Month: December 2016

Marsa Malaz Kempinski Doha

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Hotelchain: Kempinski
Location: Doha – Qatar
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: kempinski.com/…/marsa-malaz-kempinski-the-pearl-doha

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Marsa Malaz Kempinski is a top five star hotel located at the Pearl in Doha. It is among the most luxurious hotels I have ever stayed at and was truly blown away right from the moment I stepped into this hotel. Let me first tell you something more about the location. The Pearl is a great relaxing area right outside the center of Doha. I enjoyed this area as there are many shops, a marine and a lot of good restaurants. The relaxed and holiday atmosphere are perfect for relaxing… This definitely is the place to be to unwind and have a great time with your family. Marsa Malaz Kempinski is located on a manmade island and offers 281 of the most comfortable hotel rooms one could wish for.

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I have traveled a lot through the Middle East and visited a lot of five star properties and the lobby area is among the nicest and most impressive lobby areas I have ever seen. The tree of life with the birds definitely is an eye-catcher. Entering Marsa Malaz Kempinski hotel is like entering a world full of luxury and attention to details. I just couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the four signature Murano-glass chandeliers. I would rather call this a palace instead of a hotel. Behind every corner, a new surprise is waiting.

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As mentioned before, there are 281 rooms … all of them of a very high standard. Rooms are very spacious starting at 75m² (807sf), trust me they are huge! The rooms are decorated in a very elegant and luxurious way. This definitely is what every five star hotel room should look like. The couch is great to unwind and the oversized desk is perfect to do some business. Our balcony overlooked the sea. Bathrooms are very elegant too featuring a separate and very large (rain)shower, bath tub with your very own television and separate toilet. I loved everything about the room and its layout. It is all about the small things such as the fresh flowers, etc. that makes the Marsa Malaz Kempinski hotel unique. They maintain everything at Marsa Malaz Kempinski in an excellent way. The rooms are cleaned every day and turn down service is provided every night.

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It is impossible to get bored here. This is a beach resort and I thoroughly enjoyed the 7 (!) outdoor pools and beach area. This is one of the few hotels in Doha that has a direct access to a private beach. The beach itself is wonderful and there are plenty of comfortable loungers. The pool staff is great and take care of you in a very kind way. During the day they play cool music which gave me a true holiday feeling. So nice! On top of that, you will never forget that you’re in a luxurious resort… They are cleaning this place all day long and will make sure you have the time of your life with your loved ones.

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Looking for a heavenly retreat? Make sure to visit the Spa by Clarins. I experienced Marsa Malaz Kempinski’s Hammam, one of their signature treatments. I was pampered and loved every single second of this treatment! From the lovely aromas to the latest scientific active ingredients, it was perfect. My mother had a facial and she is used to getting facials all the time but the one she got here was among the best she has ever had! The staff was very professional, kind and knowledgeable about all the products. On top of that, the spa is beautifully decorated and the soft music playing makes it totally unique. Next to the spa area is a full sized fitness area with the latest technology equipment.

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There are several dining options here. We tried them all and all of them truly blew us away! Toro Toro for example is a trendy place with a delicious Spanish cuisine. The ocean views here are just stunning and we loved the cocktails and small bites. What a great atmosphere and excellent service!

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After our small bites we experienced their beachside restaurant Amwage Grill,  where we were seated at a table on the beach. Trust me, we will never forget the experience! Words can not describe how wonderful the food and staff were. From the BBQ prepared meat to the most yummie desserts, we loved every second and every single bite. The other night, we had dinner at Al Sufra, their award winning Levantine restaurant and enjoyed an Arabian cuisine of the highest level! Every single item we tasted was divine! The Arabian meal emphasized togetherness, the pleasure of taste and was served by very professional staff. The waiters were very knowledgeable about each dish, even about the drinks. I found the food quite innovative and sophisticated! There even was live entertainment/music which made the experience even more special. No wonder this restaurant is rated among the best in Doha! Highly recommended to visit even if you’re not staying at the hotel. You won’t be disappointed! Breakfast is served at Sawa and I can honestly tell you that the breakfast served at Marsa Malaz Kempinski is one of the best breakfast buffets I have experienced anywhere. Choices are endless … and everything is freshly prepared with a smile.

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Marsa Malaz Kempinski is one of kind and we were sad to leave! This hotel definitely is one of the best five star hotels in Doha and offer their guests a true five star experience. I can’t wait to return to this jewel!

Shangri-La Doha

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Hotelchain: Shangri-la
Location: Doha – Qatar
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: shangri-la.com/doha/shangrila

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Rated as one of the best hotels in Doha, the Shangri-La Doha definitely deserves its good reputation. The hotel is located right in the middle of it all and offers five star facilities. As usual, we were greeted with a smile and the staff made us feel at home right from the first moment we stepped in. I immediately knew that this stay was going to be an amazing one and it was … let me tell you why.

As you know, I visited many Shangri-La properties and was impressed by all of them. They definitely know how to treat their guests and service here is on a very high level. The Shangri-la Doha definitely deserves its high reputation! Most staff members remembered my name which made me feel like a VIP guest. Every time I met someone, they were all very warm yet professional.

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We stayed in a Horizon Deluxe room and were pretty impressed. The room was very comfortable, had a good size and had all the amenities I would expect at a high level five star hotel. The beds are among the best I have ever slept in, the bathroom had a television and I appreciated the oversized working desk. They maintain their rooms in an excellent way, several times a day your room will be cleaned and turn down service is provided every night.

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There are a lot of fun things to do here at the Shangri-La Doha! The pool area for example is just stunning. It almost felt like a beach resort although the hotel is located right in the center of Doha. This is the perfect place to relax and unwind. Palm trees, comfortable loungers, etc. great! There’s a separate kids pool as well. During the day, soft music is playing which creates a great atmosphere.

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Located near the swimming area, it a full equipped fitness center with the latest technology equipment. The spa area is one of the nicest I have experienced. The place is just beautiful … It is like entering a world of pure relaxation. Fantastic, I loved it! Dark wood, relaxing music and the most wonderful staff … This is how every spa area should be like! I thoroughly enjoyed my treatment here. The therapist was a professional and advised me to use the steam room before she started the treatment. A great advice! It definitely stimulated the muscles. My mother totally enjoyed her facial which was also done in a very kind way. We both felt like reborn after our treatments, like we could handle the world 🙂 I highly recommend to book a spa treatment here! Oh, by the way, you can use a vitality pool after your treatment to even more relax.

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Since we were staying in a Horizon Deluxe Room, we had full access to the Horizon Club Lounge which is located on the 42nd floor. It actually is the largest club lounge in Doha offering 360° panoramic views over Doha! The lounge is very luxurious and we appreciated the personalized service. Soft and hot drinks are served here all day long. Every morning a nice breakfast buffet is available with the most yummie items one could wish for. Everything is prepared here with fresh ingredients and I especially liked their yoghurts with berries and mango. Service again is top notch, each staff member did their upmost best to serve us in a very professional way. They chatted with us, not too much, but just right … making us feel at home again. At night, cocktail hour is from 6pm – 8pm with alcoholic drinks such as sparkling, red and white wine and a buffet with small bites. I highly recommend an upgrade to a room with access to the Horizon Club, it is a great value as you can have drinks here all day long, enjoy some alcoholic beverages and appetizers during the night.

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The Shangri-La Doha has several dining options and we were lucky to be one of the first guests at the newly opened Shanghai Club which opened 2 weeks before our stay. The Shanghai Club is located on the highest floor offering the most amazing views over Doha. Decoration is fantastic, the way they combined the colors with all the decoration and furniture is lovely. We were both very impressed and not only by the decoration, also the food was just delicious. From the twice cooked beef short ribs and cucumber salad to the Stir-fried scallops, prawns and egg white with black truffle, we loved every single bite. Make sure you try one of the desserts! I tried the deep-fried lychee ice cream with citrus ginger soup, I could eat this every single day 🙂

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I also enjoyed lunch at Sridan. The restaurant looks like a traditional Arabian souq with several food stations. This buffet restaurant offers the best food and drinks! There’s just something for every one’s taste, choices are endless and all prepared in an excellent way. Breakfast is served here too. The large buffet will please anyone. I did prefer the breakfast at the Horizon Club though as it was more quiet and the variation was about the same. They seem to prepare everything here in an excellent way. The yoghurts were among the best I have ever tasted, anywhere AND they change every day! Loved it!

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A stay at the Shangri-La Doha is always top notch… Of course, it’s a Shangri-la Hotel after all! I can not say enough good things about this place. Location is great, food is yummie, rooms are luxurious and the service level is unseen. Highly recommended for a luxurious Doha getaway!

W Doha

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Hotelchain: W hotels
Location: Doha – Qatar
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website:  whoteldoha.com

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The W Doha is a luxurious trendy five star hotel which is located in the middle of Doha. It is currently rated as one of the best hotels in Doha and offers 442 rooms and suites. I did not expect to find this kind of hotel in Doha. The building itself is quite impressive especially at night when the lights are on and the music is playing. When I entered the hotel, I immediately noticed the beautiful blue hanging lamps… It truly is just gorgeous and definitely an eye-catcher! Especially at night! I also loved the fresh flowers all over the place. Very nice!

