The Edition Tampa by Marriott hotel review was part of the press trip with Virgin Atlantic to launch their new Tampa route as well as their fantastic new A330 Upper Class Suite that you can read about here. 

Why stay in Tampa?

Most people that fly into Tampa on the west coast of Florida, simply head off to places like Busch Gardens or the Gulf coast resorts of Clearwater and St Petersburg. However, Tampa is worth visiting by itself and now has its first five-star hotel with the Edition that opened in 2022. 

Tampa can make a great base for exploring with places like Clearwater and St Petersburg, perfect for day trips. The city itself has a beautiful historic district, Ybor city, with a lively nightlife scene. Ybor City was founded by cigar manufacturers in the late 1800s. Today, the area is home to many restaurants, bars, shops, and several cultural institutions, such as the Ybor City Museum State Park and the Italian Club. You can also spot the free-roaming chickens in the streets! I recommend a tour with Max of Ybor City Historic Walking Tours, who was very entertaining. 

Another attraction is the Tampa Riverwalk, which runs along the Hillsborough River for 2.6 miles. The Riverwalk features restaurants, bars, and shops, as well as several parks and public art installations. It’s a great place to take a walk, jog, or bike ride while enjoying the scenic views of the river.

You can also do a river tour either by kayak or paddle board, where you can spot the local manatees in the water if you are lucky. 

Location

The hotel is in the heart of the city centre along Water Street, close to the Riverwalk and cruise terminal. There are plenty of shops restaurants and bars nearby that you can walk to. It is around 5-10 minutes by car from historic Ybor City. 

The hotel 

I won’t comment on the check-in process since we were a large group so it was not the normal process. The hotel is part of Marriott’s EDITION group of hotels that all have a very distinctive look designed by Ian Schrager and Marriott International. Each one is designed to be a luxury boutique experience with individual touches at each location.

As you walk in the lobby does really have the “Wow” factor with a tropical feeling with white furnishings and a veritable jungle of tropical plants. As is usual for EDITIONs there is also a lively lobby bar amongst the foliage!

There was also a grand staircase up to the first floor restaurant for those that want to make an entrance!

The rooms

I had a King room on a high floor which felt very spacious as well as light and airy. The style was very typical of EDITION hotels with light wood and white/cream furnishings. As usual, there was a fur throw on the bed which is something of a signature for the hotels. It looks stylish but is a little pointless in a hot climate unless you turn the air con up to the maximum!

As well as a large comfortable bed with high-quality white linens, there was an armchair with a decent size table which was useful for room service if you did not want to eat at the desk. 

The desk was very large, so perfect for working although I found the chair quite uncomfortable to sit on for any length of time since it had no padding. The room was quite, and the air conditioning worked well. There was the usual coffee machine but no kettle and a mini bar in the fridge. I liked the design of the crystal glasswear. 

The bathroom felt very luxurious with its long marble counter and marble walls. Even a confirmed over-packer with a penchant for beauty products couldn’t use even half the vanity top in his bathroom! 

There was a separate shower with raindrop shower head and a separate large toilet.

Beautifully soft bathrobes were supplied which one journalist described as being as soft as a baby penguin!

Toiletries were the standard LeLabo for EDITION hotels in large-size fixed containers. I was pleased to see that the body lotion was not fixed as often I like to have it next to the bed as hand cream or for a nighttime pampering session while winding down. (They deter you from stealing it with a $69 charge for taking it!). 

I really like the LeLabo products, which are high quality and have the refreshing scent of tea, which is nicely neutral. 

There were also some vanity kit essentials and hand bar soap. I do wish hotels would switch to liquid soap as I’m sure it is more environmentally friendly than having a big bar of soap for two nights (although some hotels do participate in recycling programs for the soap). 

I like the look of the garden rooms which come with a private terrace:

Or the King Suite with dual aspects views of the river. 

Food and drink

As usual, there is a multitude of dining options and bars, all incredibly stylishly decorated (and full of equally stylishly clad people).

Lilac is a Mediterranean restaurant developed in collaboration with Michelin-starred chef John Fraser. It features tableside preparation, personalized wine pairings and dishes focused on local Tampa-area produce.

Market at EDITION is the all-day dining Italian restaurant on the ground floor which serves breakfast. Being a large group we were given a separate breakfast at the rooftop bar. I ordered room service one morning to sample the normal food and it arrived quickly and was pretty good apart from the hollandaise on the eggs benedict which was a little thin. 

Azure at EDITION is a rooftop Greek-inspired restaurant and was created by Michelin-starred chef, John Fraser.

