Review: Sheraton Bahrain
I visited Bahrain on work earlier this week, and stayed at the Sheraton Bahrain hotel for two nights. Because of my meeting schedule, I flew Jet Airways (via Mumbai) instead of flying direct Gulf Air direct, which I would’ve loved to try out and review. I’m not going to write about my flights between Mumbai and Bahrain and back, partly because there isn’t much new to write about international business class on a Jet Airways B738, after my Singapore trip. However, I note that the flights did not have in-seat video screens even in business class (only a couple of those small overhead drop-down screens), and no champagne (they did serve wine, though I didn’t have any).
But here’s my take on the Sheraton Bahrain.
I landed in Bahrain late on a Saturday evening, and had pre-booked a hotel car to pick me up. I find this the best way to avoid any hassles in a city I’m traveling to for the first time. The driver was waiting at a pre-agreed rendezvous point, and I was quickly escorted to the limo waiting outside. The drive to the hotel was about 15 minutes, though I recall he was going plenty fast (and even that, was within the city speed limits)!
The hotel is located closes to the bay, and is actually connected to the World Trade Centre tower via a mall that abuts the hotel and the WTC Bahrain. Which was a huge positive for me, since my client’s offices were in the WTC itself.
Sheraton Bahrain - Exterior
The hotel clearly comes across as a bit aged and outdated in terms of style and décor, though not in quality or wear and tear of the furnishings and fittings. They may well need to think of a renovation in the next couple of years.
Sheraton Bahrain - lobby
Sheraton Bahrain - lobby
Sheraton Bahrain - lobby
Sheraton Bahrain - lobby
Sheraton Bahrain - lobby
Sheraton Bahrain - lobby
Sheraton Bahrain - lobby
Saturday being the last day of the weekend in Bahrain, the hotel was quite deserted, with only the check-in staff and a couple of bell-desk employees around. I was the only guest at the time.
I lost my SPG Gold status last year (though you can get it with just one stay in Asia Pacific, with this promotion). However, check in was pretty efficient, and I was immediately taken up to my room on the fifth floor.
Sheraton Bahrain - hallway
I’ve stayed at a couple of Sheraton hotels in the Middle East in the last few years, including several times at the Sheraton Dubai Creek prior to its renovation. And as soon as I entered this room, I immediately thought I’d been somehow magically transported to the standard room at the Sheraton Dubai Creek! The room was pretty much identical in every way.
Sheraton Bahrain - guest room
One of the problems when you travel alone, is that the bed is large enough for one person anyway, so it never strikes me to determine if the bed was king or queen size. This one might have been a king bed.
Sheraton Bahrain - bed
Sheraton Bahrain - bed
The room had a pretty solid work desk and chair, which was more comfortable than I thought it would be.
Sheraton Bahrain - work desk
There was also a fairly large comfortable couch.
Sheraton Bahrain - couch
One thing I noticed from the angle of the wall behind the couch (you can see it clearly in the picture above) is that this wasn’t an anomaly in my room alone. Rather this was part of the design of the building itself, as you can make out from this exterior picture of the hotel.
Sheraton Bahrain - exterior view
There was also a coffee table between the couch and the bed, which promised me fruits every day of my stay but failed to deliver! Though I do appreciate a bowl of fruit when I return to my room, I didn’t mind its absence too much. My only complaint is that they weren’t sharp enough to either notice the sign in the room and actually place a fruit bowl, or remove the sign altogether.
Sheraton Bahrain - fresh fruit with the hotel's compliments...NOT!
The bathroom was a standard one with a pretty old-fashioned wash basin, toilet and bidet, and a bath tub-shower area with a curtain separation.
Sheraton Bahrain - bathroom
Sheraton Bahrain - bathroom
Sheraton Bahrain - bathroom
Bath products were standard Sheraton offerings you find in the Middle East, though these ones were specifically manufactured and packed in Oman (yes, I read the packaging info!).
Sheraton Bahrain - bath amenities
The hotel also offered 500 bonus Starpoints for participating in “Make a Green Choice”, which I might write about separately. For the record, I took it up, and the points were credited the day after check out.
Sheraton Bahrain - Make a Green Choice
The minibar wasn’t exciting but did contain the essentials. While I have several friends and colleagues who survive almost exclusively on the minibar, I almost always never use it, often finding them extremely expensive and of not much use apart from help pack in some more pounds! I do wonder if I’m alone in this, or if there are others like me around.
Sheraton Bahrain - minibar
And of course, the most important thing for me personally – a coffee maker with supplies.
Sheraton Bahrain - tea, coffee, kettle
The room had sufficient storage space in the clothes closet, and an in-room safe as well.
Sheraton Bahrain - storage
Sheraton Bahrain - storage
In the daytime, the room had a pretty OK view, though I’d have preferred a view of the bay on the other side of the hotel.
