Shangri-La Doha

1

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

2

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.

15

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.

3
5 4

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.

7 8

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.

16
11 17

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.

6
12
9

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 🙂

13
19 20.PNG

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!

18
21.PNG

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!

Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur

16

Hotelchain: Shangri-La
Location: Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official websiteshangri-la.com/kualalumpur/shangrila

17

Rated as one of the top 3 hotels in Kuala Lumpur, the Shangri-La KL is located on one of the top locations of the city. The major attractions in Kuala Lumpur are reachable within just a few minutes. As soon as I entered the hotel, I was blown away by the stunning and bright lobby area. And I immediately noticed the typical Shangri-La smell which I like very much. We were welcomed by friendly bell staff and check-in procedure was efficient and only took 2 minutes.

3
2.jpeg

The room we stayed in was nice and had a good size. It was not the most modern room I have slept in but it had great beds and a comfy couch which was ideal for browsing on my iPad and enjoying the surrounding views over Kuala Lumpur. The oversized desk was perfect for doing some work. Internet speed was excellent by the way! The marble bathroom had separate tub and shower. As in most Southeast Asian hotels, standard toiletries included dental and shaving kits.

1
11 12

As we had an executive room, we had access to the great executive lounge. The grand lounge is extremely comfortable and the personal service was appreciated very much. Complimentary drinks are offered throughout the day. Afternoon snacks and appetizers are there during afternoon and at night several cocktails can be consumed at no additional charges. It actually is a great bargain to upgrade your room with lounge access. You don’t have to leave the hotel at night as you can have small bites and drinks at the lounge. Club guests can have breakfast here too which I recommend. Although the variety of the food downstairs is amazing, it was very busy. At the lounge, it is more quiet and there’s still a lot of food to choose from! But if you want endless food options, go downstairs… the buffet is just huge and service is still very good.

13
6
4 5

Dinner at Shang Palace was one of our highlights of our stay at the Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and the food was top notch! We tried the tasting menu and it did not disappoint. From the chicken rice to the mango dessert, we enjoyed every bite!

8 9

The pool area at Shangri-La is quite large with plenty of sun loungers and cabanas. You can even see one of the two Petronas Towers which are nearby. Next to the pool area is the fitness center. At most hotels the fitness centers are located in the basement, but the one at Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur offers beautiful views over the gardens. It was one of the best fitness facility I have experienced. The place is huge and very well maintained. Also the spa is a must visit! The treatments they offer are wonderful and done by very professional staff! Decoration is amazing and so relaxing! Highly recommend to book a treatment here.

15

I am a fan of Shangri-La hotels because of the service level. Every staff member I met was greeting me with a smile. They seem to really enjoy their job and want to make sure that everybody is having a nice time.

The Shangri-La in Kuala Lumpur deserves its high reputation! Location is great, the rooms are wonderful, food is delicious and staff is most accommodating! Loved every second of my stay here!

Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri – Abu Dhabi

Knipsel

Hotelchain: Shangri-La
Location: Abu Dhabi – UAE
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: shangri-la.com/abudhabi/shangrila

Located near the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the luxurious Shangri-La Hotel Qaryat Al Beri is one of best five star hotels in the Abu Dhabi area and prides itself in the quality and attention given to every detail of your stay! The hotel has a modern Arabic style with amenities of the highest level which will please everyone. The location is just stunning. All over the hotel you can see the Grand Mosque giving you the true Middle East feeling and experience. I have so many good experiences with other Shangri-la hotels and was so excited to experience this one!

17.jpg

When I entered the hotel, I was just blown away by the most stunning lobby area. Gold and marble all over the place… It is such a gorgeous place and we were welcomed by the most friendly staff ever which is something Shangri-la is known for… hospitality in a very kind and professional way. They offered Arabic tea and a cold towel before checking us in. Throughout our stay, reception staff was always helpful and goes the extra mile.

8
16 10.jpg

The room I stayed in was very luxurious and perfectly set up. It is all about details here: fresh flowers, mood lighting, etc. It is just perfect. Everything is very well kept and housekeeping will do their upmost best to maintain the entire hotel. The quality of furniture is of a very high standard as you could expect. I particularly liked the marble they used in the bathrooms. The bathroom featured a separate bath tub and (rain)shower, also fresh plushy towels and bathrobes are provided. The room had a good size and the balcony overlooking the mosque was great to hang out and enjoy the stunning surrounding views. The little touches that catch my attention: housekeeping noticed my personal toothpaste was almost gone and left me a new small tube and leaving chocolates, bottles of water and glasses next to the bed at turndown. We had access to the Horizon Club with complimentary soft and hot drinks during the day. Alcoholic drinks and light bites are offered every night from 6pm – 8pm. As always, personalized services was outstanding.

3.jpg 4
5.jpg 6.jpg

The pool and ‘chill out’ areas of this Shangri-La are spectacular. Again, with stunning views of the Mosque. It does look like paradise and I couldn’t imagine any better place to read a book, relax and enjoy life.

