My review of Westin Bahrain City Centre
After two uneventful nights at Hilton Bahrain, I moved to the Westin hotel for a change and, Marriott’s great Q1 promotion of course. Out of all the hospitality groups Marriott does the best job – Ritz Carlton is one of, if not the best hotel of the country, and there are Le Meridien, Westin and Residence Inn too, which are good candidates for point redemptions.
Bahrain is a small city and it took me only 10 minutes to Uber to the Westin. The building’s architecture is very interesting: Westin, Le Meridien and the City Centre shopping mall are share the same complex.
You can navigate between the shopping mall and two hotels indoors very easily, and City Centre has quite a few fast food outlets if you don’t want to travel far. As you need to travel by car to virtually everywhere in Bahrain, the location doesn’t matter much.
Unlike the Hilton I didn’t receive a welcome email, but the check-in experience is nonetheless quite smooth. All hotel staff are very well trained, would stop what they are doing when they see a guest and greet.
My three-night stay is upgraded to a one-bedroom suite at the 8th floor and south facing. The living room is bright and cheerfully designed and it lights up my mood immediately:
Both suites have a very similar layout, but at Westin it is classier and more comfortable. In short it feels more like staying at hotel.
Welcome gift – baklavas:
The brick wall is cute and I like the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The bathroom is connected to both the bedroom and the living room, and it’s quite modern. The glass is switchable.
There is small walk-in wardrobe.
My suite overlooks the high road so there’s barely any view per se, and it goes a bit noisy at times. You might want to pick a north-facing room instead, although don’t have high hopes for the sea view, as you can see from the lounge pictures below.
Take the lift to floor 3 for the swimming pool, which is shared with Le Meridien.
Unfortunately Bahrain in February is way too cold to get into the water.
There is an indoor spa for sauna, steam room and jacuzzi.
Breakfast is served in restaurant Furn, which is located right beside the shopping mall.
The buffet is on a similar standard with what Hilton offers. I tried some fried rice but it’s not fully cooked!
The barista coffee is awesome though, which is not commonly seen at hotel breakfast.
The Westin has a reputable seafood restaurant but their price is really steep. I had a lunch at Furn instead.
Bahrain definitely isn’t cheap – my Spaghetti Bolognese costs £20. Both the spaghetti and local naan are very tasty though.
The Westin Club is located on the 10th floor and manned all day. It’s got a lot of natural light and has a nice layout.
The sea view on the other hand, isn’t very impressive.
Snacks and fruits are available throughout the day, but drinks are served by the waiters only. Happy Hour is 6pm – 8pm, and you expect hot food such as:
- Roast vegetables
- Fried noodles
- Fried fish
- Curry vegetables
- Curry chicken
- White rice
The food is not fancy, but sufficient for a light dinner.
In general I’m very happy about my stay, and it’s one level above the Hilton. Its neighbour, Le Meridien is usually a lot cheaper but shares the swimming pool and has their own club lounge, which is worth a shot too.
My review of Hilton Bahrain
As Hilton had that “Stay once to keep Diamond” promotion, I’ve chosen to the Hilton Bahrain hotel to start my trip. It is a very new hotel, charging just over £120 per night, and somehow is even cheaper than the Hilton Garden Inn. I spent 82,000 points on two award nights as I have nowhere to spend my Hilton points.
I received a welcome email one day before my arrival that offered me an airport transfer for 10 dinars. It isn’t much more expensive than Uber (~6 dinars) and I took it.
The friendly chauffeur was already waiting for me at the arrival hall when I landed, and it was smooth 10-minute drive to the hotel. The occupancy seems low – the receptionist lady addressed me with my name immediately when she saw me.
The hotel has 45 floors and features an executive lounge. However it is still under constructions and not many facilities are available yet. In fact when I did the online check-in the highest floor presented to me was like 33. This might explain when the hotel’s rate is so low.
Daily drinks vouchers are offered in lieu of the executive lounge.
Hilton Bahrain is more of a residence than a hotel, as all guest rooms are actually (at least studio) apartments that feature a proper kitchen and washing machine etc. I received an upgrade to a one-bedroom apartment on the 27th floor.
Living room:
The apartment is indeed very well furnished, with refrigerator, dishwasher, hobs, washing machine, plus cutlery and plates. There’s even a water dispenser, which I haven’t seen since my childhood in China!
