Usually when I go to the Middle East I stay at a big western chain like a Marriott or St Regis. A few months ago I took an unexpected last minute trip, it was for the web summit at Doha Convention Centre, I wasn’t doing then I was and by the time I got round to booking a hotel I couldn’t get into anywhere in West Bay.
I stayed at the Concorde for three nights. It is listed as 5 star, but it’s not 5 star as you might expect in the US or Europe.
The reception is very spacious and comfortable and drinks (non alcoholic) are served throughout the day, teas and coffee, milk shakes, juices. When we arrived concierge was superb, possibly one of the best I’ve ever experienced. The luggage was handled with absolute efficiency, this was definitely 5 star.
The breakfast is buffet style, and you definitely have a choice of everything you might want from hot cooked food to pastries, meats and cheeses, yogurts, fruit and cereals. We found it perfectly adequate, wouldn’t say five star though. The breakfast area looks out onto the swimming pool and there are a few loungers. Again we didn’t use the pool, too cold when we were there and I was not 100% sure of the protocol for taking your clothes off.
No pool drinks service.
The location of the hotel was absolutely fine, easy access to everywhere we needed to get to and getting a taxi was easy and cheap, although the driving was scary at times. The locals drive fast and don’t think anything of stopping in the middle of the road for a friendly chin wag or a scrap. We did have one near miss.
This is definitely a more religious establishment I felt, the call to prayer can be heard from the mosque next door and we had a sign pointing to Mecca in our room. The suite we booked was five star and less expensive by about £100 per night than where I would usually stay and the fruit basket in the room on arrival was truly spectacular.
To sum up, I would definitely return to the Concorde hotel. Whilst it didn’t have everything frequent travellers would expect it made up for those differences with beautiful memorable staff who honestly prided themselves on a 5 star service.
If you want to step outside and enjoy something a bit more authentic to the Middle East, a more local, home from home for quite a significant saving this a great place to have that experience.