The Punch Room, the first in North America, (there is one in London that I enjoyed visiting when I stayed at London EDITION) boasts a menu of over ten speciality punches – all dedicated to the flavours of the Caribbean and West Indies.

Arts Club is an opulent nighttime venue with tableside cocktail service, light bites, and curated entertainment.

Pool and facilities

The highlight of the hotel for me was the beautiful rooftop pool, although I could have done with the loungers not being pretty much at floor level. There is no dignified way to get off those! The pool area is only open to residents so don’t be surprised if you are questioned on your way in. It really did feel like a private oasis and was lovely for an early morning swim in the sunshine. 

Spa

The spa is more about treatments than facilities, but it offers a number of wellness treatments as well as the usual facials and massages with extras such as cupping and CBD available to add on. 

Gym

The well-equipped gym has all the latest equipment including Peloton Bikes and the hotel also offers fitness classes. 

Conclusion

When I visited, it had only been open a few weeks, and the service was still a little shaky at times, but it is a stunning hotel to stay in. My issue was dealt with, but it did take longer than I’d expect. However, I am sure this will have improved with time and experience.

With its gorgeous rooftop pool, generous size rooms and handy location, it’s a lovely place to stay but also worth a visit if you decide to stay elsewhere but fancy a cocktail or special meal. 

You can check prices and availability here. 

It is also worth checking with our partner GTC if you plan to book an EDITION hotel, as not only will you still earn Marriott points but you will receive free extra perks such as:

• Hotel credit value at $100 USD
• Complimentary or continental breakfast daily, for 2
• Early check in/late check out, based on availability
• Priority complimentary room upgrade, based on availability

Virgin Atlantic fly year-round with a daily service to Tampa currently complementing the airline’s up to four daily flights to Orlando and double daily flights to Miami. 

Like our The Edition Tampa by Marriott hotel review? You can read more hotel reviews here.

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This is a review of the W Singapore Sentosa Cove hotel. I have been to Singapore many times but only visited Sentosa briefly and was put off a bit by the tankers out at sea which spoilt the feel of the beaches. However, on a recent visit to Singapore I decided that I couldn’t be bothered with the hassle of travelling to other countries in Asia and wanted to find somewhere a bit more relaxed than a city hotel. I looked at the Shangri-La near Orchard Road which would normally be my first choice of a more resort-type hotel, but the prices were very high. 

Then I started researching Sentosa and realised that actually, it wasn’t that far from the areas I would normally visit near Marina Bay. It is around 15 minutes and £11 for a taxi to get to the Marina Bay area. So I decided to stay at the W hotel even though I normally find them a bit too “hip” for me.

I also stayed at the Mandarin Oriental which I will also review but the W was surprisingly much better out of the two. 

Location

It’s not directly on the sea despite being in Sentosa Cove, but it does border onto the marina there. Sentosa Cove is a fairly new development with plenty of restaurants, a foot massage store, a supermarket and a coffee shop. There is a free bus (I think it is only temporarily free) that stops regularly right outside the hotel that will take you around Sentosa including to the cable car to the mainland and the monorail. 

Check-in

I got a taxi from the mainland (note: most people I know that have a UK mobile could not get the Grab (used to be Uber Asia) app to work in Singapore despite using it elsewhere. However, there is a good taxi app called CDG Zig).

As soon as I arrived in W Singapore Sentosa Cove hotel, the doormen welcomed me and took my luggage from the car. I headed up to the first floor where check-in was and had a short wait. It was a weekend when I arrived so it was busy with locals on staycations. Despite being a Marriott Platinum member there was no upgrade, but I had booked the room that I specifically wanted so that was not an issue. 

I was welcomed as a Platinum member, and the receptionist went through the benefits. There were free drinks every evening in the bar 5-7pm and free breakfast in the main restaurant. 

I did struggle to get late check out at the end as it’s classed as a resort so you don’t get it guaranteed. At first they would only offer 12.30pm which I thought was pretty stingy. I fully expected not to get 4pm but I thought 2pm would have been reasonable allowing them an hour to turn the room round. The hotel wasn’t fully booked although the rooms in my category were. I then went to breakfast and shortly afterwards the receptionist appeared with new keys valid until 4pm which was great customer service recovery. 

The room

The hallways and even the lifts are all decorated in W Singapore Sentosa Cove hotel’s  unique exuberant style. 

The only bad thing about the room was the distance from reception and the pool. I had chosen a Spectacular King room with Balcony that has a marina view rather than most rooms that overlook the pool. This is the second category up. The entry-level Wonderful rooms do not have a balcony.

I found the room a very generous size and not too OTT in the W “trendy” style. I rather liked the pink and grey pretty decor and the quirky touches like the flower inner lampshades. 

It was very well equipped with more bottled water than anyone could ever need ( six bottles initially), which was just as well as there was a heat wave when I was there and 36c in high humidity. The desk area was large although I did find that the chair was uncomfortable if you sat in it for long periods while working. Various bits of stationary were provided which you don’t often see in most hotels. These included a pencil, notes, paper clips, post-it notes, and a pen with a touchscreen tip which may have fallen in my bag!

You could control the lights from the bedside with various intriguing options such as hello (orange lights), runway, escape and flirt schemes which all had different brightness and colours which was fun! I loved coming back in the evening and seeing the motif lit up above the bed.

The bed was super comfortable and it was an effort to drag myself out of it. It was also generally very quiet. 

I found the bedside table arrangements a bit odd. One side just has a wooden table but the other side has a metal table with a clock/Bluetooth speaker, an iPhone charger and all the light controls. 

Instead of a Nespresso machine, there was a cafetiere and a kettle. Teas were by TWG, a great brand of tea that’s extortionately expensive. As usual for W, there was an extensive mini bar selection, including a fridge.  The usual 5-star amenities were included, such as a bathrobe and slippers, iron and ironing board and a safe.

The TV is worthy of mention due to the great speakers that came with it, although I was surprised that the TV didn’t have any features for such a modern hotel. Usually I now expect Netflix and screen mirroring. There was an HDMI portal so you could connect your own laptop as well as two multi-country sockets. 

For those that like somewhere to do their hair or make-up, there were a couple of choices other than the bathroom. As you enter there is a large mirror with a shelf which had a socket but is a bit dark and right by the door. There was also a full-length mirror by the desk with a stool and again, sockets were nearby.

Bathroom

I also loved the bathroom with its huge tub and the generous toiletries.

The main toiletries were by Davines in Momo which had a tropical smell from the yellow melon. Davines is W’s latest brand and is a sustainable Italian hair care brand. I liked them and thought there were good quality but I do miss the scent of the old Bliss lemon and sage ones. 

As well as these there were also tubes of ethical brand Skin Regimen skin cleanser and body cream. They had a rather odd smell a bit like an incense stick which I wasn’t overly keen on but I did like the products themselves which were as good as something I would buy for myself.

The housekeeping staff were various conceientious about topping toiletries up and as the stay went on, more and more things kept appearing in the bathroom such as a loofah and make up remover wipes. I always love the Asian amenities that far surpass what you get in Europe usually. 

The shower and toilet were both in separate cubicles which was needed since the screen by the bath was only glass but could be opened to allow you to see the room, TV and view from the bath.

The shower was huge and had a rainfall shower and a normal wall-mounted shower. 

Food and drink

There are two restaurants at the hotel, The Kitchen Table which is the all-day dining restaurant, and the rather glamourous SKIRT which is a grill with steak and seafood. I didn’t eat in the hotel except for breakfast and by the pool. Instead, I went to sit by the marina next door at one of the many restaurants there. 

Breakfast

This was definitely a highlight of my stay due to the extensive menu and great service. There is a small buffet selection of cold pre-made dishes that are also on the menu and pastries. You can also help yourself to a wide selection of juices, or the staff will bring it to you. 

You could eat outdoors on the small patio but most people chose the comfort of the air conditioning!

You could order as much as you wanted which while great was also dangerous. Everything was so delicious it was tempting to keep ordering. My favourite was the chilli crab omelette which was probably the best breakfast dish I have ever eaten with its zingy piquant sauce over a beautifully fluffy omelette. My mouth is watering just writing about it! The vast choice even managed to drag me away from ordering my regular avocado toast!

I also loved the dim sum tower and the crab cake eggs benedict. 

The pecan pie pancakes were oh, so naught but delicious!

If, unlike me, you are trying to not throw caution to the wind, the healthy options were also good. I particularly liked the mango and turmeric bowl and the smoked salmon salad. 

Woo bar – social hour

Having two hours of free drinks was an unexpected bonus and I enjoyed sitting in the bar and chatting to the friendly bar staff. You could choose from a list or the cocktail of the day. When I returned the next day they remembered my order which I thought was great service.

There were no canapes like some other hotels, but you did get some nuts. One night I decided to sample the sushi which is their specialty and it was excellent and a generous portion.

I swapped between the wine and the gin and tonic. Both were very drinkable. Top-ups were readily available most of the time, although if you sit at the bar itself, they are more regular. 

Pool

I chose the hotel mainly for its pool as it’s the largest outdoor pool in Singapore and it is definitely huge! Even though there were a few children around it was easy to sit somewhere quiet due to its size of it. There is a small separate child pool which is shaded and a waterslide which I only saw used once. I only discovered towards the end of the trip that there was a swim-up bar right at the end as it was so large!