Bedroom and bathroom:
The TV set doesn’t support Chromecast. I managed to connect to Smart View with my phone but it’s not as convenient.
It is not the average hotel room you see elsewhere. In fact it doesn’t feel like a hotel at all, but rather an apartment you rent on Airbnb.
Both the living room and bedroom have access to the balcony:
The view isn’t particularly scenery here. There are multiple construction sites next to the hotel which is an eyesore.
That says something about the hotel’s location. The zone is under heavy construction and not much is happening around here. I crossed a few construction sites to finally reach the park by the sea but it’s very underwhelming. The Grand Mosque is not too far away though.
My welcome gift: a fruit plate and baklava.
Breakfast is served in the restaurant on the third floor. It’s the classic English breakfast buffet and some local delicacy such as foul medames and egg shakshuka.
There’s Asian cuisine as well, but hmm very fused. I was reaching out to the spring rolls, but then was put off by its cheese stuffing.
Menu for eggs:
The swimming pool is just outside the restaurant.
It’s February and just over 20 degrees in Bahrain. The pool isn’t heated and a bit too cold.
The jacuzzi is broken and can’t be turned on for safety reasons. There is an indoor spa though that offer more facilities.
The sauna room is terribly flawed. I think they chose the wrong material for floor and bench, and you don’t want to stay in unless you are not afraid of being burnt!
Gym:
I had no problem getting 3pm late check-out before I moved to the Westin. The service at Hilton Bahrain is good, and the room / facilities are okay too, especially if plan to stay for more than just a few days. However, for a five-star hotel in the Middle East it doesn’t quite meet the standard, but hopefully thing will pick up once the construction has completed.
Hyatt Lindner offer bonus points posted
Hyatt acquired Lindner – a German hospitality group – recently, and launched a bonus points offer intended for existing Lindner members.
After signing up to this offer, you earn 1,000 bonus points per night when staying at any Hyatt property in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. You can earn the bonus up to 10 times.
It might be to tricky to carry out the eligibility check without breaching European data privacy laws, which is why registration is actually open to everyone. I wasn’t sure if the bonus was going to post, but a friend has just shared his success after completing a stay in Cambridge:
Together with the Bonus Journeys global promotion you will earn 2,500 bonus points per night by the end of May, which is very impressive!
My review of Emirates First Class Lounge, Dubai Concourse B
I’m finally heading back to London after spending two nights by the airport at Dubai, and I’m really looking forward to the First Class Suite experience with Emirates!
Emirates owns the Terminal 3 of Dubai airport. There is a dedicated entrance for Business and First Class passengers, with totally separated facilities too – it feels like a VIP terminal within Terminal 3.
The moment I stepped out of the car, a porter came around to help me with my bags and accompanied me to the check-in desk. He stayed with me until I finished checking in.
Check-in area for First Class and Platinum passengers:
Check-in area for Business Class and Gold passengers:
With so many counters available I can’t imagine a queue is necessary at any given time.
After checking in, passing the security check and passport control should be a breeze – if they hadn’t somehow messed up my entry record and took half an hour to fix it…
Emirates has seven lounges at Terminal 3, three Business three First and one mixed. In terms of the First Class lounges, there is one at each concourse, and Concourse A has the most famous and largest one. You can even board from the lounge itself, as it occupies an entire floor of the terminal!
I didn’t do any homework however, and just headed to the nearest lounge I could find, which turns out to be the one at Concourse B.
I’m told about another lounge closer to my boarding gate (Concourse C), but advised to stay here as that one is a lot smaller. Terminal 3 is huge though, so be mindful of the time when it’s nearer boarding.
First Class passengers and Emirates Platinum members are invited to use the First Class Lounge. All Emirates members can also pay a discounted $250 rate (pre-tax) to enjoy it. There are also the Business Class Lounges and Marhaba Lounges (for Priority Pass and Dragonpass) which are decent enough.
The entrance reminds me the of Centurion Lounge at Hong Kong. There’s a small fountain behind the entrance.
It might be “small” compared to the Concourse A lounge, but it’s still huge by any other standard. It takes me more than 10 minutes to just walk around the lounge. You can see how many facilities they have here from the signpost.
A few more pictures as demonstration.
Many airlines, such as British Airways have been downgrading their lounge experience by removing the Spa service. Emirates have kept it instead.
The 15-minute complimentary message menu:
Quiet Room for relax and recharge.
The kids club is next door.
