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After spending 11 nights within the Maldives and flying Qatar Airways’ 777 top quality from Male to Doha, we spent two nights in Doha previous to persevering with to america. Why? Nicely, primarily as a result of award availability to america hadn’t opened up as I had hoped, and that was our first first rate possibility.
I figured there was a silver lining right here. The Park Hyatt Doha opened in 2019, making it one of many latest Park Hyatt properties. As a World of Hyatt loyalist and basic fan of Park Hyatts, I used to be actually enthusiastic about visiting this property. Sadly I left upset.
I wrote about how the lodge was taking part in improve video games, however the lodge’s basic supervisor already reached out and apologized, so let’s name that water underneath the bridge.
The factor in regards to the Park Hyatt is that it’s priced fairly proper now, so I believe it gives fairly good worth for cash. The difficulty is that this doesn’t really feel to me like what I’d count on from a brand new Park Hyatt in nearly each means, from the room decor, to the service, to the pool. To me this feels much more like a brand new (and good) worldwide Hyatt Regency property.
Given how fairly priced “true” luxurious inns are in Doha (4 Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, and so forth.), I’d moderately pay the premium to have an important expertise.
Reserving the Park Hyatt Doha
We paid money for our keep on the Park Hyatt Doha, as the speed was solely $212 per evening. Ford booked us by way of the Hyatt Privé program. Hyatt Privé charges value the identical as normal versatile charges (not member charges, advance buy charges, AAA charges, and so forth.), and embrace the next extra perks:
- Every day full breakfast for 2 within the lodge’s restaurant
- A $100 property credit score per room per keep
- A one class room improve confirmed inside 24 hours of reserving (room-to-room or suite-to-suite) — primarily based on availability on the time of reserving
- Early check-in (as early as 9AM) and late check-out (as late as 4PM), topic to availability
- A welcome reward and letter
Admittedly a few of these advantages overlap with my World of Hyatt Globalist perks, however getting an additional $100 credit score throughout our keep whereas paying solely $212 per evening is a reasonably unbeatable deal.
For context, the Park Hyatt Doha is a Class 5 World of Hyatt property, that means that an ordinary room free evening redemption prices 17,000-23,000 factors per evening. Primarily based on my valuation of 1.5 cents per World of Hyatt factors, paying money was undoubtedly the higher worth.
Park Hyatt Doha location
Let’s begin the evaluate on a optimistic notice. The Park Hyatt is situated within the Msheireb Downtown Doha space, which I had by no means been to earlier than. That is supposed to be a “good metropolis,” and it has streetcars, fashionable however conventional structure, and a few superior espresso outlets. I actually preferred the concept behind this space.
In case you’re in search of one thing extra conventional, you’re only a 5 minute stroll from Doha’s Souq Waqif, and it’s not a lot additional to the corniche. I had by no means seen it as busy as this. It was Eid al-Fitr, and it appeared that every one the employees had the day without work, which was cool to see.
The Park Hyatt Doha is barely quarter-hour by taxi from the airport. So I give this lodge good marks with regards to location.
Park Hyatt Doha foyer & check-in
We arrived on the Park Hyatt Doha in the midst of the evening. As our taxi pulled up we have been helped by a bellman. Then our luggage needed to undergo an x-ray screening, whereas we needed to undergo a steel detector.
We then took the elevator as much as the third ground, the place the foyer is situated. The reception space is instantly forward when you enter the foyer.
I wrote in regards to the check-in expertise in a earlier put up, however lengthy story brief, we have been ultimately assigned a Park Suite. The lodge has fairly a giant foyer, although the property was utterly lifeless whereas we have been there. I don’t suppose we noticed one other visitor within the foyer throughout our total go to.
The foyer has loads of seating, and feels fairly elegant. I particularly respect the recent flowers.
There additionally appears to be a big space that’s a foyer bar of types, although the lodge’s web site doesn’t reference there being a foyer bar right here, and nobody advised us about it, so I’m unsure if it isn’t presently getting used, or what’s happening there.
Quickly sufficient we took the elevator as much as our room on the seventeenth ground. For what it’s price, the lodge has two units of elevators, as there are elevators going between the foyer and visitor rooms, after which elevators going between the foyer and floor stage.
The elevator buttons listed below are horribly designed. There are three impartial elevator name buttons for the 5 elevators going between the foyer and visitor rooms. So in the event you push all three, you’ll have three elevators coming your means. This labored when the lodge was virtually empty, although I don’t see this working so nicely if the lodge ultimately will get full.