I loved the pool here in W Singapore Sentosa Cove hotel. It has bubble beds around the side which are great for lounging in, and the pool was pleasantly warm – in fact, it probably could have been a bit cooler!

Each lounger had a button to push if you wanted service which I thought was great. My only complaint was that the loungers could have been better.

They were the mesh type and so low to the ground it probably would have been easier to roll off into the pool rather than try to get off it! There were other types of beds available such as bean bag chairs and covered day beds. 

One of the things I love about Asia is that due to the warm temperatures pools are often open for swimming in the evening which is great when you don’t need to worry about being burnt. W did a great job here with the lighting of the pool which looked beautiful at night. The pool is actually open 24 hours a day which is great if you come back hot and bothered from a night out and want to refresh yourself before bed. 

Fitness

The gym of W Singapore Sentosa Cove hotel is bright and modern with state-of-the-art machines, free weights, and equipment for cardio and strength training. It’s accessible 24 hours a day. 

Away Spa

The spa was one of the best in Singapore, but if you are staying I’d advise booking early as the day I wanted a treatment there was only one slot left which didn’t suit me. They use ILA spa products but even if you don’t want a treatment it’s a lovely way to relax with the facilities on a bad weather day. There’s a relaxation area, sauna, steam room, vitality pool, herbal bath, and experiential shower. 

Booking

I had booked one night on points and the other night on Marriott Luminous. This is their luxury travel agent program where you get extra benefits on the flexible rate and can still earn Bonvoy points and get your status perks. At W you get:

• Complimentary daily breakfast for two people per room
• Complimentary basic wi-fi daily
• Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
• Complimentary room upgrade, subject to availability at check-in
• Local welcome amenity and note
• Hotel credit valued at 100USD

You can check prices and book the Marriott Luminous rate with our partners GTC here. 

Prices start from £500 or 49,000 points

Or you can book direct with Marriott here.

Conclusion

I went with some reservations as W Singapore Sentosa Cove hotel is not my favourite of the Marriott brands but came away absolutely loving it and wanting to return. I actually enjoyed having a few days there to just relax but still being able to get into the city for a night out, rather than head off to Bintan like I normally would. 

The staff were all great – very friendly and efficient and I liked that there were so many facilities in the hotel and so much within walking distance so you didn’t need to venture far to have dinner or pick up some drinks for your room. 

It’s not a cheap hotel but I did feel I got decent value for money with the included drinks and breakfast. The vast pool was also a highlight and perfect for some serious pool lounging to keep cool. 

Like our W Singapore Sentosa Cove hotel review? You can read more hotel reviews here. 

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Today’s article, Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa Edinburgh, is a review by our Marriott Bonvoy expert David Small

Clan Sheraton Grand And Clan Glasshouse

Edinburgh

While the meal delivered refinement and exquisite preparation and quality, it was Jordan and her colleague Julia (a Scottish transplant from Lithuania) that defined the evening for us. A meal at Kyloe served by Jordan, Julia and James was a meal at a Scottish “home.” A dining experience enhanced by the friendship extended by our Edinburgh/City Centre hosts — providing personal courtesies and intimacies we have not found in other cities (including in the United States). Jordan admitted — later in conversation — she almost did not allow us to dine that evening when our downstairs hosts shared there “was a lovely couple downstairs on their last evening in Edinburgh.” She just endured a troublesome diner (most likely not a Scot), but she flipped a coin on us, and when we shared with her the evening and the meal was a highlight of our Scottish journey, her eyes lit up with happiness. Julia, who moved to Edinburgh nine years ago, translates her love of Scotland just like Jordan and any other resident or transplant to the magical country.

 

 

Swearing Fealty to Clan Sheraton Grand

The Castle Suite at the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa Edinburgh is magnificent and makes you want to don a kilt. The tartans, breathtaking views of the Castle, and pictures of highland cattle, invite you to sit in your living room and feel like a true Scott. The only thing that might be missing is a glass of Scotch. Don’t worry. Alexander will kindly pour one for you. Starting in the early evening Alexander (and his lovely colleagues) will deliver to your Club table a daily variety of canapes and desserts.

 

 

One fellow Bonvoy member opined the canape service resulted from COVID. I like to think of it as the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa Edinburgh “tea service,” but with wine, beer, cider, and other favourites.

 

 

Prince Charles “Welcomes” you to Holyrood; A Day Trip to Gorgeous St. Andrews

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Marriott recently announced that they will be launching the first St Regis in the UK. At the same time, they also announced a raft of other news.

