During my around the world trip with dad, we had three nights in Doha, and decided to stay at three different hotels. After staying at the Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha and Katara Hills LXR Doha, we spent our final night at the St. Regis Doha Marsa Arabia Island.
Continue reading: Review: St. Regis Doha Marsa Arabia Island, Qatar
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
It almost seems like this was a part of the hotel intended to be purchased as a residence vs. a hotel suite. Especially with the full kitchen and space for a maid/helper.
I’ve stayed at multiple St. Regis and all of them leave something to be desired. The butler or personal concierge is an interesting touch but in my experience, rarely available when needed immediately, with the exception of dining since that takes time to prepare anyways. The remark about the low cost finishes and touches resonate with all of the St. Regis that I’ve stayed at - I almost wonder if the finishes portray that feeling.
It’s cracking me up that the food options are Turkish, Lebanese, Lebanese, Greek, Italian, or, if you want something different…Mediterranean
I was also looking at this for my next Doha trip and was wondering how much you would usually tip there. I never was in a hotel with butler service before.
@JK - I had the same thought. Having staff quarters is quite unique at a hotel.
Appreciate that this is not a "dry" hotel. Our recent stay at the Katara Hills Doha LXR was great, but for two Americans, not being able to have a glass of wine with an amazing meal was a bit of a disappointment (though we new this going into the stay). In doing a bit of research, the Katara Hills area of Doha has some cultural designation that prohibits alcohol sales.
is it just me or does this hotel just look completely souless? there is not 1 person featured in any of bens pics - by the pool, walking, lobby etc - i stayed in the other st regis in doha a few years ago - again nice hotel but that too was completely souless...
No need to tip in Doha, it is not expected or customary.
Whenever staff does an excellent job, you can of course decide to tip them, but please check whether they are allowed to accept this and / or get to keep the proceeds, since it this varies at hotels / restaurants.
Just FYI: After the World Cup: what next for Qatar?
https://www.ft.com/content/14dcfc23-217c-4f22-a046-1f91b2d5f40c
I get the impression there's a lot of unused hotel capacity in Doha. You can almost sense the tumbleweeds blowing through these reviews.
I think you need to find some new choices of words to use. Some of what you find amazing or that you rave about is not why I would choose a hotel.
It does not make sense that all of the one bedroom suites have only one bed but the two bedroom suites one bedroom has one bed and the other has two. Poor planning.
Service can be surprisingly bad when there are few guests because the staff have less to do.
to be fair:
1) Ben always wakes up extra early to take pictures when no ones around, so no one is disturbed and also to fully grasp all ambients of the hotel.
2) if im not mistaken, they went in low season when its 1million degrees outside, so not many tourists around.
Ben
how long are/were you in Doha? It's insanely hot there right now.
Even the usually perfectly climate-d airport seemed to be struggling last week when I flew through.
The new lounge is nice but somehow doesn't have the panache that the original did.
As a resident of Qatar, I started following your website to read your reviews on Qatar Airways as it is my frequent airline whenever I travel in and out of Doha. I am glad to see that you and your dad chose to stay in Doha as well and I got excited when you even did a review on Marsa Arabia. I hope you had a great stay despite the hot weather and yes I agree that hospitality here in Qatar is one of the best.
@Ben - just some feedback from a 10 year reader (maybe more?) :
Enough with the Qatar / UAE / Bahrain hotel reviews. Pleeeeease. These are some of the more boring places to visit, and reviewing hotels there over and over and over just got really old.
And, ok Dubai you can argue at least has some things to do in it etc. But, Qatar? Bahrain? Really? The fact these places have a large pool of hotels doesn't mean we need to read about all of them.
It's your blog (duh lol), but just wanted to pass this feedback as a long time reader.
I really don't get the concept of St. Regis, even less in Doha, where there are is such a large number of really excellent hotels. Everything looks bland and overpriced at the St. Regis.
This looks about as soulless as it gets. Why anyone would chose to stay in Doha is a mystery to me. Maybe it’s the novelty of an all suite St. Regis? Personally I’d go to the all villa St. Regis in the Maldives over this any day.
Worst Marriott managed property ever in the world
November 2023
Most horrible experience ever in Marriott family of restaurant! Even low end Marriott hotels have superb customer service skills!
From check in to breakfast to ease of staff is struggling! Very poor training in place. This property needs help and honest employees working.
You know being Ambassador Elite with Bonvoy, I stay enough at your properties and get exposure to your staff, upkeep of property & rooms, food & beverage options and amenities. I am also platinum Elite with Allcor & IHG. My wife is Diamond with Hilton.
So take it from this angle my feedbacks! This property ranks the top of your portfolio as the worst place to stay and spend money on. The employees from valet or porters to front reception check in staff to restaurant employees and food very poor.
My exposure in particular to Umami, Godzl & Ali HORRIBLE. There’s seems a personal relationship between (HR should be aware, he got very aggressive and defended her actions as normal) between Godzl & Ali, our issue came in on requesting 6 pm check out and Godzl comments with rudeness and facial language was we did as complimentary late check out till 4 pm and that’s a favor we did to you, we charge more money and you can pay and I will see if we have occupancy! (This hotel I will be surprise if has anything more then 15-20% occupancy. Regardless she went on started ignoring my request and told me to make sure check out at 4pm, I requested manager on duty to be arranged for me to share the experiences and request 6 pm check out.
Ali the manager had no idea what Ambassador Elite status meant just like the previous 2 front reception employees, they don’t know even you24 means! I was embarrassed by these plus other hotel staff was asked to join this conversation and they all were smiling and giggling like we don’t know and we should oblige with their commands. This location needs dire help on training and ethics on Marriott family!
Ali also told me he’s calling Police as it’s illegal offense to take pictures of the hotel and staff. This is a well witness event that took place, how humiliating! Check your cameras!
The breakfast staff from check in to food serves lack again training. Simple Earl Grey tea was challenge to get. All food was old dried and literally no sign of freshness. This again due to low occupancy rates and extending food shelf life is evident. Even Emil head butter demeaning attitude and tone in messages and phone answering person Lexi’s (I think) were initial signals of poor management this property, but I ignored.
I never felt so relived to check out and leave a country on this exposure and treatment of inferior human being by St Regis Marsa staff. I hate to even think who the GM is of this property that allows these atrocities to exist.
My wife was recommending we stay at Fairmont property but I insisted St Regis! What a mistake, other brands deserve our patronage. Being Ambassador Elite hasn’t any value within the Marriott family of restaurants it seems.
Have to disagree on the point around proximity to tourist sites. This is more like a 25 minute drive to the main museums… It’s a pretty far out location if here for a brief stay.