Park Hyatt Doha Park Suite
We have been assigned room 1710, a Park Suite on the seventeenth ground. The Park Hyatt has a complete of 187 lodging, and 28 of these are Park Suites, so the property has a excessive ratio of suites to visitor rooms. Upon exiting the elevator, our room was to the fitting after which on the very finish of the hallway.
Normal suites on the Park Hyatt Doha are enormous, at 969 sq. ft. Inside the doorway was the lounge. The principle a part of the lounge had a sofa after which two chairs, together with a console that had a TV.
There was additionally a desk with two chairs, which may double as a desk. I appreciated how massive the desk was, although it virtually appeared prefer it ought to have had extra chairs.
Subsequent to that was the espresso & tea choice. There was additionally a mini-fridge, but it surely didn’t have something in it.
We obtained a welcome amenity on account of getting booked by way of Hyatt Privé, and that consisted of two bottles of water, recent fruit, and a few nuts and sweets.
There was additionally a half bathtub off the lounge, which had a sink and bathroom.
The bed room was separated from the lounge by a door, and was additionally a great measurement. The bed room had a king measurement mattress, a chair with ottoman, and a console that had a TV and self-importance.
The principle toilet was off the bed room, and had double sinks, a tub, a big walk-in bathe, and a rest room and bidet.
Toiletries have been from Le Labo, and particularly have been the Santal 33 scent, which I fairly like.
The room had views of the close by space, which weren’t notably inspiring.
I used to be impressed by what number of recent flowers there have been within the room. That’s not an insignificant expense, and I believed that was a pleasant contact.
I appreciated how massive the suite was. The factor is, to me the suite didn’t really feel like what I’d count on at a brand new Park Hyatt when it comes to the furnishings. Don’t get me improper, the suite was good, however in the event you confirmed me a room image, I’d have guessed it was a collection at a model new worldwide Hyatt Regency, and never a Park Hyatt.
However the extra I give it some thought, the extra I notice that Park Hyatt isn’t truly as constant of a model as one would hope. Even the images of the newly renovated Park Hyatt Toronto don’t appear to suit the everyday Park Hyatt design. For that matter, one even has to marvel what “typical” Park Hyatt design could be, when you’ve got properties just like the Park Hyatt Hamburg.
Park Hyatt Doha Opus Restaurant (breakfast)
Opus is the Park Hyatt Doha’s signature restaurant, and it’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Right here’s how the restaurant’s idea is described:
Welcome to Opus, a composition by Michelin Star Chef, Jean-Francois Roquette of Park Hyatt Paris in celebration of French and Qatari cuisines, ready in an open kitchen, cooked from the center and served sharing-style, the way in which meals is supposed to be loved.
Opus incorporates a magnificent out of doors eating terrace, the place you could dine within the first rays of morning or amidst the sunshine of Arabesque lanterns dancing on vaulted partitions.
There was nothing improper with this restaurant, however for a brand new Park Hyatt property with a restaurant that has a “Michelin star chef” behind it, am I the one one who finds the decor to be a bit bland, and virtually outdated-feeling?
I’m additionally unsure I’d go as far as the decision the out of doors eating terrace “magnificent.”
Anyway, breakfast was served day by day from 6:30AM till 11AM, and there was a buffet. The buffet itself was massive and fairly good. with each Western and Center Jap choices.
Drinks have been served by the workers. Oddly they couldn’t do any iced espresso drinks, although the cappuccinos have been fairly first rate.
Whereas there wasn’t a menu, there have been restricted choices you might order as nicely, together with eggs and avocado toast.
Park Hyatt Doha Sora Restaurant
The Park Hyatt Doha has Sora Restaurant on the twenty first ground, which is the lodge’s rooftop Japanese restaurant and lounge. We didn’t find yourself consuming right here, however I did snap some footage.
Park Hyatt Doha in-room eating
We have been going to exit for dinner on our first full day in Doha, however we ended up being so exhausted that we simply ordered room service. We ordered two fattoush salads, shish tawook, and a mushroom pizza.
The shish tawook was distinctive, as have been the fattoush salads.
The pizza, then again (that’s on me for ordering, however I’m a little bit of a pizza addict)…
Park Hyatt Doha health club & spa
The Park Hyatt Doha has a separate health club for women and men — the one for girls is on the fourth ground, whereas the one for males is on the fifth ground. The health club was wonderful, with numerous cardio and weight gear.
The entire spa setup was odd. Regardless that the spa was open throughout our keep, I by no means noticed anybody working on the spa at reception, and by no means noticed any company. You could find the spa menu right here. Between the spa and health club is a big locker room space, with a steam room and sauna. Once more, we by no means noticed anybody wherever.
