the primary guest being present is that the hotel will want a copy of all guests' passports. As I mentioned, the usual approach to that is to have the second guest check in and say the primary guest is traveling
separately, or, try faxing your passport (or both your and your sister's passports) to the hotel in advance, saying it is to save time at check-in. No guarantees, but this has worked for some people at some international properties.

Edited to add: I happened to say a post elsewhere that says that if you call to book a paid room in someone else's name (not in your name), the hotel will see your status. I have not ever done this myself so I can't say if it is true.

anabolism

I stay at this hotel fairly often, most recently a couple months ago. I'm too lazy to search for a post by someone from 2014, and you didn't link to it, so I don't know what the concerns are, but if you have specific questions I can try to answer.

remymartin

Thanks!

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/show...1&postcount=16

Is the choice of beverages still the same as described by cjd? I get the sense hotels might be trying more since the blockade came into effect? How are the other food & beverage outlets in the hotel?

anabolism

Sorry, I never pay attention to the beverages offered in the executive lounge during evening hors d'oeuvres. The lower level restaurant has a very nice breakfast spread, with many food items that are regional (e.g., halva, z'attar, certain cheeses). They have lunch and dinner buffet, but I haven't tried them.

holmedown

was there last week for 3 days - Exec Lounge:
06.00 - 10.00 Breakfast - as well as normal selection they will cook eggs to order - fried / poached / scrambled. Fresh orange juice and apple juice in the fridge
10.00-18.00 Cakes, cheese, biscuits
18.00 - 20.00 Hot dishes and salads - whilst there they had veg lasagne, and other decent offererings, plus soups and salads, cheese & biscuits, desert cakes
20.00-23.00 Just coffee machine from memory.

Various bottled beers in the fridges (sorry don't drink so didn't pay much attention)

Upgraded to room on high floor with sea view - good internet speed - didn't have to wait long for the elevators.

remymartin

Thanks! I noted you enjoyed the music from Pure in the DT thread. Does the Hilton have anything similar?

holmedown

There is a Tiki bar/restaurant/music club (can't remember the name) that belongs to the Hilton outside by the pool which goes on till late - think on Tripadvisor it was mentioned about the noise - but I didn't notice it but had a high room - but in any case it is not "club music" like the Doubletree. Given the choice of the two I would stay at Doubletree as was better for me.

anabolism

The Hilton Doha has a night club on weekend nights only. It creates a lot of noise (I was in a Panoramic Suite which is on the end) even on the highest floors. It also creates a lot of traffic to/from the hotel and in the area. I was in a hotel-supplied car from the airport and it was a mess with long delays just trying to pull into the hotel to let us off. It also causes crowds needing to be screened to enter the hotel.

remymartin

I stayed here for one night recently. I received an upgrade to a massive panoramic suite (corner suite). I did visit the Waikiki village but I can't say it was very busy on a Saturday night. I don't know if the hotel was not too busy, but the beach was highly underutilised.

jerry a. laska

I had several recent stays here. I was upgraded on each occasion, once to a panoramic suite. On one stay I had a late flight out and the hotel allowed me a 6pm check out without charge. Used uber to and from the airport and around town.

I thought that the breakfast in Mawasem restaurant was excellent and superior to the DT. The lounge offerings in the afternoon and evening were fine. The lounge would receive quite the rush in the evening and finding a place to sit could be difficult.

Watched premier league football at Shots the sports bar. The service in the bar was excellent even though it was quite busy as expats from all over had gathered to watch the match.

Trader Vic's is the night club on the beach separated from the hotel proper. I noticed no noise from the club on my high floor.

The fitness centre included a normal Hilton complement of aerobic machines and limited weights. It was never crowded in the early mornings when I was there.

Towels are provided for the pool and beach chairs. I never had a problem finding an open chair. In February/march, the hotel does block the afternoon sun from most of the pool/beach area.

I quite enjoyed the property and prefer it over the doubletree.

anabolism

What is the Waikiki village?

Trader Vic's is the restaurant/bar to the left of the beach. I believe there is a separate nightclub to the right of the beach, with a low building right on the beach, and a set back rooftop area for dancing and such further back. That one gets quite loud and very busy on certain weekend nights.

remymartin

That's the signage I saw or term I heard used for the low rise complex on the left of the beach. Perhaps it's tiki village, instead?

JJeffrey

That's Trader Vics restaurant/bar.