Review : JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh | Marriott Bonvoy

When I stayed at the JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh, the rate was 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, while the room cost was over CAD 600 per night due to several conventions in town (and the Music Festival I was attending).

So I chose to use my Marriott Bonvoy points for this one-night stay.

The JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh is located in the north of Riyadh city on King Fahad Road.

After a stay at Le Meridien Riyadh, I arrived at the JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh. It is possible to park for free under the hotel or to leave your car with the valet.

The entrance to the hotel is majestic and bathed in light.

On the reception level, there is a café, and this is also where you can access the hotel’s upscale restaurant, the JW Steakhouse.

I was upgraded to an Executive Suite without having to use Suite upgrades. All I had to do was kindly ask for it in the chat before I arrived!

My room was located on the 23rd floor of the hotel.

Opening the door to the suite, I arrive in a living room with a fully equipped kitchen.

At the entrance, there is a bathroom with a toilet.

Although there was a washing machine, it did not seem connected to water.

The suite room is a decent size, and the bed is exceptionally comfortable.

The bathroom has a bathtub and a separate shower.

Overall, this is a comfortable suite, but the furniture is starting to look a little old here and there.

Breakfast at the JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh is served in the Executive Lounge.

The room, all in length, is charming and bathed in natural light throughout the day.

Breakfast is served as a buffet. And it is possible to order eggs of any kind you wish.

For members with Platinum, Titanium or Ambassador status, breakfast is complimentary. You can also get it with some paid rates through the hotel’s website on Marriott Bonvoy at this address.

The JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh has a large outdoor pool under a pergola.

Many deckchairs were present (all occupied at the time of my visit).

The gym offers quality and varied equipment:

Near the pool, the hotel offers a hard tennis court (as well as a squash room which I couldn’t find access to).

The JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh‘s lounge is open all day. You can have breakfast (see above) or eat at other times with mignardises.

The food offered during the day is of good quality, with sweet and savoury dishes and fruit. I particularly appreciate the oriental offer.

On the reception level, there is a huge terrace with a café. Even though the traffic noise below is noticeable, it’s a nice place to have tea, watch a soccer match (I stayed in the hotel during the 2022 Soccer World Cup) or even work.

Staying at the JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh puts you in the heart of Riyadh. One of the nearby attractions is the Riyadh Season BLVD World offering a thematic tour renewed every year.

It is a place that will appeal to young and old alike. Count on at least half a day to cover everything!

Here are some suggestions for activities in Riyadh and the surrounding area from our partner Viator:

The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points for free stays at over 8,000 hotels worldwide is to have the Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card (and/or the Marriott Bonvoy^® Business American Express^®* Card).

In addition to the exceptional welcome bonus of each of these two cards, you’ll earn 2 points per dollar on all your purchases and 5 points per dollar at any of the Marriott establishments. On top of that, every year, you’ll receive a free hotel night certificate (worth 35,000 points) and 15 Elite Night Credits toward your Marriott Bonvoy status.

Having stayed at Le Meridien Riyadh just before, I have a good point of comparison between the two properties at roughly similar point cost.

Le Méridien Riyadh is clearly newer than the JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh. This can be seen in the rooms, but also through the hotel’s facilities. I also preferred the breakfast buffet offered at the Le Meridien Riyadh hotel.

On the other hand, the lounge offered by the JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh is superior in quality (especially outside of breakfast) to that of Le Méridien Riyadh; and the pool is more pleasant in my eyes. Also, the service offered – especially at the reception – is superior at the JW Marriott.

Whether you choose one or the other, you won’t make a bad choice. It all depends on what you are looking for from a hotel and the purpose of your stay.

Do not hesitate to read our other articles on this trip: