GLORIA HOTEL AND SUITES

Mat S7 months ago

An upscale building sited just off the corniche with a range of self-contained units of varying sizes, spread over 14/15 floors. I was allocated a room on the 9th floor with some views towards the corniche. There’s multi-screen TV and fast reliable WiFi throughout. The range of toiletries was better than average and coffee machine (pods) was also a welcome addition. ||The hotel has a small rooftop pool and spa, decent sized gym, good restaurant and cafe on-site and generally helpful and amenable staff. Breakfast was good and the cafe was nice although distinctly overpriced. I could have done without the piped muzak to all floors throughout the day and into the evening (on a perpetual loop), also the walls are somewhat on the thin side, especially with the connecting rooms. ||The double/single mattress was covered with a ‘topper’, which I removed on the first night together with pillows that were so soft I just couldn’t sleep on them. I rang housekeeping/reception and was told that the hotel ‘did not have firm pillows’, which considering its star rating is ridiculous. I spent the rest of the week using a cushion wrapped inside a pillowcase instead, which was not exactly conducive to a sound sleep, especially given that the place is located right next to a masjid. Halfway through my stay I was woken up by housekeeping one night at 11pm. They were cleaning the suite opposite my room and shouting down the internal corridor. ||Overall this is an option that appears to tick most of the boxes. However, scratch below the surface and it seems that not all is as it should be. Still, decent value for ‘Old Doha’ makes this place a contender. Just don’t forget your earplugs if you sleep on the light side.