GIVEAWAY: Free Ritz-Carlton Stay, Sharq Village & Spa with Breakfast

by Gary Leff

I receive compensation for content and many links on this blog. Citibank is an advertising partner of this site, as is American Express, Chase, Barclays and Capital One. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by my advertising partners. I do not write about all credit cards that are available -- instead focusing on miles, points, and cash back (and currencies that can be converted into the same). Terms apply to the offers and benefits listed on this page.

Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card

Earlier in the year I arranged a brief stopover in Doha. I’ve always wanted to visit the Museum of Islamic Art but never took the opportunity.

Doha is a really convenient stopover, as the home airport for Qatar Airways, a top world carrier and member of oneworld. Their first class lounge in Doha is amazing, and even features pieces from the Museum of Islamic Art’s collection.

I found just two days in Doha to be perfect, but if I had it to do over again I’d do four nights… two dedicated to a museum visit and two for The Ritz-Carlton Sharq Village & Spa.

Follow my lead, and stat two nights here, because I’m giving away a 2 night stay with breakfast to a blog reader.

A TripAdvisor ‘Certificate of Excellence’ hotel, it’s one of the top rated properties in Doha. It’s conveniently located but a retreat on the Gulf. And it garners comments like “Best anniversary ever!” “Magic” and “Awesome architecture.” The resort looks fantastic.

Here’s how they describe the property:

A luxury Doha resort that exemplifies the perfect fusion of contemporary and traditional, Sharq Village & Spa places guests in the heart of the Qatar capital, yet within the tranquil confines of an idyllic coastal retreat on the Gulf Bay. Featuring an exceptional spa, world-class dining, including the only Persian fine dining restaurant in Qatar, and 300 meters of private beach, our luxury resort in Doha Qatar is perfect for families of all ages, and envelops guests in a world of time-honored hospitality in surroundings that embrace Doha’s newer opulent vision.

This is a very special giveaway, thanks to my good friends at Luxury Travel Diary. Regular readers know them as a high-end travel blog with great reviews. They’re based in the UK and run travel auctions with real bargains.

As I’ve said before, folks who already know about these auctions don’t like this added attention, because there don’t seem to be enough bidders for many of their best offerings relative to the value available. Some of their items go way too cheap.

Let me just underscore this. Current bidding on 3 nights in a beachfront villa for 8 people in Turks and Caicos is running just over $900. And 2 nights at the Washington Duke Inn — a lovely property, I stayed there last year when visiting a Duke law school class to talk about DOT regulation of mistake fares, is going for about $80 total.

This Ritz-Carlton prize is being given away by the hotel and Luxury Travel Diary, I’m just helping to highlight it and randomly select the winner.

To enter: leave a comment on this post with your favorite item up for auction at Luxury Travel Diary, or why you would choose to stay at The Ritz-Carlton Sharq Village & Spa. You may enter two times if you wish and answer those two questions one time each in separate comments.

Contest deadline and drawing winner: Entries close Sunday, October 16 at Noon eastern. I will draw winner with the assistance of random.org.

The fine print: Advance booking is required and it’s subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply. Winner will have one week to respond to email notifying of the prize, otherwise the prize will be forfeit and made available to another reader. Free stay certificate expires March 26, 2017.

For avoidance of doubt, I have no affiliation with Luxury Travel Diary or The Ritz-Carlton Sharq Village & Spa. I am not getting anything in exchange for running this giveaway other than an opportunity to share the place with readers.

Of course you know I’m loving the benefits of the new Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card Visa Infinite, including a signup bonus of 3 complimentary nights and elite status in Ritz-Carlton’s frequent guest program (that’s honored as Marriott status as well).

The hotel is solely responsible for providing prize to winner. All decisions made in the course of running this giveaway are final and unappealable and your entry signifies your acceptance. The goal here is to make readers aware of a pretty cool auction opportunity, and to give away a stay. So please don’t make it hard on me for doing so!

Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

More articles by Gary Leff »

Editorial note: any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Comments made in response to this post are not provided or commissioned nor have they been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any bank. It is not the responsibility of advertisers Citibank, Chase, American Express, Barclays, Capital One or any other advertiser to ensure that questions are answered, either. Terms and limitations apply to all offers.