Sheraton Bahrain - view from the room
I had breakfast at the hotel’s coffee shop / restaurant the following morning. Overall, I found the restaurant staff extremely helpful and attentive, periodically offering and refilling water, coffee and juices, as well as clearing plates pretty timely.
The restaurant was pretty well laid out with tables for seating groups of two, four and six. There was a buffet area in the middle, and in the center of THAT area, was a live station for eggs.
Sheraton Bahrain - restaurant seating
Sheraton Bahrain - restaurant seating
Sheraton Bahrain - breakfast
Sheraton Bahrain - breakfast
Sheraton Bahrain - breakfast
Sheraton Bahrain - breakfast
Sheraton Bahrain - breakfast
Sheraton Bahrain - breakfast
Sheraton Bahrain - breakfast
Sheraton Bahrain - breakfast
Sheraton Bahrain - breakfast
The Middle East is one of those places where I’m both pleased and absolutely amazed at the spread that’s available for breakfast. This is possibly the result of the fact that you get folks of all sorts coming to the area. As a result, breakfast at most five star hotels has a pretty vast spread that includes Middle Eastern, Indian, Far Eastern and Continental cuisines, and fresh bakery products and cold cuts.
And strangely, there’s no better place for variety of fruit, than the Middle East. That’s quite ironic, since there isn’t much by way of anything edible that grows in the region, other than dates.
And this fresh juice squeezer was too cool!
Sheraton Bahrain - breakfast
Overall, breakfast on both mornings I was there, was fantastic.
The hotel has a lounge for SPG members (located on the 10th or 11th floor) and another lounge of sorts on the ground floor. I used this on the evening of my departure, between checking out of my room and waiting for a friend to take me out for dinner and to the airport.
Sheraton Bahrain - secondary lounge
Sheraton Bahrain - secondary lounge
Sheraton Bahrain - secondary lounge
Sheraton Bahrain - secondary lounge
As you can see, lots of space and quite utilitarian.
I also noted something quite interesting and intriguing. Most hotels have started putting up signs or cards that asks guests from taking away in-room items such as towels and bathrobes, guests to contact the front desk instead, to purchase one. However, the Sheraton Bahrain is the first place I’ve seen a hotel go one step further, and actually have a for-sale display of these items. Interesting choice of location too, for the display – just outside the breakfast place, and right next to another display that sells some Sheraton Fitness gear.
Sheraton Bahrain - bath towels and bathrobe sales display
Sheraton Bahrain - Sheraton Fitness gear sales display
But here’s my take on the Sheraton Bahrain.
I landed in Bahrain late on a Saturday evening, and had pre-booked a hotel car to pick me up. I find this the best way to avoid any hassles in a city I’m traveling to for the first time. The driver was waiting at a pre-agreed rendezvous point, and I was quickly escorted to the limo waiting outside. The drive to the hotel was about 15 minutes, though I recall he was going plenty fast (and even that, was within the city speed limits)!
The hotel is located closes to the bay, and is actually connected to the World Trade Centre tower via a mall that abuts the hotel and the WTC Bahrain. Which was a huge positive for me, since my client’s offices were in the WTC itself.
The hotel clearly comes across as a bit aged and outdated in terms of style and décor, though not in quality or wear and tear of the furnishings and fittings. They may well need to think of a renovation in the next couple of years.
I lost my SPG Gold status last year (though you can get it with just one stay in Asia Pacific, with this promotion). However, check in was pretty efficient, and I was immediately taken up to my room on the fifth floor.
One of the problems when you travel alone, is that the bed is large enough for one person anyway, so it never strikes me to determine if the bed was king or queen size. This one might have been a king bed.
The room had a pretty solid work desk and chair, which was more comfortable than I thought it would be.
The room had sufficient storage space in the clothes closet, and an in-room safe as well.
The restaurant was pretty well laid out with tables for seating groups of two, four and six. There was a buffet area in the middle, and in the center of THAT area, was a live station for eggs.
Sheraton Bahrain - breakfast
And this fresh juice squeezer was too cool!
The hotel has a lounge for SPG members (located on the 10th or 11th floor) and another lounge of sorts on the ground floor. I used this on the evening of my departure, between checking out of my room and waiting for a friend to take me out for dinner and to the airport.
I also noted something quite interesting and intriguing. Most hotels have started putting up signs or cards that asks guests from taking away in-room items such as towels and bathrobes, guests to contact the front desk instead, to purchase one. However, the Sheraton Bahrain is the first place I’ve seen a hotel go one step further, and actually have a for-sale display of these items. Interesting choice of location too, for the display – just outside the breakfast place, and right next to another display that sells some Sheraton Fitness gear.
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