Arrived at a Five-Star Hotel at 7 a.m.… "Just Wanted to Leave My Luggage, but Checked In Right Away"

A Five-Star Hotel Experience in Qatar Goes Viral
Free Early Check-In Even 8 Hours Before Official Time
Complimentary Meals and Lounge Access Without Extra Charges

A travel YouTuber's review of an extraordinary service experience at a five-star hotel in Doha, Qatar, has been generating buzz online. The YouTuber shared that they were assigned a room for free as early as 7 a.m.-a full eight hours before the official check-in time-and were also able to enjoy meals and access to the club lounge at no additional charge, leaving many readers surprised.

Inside the club lounge of The Ritz-Carlton Doha located in Doha, Qatar. Screenshot from the YouTube channel 'Boarding Pass: The Excitement of Travel'

On January 8, the YouTube channel 'Boarding Pass: The Excitement of Travel' released a video detailing a stay at The Ritz-Carlton Doha in Qatar. This hotel is one of the top luxury brands within the Marriott Group, with room rates ranging from 300,000 to 500,000 KRW per night depending on the season.

"I just wanted to leave my luggage, but I was checked in immediately... Ended up staying 31 hours on a one-night reservation"

The YouTuber arrived at the hotel, located about 35 minutes by car from Hamad International Airport in Doha, around 7 a.m. The original plan was to leave their luggage and go sightseeing in the city, but the front desk staff guided them through the check-in process and immediately assigned them a room. This 'early check-in' was about eight hours ahead of the official check-in time of 3 p.m.

Room interior of The Ritz-Carlton Doha. The Ritz-Carlton

In addition, the hotel staff encouraged them to "have breakfast and also enjoy lunch," and allowed a late checkout until 2 p.m. As a result, the guest was able to stay for approximately 31 hours on a one-night reservation. The YouTuber remarked, "This kind of service is not to be taken for granted," adding, "I was really lucky that day."

"Ate all day" ... Seven meals provided in one day

The review also provided detailed insights into the club lounge experience. The lounge operates from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and offers meals five times a day, spanning breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, light dinner, and dessert time.

'The Ritz-Carlton Doha' Club Lounge Interior. The Ritz-Carlton

The YouTuber shared, "There was no need to leave the hotel," noting that they enjoyed a total of seven meals from the day of check-in through lunch the following day. While pork was excluded due to regional customs in the Middle East, a variety of meat dishes, breads, fruits, desserts, as well as alcoholic beverages such as wine and beer, were available. The YouTuber especially highlighted the impressive views from both the lounge and the restrooms.

"Personalized care" ... Staff service also stands out

The staff's attentive service also caught the YouTuber's attention. They commented, "It felt as if the staff already knew where I was and when I would visit the lounge," suggesting that movements might be tracked through the use of the key card. The staff would call them by name and continually check in on their meals, accommodation, and travel experience. The YouTuber described this as "extremely friendly, though it could also feel like personalized care to some."

Facilities such as the indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a 24-hour gym, and sauna are also operated on a large scale, with the gym being described as the largest the YouTuber had ever seen in a hotel.

'The Ritz-Carlton Doha' outdoor swimming pool. The Ritz-Carlton

Viewers who watched the video left a variety of comments, such as, "Checking in at 7 a.m.? I can't believe it," "I've never heard of a morning check-in before," "Early check-in and late checkout? That's practically two nights," "Now I understand why The Ritz-Carlton is so renowned," "A true luxury hotel," "Maybe they're generous because the area is famous for layovers," "I definitely want to visit," "Both the facilities and service are amazing," "I hope they don't charge extra afterward," "The lounge is the best," and "You were really lucky."