Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara — Hotel in Doha

Disappointing Experience at Banana Island – Not Worth the Hype We recently stayed at Banana Island, expecting a luxurious and relaxing getaway for our large family—especially in this extremely hot weather. While the island itself is beautiful and the facilities have great potential, the experience was unfortunately ruined by poor maintenance, unprofessional staff, and inadequate service.

We were a group of 41 people, booking a total of 4 villas and 6 rooms. For such a large number, the resort assigned only one butler to attend to all our needs. Not only was this completely insufficient, but the assigned butler (his name was Motto) was also quite rude and clearly overwhelmed. Understandably so—but it is still unacceptable for a resort of this level to assign just one person to such a large group.

Transportation around the island was a daily frustration. Every time we requested a golf cart, we had to wait an average of 20–30 minutes. Often, we ended up walking just to avoid the long delay. Even worse, many of the golf cart drivers seemed to discriminate based on appearance. On multiple occasions, carts passed by without stopping when I was wearing my abaya. Even when we did manage to get a ride, the drivers often stopped midway to pick up other guests, showing little regard for our comfort or time.

One particularly upsetting incident occurred late at night while I was heading back to my room with my sister and our children. We had requested a large cart to accommodate everyone, but after waiting 25 minutes, a small one arrived—driven by our butler, Motto, who was fully aware of the size of our group. My toddler was asleep in my arms, so we decided to squeeze in to get back quickly. But Motto refused to drive and began shouting at us, claiming safety concerns—as if it were our fault that the wrong cart was sent in the first place.

In terms of the accommodation itself, the condition of the rooms was far from what you’d expect at a luxury resort. Toilets had damaged pumps, poor water pressure, and one even had a leaking roof. Some phones only worked on speaker mode, and the automated curtains were not functioning at all. Considering the high rates charged for every facility and service, the poor maintenance and lack of safety standards were completely unacceptable.

We also faced repeated issues at the bowling alley. When my children played, their lane malfunctioned three times and had to be changed repeatedly. On the morning of our checkout, I went again to play and waited over 30 minutes for a functioning lane—despite only three of the eight lanes being occupied. Eventually, we had to leave without playing at all.

On a positive note, I want to highlight the excellent experience we had at Azraq restaurant during breakfast. The staff there were incredibly friendly, professional, and welcoming. The food was fresh, delicious, and offered a great variety every morning. It was the one area of the resort that truly reflected the high standard expected from a luxury destination.

In the end, after multiple complaints and online reviews, a kind and professional staff member named Destiny stepped in to address our concerns. She listened to us attentively and did her best to resolve the issues, offering compensation by waiving the cost of extra beds and providing complimentary services such as massages and water activities. Her efforts were genuinely appreciated.

However, despite Destiny’s kindness and willingness to help, the overall experience remained deeply disappointing. Mistakes and poor service continued throughout our stay, and the resort consistently failed to meet even basic expectations. It is truly shocking that a property under the Anantara brand—known internationally for its quality and hospitality—could fall so far short. In its current state, Banana Island does not deserve even one star. If the management cannot uphold the promised luxury standards, then they should at least adjust the pricing to reflect the actual level of service...

A Nightmare Booking Experience – Unprofessional and Stressful booking process

We made a reservation on April 23rd, 2025, for a family stay at Banana Island by Anantara on April 26th - 27th to celebrate a special occasion—our mother’s birthday. The booking was made through a friend who works at the property and provided us with the Friends and Family rate. We were quoted for three rooms: two Premier Sea View Rooms at QAR 830.25 each, and one at QAR 982.13. Later that same day, we received an email from the Reservations team, which included a secure payment link. We completed the payment immediately and received confirmation that it had been processed.

To our dismay, the following day, our friend informed us that he had been contacted by Mr. Said Charafi from Reservations, who stated that the rate we were given—and already paid—had not been approved by the General Manager. He then requested an additional QAR 1,180 across the three rooms, claiming it was an internal arrangement. This was deeply confusing and frustrating, as the original rate was provided in writing by Mr. Charafi himself and we had received both a payment and booking confirmation.

