When I stayed at the W Dubai Mina Seyahi hotel, the rate was 72,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, while the cost of the room exceeded CA$600 per night due to the many conventions in town (including the Dubai Airshow).

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

W Dubai Mina Seyahi is located close to Dubai Marina and is part of a three-hotel Marriott Bonvoy complex with Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Waterpark and The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina.

The architecture of the hotel, a 31-storey building, is remarkable for its clean lines, glass facade and soft curves surrounding the elegant rooms. The lobby, influenced by old-world charm, contrasts with the futuristic aesthetic of W Dubai – The Palm.

When you arrive at the W Dubai Mina Seyahi Hotel, you can either leave your car with the valet parking attendant (complimentary) or park in the car park shared with Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Waterpark.

Like all W hotels, the lobby area (W Lounge) is colourful and made of high-end materials.

It pays homage to the golden souks of the Middle East with warm hues and golden accents, creating a dark, haunting atmosphere.

I used a Suite Night Upgrade for this one-night stay, available with my Marriott Bonvoy account. I was upgraded to a Marvelous Suite.

However, despite arriving at 4 p.m., my suite was not ready! The receptionist informs me that it may be a while before it is. So he offered to assign me a standard room and transfer my belongings to it once the Marvelous suite was ready.

So off I go to the 15th floor for a temporary stay in a standard room with two beds.

The Fantastic room – the standard room when you book with Marriott Bonvoy points – is a good size. We appreciate the choice of colours and materials.

The hotel’s 318 rooms, including 27 suites, are mostly sea-facing and feature private balconies. The design blends traditional Middle Eastern elements with a bright, welcoming space.

Rooms feature a signature W brand Mix Bar, with a hidden coffee machine, adding a touch of luxury and pleasure. Rooms also offer unexpected gifts during night service, such as vouchers for free drinks and earplugs to muffle the noise of musical nights on the beach (or the construction being done across the street from the hotel during my visit).

Opening the suite door, I enter a magnificent lounge.

This suite impresses with its metallic tones and warm colors. It features a lounge area with a contemporary sofa, elegant chairs, two velvet poufs and a multi-level coffee table.

The suite room, with a king-size bed, offers spectacular views of the Arabian Gulf and Dubai Marina.

The bathroom has a freestanding bathtub, walk-in shower and double sinks, offering a luxurious bathing experience with views of the sky and ocean.

Breakfast at the W Dubai Mina Seyahi Hotel is served at the Ginger Moon restaurant next to the Wet Deck.

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 W Dubai Mina Seyahi features a large outdoor swimming pool.

This Wet Deck, a focal point for hotel guests, offers an exclusive poolside party atmosphere. The BAR-B spa, with its four treatment rooms, beauty bar and relaxation areas where cocktails are available on request, promises a relaxing experience. The fitness center, 1Rebel, was scheduled to open at the end of 2023 and was therefore unavailable when I visited in November 2023.

The pool is illuminated at night, as is the famous W logo.

Guests of the W Dubai Mina Seyahi hotel have access to the facilities of Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Waterpark, Dubai Marina and The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina. This can be convenient for families to access child-friendly pools.

The gym, shared with Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Waterpark, offers a variety of high-quality equipment:

On the lobby level is a very large indoor/outdoor terrace with a café and bar.

In the evening, on the 31st and top floor of the hotel, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Dubai Marina and Dubai Palm at the ATTIKO restaurant. Drinks are also available.

ATTIKO is also open for brunch on Saturdays.

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.

My experience has been mixed.

Yes, the W Dubai Mina Seyahi offers rooms and suites of the highest quality (and excellent soundproofing). However, over the next few months, major construction work will take place opposite the hotel (and swimming pool) with the building of a large hotel.

As a result, it’s extremely noisy outside, making it difficult to relax by the pool (or on the beach).

What’s more, my check-in experience was rather laborious. At 4 pm, the suite was not ready (we had to wait almost 2 hours for it, which is unacceptable for this kind of property). For your information, as compensation, the Guest Rooms Manager gave us two cocktail vouchers and offered to extend our check-out time beyond 4 pm the following day.

You’ve been warned!