W Hotels have not really been a favourite brand of mine to stay, although I will often pop in for the nightlife! Now Marriott are planning to start redesigning the brand with an evolution of their interior design (hopefully less dark!), dining social spaces and service standards. The only thing that won’t change is the way they embrace the local food and culture for each location. 

If you are booking a Marriott hotel, it’s worth considering booking through a special agent such as our partners GTC. Booking with them is exactly the same as booking direct in terms of your status benefits and points but you get added benefits. The rates are usually the flexible rates on par with what the hotel charges directly for a flexible booking.

Here are the extra benefits:

W Hotels,  Westin, Renaissance, Marriott, Autograph, Le Meridien and Tribute Portfolio hotels

• Early check in/late check out, based on availability
• Complimentary breakfast for 2, per room
• $100 Credit (for select hotels)

The Ritz-Carlton, Bulgari, EDITION, St Regis, Luxury Collection hotels

• Hotel credit of $100 USD
• Complimentary or continental breakfast daily, for 2
• Early check in/late check out, based on availability
• Priority complimentary room upgrade, based on availability

You can check prices and availability for Marriott group hotels with GTC here.

EDITIONs are one of Marriott’s very modern top-end luxury hotels compared to the Ritz Carlton and St Regis which are a little more old fashioned. I’ve stayed at the London EDITION and loved it as well as the New York Times Square EDITION which I wasn’t so sure about. 

The Madrid EDITION

Madrid is one of my favourite cities to visit, being a little more understated than Barcelona. The Madrid EDITION is now in its preview phase i.e soft opening. The hotel has two restaurants, three unique bar concepts, exciting nightlife and entertainment, an outdoor pool located on the rooftop with stunning views of Madrid’s cityscape and a wellness and spa facility.

There are also 200 guest rooms and suites, some with private terraces. The culinary focus is led by chef partners Enrique Olvera, whose restaurant Pujol is one of the top ten World’s 50 Best Restaurants and Diego Muñoz, whose acclaimed restaurant Astrid Y Gaston in Lima was the best Latin American restaurant in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.  There is also a unique speciality cocktail bar, Lobby Bar, and a concept on the rooftop terrace.

It is literally located in the vibrant heart of the Spanish capital, a few steps from Kilometre Zero, which marks the geographical centre of the country in the lively neighbourhood of Sol. Its position on Plaza de la Descalzas is within walking distance to the Royal Theatre, Plaza Mayor and the Royal Palace.

EDITION fans will be pleased to know that the hotel’s signature cocktail bar, the Punch Room features here. 

You can find more details and book here. 

The Dubai EDITION

The Dubai EDITION  is situated in Dubai’s Downtown district in a 23 storey building and opened in November 2021 for its soft opening. Now fully open, the lobby is a social space like all EDITION hotels. The 50-foot-high domed ceiling is reminiscent of Italian architecture which along with a triple spiral staircase, makes a dramatic entrance to the hotel. 

There are 275 guestrooms, including 41 suites and a vast Penthouse. Bathrooms are fitted with oval-shaped baths and large glass balconies with views over the iconic Burj Khalifa. In terms of restaurants, there is Duomo, a theatrical Italian restaurant serving modern interpretations of the traditional cuisine which has an outdoor terrace with large potted olive trees and lit by lanterns at night with views of the Burj Khalifa.

Leon is a speakeasy-style bar serving cocktails and featuring live DJs. Jolie serves French cuisine inspired by Mediterranean coastal flavours.  On the semi-enclosed balcony-inspired terrace overlooking Old Town, artwork adorns the walls depicting urban living.

The Thia Sky Lounge is a pool deck by day with great views of the Burj Khalifa. In the evening, Thia Sky Lounge is the perfect spot for sundowners and fresh light bites.

As well as a large 24-hour gym, the hotel will also feature an intimate spa with three treatment rooms.

You can find more details and book here. 

W Rome – Opened December 2021 

Marking W Hotels’ debut in Italy, W Rome is ideally situated near the famous Spanish steps and fashionable boutiques of Via Condotti. Spanning two adjacent 19th-century properties on Via Liguria, the 147  open-plan guestrooms and 15 suites boast iconic views, with some overlooking the Istituto Svizzero, and many offering private balconies and terraces. The hotel’s unrivalled culinary offerings are spearheaded by Michelin-starred chef Ciccio Sultano with his signature restaurant at W Rome labelled Giano Restaurant. 

You can find more details and book here. 

