Arrival/Check-In: I arrived at the hotel at 2 a.m. on Saturday. Although I was in town on business, I made certain I arrived a day and a half early to enjoy the marina as much as possible. The front desk coordinator greeted me with a plate of sweets and apple tea. Afraid it would affect my sleep, I chose to eat the sweets and skip the tea. Check-in only lasted a few minutes but included a thorough explanation of the property and its restaurants, bars and other services. The list went on and on; I was impressed. For anyone traveling to this property, keep in mind daily resort fees are added to your stay and include the use of the beach, towels and other amenities.

Guest Quarters: I was certainly hoping to get a view of the water from my room, but, unfortunately, it faced the roof of one of the side buildings. The accommodations were what you would expect from this Starwood favorite, Westin — spacious room and bathroom, plus all the usual amenities. I did have a few mishaps with the toilet not flushing and the shower not draining, but one call to the front desk and everything was good to go. I hadn’t stayed at a Westin in a while, but as soon as I climbed into the Heavenly Bed, I remembered all too well why it is called heavenly.

Services/Amenities: One of the coolest services offered at every Westin property is that for a nominal fee ($5) guests can rent running gear in partnership with New Balance. Knowing that ahead of time, I didn’t bother packing any workout clothes, which usually limit luggage space, especially if you’re traveling for weeks at a time. This partnership is perfect for workout fans like me. The outfit included a brand-new pair of shoes, shorts and the whole set — even a pair of brand-new New Balance socks as a gift. The gym wasn’t big but offered all the basics.

The breakfast buffet was mind-blowingly extensive. The gorgeous beach on the property offers a view of Atlantis the Palm in the distance.

The Experience: Three nights at this property were not enough. I didn’t get a chance to experience the nightlife available on site, but everything else (aside from my view and a few hiccups in my room) was top-notch, especially the staff. I recommend a hotel like Westin right on the marina and close to everything. Surprising to most, there is plenty of traffic, so allow extra time to get anywhere by car.

The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina
Al Sufouh Road
P.O. Box 213084
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
tel 971 4 399 4141
westinminaseyahi.com