For now, grab a cuppa, settle back in a comfy chair and let me transport you back to last Thursday when our staycation at City Centre Rotana began...
Much like any other Thursday, I was exhausted after a busy working week and far too many nights of disrupted sleep. Luckily, my week was about to get a whole lot better. Following a swift check-in at the front desk (which is always appreciated when half of your mind is on your tired and hungry toddler), we were whisked up to the 23rd floor, and shown into the suite which would be our home for the next two days.
The Room
The suite was the kind of space which you could immediately relax into. The cleverly thought-out dining room-come-living room had the advantage of being both large and cosy at the same time, with a huge dining room table which could comfortably sit six, as well as a separate seating area of sofas and foot rests, plus a desk.
One of the perks of the room was the ample storage space, which happily accommodated all three of our sets of clothing and possessions, car seat, push chair and then some.
In the bedroom, a gigantic bed dominated the space, with a cosy love seat over in one corner; a prime vantage point from which to soak up the panoramic views over the city.
It was these floor to ceiling windows which were my favourite feature of this dual aspect suite, situated at just the right angle to take in both the towers of West Bay and the iconic Sheraton with the Persian Gulf beyond.
In the bathroom, I loved the fact that a full range of luxurious L'Occitane goodies were at our disposal for the next couple of days. I already had an inkling it was going to be a rather good weekend.
The pool and children's play area
The pool area at City Centre Rotana was a pleasantly surprising discovery. Set against an impressive backdrop of the Doha skyline, the scalloped pool has two depth levels and a separate kids pool and jacuzzi.
All three of us spent several hours dipping in and out of the water to cool off from the 45 degree heat outside, in between cat naps in the shade of our curtained cabana.
Next to the pools is a fun children's play area, with swings, slides, tables and chairs, wendy houses and a tunnel. Now that Sophia is at an age where she's constantly looking for something new to explore, this was a very welcome sight. The first time she saw it, she ran around in glee, trying everything out one by one, and then returning for more. She enjoyed the swing so much in fact, that Mr Sunshine and I almost broke our backs from bending over to push her for so long!
The Spa
City Centre Rotana's spa is rather understated in comparison to some of the other hotels in Doha. It may not have the extensive facilities of the Four Seasons, or the relaxing vibe of the Grand Hyatt but what it lacks in stature, it makes up for in quality. Mr Sunshine and I both received a much-needed and very relaxing massage during our stay.
The Food
It wasn't the pool or the rooms which first brought City Centre Rotana to my attention, but the food. As mentioned previously, the High Tea in Caramel Lounge remains one of my favourite places for afternoon tea in Doha, and I had attended the opening of the hotel's international restaurant, Teatro, and had nothing but good things to say about it. I was excited to find out what other hidden gems I might discover.
Theme nights at Olive Oil
Olive Oil hosts a range of theme nights and when we heard that Thursday evenings were 'La Noche Española', as tapas and sangria lovers, we had to give it a try.
The open kitchen, headed up by Valencia born Adriana Toledo, was a flurry of activity when we arrived, and the buffet selection looked colourful and appetising.
The Tapas bites lived up to expectations and were moreish and delicious. Of partcular note was the salty Manchego cheese with Cecina Beef, and the deliciously fruity Catalan Salad.
The seafood paella was huge, and looked amazing, but on this occasion it didn't match up to the standard of some of the other paellas I've had in Doha. Nevertheless, it was still enjoyable.
Some of the dessert items, including my favourite, the crunchy Churros which come dipped in one of three different condiments of your choice, were delicious.
Breakfast options
For breakfast on Friday, in order to maximise our chill time, we opted for breakfast in bed, and I was so glad that we did! While Mr Sunshine got ready and rushed off to work, Sophia and I spent a few hours eating our way through the mountain of breakfast items I had (over)ordered, and started the day the way I wish I could every day: slowly!
On the Saturday, it was back to Olive Oil for their breakfast buffet, where our top picks were the granola and delicious cinnamon ring doughnuts (naughty I know, but technically we were on holiday!).