14
2.jpg

There are several fine dining options here. The first night we had dinner at Shang Palace, the Chinese restaurant which almost every Shangri-la property has. The food was great as was the service. From the spicy chicken salad to the lamb… we liked it all! The restaurant was very nicely decorated too. The second evening we experienced p&c, their beach side restaurant with famous (rated with 2 Michelin stars) chef Sergi Arola. I was surprised by this ‘kind’ of restaurant and didn’t expect to find it here, the design was very hip and modern. Very classy and totally different than the rest of the hotel. The food was delicious! Chef Arola has taken the concept of tapas and you won’t be disappointed having dinner here! Other fine dining options are Bord Eaux with a French cuisine, Hoi an with a Vietnamese cuise and Sofra Bld. One day we had lunch at Sofra Bld and were thoroughly blown away by the buffet. The food options were endless… Asian and Arabic cuisine… It is all there and the quality of the food was outstanding! It actually is a buffet style restaurant with multiple live cooking stations. Highly recommend to have lunch here, the restaurant itself is beautifully decorated with the grand staircase in the middle. Breakfast is served here too and was one of the best buffets ever experienced! I appreciated the fresh juices a lot!

19.jpg
12 13

When you are staying at the Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, there are 2 things you should definitely check out: a boat ride throughout the resort and a visit to their CHI spa center.
The boat ride – and not just a boat, it’s called an ‘abras’, a traditional Arabic boat – takes you to the hotel’s souk. On your way you can enjoy a fun and romantic ride on winding waterways. We were surprised by how large this complex is…

21 15.jpg

CHI, the spa area of the Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri hotel is a stunning place for totally relaxation! All massages and treatments they offer are based on authentic natural healing methods found in traditional well-being practices shared by many Asian cultures. I totally enjoyed my 90 minute treatment, they took care of me in a very professional, warm way. I was able to relax and rejuvenate both my body and mind. I definitely recommend booking a massage here.

The Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri has it all and no wonder it is rated as one of the best hotels in Abu Dhabi. Part of the magic of their attention to service is that you actually don’t see it. You just experience it. I’m a (huge) fan and can’t wait to go back some da

Shangri-La – Toronto

Knipsel

Hotelchain: Shangri-La
Location: Toronto – Canada
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: http://www.shangri-la.com/toronto/shangrila/

Most of you already know that I am a huge fan of the Shangri-La hotel chain! When I was visiting Toronto, I was happy to find out they have a Shangri-La hotel! This is one of the very best Toronto has to offer! The Shangri-La Toronto is a brand new hotel which opened only 2 years ago. Valet parking is available and as soon as you enter the hotel, you will be entering a world of true luxury and attention to details.

IMG_7626

The lobby is spectacular with comfy couches and fireplaces. It is one of those lobby areas where I could spend hours enjoying good drinks while listening to live music. They used a lot of marble here, absolutely loved it!

FullSizeRender (41) FullSizeRender (40)

Check-in went smoothly; we were welcomed with a smile and they gave us all the information we needed. They do take their time here, which is appreciated. I loved the personal approach, they called me by my name, etc. These are small things, but they make this hotel special!

FullSizeRender (43)

All rooms at the Shangri-La Toronto have iPads and are equipped with the latest technology, such as electronicly controlled lights, drapes and temperature. We stayed in one of their one bedroom suites which was elegantly decorated… It had a separate living room and bedroom. The living room had a nice little saloon and full sized desk. I appreciated the Nespresso coffee machine and housekeeping provided pads every day. Sleeping in the bed was like sleeping on a cloud! It felt so good! The bathroom was one of the nicest bathrooms I have ever seen! They are very large and luxurious with double sink, separate shower, oversized bathtub and I loved the mirror television. Toiletries were of a very good quality and we had plenty of them in our room.

IMG_7547 IMG_7546 FullSizeRender (42) Knipsel

The Shangri-La Toronto has a lot to offer! There is a full size spa area with a large and very up-to-date fitness center, large indoor swimming pool and oversized jacuzzi. I had a nap in one of their private cabannas which are all equipped with their own televisions. Everybody can use them at no additional charge. Every morning I went swimming and relaxing at the pool area… What a great way to start off the day! Again, the service was top notch. They remembered my name and did their utmost best to serve me in a very professional way! For example, when I was working out they handed me a cold towel, which was a great touch… It kept me going and going… Never seen before! Besides all of this, a sauna and steam room are available too!

IMG_7540 FullSizeRender (49)IMG_7536 FullSizeRender (47)

After working out, it was time for dinner at Bosk, their signature restaurant. We had a 3 course menu and found the menu very reasonably priced given the overall quality of the food and service. The trout we had as a starter was so yummy… The steak we had as main course was delicious and the chocolate dessert was to die for! I asked for a fruity sweet wine and they recommended the Bricco Quaglia Moscato d’Asti which was perfect! I am not a wine drinker, but this one blew me away!

FullSizeRender (53) FullSizeRender (50)FullSizeRender (52) FullSizeRender (51)

And then we went off to bed. While we were there, the Pan Am games were going on in Toronto. The view we had was amazing! We could even see the fireworks while we were in bed! Magical!

FullSizeRender (54)

The next morning, after the most wonderful night, we had breakfast at Bosk. No buffet style breakfast here; they offer different breakfasts, which are served at your table. I do need to mention that the cappuccinos are one of the best I have ever had! So creamy… Still figuring out how they do that…

FullSizeRender (55)

We did visit Toronto (by bike – a must do) and the concierge provided us with very clear and detailed information, such as where to rent bikes, most popular attractions, etc.

IMG_5512

After visiting several Shangri-La hotels, my expectations were high and the Shangri-la Toronto didn’t disappoint! It is a top class 5 star hotel where guests are treated in a very professional way. Nothing is asked for too much and everybody will make sure that you have a great time in a luxurious setting. Highly recommended!