S T.
Google
1★ – Extremely disappointing for a Kempinski
I booked 8 nights over New Year’s Eve for my girlfriend and myself and paid over €4,500 for the stay. We expected a luxury experience worthy of the Kempinski brand. Instead, we checked out after the first night. It turned out to be the most expensive single night of my life.
The lobby feels more like a shopping mall than a luxury hotel, and the pictures on the website create an impression that simply does not match reality.
The hotel itself feels outdated. Our room had a dirty carpet, damaged bathroom seals, and the shower drain smelled strongly and was partially clogged. Completely unacceptable for a hotel in this price category. We also received one of the worst rooms possible, facing the street.
The restaurants around the hotel island (where you are transported by golf cart) were equally disappointing. The food quality was shockingly poor. Some dishes were sent back or left untouched because they were simply not edible, while prices remained extremely high.
Breakfast was another major disappointment. The noise level was unbelievable, more like a crowded shopping mall café than a 5-star hotel breakfast. Service was slow and disorganized, and when I asked three times for a coffee cup so I could pour coffee myself, I was given dirty cups each time.
There were also large numbers of poorly behaved children everywhere, inflatable play areas on the beach, and even people dressed as Disney characters entertaining kids. This made what was supposed to be a romantic couple’s vacation completely unpleasant.
For New Year’s Eve, we had already paid for the gala dinner, but it was extremely cold and windy outside, making it impossible to enjoy the event. Despite this, the hotel still kept the setup outdoors.
When I complained to management, they wanted to offer something (actually they did not offer something soecific, they were just talking) to convince me to stay. However, I had already booked a flight to Bangkok because I simply wanted to leave. Despite paying €4,500 for eight nights and leaving after one, there was no refund or compensation possible.
I know the Kempinski Hotel Vienna very well and have stayed there many times, which is why I expected a similar standard. Unfortunately, the Kempinski in Doha did not come close to that level in any way.
The overall impression: a shopping mall with hotel rooms attached rather than a luxury resort.
If someone believes this hotel deserves its 5-star rating, they probably have never stayed in a real 5-star hotel before.
Extremely high prices for extremely disappointing quality.