In a recovering country, “luxury” is a relative matter. And on those terms, the five-star Baghdad Hotel is one of Iraq’s luxury hotels.
It was the property booked for five travel specialists by Cadence Travel, which organized a trip for us to tour the antiquities of Mesopotamia. I was quite satisfied with the hotel, but the four travel agents with me said they could never book their top clients into it! (I did have trouble with the TV and the hair dryer, and the lobby decor was spare. But on the whole, I thought it was quite comfortable.)
Whether you would consider it luxury or not, the hotel’s marble floors, red velvet draperies, and shiny light sculptures called to mind tales of the Arabian Nights.
After approaching via a walkway past fountains and topiaries, our luggage passed through a scanning machine as we walked into the reception area for check-in. Carved wooden tree-trunk chairs and soft sofas furnished the entrance, lit by gleaming chandeliers that were hung down from the main lobby on the mezzanine level.
Spacious rooms with doors opening to wide balconies provided views over the mammoth outdoor swimming pool, and on higher floors offered views toward the historic River Tigris a block away. Furnished with both a storage ledge and desk area beside the king-sized bed, the generous rooms were carpeted with heavy drapes to exclude the early morning sun.
Widescreen TVs with Arabic and BBC channels, white terrycloth slippers, a hair dryer, and the bottles of water and juice in the minibar were complementary. Generous counter space and wall-length showers were convenient features of the marble bathrooms equipped with dental and shaving kits, shampoo and lotion, and other complimentary amenities.
A series of restaurants surrounded the outdoor pool, which stretched almost the length of the building. Meals of European and traditional foods were served outdoors or in a lounge where patrons nestled into comfy sofas while drawing on hookahs with chewing mint, lemon kiwi, mood, and bounty among the flavor choices.
Off the mezzanine level lobby, breakfast was an extravagant buffet of sauces, cheeses, vegetables, hot dishes, pastries, breads, and fruit juices with a chef creating custom omelettes at a special station.
Spare time could be spent in the “healthy” rooms. A full-sized exercise center had windows overlooking the pool courtyard. There was also an indoor pool with a sauna, jacuzzi, and hot tub.
While Baghdad is fascinating and friendly, the logistics and traffic can be daunting. After a day of business or sightseeing, you can retreat for a dip in the pool, order a meal, and unlike the caliph who stayed awake to hear the tales of Sheherazade, fall asleep soundly under your puffy duvet and downy pillows.
The author of this post received a complimentary stay at his hotel, but we are always dedicated to providing our readers with an unbiased assessment in our reviews.
Sharon King Hoge has an extensive background in print and broadcast media and in public relations. Currently a media consultant and writer, she was one of the original Contributing Editors at Conde Nast Traveler. She is a Contributing Writer at Global Travelerand Editor at Large for the Cottages & Gardens magazines.
0 Comments