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Doha, the capital of Qatar, remains a relatively unknown holiday destination. Nearby Dubai gets far more press exposure, yet we think Doha offers a much more authentic and less commercial snapshot of the Middle East. Qatar also tops the list of the wealthiest countries in the world with the highest GDP per capita. Its rapid growth has created stunning architecture and cultural highlights, such as the Museum of Islamic Art.
We have picked the ten most luxurious hotel pools in Doha. You will find every one of them hard to resist!
1. Banana Island Resort Doha
Banana Island Doha is a brilliant alternative to staying downtown in Doha and can be found on a 13-hectare spit of sand. This artificial island is a feast of luxury, each room offering beautiful ocean views, stunning and peaceful pools in the grounds, and a gorgeous beach with crystal clear water. This island is a true escape, far away from the stress and noise of Doha.
There are eight restaurants, three magnificent pools, a private beach, 141 bedrooms, and the Middle East’s first overwater villas. Yet even at full occupancy, this hotel feels exclusive and peaceful.
The luxury guest rooms, suites, and villas are designed in Arabian style with signature Anantara touches, including 54 Premier Sea View Rooms, 16 Deluxe Sea View Rooms, eight Sea View Suites, 18 Anantara Suites, and 34 spacious Sea View Pool Villas featuring a personal pool and poolside cabana. Their largest beach villas, pictured above, contain a glorious private pool right on the beach. These could well be the best hotel suites in Doha. Slide open floor-to-ceiling doors to enjoy the sea breeze and views of the Arabian Gulf. Wander out to your quiet cove of golden sands right in front of your villa.
Fine dining is offered under the stars overlooking Doha’s regal skyline. The poolside Q Lounge and Restaurant serves specially designed tobacco mixes in custom Desvall shisha pipes (but no alcohol). Among the resort’s eight dining options, try Ted’s for a U.S.-style hamburger or Al Nahham for Arab meze, seafood dishes. Riva is an Italian restaurant with a Michelin-starred head chef and probably the best Italian food in Qatar. Although you can’t have a glass of wine, a Ferrero Rocher milkshake is more than pleasing. The main dishes are fabulous. The tiramisu might be the finest dessert you will ever taste.
The Surf Club is a massive addition to the pool offering at Banana Island and a great place for the kids to hang out. There’s also a surf pool, where novices can have lessons on giant artificial waves. You can learn to dive here, and there are plenty of trumpetfish, barracuda, and shoals of tiny fish to dive through. There’s also a vast indoor adventure fun house for the kids and two cinemas, one exclusively for Playstation and Xbox tournaments. In the rooms, younger guests even get tiny motor car beds.
2. Four Seasons Doha
The Four Seasons Doha is a true urban resort with the business district on one side and its private beach on the other. Dine at the world’s most spectacular Nobu restaurant, unwind at the three-story Spa, and laze in their beautiful pools. If you are a Four Seasons fan, this hotel does not disappoint.
Of course, there is no Four Seasons rewards program, but if you are a regular guest of the Four Seasons or even want to try this iconic brand for the first time, you can take advantage of loyalty style benefits at Four Seasons hotels for no extra cost by booking your next stay via our luxury travel concierge.
Highlights of this hotel include the fact that most rooms have a step-out balcony, and the sea-view rooms are the perfect place to watch the sunrise in the morning. The pool is really special too, surrounded by palm trees and next to the beach, as is the spa.
3. The Ritz-Carlton, Doha
The Ritz-Carlton Doha is located on the shores of the Arabian Sea, with a world-class spa, a modern fitness center, and elegant restaurants and bars, as well as indoor and outdoor swimming pools and lush landscaped gardens. In fact, the freeform pools come complete with waterfalls and will transport you to Hawaii due to their tropical style.
The Ritz-Carlton, Doha offers The Ritz-Carlton Beach, set on its own private island adjacent to the hotel. The high-end beach uses the ideal escape, with sun loungers sitting beside the blue waters of the Arabian Gulf.
The Ritz-Carlton, Doha, celebrates the city’s progressive spirit with an exclusive Club Level, distinctive dining options, modern rooms and suites, a unique spa journey, and legendary outdoor pools.
4. InterContinental Doha
The luxurious 5-star InterContinental Doha is located on the longest private beach in the city and is just minute’s drive from the city center.
Nestled in landscaped gardens, the InterContinental Doha features 12 restaurants and bars, including the famous La Mar Doha, a range of recreational facilities, a stunning free-form swimming pool, and the exclusive Spa InterContinental. The hotel’s prime location is just minutes from downtown Doha and major government and corporate offices, the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, the City Center Mall, and Doha Golf Club.
This InterContinental is one of the few InterContinental beach resorts. This relaxing resort hotel is located next to St. Regis and a short walk from the Katara area with lots of restaurants and entertainment.
A hotel highlight beyond the well-equipped gym, excellent on-property restaurants, and the large pool is the stretch of beach, which offers a gorgeous view across the gulf to downtown Doha and Hamad International Airport.
5. St Regis Doha
The St. Regis Doha is part of Al Gassar Resort located in the emerging commercial heart of the city, West Bay, adjacent to Pearl Island and the Diplomatic Area. St Regis Doha is also located next door to the InterContinental above.