W Costa Navarino

Set to welcome guests this summer in quarter 2, W Costa Navarino will be coming to the new Navarino Waterfront, the latest development in Costa Navarino. The W Escape is expected to feature 246 stylish rooms, suites, and villas, many with private pools with stunning Ionian Sea views as well as its own beach club.  The ‘Culinary Square’ is the hotel’s playful take on a deli food market with individual outlets creating a socially driven destination for all-day dining. Other planned amenities include a sunset bar and the signature W Living Room.

Tennis courts and a water sports hub are part of the vision for those looking to get active, along with access to the destination’s four signature golf courses and an array of outdoor programming including biking, hiking, rock-climbing and sailing.

Cosme, a Luxury Collection Resort, Paros, Greece

Cosme, a Luxury Collection Resort, Paros is set to open on time for the summer season in 2022 located close to the island’s whitewashed harbour village of Naoussa. The hotel will feature its own private beach club overlooking the Aegean Sea. Complete with 40 suites designed with a crisp aesthetic, guests can also enjoy the beachfront Mediterranean restaurant, spa and outdoor wellness and fitness centre.

W Algarve, Portugal 

W Algarve marks the brand’s entry into Portugal and showcases W Hotels’ spin on the traditional resort experience. Take in sea, garden and resort views from the 134 guestrooms and suites which include The Extreme WOW Suite, the W brand’s modern interpretation of a traditional presidential suite, which has stairs leading up to a panoramic rooftop terrace with an elevated lounge, DJ booth, sweeping infinity plunge pool, dining, and bar area.

W Hotel offers six bars and dining destinations including Sea Sky, overlooking the golden bay of Armação de Pera, the perfect setting pre or post-dinner and Paper Moon, the showstopping sister to the renowned Milanese restaurant, serving award-winning, Italian cuisine. Guests can relax at AWAY Spa’s six treatment rooms, express booths and hair salon, refuel in FIT and take in the poolside scene at the WET deck.

The hotel is due to open in April 2022.

You can find more details and book here. 

Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, Dubai

New leisure orientated hotel, the Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, Dubai will be located on the iconic Palm Jumeirah beach. The hotel is due to open in July 2022.  The hotel will feature 608 guestrooms and a private sandy beach offering views of the Arabian Gulf beyond.  Guests will be able to enjoy a swim in the hotel’s beachside pool, workout in the fitness centre, relax at the Saray Spa and for young travellers there will be an indoor Kidz Club. If you just want to chill out, you won’t need to wander from the hotel to get something to eat as it comes complete with eight restaurants which include Korean, Italian, Japanese and Mexican cuisines.

You can find more details and book here. 

Renovations

There are a few interesting nuggets in the list of hotels due to be refurbished. 

I loved my visit to the Luxury Collection Castillo Son Vida Mallorca and actually didn’t mind the older Spanish style decor. But the hotel alongside St Regis Mardavall hotel are due to be renovated. I’ll definitely be going back to check them out when they are finished!

Another favourite with travellers, particularly on an ex EU cheap flight is the Sheraton Amsterdam Airport which is right across from the terminal via covered walkway. This has now been fully refurbished with its new social space and restaurant Commune opening in January 2022. It features Community tables for working and the menu at Commune draws inspiration from roots in The Netherlands and Europe; . The menu is complemented with cocktails, craft beers and European wines.

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With the latest Marriott offer to get an extra night towards status for every night that you stay until May, now is the time to consider whether to go for Marriott status or upgrade your Marriott status. 

Today’s article is by David Small. David Small has a love affair with travel, and he loves to “see the world” through the eyes of his wife and children when they accompany him to destinations in the States and abroad.  He is a Marriott Bonvoy® enthusiast who enjoys every brand offered – rewarded by the richness of each experience and the people involved at each property.

Small runs a national media company, and he used to manage airline points loyalty programs for Sprint — in partnership with United Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airlines and Midwest Express Airlines.

The 1971 classic film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, introduced the ultimate travel “hack.”  Charlie Bucket, of limited means, gained VIP access to the most desired destination in the world (and imagination).  Marriott Bonvoy® offers a golden ticket to beautiful, exotic, and wondrous locales throughout the world.  Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status supercharges your golden ticket – awarding you more than chocolates.

Marriott formed Bonvoy® in 2019, the merging of Marriott Rewards, Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG).  Guests of the Bonvoy® program access almost 8,000 properties worldwide, through 30 distinct brands.  The Marriott Bonvoy® program offers two key ingredients — earning points and redeeming points.

Earning Points

Staying at a Marriott Bonvoy hotel, earns Bonvoy® guest points to redeem.  Each £0.74 ($1 based on exchange rate) gains you 10 Marriott Bonvoy® points at 25 of the brands, five Bonvoy® points at Residence Inns, Townplace Suites, Element and Marriott International Homes and Villas, and 2.5 points at Marriott Executive Apartments, including  Marriott Executive Apartments London, Canary Wharf.

