Millennium Hotel Doha - Doha, Qatar 

I decided to try this hotel because it was very competitively priced compared to other 5 star hotels in Doha. My experience proved you get what you pay for. Frankly, I don't understand how they were awarded their five star rating, and they are certainly not in the same league as other Doha 5 stars. If they presented themselves as a 3 star, I might have been reasonably satisfied, but a 5 star rating creates a higher level of expectation. The hotel is new, tastefully decorated etc. My room was quite small, with a window that looked out on the blank brick back wall of the mall next door. Dining room staff was amusingly incompetent at best, outright indifferent at worst. The food ranged from boring to revolting. Getting transportation organised every morning took at least 15 minutes, often more than a half an hour, as the transportation desk, bell desk and doormen ran around in an clownish and ineffective manner before they could actually find a car for you. Most annoyingly, (unlike true top-end hotels in Doha), if there was a request or a problem, the staff proved themselves experts at acting obsequious and deferential in response, but without actually making any real effort to do anything about it -- lots of "I'm sorry, Sir" etc. but absolutely zero interest in or authority to take any of the many actions that might address the issue at hand. Finally, this hotel serves no alcohol, and after a day of putting up with the staff there you're going to want a stiff drink. If you want true five star in Doha, the Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton or others will provide it. If you want a three star experience, there are hotels that will provide it for less.

The hotel rooms are new and clean. Comfortable beds like in other business-aimed hotels. A few notes though: 1) As of April 2008, there's construction going on nearby. It's loud, and it goes on all night. Just make sure to get a room on the quiet side, or you'll get no sleep. 2) There's little dining within walking distance for the "western" palate. 3) It's a "dry" hotel because of where it's located. No alcohol, nor do they sell cigarettes.