DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Doha Old Town {QAT}
Dec 28, 2018, 7:51 am
#31
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boston, USA
Programs: AA EXP, TK Elite, HH Gold, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 939
First of all, I have to say that the previous poster and I have a very different understanding of what 'close' means, as in 'close to the airport'. The Doubletree in Doha Old Town may be closer than, say, the Hilton downtown; 13 km compared to 19 km. But it still takes a fair while to get there, even when the traffic is thin.
Anyway, our recent stay was altogether enjoyable. The location is nice, the hotel is nice, the staff are nice, the breakfast is nice and if you keep your eyes open you should be able to get a very reasonable rate. We would happily stay there again.
HOWEVER -- and this is unfortunate because it has nothing directly to do with the hotel -- there is a major construction project just beginning (late December '18) in a lot adjacent to the hotel and there will be a lot of noise for the next weeks and months. Be sure to get a room on the side away from the work! You'll still hear it but it won't be as bad as if it were right outside your window. I reached two surmises about this situation. First, this construction project must already be behind schedule because the work continues well past midnight ( ! ) and resumes around 6 a.m. Second, it must have some influential backers that the builders can so blatantly ignore any 'anti-social hours' rules, especially in light of the objections one expects that the Doubletree and the other hotels in the area must have raised.
Anyway, our recent stay was altogether enjoyable. The location is nice, the hotel is nice, the staff are nice, the breakfast is nice and if you keep your eyes open you should be able to get a very reasonable rate. We would happily stay there again.
HOWEVER -- and this is unfortunate because it has nothing directly to do with the hotel -- there is a major construction project just beginning (late December '18) in a lot adjacent to the hotel and there will be a lot of noise for the next weeks and months. Be sure to get a room on the side away from the work! You'll still hear it but it won't be as bad as if it were right outside your window. I reached two surmises about this situation. First, this construction project must already be behind schedule because the work continues well past midnight ( ! ) and resumes around 6 a.m. Second, it must have some influential backers that the builders can so blatantly ignore any 'anti-social hours' rules, especially in light of the objections one expects that the Doubletree and the other hotels in the area must have raised.
Legally I think construction sites are closed between 12 and 4 in the afternoon.
Best time to work is nights and early AM for outdoor construction workers..
Dec 28, 2018, 8:04 am
#32
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Homeless
Programs: Hyatt Glob; Hilton Dia; Marriott AMB; Accor Dia; IHG Dia Amb; GHA Tit
Posts: 4,837
First of all, I have to say that the previous poster and I have a very different understanding of what 'close' means, as in 'close to the airport'. The Doubletree in Doha Old Town may be closer than, say, the Hilton downtown; 13 km compared to 19 km. But it still takes a fair while to get there, even when the traffic is thin.
If I am only there for 10 hours, give me the DT in 10 minutes by taxi rather than half an hour each way for Hilton.
But that's just me...
Dec 28, 2018, 12:01 pm
#33
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Tampere
Programs: BA EC Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,237
Jan 25, 2019, 3:16 pm
#35
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: EXT, LHR & ORD
Programs: AA EXP MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,613
Stayed three nights last week - loved the hotel - easy walk to the Souq and along the Cornishe.
Upgraded to Presidential Suite ! as hotel was overbooked
Breakfast buffet was OK - nothing to thrill about but ample choices
Ate in the L2 restaurant one night and food and service was good. They also do "business lunch" for QAR 90 which I thought was good value for the large buffet selection.
Wifi had good speed and never dropped a signal - and was watching amazon prime no problem
Staff there are really nice, welcoming and helpful, nothing too much trouble and always happy to see you and mention you by name whenever you go to the desk.
small bottle of wine and some pringles in the room. You also get a free drink voucher for "Pure" the rooftop bar/club and a QAR 70 voucher for the L2 restaurant
Asked for late checkout until 1.30 - was told could keep the room until 6pm if I needed it - no problem at all.
I got UBER to / from airport and was QAR 28
One point to note is the nightclub on the top floor is directly above the Suite (and can also be heard several floors down) This didn't particularly bother me as music is continuous so can sleep through it - I have more problems with noises stop / starting.
Presidential Suite Doubletree Doha
Upgraded to Presidential Suite ! as hotel was overbooked
Breakfast buffet was OK - nothing to thrill about but ample choices
Ate in the L2 restaurant one night and food and service was good. They also do "business lunch" for QAR 90 which I thought was good value for the large buffet selection.
Wifi had good speed and never dropped a signal - and was watching amazon prime no problem
Staff there are really nice, welcoming and helpful, nothing too much trouble and always happy to see you and mention you by name whenever you go to the desk.
small bottle of wine and some pringles in the room. You also get a free drink voucher for "Pure" the rooftop bar/club and a QAR 70 voucher for the L2 restaurant
Asked for late checkout until 1.30 - was told could keep the room until 6pm if I needed it - no problem at all.
I got UBER to / from airport and was QAR 28
One point to note is the nightclub on the top floor is directly above the Suite (and can also be heard several floors down) This didn't particularly bother me as music is continuous so can sleep through it - I have more problems with noises stop / starting.
Presidential Suite Doubletree Doha
Last edited by holmedown; Jan 25, 2019 at 3:27 pm
Mar 15, 2019, 5:27 am
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
Upgraded to Presidential Suite !
Wifi had good speed and never dropped a signal - and was watching amazon prime no problem
Staff there are really nice, welcoming and helpful, nothing too much trouble and always happy to see you and mention you by name whenever you go to the desk.
small bottle of wine and some pringles in the room. You also get a free drink voucher for "Pure" the rooftop bar/club and a QAR 70 voucher for the L2 restaurant
Asked for late checkout until 1.30 - was told could keep the room until 6pm if I needed it - no problem at all.
One point to note is the nightclub on the top floor is directly above the Suite (and can also be heard several floors down) This didn't particularly bother me as music is continuous so can sleep through it - I have more problems with noises stop / starting.
Wifi had good speed and never dropped a signal - and was watching amazon prime no problem
Staff there are really nice, welcoming and helpful, nothing too much trouble and always happy to see you and mention you by name whenever you go to the desk.
small bottle of wine and some pringles in the room. You also get a free drink voucher for "Pure" the rooftop bar/club and a QAR 70 voucher for the L2 restaurant
Asked for late checkout until 1.30 - was told could keep the room until 6pm if I needed it - no problem at all.
One point to note is the nightclub on the top floor is directly above the Suite (and can also be heard several floors down) This didn't particularly bother me as music is continuous so can sleep through it - I have more problems with noises stop / starting.
But anyway, the food voucher and beer voucher is dead. The small bottle of red wine and pringles are part of the mini-bar (always were, but things might be different in the Presidential suite!)
The nightclub noise reaches way down to floor twelve and probably below.
It's a hotel that upgrades by "sea-view", higher-floor type categories when it can.
All in all, fine if you are like the location and/or need to stay "on brand" but it's over-priced without the little frills they used to hand out. For diamonds it might be worth splashing out an extra USD30/40 to get the Hilton with its lounge, pool, beach, better upgrades and all-round nicer vibe.
Mar 15, 2019, 6:30 am
#37
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 5,269
Strange how a mega-upgrade colours our view of a hotel
But anyway, the food voucher and beer voucher is dead. The small bottle of red wine and pringles are part of the mini-bar (always were, but things might be different in the Presidential suite!)
The nightclub noise reaches way down to floor twelve and probably below.
It's a hotel that upgrades by "sea-view", higher-floor type categories when it can.
All in all, fine if you are like the location and/or need to stay "on brand" but it's over-priced without the little frills they used to hand out. For diamonds it might be worth splashing out an extra USD30/40 to get the Hilton with its lounge, pool, beach, better upgrades and all-round nicer vibe.
But anyway, the food voucher and beer voucher is dead. The small bottle of red wine and pringles are part of the mini-bar (always were, but things might be different in the Presidential suite!)
The nightclub noise reaches way down to floor twelve and probably below.
It's a hotel that upgrades by "sea-view", higher-floor type categories when it can.
All in all, fine if you are like the location and/or need to stay "on brand" but it's over-priced without the little frills they used to hand out. For diamonds it might be worth splashing out an extra USD30/40 to get the Hilton with its lounge, pool, beach, better upgrades and all-round nicer vibe.
Mar 15, 2019, 4:20 pm
#39
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: EXT, LHR & ORD
Programs: AA EXP MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,613
Strange how a mega-upgrade colours our view of a hotel
But anyway, the food voucher and beer voucher is dead. The small bottle of red wine and pringles are part of the mini-bar (always were, but things might be different in the Presidential suite!)
The nightclub noise reaches way down to floor twelve and probably below.
It's a hotel that upgrades by "sea-view", higher-floor type categories when it can.
All in all, fine if you are like the location and/or need to stay "on brand" but it's over-priced without the little frills they used to hand out. For diamonds it might be worth splashing out an extra USD30/40 to get the Hilton with its lounge, pool, beach, better upgrades and all-round nicer vibe.
But anyway, the food voucher and beer voucher is dead. The small bottle of red wine and pringles are part of the mini-bar (always were, but things might be different in the Presidential suite!)
The nightclub noise reaches way down to floor twelve and probably below.
It's a hotel that upgrades by "sea-view", higher-floor type categories when it can.
All in all, fine if you are like the location and/or need to stay "on brand" but it's over-priced without the little frills they used to hand out. For diamonds it might be worth splashing out an extra USD30/40 to get the Hilton with its lounge, pool, beach, better upgrades and all-round nicer vibe.
Mar 15, 2019, 10:37 pm
#40
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 5,269
Mar 16, 2019, 12:45 am
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
I quizzed reception staff and they promise the wine and pringles are, and always have been, part of the mini-bar stock. So you were most fortunate if you partook and were not charged
I did note that the humble bottles of water were very clearly labelled complimentary, so i'd expect a wildly expensive bottle of wine to be so tagged if it were indeed a freebie.
The explanation for withdrawal of beer and food vouchers was that these originally stood in lieu of an executive lounge; but as everyone now knows DoubleTrees don't have lounges, these privileges were withdrawn. I corrected the manager on that analysis
They did say they were looking into a way of separating Diamonds et al from the rest of the guests in the breakfast room(s). That just sounded silly.
To escape nightclub noise, avoid upgrades to a higher floor and go for level 10 or lower.
There's better value in Doha, though perhaps not in-brand - although I do rate the Hilton, it can get pricey.
Mar 17, 2019, 6:20 am
#44
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Muscat/Doha/Manchester
Programs: Oman Air Gold, Qatar Airways Platinum, Marriott Ambassador, HH Diamond, GHA Black, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 432
I have stayed in the hotel already around 20+ nights this year and the loss of the voucher is a big hit for me! as it was really useful and it encouraged me to spend more in the in room dining say, so not sure why they removed it!
I have to say the management of the hotel is really good from the front desk manager to the operations manager and they understand the club is a big headache for the hotel guests however it is also a massive revenue generator for the hotel and is probably the only hotel in Doha that operates at a near 100% capacity most nights.
However my time there maybe coming to an end because there is very few perks as a Diamond member there and as a Marriott Ambassador member I can get better benefits at the Marriott properties in Doha now than I can at Doubletree (Hilton Doha is decent but the lounge is nothing to write home about and the decor is quite dated).
I have to say the management of the hotel is really good from the front desk manager to the operations manager and they understand the club is a big headache for the hotel guests however it is also a massive revenue generator for the hotel and is probably the only hotel in Doha that operates at a near 100% capacity most nights.
However my time there maybe coming to an end because there is very few perks as a Diamond member there and as a Marriott Ambassador member I can get better benefits at the Marriott properties in Doha now than I can at Doubletree (Hilton Doha is decent but the lounge is nothing to write home about and the decor is quite dated).
Mar 17, 2019, 11:54 am
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,813
I had a stay here a couple of weeks ago. Check in was slow, and they were initially provided an upgrade but to a smoking room which I did not want; after some back and forth they eventually provided the room type that I had booked. As a diamond, I received the drink and food vouchers.
I ended up on a lower floor so the noise from the club wasn’t noticeable although the area does attract quite a bit of traffic.
I was quite satisfied with the quantity and quality of items provided at the breakfast buffet in the restaurant but the buffet at the Hilton is much nicer.
I had a couple of stays at the Hilton also and if the rates are anywhere close I will continue to choose the Hilton.
I ended up on a lower floor so the noise from the club wasn’t noticeable although the area does attract quite a bit of traffic.
I was quite satisfied with the quantity and quality of items provided at the breakfast buffet in the restaurant but the buffet at the Hilton is much nicer.
I had a couple of stays at the Hilton also and if the rates are anywhere close I will continue to choose the Hilton.