The surrounding sand dunes and ancient architecture inspired this timeless Doha landmark. Steeped in a Middle Eastern mystique, The St. Regis Doha presents majestic interiors and an extensive range of leisure facilities.
All St. Regis Doha’s guest rooms offer extensive views over the Arabian Gulf’s tranquil blue sea. The exclusive private beach with discreet oceanfront cabanas is pretty special here, and both the InterContinental and St Regis take advantage of this patch of sand.
Escape to a sanctuary of rejuvenation at the signature Remède Spa featuring 22 private treatment rooms or dine at excellent restaurants, bars & lounges where accomplished master chefs present exciting new fine dining experiences to the capital of Qatar. Enjoy the ultimate English afternoon tea in Doha at Sarab Lounge, where Diners can choose from a vast selection of teas, infusions, or coffee, served with macaroons and chocolates – and then drift away to the smooth sounds of jazz.
Also on offer is an Olympic-size pool and the crystal clear waters of the Arabian Gulf. Equipment for water sports and activities, including luxury floating beds, tennis courts, snorkeling equipment, wind sport, pedal boats, kayaks, paddleboards, boogie boards, beach soccer, beach volley, and a youngster ultimate inflatable water playground are all available for hire on request.
6. Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Doha
Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa used to be named Ritz-Carlton Sharq Village & Spa and is modeled on a Sheik’s palace, with the rustic authenticity of true Islamic architecture, mixing old-world style and modern-day amenities.
Sharq Village is just a quick 10-minute ride from the airport and another 10 minutes from the heart of downtown. Unlike many of the high-end hotels in Doha, this luxury property is located on the other side of the bay, which means you get some great views of the city’s skyline from the beach.
The sense of space is extended to the numerous pools adorned by palm trees and luxurious cabanas and offer seclusion from the rest of the world among the village buildings that make up this sprawling complex. Each restaurant and bar here has its unique ambiance and design style to be in line with the ethnic feel of the menu.
7. Grand Hyatt Doha
The Grand Hyatt Doha has a brilliant club lounge and a gorgeous, safe sandy beach. Here, the water is shallow, and the water temperature is around 30 C in its lagoon-style bay. Because of how the water flows in the lagoon, this area of the sea has become very saline, so you get to swim in a very buoyant and pleasantly warm sea that we loved when we reviewed the Grand Hyatt Doha in detail.
The club lounge at the Grand Hyatt Doha is extremely spacious. Beyond the club lounge at the Grand Hyatt Dubai, there is a wide choice of restaurants, from traditional Arabian Mezza through Italian to genuine Thai. Isaan is a real Thai restaurant staffed entirely by Thai personnel, and it has won a Time Out award as the best SE Asian restaurant in the Middle East.
The large freeform swimming pool is accessed from one level below reception. You can exit your room discretely attired in swimwear and bathrobe without offending locals in the lobby area. It is understandably very popular with families, making it feel hectic.
Stroll through the delightful gardens down to the very safe shallow sandy beach. The water temperature is about 30 C as the bay is a virtual lagoon. The water is very saline too, so you are very buoyant, which makes swimming even more fun. As if that were not enough, there is a separate, more conventional swimming pool along the far end of the beach surrounded by hedges.
The gym is very large and extremely well-equipped for a hotel fitness center. Alternatively, if you prefer to brave the heat, there is an outdoor jogging track. The spa contains two private couples’ suites different in style but each with its own water feature. One has a small plunge pool, and the other a jacuzzi.
8. Marsa Malaz Kempinski
Marsa Malaz Kempinski offers an oasis of comfort, tranquillity, and privacy, reflecting the ultimate luxury of a genuine and majestic palace. Its 281 rooms and suites offer breathtaking views over the Arabian Gulf and the Pearl-Doha from the spacious balconies.
Marsa Malaz Kempinski ensures a family-friendly experience in Doha. Joyous activities include a blissful culinary experience with seven restaurants and four stylish bars and lounges, the award-winning Spa by Clarins, a private beach, outdoor pools, a tennis court, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and thrilling kids’ and adults’ activities, including water sports and a kids’ club. The large regal pools here lead out onto the picture-perfect beach beyond.
9. W Doha
The W Doha is one of the few W-branded properties with a club lounge. You will feel hip and trendy at this hotel as there is a constant background of soft dance music, and the rooms here are gorgeous.
The restaurants here are excellent, and there is a basic pool (by Doha standards) with a waterfall, so you can enjoy the outside, at least when the pool is in the sun, which tends to be late in the morning when the sun falls behind surrounding buildings. Mind you, a shaded pool can be most welcome in the heat of the day.
10. Westin Doha Hotel & Spa
Located in the heart of central Doha, just 20 minutes from the airport and only minutes away from landmark destinations such as Souq Waqif and Doha Corniche, is the Westin Doha. The hotel is in stunning landscaped gardens with 364 guest rooms, suites, and some lovely private pool villas.
Rooms feature Heavenly® Beds and the invigorating Heavenly® Shower. Guests can enjoy various dining options from 6 restaurants ranging from award-winning Thai cuisine at Sabai Thai to a modern steakhouse experience at Hunter’s Room & Grill. There is also a Heavenly Spa by Westin™ and spacious WestinWORKOUT Fitness Studio®, along with a really nice pool area surrounded by loungers with parasols and palm trees.
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