Review: Ritz Carlton, Doha

The lobby itself was beautifully decorated with fresh orchids and marble flooring, with a large seating area for guests to sit and relax.

However, despite not carrying any luggage it would have been useful to have had someone point the way to our room, as having to guess the floor number was not practical.

Once in the room, the large queen size bed and huge plasma screen were more than inviting. The bathroom was spacious, with a separate area for a bathtub and shower compartment. But beware of the mouthwash placed near the sink, as it contains alcohol. Other than that, all facilities were made available, from free internet access to having transportation arranged.

We never waited longer than 10 minutes for a taxi ordered via the hotel. If you are planning to go anywhere near the city centre, leave at least 45 minutes before your meeting, as the hotel is rather isolated from the rest of the city and traffic in the afternoon can be nerve-wracking.

A selection of cuisine

There is no need to travel outside the hotel for your meals, as a wide range of Eastern and Western restaurants are available inside the 23-story building. The hotel's signature French restaurant is Le Mar, which offers an extraordinary view of the Arabian Gulf and a line up of luxury yachts lined up at the marina.

For a wider selection of cuisine, The Lagoon offers buffets with a rich blend of Continental, Arabic and Far Eastern food with a more laid back casual dinning experience. And for a quick snack or coffee you can always drop by the European styled café located in the foyer.

If you need a visit visa to Qatar, the hotel will organise it, and it will also send a driver to pick you up at the airport, with a choice of having a luxury or ordinary shuttle car.

Sadly though, having enjoyed our stay, the check-out was rather disappointing, taking nearly 30 minutes. The reception desk refused to charge the corporate credit card without it being physically present, despite having checked before arrival that all was fine with the payment.

After a long wait they finally agreed to finalise the check-out process and apologised for the delay.

Despite that, our overall stay at the Ritz Carlton was very pleasant.

See also:
Review: Moevenpick Tower and Suites, Doha
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