Review : JW Marriott Hotel Marina | Marriott Bonvoy, Dubai

As of January 1st, 2024 the Marriott Group welcomes you to it’s newest luxury hotel the JW Marriott Hotel Marina, formerly known as Address Hotel. Located in the heart of Dubai’s dynamic and impressive marina. With its breathtaking views and direct access to the Dubai Marina Mall, this hotel offers an ideal location for entertainment and a variety of relaxation services.

Rooms at the JW Marriott Marina can be booked for as little as CAD 250 or 45,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

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.

Here is some information about the hotel:

Located in the heart of Dubai’s dynamic marina, the hotel offers panoramic views and direct access to the Dubai Marina Mall. It’s proximity to the metro makes it easy to get around the city.

You can park in front of the hotel, where a valet will help you with your luggage and park your car for you. Please note, however, that it can sometimes take a long time to collect your car afterwards. We had to wait 25 minutes to leave!

The check-in experience was fairly quick for us, granted we were the only ones at the counter at the time. Several counters are available, as well as a concierge and valet service at the hotel entrance.

When we entered the suite in the afternoon, it was bathed in light, which was lovely. The decor is modern, with light-colored furnishings. Everything was comfortable and fair-sized, as you can see in our photos.

On a negative note, the staff took 2 hours to respond to our request to prepare the sheets for the sofa bed for our children. We had to check many times to make sure we hadn’t been forgotten.

The bathroom is brightly lit thanks to the windows. It features a shower and bathtub enclosed by a glass door, a large mirror and two washbasins integrated into the countertop.

However, there are a number of aspects that require staff attention:

• The shower door doesn’t close properly, and is responsible for a little flooding on the way out.
• The hairdryer, located in a desk drawer, is not easy to access: the cord is too short for a standing person, and not designed for someone sitting since the glass and countertop restrict any range of motion for your arms.
• The hygiene products offered come in large refillable dispensers, which one would expect to be full, however, that was not the case for the conditioner.

The suite’s terrace is just the right size for two chairs and a small table, which is convenient for enjoying views of the marina. However, we found the surrounding environment to be very loud, due to the noises of the road, or the music coming from the hotel pool.

The JW Marriott Hotel Marina offers several restaurants:

• JW Kitchen, on the hotel’s ground floor, offers a variety of cuisine. We enjoyed a very good breakfast. The room is pleasant, with its terrace overlooking the marina, even if the high ceilings and resonant noise are slightly reminiscent of a cafeteria. Here are a few photos:

Here’s what to expect from the breakfast buffet:

• Harbours is a cigar lounge on the 4th floor.
• Griffin Lounge offers a relaxed setting for casual get-togethers or afternoon tea.
• The Nova Restaurant & Lounge offers a surprising atmosphere, with a great view from the terrace, a mouth watering menu, and late-night cocktails accompanied by a DJ playing music.
• Finally, Khabriye, a bistro-pub, is an ideal place for a few cocktails and some music.

The Wane by Somya pool is located outside on the 4th floor. We must say, it offers a magnificent evening view of the marina. During the day, deckchairs can quickly become occupied during busy periods. It’s best to plan ahead. Unfortunately, no seats were available when we visited.

A sauna area is also available on this floor.

The gym is located on the 3rd floor and is very big. You have to wander the hotel corridors to find it. A member of staff will welcome you and provide you with a towel and a bottle of water. It is available all day and offers a full range of equipment for cardiovascular and strength training.

The Elvi Lounge is located on the 4th floor and is available to platinum members and above. It’s not very big, but has the advantage of offering a lovely view over the Marina, with a small outdoor terrace.

Unlike some of the other lounges we’ve come across, children are welcome when accompanied by an adult. We enjoyed a delicious supper.

The hotel offers the service of a kids club for children aged 0 to 12. The location is not ideal, as you have to change elevators and use the one used by the building’s residents. As the hotel only recently became part of the Marriott group, the directions were unclear. We go up to a floor that appears to be dedicated to offices, only to find a glass door on the right that reads Kids Club.

Open from 9am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm, Tuesday to Sunday. It is temporarily closed on Saturday lunchtimes for the children’s brunch at the JW Kitchen. Children under 5 must remain accompanied. The area is made up of three open rooms.

The first hour is free, and each hour thereafter costs AED 100. Our children enjoyed their time at this kids club.

The hotel offers various Spa and Wellness services:

• Spa and Wellness Club – 3rd floor
• Clinique des Champs Elysées – 3rd floor
• Hair Salon – 3rd floor
• A business lounge open to all, with some refreshments available – 3rd floor

The JW Marriott Hotel Marina offers an overall pleasant experience, with its privileged location and spectacular marina views. The breakfast buffet is a highlight, as are the bright, well-furnished rooms, gym, and swimming pool.

However, certain aspects such as the elevators, the crowded pool, and service delays can detract from the experience. We advise you to plan your stay outside of the local peak vacation period for a more relaxed experience.