Dear ANM,

Thank you for your note and apologies for not responding to you earlier. I just received a flyertalk notification on your post, but unfortunately never received an alert to your private message, leading to not getting back to you promptly. Please accept my apologies for this.
As per your note, you indeed stumbled upon a page on our website which dates back from 2012: http://www.stregisdoha.com/en/summer. Even though it is mentioned that the offer expired at the end of August 2012, it would have been a better decision from our side to remove the page all together to avoid any confusion and we will do so immediately.
I would like to reiterate the offer of our Reservations Manager, Hany. We would be delighted to offer you an upgrade to a John Jacob Astor Suite on a complimentary basis and wave the charge for the extra bed for your child. Rates do fluctuate, however we have a pre-paid rate available online this summer of QR 850. You can book it following this link: http://www.starwoodhotels.com/stregi...language=en_US.

However if you would prefer making the reservation offline, please do not hesitate to contact the reservations team via e-mail on [email protected] or via the telephone on +974.4446.0000. I have also informed our Reservations Manager Hany so he is aware.
I hope we can still welcome you to The St. Regis Doha this summer and please accept my apologies again for not responding to your direct message on flyertalk earlier.

With kind regards, Yves Dewaegenaere - Director of Marketing The St. Regis Doha

Hi Yves,
Many thanks for your message. The occasions (birthdays) for which I have been trying to book since 12 June have since then pretty much passed.

Just to make a few points;
The rate I was offered by your reservations was 1200 qar, I was told that the special rate of 850 qar could not be availed to be eligible for a complimentary upgrade. I assume this change (being able to book the lower rate and still be eligible for an upgrade) is thanks to you?

As I understand it, I would still need to pay the qar 200 extra for breakfast (if that is served during Ramadan) so in total it would cost me qar 1050.


In contrast, I see most recently on your website an iftar package that costs qar 1000, is inclusive of a suite or a sea view room, includes an upgrade to the next category of room, late checkout and an iftar meal.

http://exclusives.stregis.com/St-Reg...caleCode=en_US

Forgive me as I know you’re not under an obligation to do so: but is it just me or is the offer you’re making me not particularly attractive?

St. Regis Doha
 

Any recent stays here? SNA successes or declines? Plat treatment?

Wiki created.

Excellent hotel, with beautiful gardens and outdoor areas.
The bed was divine... Service was discreet, efficient and detailed.
Great recognition for Platinum: upgraded from basic room to Carolin Astor Suite.
Real nice breakfast with many options and indoor and outdoor seating.

What's the swimming pool and gym like at this property?

Not a TR, Just Some Random Thoughts
 

Just had a 13 hour stay at this property and thought that I'd post some random thoughts. Clearly, I don't have enough data for a real TR.

Airport pickup: The cost of a StR pickup at DOH (HIA) depends on the vehicle you choose. I took the least expensive, which was a BMW 5 series. Greeter was waiting right outside the Customs exit with my name on a sign. Smiling, pleasant and welcoming. He took my bags and we went outside to await the driver and car, whom he called on his cell phone. We had a very nice conversation about my travel that day, previous experience in Doha, weather, etc.

BMW arrived after a few minutes, and I was asked if I wanted to keep my laptop with me. Nah, I just got off a 13 hour flight, and was happy to have it put into the trunk and not to deal with it.

Driver was extremely professional; hands on the wheel at 10 and 2 at all times except when we got near the hotel and he called to warn of our arrival. Very smooth ride, small amount of pleasant chitchat with the driver.

As we pulled up to the hotel entrance/portico, there was someone to handle the bags as well as someone from the Butler staff to welcome me, make sure everything was OK, and take me to my room. No stop at FD.

Checkin formalities completed in the room. She took my passport to make a photocopy. We tried to access the internet using the code she brought with her; but neither of us was successful. She said that she'd have that resolved while she was photocopying my passport. She returned just a few minutes later with passport and a functional internet access code. She explained everything in the room to me, gave me her card and invited me to call her for anything I might need.

Room: The overall color scheme seems to be cream/beige and black. Looks very nice. And very high ceilings. It was a standard size room, and the upgrade apparently was that I had a fairly large balcony with two comfortable armchairs and a large coffee table, while most rooms had no balcony. I ate dinner out on the balcony.

The room was appointed very nicely, with appropriate furnishings, but not too much. In the entryway there were two closets. One was for hanging clothes, and the other had a bureau/dresser with eight drawers. Excellent, -- as someone who frequently has hotel stays of more than a week, I always notice and appreciate it when the room has an ample amount of storage space. There was a fruit bowl with three apples.

The bathroom was quite large, and everything was marble. Behind one etched glass door was a large shower with a rainfall showerhead and a handwand. The threshold and shower door closure wasn't designed correctly, so there is always a little water leakage out of the shower into the bathroom. The towel/bathmat in front of the shower took care of that easily.

Behind an adjacent etched glass door is a small room with a toilet and bidet. on the opposite side of the room was a large bathtub. There were loads of towels. Unsurprisingly, amenities were by Remede.

Room Service/Dinner: I wasn't all that hungry, so I ordered tabbouleh salad with Arabic bread. It arrived promptly and was delicious.

Butler assistance: A universal power plug adapter was provided in the desk drawer; but I couldn't get power to my computer. I called the butler service and sheepishly asked for some assistance, assuming that I was doing something wrong. Within a couple of minutes, two butlers arrived (I think that one was a trainee) with several adapters. Turns out that mine was inoperative, so replaced in a jiffy and everything was fine after that.

Pool area: I went downstairs and walked around the pool/beach area. It's beautiful. First, before you get to the pool, there's a garden area. The pool is huge and rectangular, with various types of lounges and cabanas around it. The beach is wide and sandy. At night, you look across the water to see the lights of downtown Doha on the horizon. Last night, when I was there, the sky was clear and the moon was full. It reflected beautifully off the ocean. Hard for me to imagine a more romantic setting.

Overall: The staff was great. Without exception, I found them welcoming, pleasant, smiling and eager to ensure that my stay was perfect. It looked like there are some great restaurants there, including one by Gordon Ramsay; and I'd love to go back with time to try some.

The hotel is in the middle of a lot of construction, with the result that you can't really walk anywhere for now. The government is also building an underground metro which, I was told, will have a stop either right at or very near the StR.

I was there during Ramadan (this year, from sundown on June 5 to sundown on July 5). Eating and drinking between sunrise and sunset are prohibited during Ramadan, as well as certain other things, like smoking, sex, lying, fighting, insulting someone, etc. The hotel does have food service during the day, but it's slightly limited. Also, alcohol is forbidden during Ramadan. I don't know if the hotel has limited alcohol service; but I did note that there was none in the refrigerator in my room, -- just soft drinks, water and fruit juices. The QR lounges at DOH are alcohol-free during Ramadan.

I found the interior and exterior photos of the hotel on the website to be accurate and representative, in case you're looking to get a feel for this place.

I'd love to go back for a week (and use SNAs). Between the pool and beach facilities, and a number of interesting things to see and do locally, a week seems about right.

In short, this is a great property, and reasonably priced, too.

Any recent SPG Gold experiences with this property? I've just booked in for 1 night and if this St. R lives up to the others, I think it will be an ideal place for me to relax and unwind between two very long flights. Any particular restaurant in the property stand out?

Just wrapped up a three-night stay here. I had a pretty poor stay. I was woken up one morning at 7:30 A.M. by housekeeping even though the Privacy light was clearly on. Another night the noise coming from The Rooftop Lounge was so loud I wasn't able to get any sleep until about 1:30 A.M. No dental kit in the room, took over an hour for butler to deliver one on arrival. Will stay elsewhere on my next trip.

Any recent stays here? I got a great flex rate for a few nights in April so jumped on it rather than staying at the W or Westin again. I’ve never stayed at a St. Regis before.

thanks.

You can check out my mini review at https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/star...roperty-2.html

It really is a great hotel. Pool, the rooms, food, brunch, all of it!

Can someone report on the breakfast situation for P/T/As, so that I can update the exec lounge sticky? Thx!

Cheers.

Ah, you noticed that, too. Yes, it took me a while to figure it out, and the elevator/stairs look like afterthoughts, as well.