2019 has been a super busy year so far, but busy in a good way. All my weekends have been packed with socializing or eating out or photography activities and I’ve been craving a good old quiet, under the covers laid-back break.
I recently got an invite to spend a night at the Marriott in Al Jaddaf, Dubai and thought this would be the perfect low-key break I’ve been wanting so badly.
My husband is away, so it was just my little girl Farasha and me. We had a restful night’s sleep and checked into the hotel at 3 pm. The lobby was crowded with guests, yet we were greeted with warm smiles right from the valet to the concierge area.
The funniest thing happened at the reception desk. I cordially greeted by the lovely young lady as “Ms. Files”! They had me booked in as Tezzy Files, and she never even flinched thinking about the absurdity of the name. This is what I call diplomatic service! Thoroughly apologetic upon seeing me crack up, she swiftly changed my details in the system.
The Room
We were booked into a Deluxe City View room. A bellboy helped us with the luggage and guided us into our room. He also showed us how to use the room access card. This card also operates the elevators and access to the pool and gym facilities, so you really need to have this baby on hand at all times.
Our room was flooded with warm, welcoming natural light and the white and turquoise color theme along with the natural wood finish and reflective mirrors gave the room an Arabesque yet familial feel.
The view from our room is nothing impressive. You can see the highway and a huge construction site takes up most of the vantage area. You can always upgrade to the SkyLine View room, especially recommended if you are on a Dubai tour.
The room is facilitated with the usual amenities including a 24 hour on-call phone to the reception, a 32″ television set with the latest channels, a mini fridge with a pay as you go bar and snacks, and complimentary coffee and tea.
I like the wide, spacious wardrobe that lights up when opened. I am one of those people who like to unpack and hang all my clothes on hangers on a hotel stay, even if it is for just one night. They even have an iron table and hair dryer should you need it.
But my favorite spot in this room is the bathroom. Beautifully tiled in mini mosaic of earthy tones and complete with mood lighting and a floor to ceiling glass that looks out into the bedroom and beyond the window, the bathroom is also very high-tech in that one switch can close off the glass for privacy or open it up to allow you to watch tele from the tub. You can increase the volume for proper tele hearing from the comfort of the tub as the room has a Bose speaker of its own.
Another high-tech feature I was impressed with about this room was a pair of switches right at the front that allow you to alert the team if you don’t want to be disturbed, or if you would like the room cleaned.
And the most important feature of all… the bed! The bed linen was crisp, clean and inviting and the bed itself was very cozy and comfortable. With easy access to night switches by the bedside for the entire room and extra pillows available in the wardrobe, we slept sound like babies. Best of all, the curtains in this room really block out the light. I woke up beyond 9 am relishing the comfy darkness.
The Facilities
A night’s stay at Marriott Al Jaddaf gives you access to the hotel’s pool and gym facilities. We spent a great deal of our day at the pool. The water was heated to a comfortable warmth, and is manned by a lifeguard. At one end is a public Jacuzzi, at the other is a kid’s pool that lights up in rainbow colors come evening. The main stretch of the pool is 1.30 meters deep and great for a few laps before breakfast.
Marriott Al Jaddaf also has a state of the art spa which I was very keen on trying, but unfortunately they were fully booked for the weekend. If you are planning a stay here, I’d suggest you make a spa booking well in advance.
The Dining Options
Marriott Al Jaddaf has quite a few dining options. There is a room-serviced menu that covers breakfast, lunch, dinner and anything in between but they also have a number of well-reputed restaurants including Shanghai30 (as the name suggests, this restaurant specializes in Asian cuisine), The Lobby Lounge (a casual cafe-style diner that is also licenced and is located at the lobby area of the hotel), AquaChill (the pool-side bar that also offers an alfresco dining menu), BnB (a late night pub complete with live sports onscreen), 24 Karats (click here for my earlier review), and Scots American Grill (a fine-dining steakhouse).
We had dinner at Scots American Grill, and breakfast at The Market Place. Will be posting separate reviews on both next!
5 Reasons Why You Should Book a Stay at Marriott Al Jaddaf
- 5 Star Experience: Marriott Al Jaddaf really lives up to their 5-star status. The service here is exemplary. Every staff member we encountered had a big smile on their faces and were super accommodating to our requests.
- Centrally Located: If you are visiting Dubai for the first time, the hotel offers free airport shuttle services and is conveniently located right at the heart of Old and New Dubai.
- Beautiful Room: Great for a relaxed home away from home experience, complete with 5-star service, a super comfy bed and a luxe tub.
- Dining: The hotel offers so many options, and there are even more close to the vicinity. Click here for the entire list.
- The Facilities: A night’s stay at Marriott Al Jaddaf gives you pool and gym access, and covers an extensive international breakfast buffet at the all-day dining restaurant The Market Place.
The Tezzy Files 