Review: W Dubai – The Palm

The choice was not easy as there are so many Marriott hotels in Dubai. But I wanted to try a maximum of them in order to share my impression with you and to discover their own character.

So I split my stay between several hotels, all different and strategically located. The distribution was as follows:

• 3 nights at the W Dubai The Palm
• 2 nights at the Grosvenor House.
• 3 nights at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
• 2 nights at Sheraton Grand Dubai (unexpected, as I extended my stay in Dubai for business meetings)

To book my stay at W Dubai – The Palm, I could have either used 50,000 points per night (off-peak rate) or paid $182 per night.

I chose this second option: during COVID-19, the hotel rates are low, so it doesn’t make sense to burn points. Of course, I paid for my stay with my Marriott Bonvoy™ American Express^® Card to earn 5 points per dollar.

Once my reservation was done, I immediately contacted the concierge of the hotel by email in order to get ideas of activities usually recommended to tourists.

The concierge responded proactively and even offered me the limousine service (for a fee) to pick me up at the airport. I didn’t book this service, but this type of offer already made me feel like I was elsewhere.

The staff knows how to make you comfortable. Their communication style is easy going, young and pleasant, and I noticed it right away again when I got to the lobby.

The hotel offers 347 rooms on 7 floors with 11 types of Suites. Parking is available for a fee. Various services are offered:

The W Dubai The Palm is located, as its name suggests, in the Palm Grove, also known as the Jumeirah Palm, a set of artificial islands in the shape of a palm tree with a central trunk and 17 surrounding branches. A semi-circular dyke protects the whole thing.

The W Dubai The Palm Hotel is located on this last stretch.

The W Dubai The Palm is about half an hour from the airport.

To get there, you will have no choice but to use a taxi’s services to cross the trunk leading to the famous Atlantis Hotel and take a ramp to the side of the circle.

The monorail serves the Palm, but this service stops at the Atlantis hotel and has to be combined with the subway: it is thus one of the hotel’s disadvantages, with few solutions except using a car!

Runners will love it! They’ll have an ideal path to run along the seawall with stunning views of the Marina.

Some people get up at dawn to watch the sunrise. It seems magical (unfortunately, I often went to bed very late with my jetlag, I could not see one from this hotel). A walk that makes you feel far away from everything.

As a general rule, taxi fares are okay. Expect to pay 28 dirhams from the hotel to The Pointe, for example, the trendy place where you can relax on one of the center’s terraces to smoke the Shisha, if you feel like it. You can watch the spectacle of the largest fountains in the world with the Atlantis as a backdrop at nightfall.

The Atlantis Hotel is located just a few minutes by car (or 40 minutes on foot) and offers various activities such as a water park, aquarium, and beaches. Restaurants, Spas, Kids Club.

Everything is designed to please everyone. If you feel like it, you can even go swimming with dolphins!

A new hotel is being built too, the Royal Atlantis, which will be ready in 2021. A hotel once again in the city’s image, really quite crazy in terms of construction. It will certainly be worth a visit!

Arrival at the W Dubai The Palm is done through a parking lot. The driver enters a tunnel that lights up at night. The place is posh and frequented by a wealthy clientele, at least at first sight.

The staff warmly welcomes you to the hotel. When I enter, my temperature is checked, and the mask is mandatory, of course, during the COVID-19 pandemic. A Plexiglas panel is set at each counter.

Throughout my stay, my temperature was often checked. Like at breakfast or at the Sobe bar. Hand sanitizing gel is available everywhere (elevators, dining tables, lounges).

Outside, the rules are less strict regarding the mask, like at the swimming pools, but the staff members constantly wear it.

At the lobby, they assigned me a room with one of the most beautiful views. Actually, each room has superb views of the Palm and the Marina. No need to get envious.

But I was upgraded to a W Suite, thanks to my Titanium Elite status.

They let me choose my welcome gift. I decide to have it delivered the next day to my Suite as it’s already late (midnight).

W Hotels are known for their quirky, luxurious and contemporary style. The W Dubai The Palm is grandiose and perfectly represents this image of “have you seen me”, in Dubai’s typical image.

The hotel lobby is wide and bright. The interior decoration is rich with gilded furniture, mosaic walls arranged at the entrance and exit, but the whole thing is airy. Mosaic is omnipresent in this hotel.

I love it.

On either side of the hall, there are several comfortable lounges

Preview of the atmosphere in the evening:

A bar is also located near the lounges.

And what about the superb central chandelier!

At nightfall, the hotel lights up with a thousand bulbs, and you can’t help but think “Wow!”

Let’s go to my W Suite.

Even the cards are designed in the spirit of the hotel. You can even start a collection!

The W Suite is composed of a hall, a restroom at the entrance, a large living room including a “dining room” area and a rest area with a long sofa. Finally, in the next room is the bedroom and its bathroom.

Note the huge mosaic and the golden dining table that amplifies this luxurious hotel’s quirky style. I think it gives the room a crazy atmosphere after dark.

A small central circular counter near the window usually serves as a mini-bar. It has a hidden fridge.

The day after my arrival, I received my welcome gift: chocolate-covered strawberries and a bottle of red wine.

The room has a wall-mounted adjustable sound system, modern connectivity and lighting.

Did you enjoy the living room? Wait till you see the bedroom.

The bedroom is huge and has the same style as the living room with its huge mosaic wall in shades of blue and gray. A large flat screen faces the bed, there’s a low sofa-table area again, and then … a large bathtub.

A King bed will allow me to sink into Morpheus’ arms. The mattress was wonderfully soft; the pillows were perfect (and Jean-Maximilien knows how difficult I can be about that).

A large bathroom completes the bedroom. I was surprised to find a bathtub sitting in the middle of the room. Rather unexpected, but quite pleasant to see this magnificent decor from your bubble bath. 🙂

Then a more private bathroom hides a closed shower, a make-up area, a counter with two basins, a closed toilet and a dressing area.

Safe, bathrobe and slippers were in the closet. Finally, a steamer was also available.

The terrace is large with a table with 2 chairs, a corner sofa and two lounge chairs with their coffee table, to enjoy the outdoor atmosphere and the panoramic view of the Palm.

All you have to do is go to the terrace to have only one idea in mind: go outside and either enjoy the swimming pool or party at nightfall, as music is quite omnipresent all day long. The sound is turned down during the evening to not disturb those who would prefer to sleep.

Finally, here is a view of my Suite in the early morning.

The W Dubai The Palm offers:

• 3 famous restaurants: the Torno Subito (Italian), the Akira Back (Japanese & Korean) and the LIV (international). The latter also serves breakfast.
• 3 bars: the Sobe with a panoramic view of the Palm and a lively atmosphere, the WET Deck where you can have a cocktail with your feet in the water or the W lounge for a more intimate and classy service. A tapas service is available.
• The Away SPA
• a hairdressing salon
• a private beach
• a fitness room with a magnificent view of the outdoor facilities and the Atlantis Hotel
• a shop
• a service for weddings

During COVID-19, service is done by the staff.

The pool is the perfect place to relax. And there’s not just one, but plenty!

And at night once again, the place feels like magic.

Multiple spaces are available, according to your mood. Whether it is at the pool bar (the WET Deck) or the second bar, you can enjoy the beach and the splendid view on the furnished terrace or the grassed area.

As you can see, I had a wonderful stay at the W Dubai The Palm. Unfortunately, since I had to work during my 3 days, I could not take advantage of all the facilities and services offered, but the hotel invites you to relax and enjoy yourself.

Make room for dreams and crazy ideas!