Park Hyatt Doha pool
The Park Hyatt Doha has a pool on the fifth ground. Admittedly I’m probably not a metropolis lodge pool swimmer, although this must be one of many least spectacular luxurious lodge swimming pools I’ve seen in a very long time. There’s virtually no deck area, there’s no service on the pool, and the faux-grass sort of offers me airport pet aid space vibes.
Park Hyatt Doha service
Service on the Park Hyatt Doha was nicely intentioned however not what I’d count on from a luxurious lodge, as there was friction at actually each interplay.
For instance, once we ordered room service one night, the attendant got here with a bank card machine and mentioned we couldn’t cost it to our room. Huh? At inns, a bank card authorization is usually taken at check-in for incidentals, however he insisted that wasn’t attainable. How am I supposed to make use of my $100 Hyatt Privé credit score if I can’t cost one thing to my room?
However there was no drawback fixing on his half. He simply stood there after I requested him why it wasn’t attainable to make a room cost, as I defined I had a credit score I wished to make use of. So I ended up having to name the entrance desk, after which they needed to name him. All to have the ability to cost room service to my room…
Then there was breakfast, the place there gave the impression to be a little bit of a language barrier. There was one very pleasant lady working there who requested if she may get us the rest, like eggs or avocado toast. I advised her that sounded nice, and I’d order avocado toast in a bit.
I didn’t see that worker once more, however possibly quarter-hour later I requested one in every of her colleagues for an avocado toast. She didn’t know what that was, or appeared to suppose they didn’t have it. So then I needed to rise up and particularly strategy the worker who supplied the avocado toast so as to have the ability to order it.
Then there was the problem with arranging a COVID-19 fast antigen check for journey to america. We requested the entrance workplace workers about testing choices, and have been knowledgeable the one possibility was to go to a hospital. I’d a lot moderately pay a premium to have somebody come to the lodge (and that has been attainable nearly in every single place I’ve traveled), however she insisted that wasn’t attainable.
I requested once more the next morning, and was advised it was attainable, and the worker promised to contact their suppliers. We advised her we have been going to breakfast, and she or he mentioned she’d name the hospital and get in contact with us. After being at breakfast for possibly 90 minutes we returned to the entrance desk, and no progress had been made. Happily the concierge that arrived at that time was a bit extra useful.
Then there was a problem with the bellmen at check-out, although admittedly this principally isn’t their fault. Lengthy story brief, it wasn’t attainable to order an Uber to the Park Hyatt Doha, as a result of each time the lodge’s deal with was entered, it redirected to the Msheireb district.
The bellmen tried as nicely, they usually had the identical subject. It then took virtually half-hour to get a taxi. Provided that Ubers have been simply a few minutes away, I’d contemplate not having the ability to order Ubers right here to be a significant subject (I’m unsure if this was a short lived subject, or what?).
Like I mentioned, everybody was nicely intentioned, however we had points with each interplay we had with workers — at check-in, at breakfast, when ordering room service, with making an attempt to rearrange a COVID-19 check, and at check-out — so it’s onerous to contemplate this to be an important service expertise.
Backside line
Don’t get me improper, the Park Hyatt Doha isn’t a nasty lodge. On the plus facet, the lodge has a great location, a wonderful health club, massive suites, and it gives good worth for cash.
On the similar time, the lodge doesn’t really feel as luxurious as what I’d count on from a brand new Park Hyatt, and repair leaves quite a bit to be desired. To me this felt extra like a brand new (and good) Hyatt Regency than the rest. And whereas I’d nonetheless contemplate that to be a great worth for what I paid, I’d moderately pay a bit extra for a correct luxurious lodge.
We visited two metropolis inns on this journey, as on the way in which out we stayed on the Waldorf Astoria Dubai Worldwide Monetary Centre. Each are ostensibly luxurious inns, however the distinction between the 2 properties was evening and day.
From the large image to the little particulars, it was such a distinction. Everybody on the Waldorf Astoria was desirous to please and competent, the breakfast was considerably higher (lovely cappuccinos, iced lattes, an intensive menu to enrich the buffet, and so forth.), a lot effort was put into design and finishes, and so forth.
So I’m not saying you shouldn’t keep on the Park Hyatt Doha. However what I’m saying is that you simply shouldn’t count on this product to be aggressive with the town’s high inns. Perhaps I used to be simply unfortunate and had a nasty expertise, however in the end that’s all I can choose the lodge off of.
In case you’ve stayed on the Park Hyatt Doha, what was your expertise like?
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