Brunch
Let's Do Brunch is a fun and relaxed Friday brunch, which is spread out amongst the hotel's restaurants Olive Oil, Misk, and the lobby in between. A distinctly Mediterranean vibe, with a few Asian, Mexican and Arabic flavours thrown in for good measure, this isn't as extensive as some of the other spreads that you might find around Doha, but if laid back is your vibe then I think you'll enjoy it.
Sophia and I spent Friday afternoon here catching up with two of my best friends, as we sipped on bubbles and enjoyed the services of the personal somelier with his drinks trolley as he made his rounds.
Once again, I was grateful to City Centre Rotana for thinking about the needs of young children, who often get bored during brunch. Sophia was delighted to discover the children's corner which included a children's buffet, play house, table and chairs and a TV showing Disney classics.
She spent some time playing in here, when she wasn't running circles around the restaurant, continually trying to escape my clutches.
Dinner at Teatro
On our final evening, we made a rare effort to get dressed up, and headed down to my favourite restaurant in the hotel, Teatro.
This atmospheric restaurant, which offers a range of Eastern delicacies along with some Western favourites, has a lot going for it. It is a special occasion restaurant with none of the stuffiness that you occasionally find in other five star hotels around the world. Instead, the staff are absolutely wonderful - welcoming, friendly and kind. They loved Sophia and let her grab their hands and drag them around the restaurant. They even seemed to enjoy it!
With mood lighting and a long, well-stocked bar, this is not your usual baby-friendly haunt, rather somewhere to take someone that you would like to impress. And I'm reliably informed that on most weekends, the live music is some of the best in town (unfortunately we missed out on this on this occasion, due to it being the weekend before Eid).
There are some real stand-out dishes here. Mr Sunshine loved his steak which he said was tender and cooked to perfection (and he's hard to please!). The duck dim sum was meaty, melt in the mouth and delicious. The tempura prawn rolls contained the perfect balance of flavours and were incredibly moreish...I could go on.
Unfortunately, it was late and Sophia was tired, so we had a rather rushed dinner before heading up to bed.
Mr Sunshine and I are just going to have to come back alone so that we get a chance to sample the desserts and a few more items on the cocktail list.
The Club Rotana Lounge
One floor above our suite, sits Club Rotana, offering guests who want to upgrade their stay a very personal and special hospitality service. Afternoon tea, drinks and canapes are served here at certain times of the day, with tea and coffee on offer all day round.
I know that not all guests have the funds (or the inclination) to bump themselves up to a club room, but in my personal opinion, it's worth it here for the views alone.
After returning to Doha from the stunning rice terraces and dreamy coastal sunsets of Bali not so very long ago, it was going to take a pretty special sight to make me stop in my tracks, and say "wow', but the incredible view of Doha from above did it. Baby Sunshine pressed her nose up against the glass and let out a long "wooooow!" too.
Not only was the view exceptional, but enjoying it side by side with my husband, from our comfortable chairs, mugs of coffee in hand while our toddler roamed about trying to spot birds and pointing out the tiny cars racing along below us was something very special indeed.
The Eid Offers
Enjoy an Eid staycation package from QAR 550, inclusive of breakfast for two and a dining discount of 20%
Enjoy the Eid Al Adha Brunch from QAR 249 per person, featuring a generous buffet featuring Arabic and international cuisine, plus a special kids' corner buffet.
The Eid Competition
Now for the bit that you all came here for!
This is your chance to win a night's stay for two adults (plus a little one if applicable!) in a standard room at City Centre Rotana, inclusive of breakfast at Olive Oil.
How to enter:
1. Like Follow Your Sunshine on Facebook here OR follow on Instagram here.
2. Like City Centre Rotana on Facebook here OR follow on Instagram here.
3. Comment on any of Follow Your Sunshine's Facebook or Instagram posts on City Centre Rotana with the name of someone who you think deserves a staycation.
4. Double your chances of winning by adding more names or sharing these posts on your own page.
Deadline:
The competition will run for a week, and will closing at 11.59pm on Monday 4th September. The winner will be announced on Tuesday 5th September.
Terms and Conditions:
- The prize is valid for three months from 1st September 2017.
- Winner and guest must be over 18.
- Booking is subject to availability.
- The prize is not valid on public holidays or in conjunction with other offers.
My stay with City Centre Rotana was complimentary.