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Check-in was very efficient and they explained everything we needed to know about the hotel and its facilities. The W hotel is not an ordinary hotel, it is one of the most comfortable and trendy hotels in the city! There’s a cool vibe all over the place and they know how to treat their guests. Every staff member I met was very helpful and professional assisting me with anything I asked for. Oh, I love the fact that they give you some sort of business card with a number on it so you can whatsapp whatever request you may have. How cool is that?

The rooms at the W hotel are large, comfortably appointed and their feather beds are amazing! They used soft colors and I definitely liked the curtains throughout the room. Bath room was very luxurious offering a large walk-in shower and separate bath tub. High quality Bliss toiletries such as the mouth wash were great.

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The restaurants here, each rated among the best in the city, are fantastic! From Asian to European cuisine, they have it all! The first night we had dinner at Spice Market, an authentic South-East-Asian street food restaurant which mainly serves Thai dishes. Almost unbelievable how they manage to combine all the flavors. I could eat the Thai soup every day! The other night, we tried Market (a European style restaurant) by Jean-Georges. Food was fantastic and service was very efficient and fast. I appreciated the fact that the staff had a great knowledge of each dish. Do try the Black truffle fontina pizza, one of their signature dishes. You won’t be sorry! 🙂 Breakfast is served here every morning too, by the way. It is a buffet style breakfast which will please anyone. On top of that, I enjoyed lunch at La Spiga, an Italian restaurant with a great atmosphere. I love the fact that every single restaurant at the W is something totally different … but the food is always delicious! The quinoa salad was to die for. Thumbs up! By the way, did you know that every restaurant has its own ‘Menugram’? That is right, you can see a picture of the actual dish you are ordering. Very convenient and very 2016!

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The pool at the W Doha is great and the lounge and sun area offers amazing views over the city. I liked the fact that there’s a lap pool. It can be so annoying that some guests are swimming laps and disturbing other guests (and vice versa)… Well, they don’t have this problem at the W. Very smart! Right next to pool is a fitness and spa center. Although I did not experience a treatment here, the spa center does look nice and intimate.

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As one would expect, you really can’t go wrong by booking a room at the W Doha. From the trendy and comfortable rooms to the delicious restaurants, the W Doha is great five star property which offers the very best to their guests.

Airport hotel: Hotel Schiphol A4

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Hotelchain: Van der Valk
Location: Amsterdam airport – The Netherlands
Classification: 4 star hotel
Official website: hotelschiphol.nl

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The Van der Valk hotel near Schiphol, Amsterdams international airport, is a four star hotel with great facilities. The hotel is quite large and offers comfortable rooms, a nice restaurant and wellness facilities. The lobby area is quite spacious and front desk staff was very professional and efficient.

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The room I stayed in, or should I call it a suite, probably was the most comfortable room near an airport I ever stayed at. The Top Suite features an oversized circle jacuzzi, a steam shower and an amazing king sized bed. Other amenities were the coffee machine and good toiletries. Those suites offer plenty of space (65m²) and truly are heavenly after a long flight. I imagined myself relaxing here after spending hours in an airplane!

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I am in love with the indoor pool! It is opened from 7am – 10pm and the water temperature is great! It is so nice to be able to swim after your flight and to unwind in the spa area afterwards. That’s right, guests can use a traditional sauna, infrared sauna and a steam shower. The heated loungers are perfect! I appreciated the fact that everything was very clean and smelled fresh.

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There’s a full service restaurant at the Van der Valk Schiphol hotel. I didn’t eat here, but the restaurant looked refreshing, comfortable and the menu looked great.

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The next morning, after a wonderful night in the large king sized bed, I went down for a work out. The fitness center is located next to the swimming pool and offers up to date equipment. Always nice to be able to watch television while you’re working out. It also opens at 7am in the morning, but you can request to use to fitness earlier if needed.

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After the working out and a great shower, I totally enjoyed breakfast. The breakfast buffet at the Van der Valk Schiphol is varied and has something for everyone.

The Van der Valk Schiphol is a great hotel near the airport of Amsterdam. They organize complimentary shuttle service from/to the airport and you can leave your car on the parking at affordable rates. By the way, the first 24 hours of parking are complimentary. Highly recommended to stay here before or after a flight as the rooms are very comfortable and due the wellness facilities!