The welcome
Even those familiar with Dubai Marina might want to turn on their GPS to locate the Wyndham, tucked away on Al Seba Street, right at the end the Jebel Ali side of Dubai. The location of the brand’s first hotel in the UAE does mean it’s not in a claustrophobic part of town, with easy self-parking if you want to eschew the valet. After a short wait at reception, I’m quickly checked in and directed to the 31st floor – the club level.
The neighbourhood
For an Abu Dhabi resident such as myself, the location couldn’t be any better in Dubai – it’s two minutes from the first junction in/out of the city on Sheikh Zayed Road. There’s a Choithrams supermarket a few doors from this new 486-room, four-star hotel, and it’s a 15-minute walk to the nearest Metro stop (JLT). The southern end of the Marina is also within comfortable walking distance.
The room
My 31st-floor club grand room (pictured) is more five-star than the Wyndham’s four-star designation, with plenty of swish embellishments. Neatly, the 40-inch TV is mounted in a floor-to-ceiling, mashrabiya-influenced room divider, with a panel that revolves to allow you to watch from bed or the two-seater sofa in the lounge area. There’s two large wardrobes, a full-length mirror, two casual chairs with a small coffee/side table, an iPod dock by the bed and a digital radio/dock on the long work desk. The open-plan layout makes it feel spacious, too. The bathroom doesn’t quite repeat that illusion, but has everything it needs – a rain shower, bath, his-and-hers wash basins and Chopard toiletries.
The service
Quietly efficient. No request seems to fluster anybody – at breakfast, for example, a waitress happily brings a cappuccino in a takeaway cup when asked. At dinner, the waiting staff weren’t aware that the meal was forming part of a review, but they went the extra mile regardless, explaining the menu and indulging in friendly chitchat, which is a big tick in the service box.
The scene
Guests seem to be a roughly even split of GCC visitors and western tourists. Both camps gather for coffee and juices in the lobby cafe, while the compact Chillz pool deck/bar is more popular with the latter group. At the spa, I enjoy a one-hour Balinese massage (Dh320), with a therapist from Bali.
The food
The Range grill is the flagship restaurant, adding a Louisiana influence evident in dishes such as the oven-baked jambalaya (Dh135) and the deliciously light poached pompano fish with sea scallops (Dh170). The highlight is the seed celery beignet (Dh40), a dessert adapted from a New Orleans deep-fried pastry breakfast – this version is given a fine-dining touch, with avocado-pulp mousse and raisin gelato. Breakfast is at the airy, colourful all-day-dining restaurant Essence. Hot and cold buffets are fairly standard – the French toast station is a standout.
Loved
The spacious room, the service at Range and the unobstructed views across the Gulf from the 31st-floor club lounge.
Hated
The spa’s treatment room – essentially a small space off the gym/spa changing areas – feels a little like an after-thought.
The verdict
A fantastic-value Dubai Marina option that doesn’t compromise quality for affordability.
The bottom line
Double rooms at the Wyndham Dubai Marina (wyndhamdubaimarina.com) cost from Dh375 per night, including Wi-Fi, breakfast and taxes.
This review was done at the invitation of the hotel.
aworkman@thenational.ae