Comments

  1. The Hyatt Centric Montevideo looks amazing and seems to be a great addition to Hyatt’s new collection.

  2. I would love to stay at that Ritz. It looks like a beautiful location and I have always wanted to visit Doha, as I have been to the Middle East before but only to Israel. The private beach of the Gulf Bay is not the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Qatar!

  3. I’d like to visit Doha since it sounds amazing and the giveaway would be a great way to visit.

  4. Since my husband has never been to New York City, a stay at the Four Season which is on auction would be nice way to introduce him to the city.

  5. My favorite item up for auction is the stay at the Washington Duke, as it’s got my favorite golf course in NC.

  9. I would definitely bid on the Hyatt Centric Montevideo. Super great spot and easy to get to from the US.

  10. I would choose to stay at The Ritz-Carlton Sharq Village & Spa for the beautiful beach and pool

  11. Why stay at The Ritz-Carlton Sharq Village & Spa: it’s the kind of property I’m not used to.. it would be great to visit Doha and stay in a place like this

  13. This looks like a great one-

    5 nights in The Guest House at Manor Cottage, Cotswolds

  14. I would love to compare the Ritz Carlton Sharq to the other ritz hotels I’ve seen. Also Qatar airways is number one on my bucket list

  17. Would love to get the “2 Nights For Up To 6 At The 5* Coolmore Manor House, Ireland” for a little over 100 GBP.

  18. I am visiting Doha in November for the first time and would love the opportunity to stay at the top property by winning this Prize 🙂

  19. I’d love to stay at the Ritz as I’ve never actually ventured outside the airport in Doha and would love to experience what Doha has to offer

  21. Ever since I saw the movie “The Fall” i’ve been dying to to visit Rajasthan, India to see all the amazing architecture and the blue city. So my favorite auction item would be –
    2 Nights At Fort Rajwada Hotel In Rajasthan, India

  22. My favorite item on luxury travel diary is three nights in Turks and Caicos. My wife and I have never gone and it would be a great birthday gift.

  25. Would love to stay at the Ritz in Doha, especially since we have a trip scheduled there within the next year.

  28. Making plans for a trip to France next September, so would love to stay her: 2 Nights At Hotel Le Cep & Spa, Marie De Bourgogne, France:

  29. I would love to stay at the Ritz-Carlton Sharq Village and Spa because it looks like a fabulous resort and I have never traveled to the Middle East.

  31. I have never been to South America, so my auction item would be the Hyatt Centric in Uraguay.

  32. I would like to stay at the Ritz-Carlton Sharq Village & Spa, the exotic decorations are interested.

  33. Why I would stay at the Sharq – Having been to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, having a stay at the Sharq will compel me to structure a layover in Doha where I typically wouldn’t.

  34. Favorite auction at Luxury travel diary – 3 nights at the stunning Palazzo Belmonte in Salerno, Italy because we have a trip planned to Italy next year.

  35. My favorite item up for auction is the 2 nights in a Private Apartment at Coolmore Manor House, Ireland as it looks like a relaxing getaway.

  36. I’d like to stay at this Ritz because it looks like such a beautiful property. Also, for some reason I have never had an opportunity to stopover in Doha, but I would sure love an excuse to!

  37. My favorite item up for auction is the Coolmore Manor House, Ireland. I have never been to Ireland so this will persuade me to go.

  40. my favorite item up for auction is 3 nights at Monaci delle Terre Nere in Italy. Basically, anything in Italy is great.

  41. I would choose to stay at The Ritz-Carlton Sharq Village & Spa because it looks so relaxing and a great place to get a massage, read a good book, and recharge my batteries.

  44. The property looks imoressive. That in itself is the reason why I’d stay there and it would help a lot if it’s free 🙂

  46. The Ritz Carlton Sharq Village & Spa looks amazing. The spa would work for the family and Doha is on my bucket list. That’s three good reasons to be in Doha!

  47. I would love to stay at laza Athénée Bangkok due to the awesome food and people in the area 🙂

  49. Winning a stay at the Ritz in Doha would be an amazing experience as I fly exclusively Qatar when i return home from University. However I never had the money to tour around Doha which is on my bucket list!

  50. My favorite travel auction right now is the 2 night stay at Hotel Le Cep… looks like a dream.

Comments are closed.