Out of concern, I asked for a direct conversation with Mr. Charafi. When he called me at 3:25 PM, he explained the same issue and offered to reduce the additional amount to QAR 729. I asked why we were being asked to pay extra when the booking had already been confirmed and paid for. He responded with alarming statements such as, “If we’re talking about legality, I have the right to cancel the booking as it’s not confirmed.” Despite showing proof of confirmation, he insisted it was not valid and threatened cancellation. I asked for an official email regarding the additional charge, but he refused, saying the only email he’d send would be a cancellation notice. His tone was unprofessional, dismissive, and deeply concerning, especially so close to our intended arrival.

Things escalated when my husband called Mr. Charafi to try to resolve the issue. Instead of offering a solution, Mr. Charafi raised his voice, acted aggressively, and outright told my husband he would cancel the booking. When my husband asked to speak with a manager, he was told one was unavailable and that we would have to deal with him directly. What was supposed to be a relaxing build-up to a joyful family celebration instead turned into a source of anxiety and emotional distress. We were left fearing that we might show up at the island only to find our booking canceled without warning.

In a final attempt to salvage the situation, I called Mr. Charafi again. To my shock, he told me, “You don’t deal with Anantara anymore. Talk to your friend. I will cancel your booking now. Anantara has nothing to do with you.” I was stunned. I even apologized to him on behalf of my husband, and asked if I could pay the additional amount at check-in—simply to avoid ruining our family occasion. I was left feeling like we had no choice but to agree under pressure, simply to prevent this from becoming a complete disaster.

As of now, we are left with uncertainty—less than a day before check-in—not knowing whether our booking stands or has been canceled. What should have been a joyful, celebratory moment has become riddled with stress, anxiety, and fear of disappointment. This experience has seriously damaged our trust in Anantara’s service standards, and we hope no one else is subjected to the same unacceptable treatment...

We booked our stay directly with Anantara and not via other sites as they have a brilliant loyalty program called GHA Discovery. Our journey began with the prompt arrival of our taxi driver, who even offered us a mobile WiFi dongle for the short ride from the airport. Once we reached the port, we were met by port staff who escorted us to a very beautiful waiting room. The smooth ferry service was professional, and after a 30 min journey, we arrived at the island, where we were greeted with a performance that showcased local traditions - a nice touch!||Our villa host, Muthu, along with Destiny, were there to meet us. They ensured we settled in comfortably, and Muthu gave us a thorough tour of the villa, explaining all its features and amenities. Destiny prepared a suggested itinerary after discussing my preferences but nothing was a bother to Muthu even when we made last min changes! ||Our week was filled with lots fun activities high ropes, zip-lining over the beach, and bungee jumping etc which kept the kids entertained - these activities were complimentary as part of our stay. The kids also tried the water surf and knee boarding experiences, which were available for a fee. Dining options offered a variety, with a sustainability-themed beach dinner featuring live music on Thursday, a fantastic Amazonia brunch on Friday, and an Italian buffet at Riva's on Saturday. The variety and quality of the food were top-notch and incredibly generous serving, ensuring we always had fresh and delicious meals, but our best meal was at Al Naham, which featured traditional cuisine. The seafood platter for two served our entire family of 4 with even leftovers!||I can't say enough about the incredible service we received, especially from Muthu. He sourced a football for my 10yr old son when he realised it had been left at home and arranged for king coconuts when he learned of my son's love for them. No matter how busy he was, he always made us feel like we were his top priority. Even when he had to attend to other guests, he ensured that a staff member was there to support us. Thank you to Niroshana, who looked after us on the day Muthu had a day off! ||There were too many personal touches to capture but some of them included - yoga mat, petals, incense stick along with personally written card and instruction if we wanted to wind down , fruit platter sent to our villa were all additional thoughtful touches. ||As our time on the island came to an end, the departure experience left us feeling emotional and sad. Watching the staff wave goodbye with white flags was a poignant and beautiful send-off, truly encapsulating the unique hospitality of Anantara Banana Island. It’s a moment we will remember forever, as Muthu and the other hosts stood there, their figures shrinking in the distance, making our whole family feel very tearful.||Banana Island is a perfect destination for families seeking adventure and relaxation! It’s a more affordable version of the Maldives, with...