Redeem the earned Bonvoy® points for free rooms and suites, unique travel experiences (Marriott Bonvoy® Moments), airline travel, car rentals, shopping and more.

Where might you go with your earned points?

Redeeming Points

Find yourself basking in the sun, overlooking your private pool and terrace, at the Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection, in Crete.

Jump on a June, non-stop, British Airways flight to Crete, and reserve a 90m, one-bedroom suite, sea view, with whirlpool and balcony for 68,000 Bonvoy® points or £493 per evening.  Reserve as Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum (or higher) member, and the chocolate treats will be showered on you.

Will you redeem points or pay cash?  Either route works with Bonvoy® Elite status.

At Domes of Elounda, the valuation formula for those points is based on the rate of £493 divided by 68,000 Marriott Bonvoy® Points.  This gives you a valuation of 0.7 pence per Bonvoy® point, a good valuation.  Any Bonvoy® points redemption greater than the generally accepted baseline of 0.6 pence is a redemption worth considering.

Here is what happens when you cash in the golden ticket.

Gain shortcuts to the Chocolate Factory with your Bonvoy® Elite Status.  In the example of your 68,000 per evening points redemption, the Domes may place you in an upgraded 120m, two-bedroom Luxury Residence with private pool, daily breakfast, an 80m private patio, and 24/7 access to the Haute Living Lounge with dedicated butler service and more.  The complimentary upgrade – priced at £493 per evening – elevates the valuation to 1.4 pence per Bonvoy® point.

“The Platinum Ticket”

Attain Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum status with 50 nights stayed or bonused (through marketing promotions and/or through a Bonvoy® co-branded Amex credit card sign-up) during a calendar year.   Marriott Bonvoy® offers five levels of elite status.  Platinum grants you some of the sweetest perks of the loyalty game, at only 50 earned nights.

1. Remember earning 10 Bonvoy® points for each 74 pence ($1) spent on hotel night stays (and participating restaurants in the hotel)? Platinum status gives you five bonus points on the 74 pence spend.
2. Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum represents the first elite status level providing available upgrades to suites. The Domes of Elounda offers a 100% suites-to-rooms ratio at a five-star luxury property.  What does that mean?  You have a better shot at an upgrade, including the upgrade from a one-bedroom suite to a two-bedroom Luxury Suite (valued at £895+ in June).  Your odds increase even more when many categories of suites show availability, and do not show, “Almost Sold Out.”
3. What time does your flight take off from Crete back to the UK? Platinum status allows you to remain in your hotel room until 4pm – guaranteed – the day of departure.  No need to stow your bags with the valet or front desk.  This perk is understated but provides extreme value.
4. The Platinum Welcome Gift delivers the coveted daily breakfast benefit for the Marriott
   Bonvoy® Platinum Elite member, plus one guest, at resort properties brands JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels, Delta Hotels, Autograph Collection, Renaissance Hotels, as well as all branded St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, Sheraton, Le Méridien, Westin, Tribute Portfolio, Aloft, Four Points, and Protea properties with restaurants. At some St. Regis properties, for example, the breakfast benefit for two provides value of £179 daily.
5. The club lounge grants one of the most valued Platinum Elite benefits. Many travellers choose hotel properties based on an available club lounge.

Every day in Paris, I accompanied my wife to the gorgeous Paris Marriott Opera Ambassador Hotel Executive Lounge.  We dined, twice a day, on amazing croissants and everchanging French delicacies for both breakfast and dinner.  Wine and spirits were plentiful.

Elite Annual Gift

Achieving Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum grants the perks listed above, plus an annual bonus gift.  Here are our Turning Left for Less tips for gift selection.

Annual Gift Tip#1 – if you are at 70 nights and finished with travel prior to year-end, choose the bonus five Elite Night Credits to elevate yourself to Bonvoy® Titanium status.

Annual Gift Tip#2 – if the five bonus nights are not needed, or will not bridge the gap to Titanium status, choose five Suite Night Awards for potential, confirmed before arrival, suite and premium room upgrades.  See tips and explanation of the Suite Night Awards (SNA) here.

Marriott Bonvoy® Titanium Elite status offers all the above perks after achieving 75 earned nights, plus a total of 17.5 points per 74 pence spent.  Titanium status also rewards you with an additional annual gift. Most members choose the Free Night Awards (FNA) certificate, redeemable for up to 40,000 Bonvoy® points for a single evening’s stay.  As well, Titanium members gain other benefits, including potential upgrades at Ritz-Carlton properties, as well as silver elite status on United Airlines (Star Alliance). 