Bathroom:
Showers:
A nice wine display room:
The dining room is a must-visit. It is larger than many restaurants or airport lounges itself.
You can help yourself to the hot food buffet or desserts.
Hot food options are:
- Stir Fieds Bibimbap with Chicken
- Foul medames
- French toast
- Plain paratha
- Aloo mutter
Plus the traditional English breakfast. I tried some Bibimbap and wasn’t impressed.
A Japanese sushi counter:
If you’ve got time, don’t miss the full a-la-carte dining experience and the menu is here. Breakfast menu is extensive, and you can even order some All Day Lunch items such as a Wagyu burger!
I’m not sure my stomach can handle a burger or steak at 7am, so opt for the eggs benedict and sushi instead.
As you may have guessed from the presentation, they aren’t very tasty. The cappuccino I ordered isn’t barista-made either. Well I probably should have got Wagyu…
In summary, the lounge is huge and contains all sorts of facilities, so I would recommend to arrive early for a free massage and the dining experience. But aesthetically it doesn’t impress me – nothing really Wows me unlike the Al Mourjan Lounge at Doha.
My review of Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre
Disrupted by the layoff, my five-night beach holiday in Dubai turned into a short airport layover of two days. There are quite a few hotel options near the Dubai airport, such as the Holiday Inn Express, Aloft and Element. However I didn’t want to “downgrade” that much, so went for Le Meridien in the end.
The hotel is about three minutes’ drive from the airport, and you can actually walk if not carrying too many bags. Despite of its remoteness, the hotel is right next to a metro station so connection to downtown Dubai is easy.
Don’t confuse it with Le Meridien Fairway, which is further away from the airport and much smaller.
A Christmas tree is ready for the festive period.
Interestingly, Le Meridien is actually composed of two hotels, which is very unusual. The hotel has one building named the Royal Wing, which has its own reception, parking space, pools and club lounge, so it’s pretty much an independent hotel.
Marriott Platinum members receive an upgrade to the Royal Club Room by default.
You need to cross the main building to see the Royal Wing block.
Upon entering the building the first facility you see is the Royal Club, which is an exclusive club lounge. However, it is basically a lobby bar so feels quite different to an ordinary lounge you see elsewhere.
Royal Wing has a very different style of interior design compared to the main building. Darker colours are used everywhere to the Royal theme.
You can’t fault the service in Dubai. A porter came to pick up my luggage at the first sight and accompanied me all the way to my room. Moments after I’ve settled down, someone else brought me a huge fruit platter.
There is only one room type at the Royal Wing. The room to be honest, is a bit worn.
You can see the Aloft through the window.
The jet tub is a nice addition to the bathroom.
The best feature however, has to be the massage chair, which is total surprise. I couldn’t wait to try it out after my 10-hour flight, and it works pretty well, as the pressure is probably deeper than what some masseurs can do. If I remember correctly only Royal Club rooms have the massage chair.
The swimming pool is located on the fifth floor. It’s a small one, but being on the rooftop adds some bonus points. Someone told me you can actually see the New Year fireworks from here.
Royal Wing’s benefits are listed as follows:
Royal Wing offers complimentary one-way airport transfer if you book directly, but that doesn’t include complimentary upgrades. The charge is only 30 AED though so I opted in, and somehow they ended up not charging me.
Titanium members can choose restaurant breakfast as a welcome amenity, and I didn’t want to walk all the way so didn’t bother and decided to dine at the lounge instead.
The buffet is way below par, so go to the restaurant if breakfast is important to you.
Flyertalk’s reviews don’t speak highly of their afternoon tea so I didn’t check it out. I’m here for the happy hour though, and appetisers is limited one portion per person. You can drink as much as you want though (prices are just for reference in case you invite someone else).
If you don’t mind paying for your food, the hotel has 16 restaurants to choose from! I tried the Spanish restaurant which is quite decent and not overpriced.
As a Titanium member I get 15% discount on my bill. I don’t think it’s a regional dining benefit (like the one in Asia Pacific), so probably a nice gesture from the hotel itself.
Royal Wing guests are free to use any facility at the main building as well. There’s another lounge – Le Meridien Club Lounge, which is open to Club Room guests staying at the main building. As Elite members are usually upgraded to the Royal Wing, it tends to be quiet.
According to the staff, the catering here is identical to the Royal Wing. In fact it feels much more like a proper club lounge, and I’d rather sit here to enjoy the light if I want a change of scenery.
