Leisure options in Doha reviewed
Yesterday my husband was off work (at last!) so we wanted to spend the day chilling out in the leisure facilities of a good hotel.
We tried first the Intercontinental. We had been there before and I love the beach there, is so relaxing. But yesterday we couldn’t get in. We felt unwelcome, were told that the facilities were only for hotel guests, but as an exception we could use them if we paid QR 120 each (although no fee for our baby) as opposed to QR 60 that we had paid before. I thought it was ridiculous, and given that we planned to have lunch also, that would mean that the final bill could go up to four or five hundred riyals. No way.
Then we tried the Sheraton. My husband likes this one because is popular with French expats, and since my husband is French, don’t know, I guess he likes to mix with his own nationals. The lady in the leisure centre reception was ever so helpful, and the leisure centre manager was happy to allow us to spend the afternoon in the gardens and beach for a small, reasonable fee. We had a good lunch, swam in the pool, read newspapers in the gardens and really enjoyed our day. The Sheraton hotel is a truly gorgeous property. Food and service are impressive.
Few months ago we went to the Sealine resort and we were utterly disappointed about everything: Food was just horrible, service was rude and slow, facilities were dirty and tired. Oh, and the place was impossible to find.
Palm tree Island: Good to spend few hours chilling out in the Island but I think people should be allowed to bring their own food. When I went, few months ago, I was still pregnant (heavily!) yet I was forced to leave my two apples and bag of pistachios with security before entering the boat. Hummm.
Three weeks ago we had dinner at the Ritz’s all day dining restaurant. Service was brilliant but I wasn’t too impressed with the food. There was nothing really wrong with it, it’s just that having tried the food in other Ritz Carlton hotels (London, Lisbon & Madrid), the food here wasn’t up to the standards, was pretty basic actually.
And my favourite one, a restaurant that is located next to the Orix in the Corniche. Can’t remember the name, but the place is just sooo charming and the fish stew is one of the best I ever had. It is closed now but I hope it opens again soon cos I must have that fish stew again!
So, share your views. What places would you recommend I try and which ones would you tell me don’t go there?
for reviving a dead post!
Almost 5 years!
adf
:)
Hi Blacklion,
Your options are certainly wider than mine. You have the public beaches, I whish I could go, but I can't. Not by myself.
It is not my fault that in this society you have to separate men from families. It was shoking for me at first. In my country it is so much different! But here many men cannot behave so segregation makes perfect sense. I am sorry that the gentle ones have to pay for it too.
Butterfly,
I agree with your points, but what can we do? Honestly the only thing I can do is sit at home and read or watch TV whihc is the most boring to do every day. Especially in week ends, thats the time I am supposed to relax. So are you telling me its good for you to lock me and the likes at home. What about us? We are part of the society.
NOOOO!
It's just so nice to be able to go to some (very few) places without being molested.
I don't want single men hanging around parks and beaches. NO NO NO! Unless they can behave.
I mean, it is difficult enough being a woman here, and given that my husband works until midnight everyday, at least there are places where one can go unaccompanied and just relax.
Often there are dodgy looking men taking pictures of uncovered women when I go to walk my baby along the Corniche or in the City Centre. I don't particularly care being photographed, I mean, whatever, what's the big deal? But it just shows that these men don't know how to behave in a civilised world. Few weeks ago, I was walking around the lingerie department of Debenhams, and there was a group of not-so-young men looking at women's underwear and laughing... How stupid is that? What kind of civilised man would do that?.
NOOOO, keep them away. "Family only thing" is just fine with me.
Oh speaking of lesure,
I am sick of "Family Only" thing wherever I go. Especially if I want to go to the Palm beach on my only day off, Friday, I have to bring a girl with me. Do we have to get married just only to enter the leasure centers here. i don't understand this. This is discrimination. They won't allow the guys but they allow the females. what is this?
well umm with all due respect these leisure options r for couples and for elderly persons. i even visit these places sometimes. but wat ya all teenagers do oder den goin 2 da city center ???? wt all kewl places ya all recommend ??? hehe:)
That is, sadly, true. We are members in Intercontinental so we don't have this problem, but we know that it is ridiculously expensive, and on weekends it's "members only".