As the World Cup gears up in Doha, I offer a review of my recent stay at the Hyatt Regency Oryx during a long layover in Qatar.
Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha Review
After landing at Hamad International Airport (DOH) from Algeria, a choice awaited me: spend the whole day hanging out in the Al Mourjan Lounge ahead of my flight to New York, grab a room at the transit hotel for at least a few hours, or head out to the Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha.
I chose the Hyatt Regency primarily because I needed the night to re-qualify for my World of Hyatt Globalist status (that’s another discussion…) and thought it would be nice to have access to a full gym and spa ahead of my 14-hour flight.
The night before, this hotel was only $109/night, however, when I landed it showed sold out. Nevertheless, I took an Uber to the hotel and was able to get a room at the front desk (though for $170 per night, which really diminished the value proposition, but I did not feel like going back to the airport at this point…)
Location
Only 10 minutes away from DOH Airport, the Hyatt Regency Oryx is across the street from the new headquarters (under construction) of Qatar Airways.
Room
I was assigned room 453, with two twin beds, which was the only room available according to the front desk. While small, the room was ice cold, which was excellent considering the weather outside was still pushing 100ºF.
After only three hours of sleep on the flight, I had breakfast and then took a four hour nap, which was incredibly refreshing and helped me to be productive for the rest of the day.
I appreciated the desk in the room, from which I spent several hours working. I also appreciated the espresso machine with Lavazza capsules.
All drapes and lights were controlled by a large electronic pad on the nightstand between beds.
The bathroom included a walk-in shower, toilet, bidet, and single sink. Hair products and soap were from Pharmacopia.
Dining
The number of dining choices onsite made it feel more like a Grand Hyatt than a Hyatt Regency.
Choices
Choices is the hotel’s buffet restaurant, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner served daily. Breakfast was really a treat, with a massive buffet filled with high-quality choices, including:
- fresh juices
- bakery with freshly-baked bread and pastries
- salad bar
- fruit bar
- Arabic mezze
- cheeses
- hot dishes from around the world
- made-to-order omelets
- Manakish with Za’atar
Breakfast runs from 6:00 am to 10:30 am.
Lunch is offered from 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm.
The dinner buffet runs from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm with special nights on Thursday and Friday:
- International Dinner Buffet – Saturday to Wednesday
- Seafood Night Buffet – Thursday
- International BBQ Night – Friday
The Cellar
Mediterranean tapas with an emphasis on wine. Open daily from noon to midnight.
Al Nafourah Garden
Tapas and drinks. Open daily from noon to 2:00 am.
Jazz Club
Open Sunday – Friday from 6:00 pm to 2:00 am.
Sky Lounge
The lobby lounge, which includes a coffee bar and light fare, is open daily from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm.
Splash
Poolside dining with salads, sandwiches, and other light dishes and drinks. Open daily from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm.
Regency Club Lounge
A Regency Club Lounge was open for afternoon coffee and tea as well as evening hors d’oeuvres and drinks.
I ended up coming down to the lounge to work because I kept dozing off in my room and didn’t want to sleep all day ahead of my long flight.
A lounge attendant warmly greeted me and offered me a drink. I ordered a flat white and rather than use the automatic self-serve machine, she disappeared for a few minutes and then came back with a very nice coffee made by hand.
I returned after my workout for a snack and was quite impressed by the evening spread of food, which even included beef tenderloin, arancini stuffed salmon, mezze, cheese and cold cuts, and freshly-cut fruit.
Fitness Center + Spa
Using the Club Olympus brand featured in many Hyatt Regency hotels, a full-service gym and spa were available. The fitness center included the latest machines from Life Fitness and was large enough for me to perform a full workout.
The fitness center is open 24/7 and located on the first floor of the hotel next to Choices restaurant.
Down the hall, the spa included a sauna, steam room, and plunge pool.
In the locker room, signs warned that nudity was against the law (there was even private changing rooms inside the locker room)…quite a difference from Germany.
Pool
The hotel has an outdoor pool which is open from sunrise to 10:00 pm each day.
After my workout, I went swimming in the pool, which was quite refreshing. Evenings in Doha are very tolerable, even on hot days, and I enjoyed swimming several laps in an attempt to tire myself out before my flight home.
CONCLUSION
This is a convenient hotel near DOH Airport with a lovely breakfast and great amenities (the breakfast blows the breakfast at the Park Hyatt away). Considering this hotel is often in the $100/night range, it also represents a great value. I will return.
This hotel was not always a Hyatt and I was told it will be undergoing renovation after the World Cup. As far as I am concerned, the hotel is fine as is.
Matthew- I understand e gates at Doha are open to everyone now but you must register first with customs. Did you happen to do that? Was your entry and exit from customs simple? Any advice? I will have a Layover to/ from in Jan. Thanks!
I did pre-register and passport control was very easy this time (and no drama going out either). Just waited a few minutes and a little visa sticker was printed (just a barcode) and added to my passport. No paperwork was checked.
Great review! I’m not sure how many points you have, but this hotel represents an excellent value as a Category 1, especially during the World Cup.
Good point on the category level. I certainly would have used points if I could. Even at the $109 level the day before it did not show award space available.
Ah, I see. There probably wasn’t standard rooms available, which is why you couldn’t use points.
As a Globalist you can enlist your concierge to call the hotel and request they make available a room for points. Sometimes you get lucky.
But if it was mostly sold out I doubt it would work on this one.
But is it Cutter or Katar?
Is this the old Oryx Rotana? Looks very familiar to the hotel Qatar put me in on several long layovers.
Indeed it is.
Anywhere close to globalist extension?
I’ll make it, but not 60 nights. Took advantage of a different promo which I’ll write about soon.
Looking forward to your insights! I’m at 46 this year, will make it (If needed, I’ll mattress run)
Though I’m giving up Hyatt next year.
Why does Hyatt Regency always have such outdated rooms? The decor of that room looks like a Sheraton from about 2008. Likewise, hotel public spaces look like suburban U.S. shopping malls from the first decade of the 2000s.
This was not a Hyatt hotel until recently and will undergo a remodel, but I thought everything was fine.
Approved!
I checked the pictures in detail and not a flaw.
A peace of mind knowing nudity is not permitted and having a changing room in the locker room.
The food looks familiar to me ( Mediterranean & Brazilian-Home made).
The desserts are missing puddings, maybe they’re not so fond of sweets, I’m a sweet tooth.
If the fare is right at about $100 then it’s fair and honest.
Approved.
You mentioned Breakfast at Park Hyatt is not as Good as Hyatt Regency? I have a 5 night stay at PH Doha in January, your comments are making me change my mind to either at HR or GH.
I will be posting a review of the Park Hyatt in the weeks ahead. The location is better, the rooms are beautiful, and there’s a nice fitness center, but I thought the breakfast buffet was poor in comparison and the coffee was not great at all (it was not great at this hotel either, to be honest).
I understand that you may want to stick to Hyatt, but I spent a week at the Four Seasons Doha and it was really the best ever. I loved that hotel and found it simply perfect in almost every way.
Four Seasons, Doha!
How do I get complimentary Breakfast at 4 Seasons? I am Globalist, Bonvoy Titanium Elite, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, etc, etc I would definitely love to go to F.S.
Book via AMEX FHR – I was assigned a beautiful room, enjoyed late checkout, and daily breakfast complimentary.
Hotel is a dump. I lived there for two weeks. HVAC got me sick. Worst breakfast buffet I’ve ever had. Shoeshine service came back with polish applied but not shined. Spent two hours one Friday trying to get Wi-Fi to work. I would not return.
Well, I liked it a lot.