Besides having 16 restaurants, the hotel also has four swimming pools! You’ve already seem the Royal Club Pool, and there’s Le Meridien Club Pool which is exclusive to Club Room guests.
There are a few guest rooms with direct pool access, but privacy may not be that good.
Fitness Pool is ideal for some proper swimming training.
And finally there’s the Courtyard Pool, which is the most family and kids friendly and has a bar.
The hotel feels a bit old, and definitely not on the luxury level by Dubai’s standard. However I’ve fallen in love with the massage chair, and the restaurants and pools have impressed me. If you need to stay close to the airport, Le Meridien Dubai is not a bad choice at all.
Etihad sale: Rome – Abu Dhabi for €70 only (including Easter) !
I just booked myself a First Class ticket on Etihad from Abu Dhabi – London via Aeroplan, and then trying to figure out how I can get to Abu Dhabi from Southern Europe. Athens is already quite cheap at €142 with the hidden-city trick, but then I realised Etihad is running a ludicrous sale from Rome!
There are plenty of €70 tickets for FCO-AUH (one-way) throughout March and April:
Considering that it’s a six-hour flight on a wide-body aircraft, it’s almost handing out the ticket for free – in fact, the ticket’s fare is only €29 with the remaining being taxes. It appears to be a flash sale and can be booked on etihad.com only. Looking at Skyscanner, it’s even cheaper than Wizz Air!!
A return trip is available for around €160:
Dates around the Easter holiday are available, which is handy if you are planning a last minute holiday break.
Six hours for a day flight isn’t too long so I’m happy to fly in economy class. Note that it’s hand baggage only though, and you can pay an additional €40 to add on a check-in luggage when booking.
Great Eithad first class reward availability from London and other cities
Etihad has opened up a lot of reward space on its first class route, and it’s a good opportunity if you are in for the experience.
First of all you could perform your searches on Etihad’s website which will give you a 7-day calendar view at a time. In the following example, the 88,024 miles price on March 18th indicates standard award availability, which doesn’t exist on other days.
Once you find your desired flight you could book using your Etihad Guest miles, which can be converted from Amex membership rewards points. You’d be overpaying (by a large margin) though, and the best way to redeem an Etihad ticket is to use Aeroplan instead.
A one-way ticket from Abu Dhabi to London in first class costs only 65,000 points and 84 CAD. Charges will be higher for the other way around because of UK’s APD. Aeroplan doesn’t have a promotion on point purchase right now, but you can still get their points by transferring from:
- Amex membership rewards in US / Canada, which is instant
- Marriott Bonvoy, but it might take quite a few days
Etihad flies to London and Geneva in Europe, as well as Washing DC in the States.
This is how Etihad’s first class on Boeing 787 looks like:
Which is, unfortunately, not comparable to Emirates’ first class suite that I was in a few days ago.
Hopefully their A380 fleet will return soon, and I can’t wait to sit in the first apartment!
Book St Regis Marsa Arabia Island Doha’s premium suite for 31,000 points
World Cup is happening in Qatar, and although I don’t follow football at all some interesting articles have surfaced recently about what new hotels have opened, and which hotel each team is staying etc. I did a bit research myself, and it turns out that Doha has become a great location for a bargain holiday in luxury hotels, by using points of course.
The outstanding property is the new St Regis Marsa Arabia Island, The Pearl Qatar.
It is a brand new hotel set to open its doors in December. It occupies a private island, owns a private beach and has seven restaurants for dining. Most importantly, it’s an all-suite hotel which means you never need to worry about being trapped in a small room even if no upgrade is provided.
Ready for some even better news? Premium Suite, which is two-level above the entry-level suite, is available for redemption for the same price.
The suite measures 122 sqm, with sea view and a terrace. It’s retail price is roughly 3,600 QAR (£837) a night, whereas for the Christmas period redemption costs only 37,000 points. It gets to as low as 31,000 points on some January dates. It is no doubt one of the best Marriott redemptions in the world – at least for now, as with Marriott’s dynamic redemption system the price could shoot up drastically any time.
There are a couple of more Marriott hotels worth mentioning:
- Le Royal Meridien Doha – new hotel in the West Bay, costing only 20,000 points a night or lower
- Ritz Carlton Doha – all room types including suite are available for redemption. Club Room (with lounge access) costs 44,000 points or 28,000 points + 300 QAR, great value if you are looking for an all-inclusive stay