Quote: In 2005, the Mercure Grand Hotel Doha was one of the cheapest I could find on the web. I paid 80 euros per night for a single room. To get that rate, you need to visit several websites and compare the prices.

With 175 rooms, the Mercure Grand Hotel Doha is a four-star hotel with all the facilities typical of a four-star international hotel, with big impersonal rooms, a color television, good quality furniture, a big modern marble bathroom and all the small stuff you expect to find in a bathroom. The decor is no different than other four or five-star international hotels: the rooms look the same wherever you go and you do not feel like you are in Qatar. The hotel reception and lobby is on the first floor (open 24 hours). There is also an outdoor swimming pool but I would not recommend to use it during the summer!

Despite the hotel's impersonal looks, the view from the rooms window is stunning: if your room is high enough, you can see the Corniche and the trapeze-shaped Sheraton Hotel at its end. The night view on Doha is also worth it.

The hotel is ideally located in the Business district of Doha, within walking distance of the Port, the old city (with its souqs) and the Corniche. There are plenty of shops and restaurants in the area if you do not want to stay inside in the evening. It is also very close to Doha International Airport (less than 4kms).

Security is very good. An anecdote: I had invited my Qatari friend to visit me in my room. I had previously sent him a SMS with my room number but since security was tight because of the terrorist threat, he was arrested just before going out of the lift on my room floor. He was escorted to my room with two guards who asked me if he was my friend. I replied by the affirmative and I was told that I had to take my friend downstairs to chat with him. We decided to go out instead of staying in the hotel lobby.
From journals Doha, a Paradise for Expatriates?