Ambassador Elite status is attained at 100 nights stayed and/or bonused, plus approximately £14,705 ($20,000) in calendar year spend.  The Ambassador Elite member (in addition to all Titanium level benefits) gains access to the Ambassador Team, dedicated Marriott staff that personalize the stay of an Ambassador level Bonvoy® Member.  Another unique element of achieving Ambassador is Your24, a perk offering the member the flexibility of a complete 24-hour stay at the hotel, with member choice of check-in and check-out time.

How Do You Get To The Sweet Spot Of Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Status?

• FIRST STEP:  Sign up for Marriott Bonvoy® at https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/createAccount/createAccountPage1.mi
• SECOND STEP:  Sign up the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express® Card and turbo-charge your way to Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite status; receiving 15 bonus elite nights each 12 month period.

The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express® Card annual fee is £75, and you receive 20,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy®ᵀᴹ points if spending £3,000 in the first three months of Card membership.  Gain 2 points for every full £1 spent on your Card.  Earn 6 points from American Express for each £1 of eligible spend at Marriott properties.  Rack up points on everyday spend and take a staycation to Marriot London County Hall or treat yourself to a luxury stay at the Gritti Palace in Venice.

Now, you have banked 15 elite nights in your Marriott Bonvoy®ᵀᴹ account – only 35 more needed to attain Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum status.

• THIRD STEP:  Register for the double elite nights promotion (plus, a bonus 1,000 points per evening) at https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/promotion.mi?promotion=EB22

Between now and May 4, 2022, pay for 18 nights at participating Marriott properties and the promotion awards you an additional 18 elite nights, achieving Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum status.  As an example, if your work brings you to London, book the Moxy London Excel as low as £59 per evening.  A total of approximately £1000 over almost three months elevates you to Platinum status. Heathrow also has some good value Marriott properties such as the Moxy Heathrow which can start from £69. 

Spending £1000 over almost three months awards you Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum status for the remainder of 2022, as well as all of 2023.

Once you capture the “Platinum ticket,” you might find yourself on the 80m patio, luxuriating in your private pool, and overlooking the Aegean Sea from the Domes of Elounda.  No rush to eat the chocolates the hotel delivered to your room.  Check-out for you, a Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Member, is at 4pm.

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Marriott has today announced that on 29 March Flexible Point Redemptions will take effect replacing off-peak, standard, and peak rates when categories are removed. Members will see the Flexible Points Redemption rates take effect gradually over 29-30 March. Until then, the current system remains in place.

Nightly redemption rates will move more closely in line with (not exactly with) hotel rates and availability, giving Members more options to choose from than the current off-peak, standard, and peak rates. The ways Members earn points will not change. 

Members travelling to a location with more availability can expect to use fewer points. If the desired location is busier at the preferred dates, the point redemption amount may be higher. Marriott says that for all stays in 2022, nearly all hotel redemption rates will fall within the same high to low range of the current categories which is encouraging. 

Approximately 200 hotels (less than 3% of Marriott’s portfolio), the point redemption rate maximum level will be higher than they are currently. Within that group, about 40 hotels may rise above the previous Category Eight rates during peak/busier travel times. So if you plan to book something on points soon, do it before 29 March. For those 200 properties, their rate range will increase between 5,000 to 30,000 points per night from their current rates. This will make the maximum 130,000 points per night instead of 100,000 as it is now. 

Suprinsgly a lot of the hotels that are rising in points are more at the budget end.

Here are a few examples of the more luxury ones TLFL readers may be interested in:

Increasing by up to 10,000pts:

• Marriott’s Bali Nusa Dua Gardens
• The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi
• The St. Regis Langkawi
• JW Marriott Parq Vancouver
• Europe Aegon Mykonos, Autograph Collection
• Europe Château de la Resle, a Member of Design Hotels
• Europe Le Metropolitan, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Paris
• Europe Marriott’s Village d’ile-de-France
• Europe Reges, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Cesme
• Mexico JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa
• Mexico The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun
• Mexico The Westin Los Cabos Resort Villas & Spa
• Key Largo Bay Marriott Beach Resort
• Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa
• Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa
• Sheraton Kauai Resort
• The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes

Increasing by up to 20,000pts:

• The Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa, Mauritius
• Asia Duxton Reserve Singapore, Autograph Collection
• Asia Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay
• Asia HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO, a Luxury Collection Hotel & Spa
• Asia JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa
• Asia Le Meridien Maldives
• Asia Marriott’s Mai Khao Beach – Phuket
• Asia Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto
• Asia The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands
• Asia The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto
• Asia The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
• The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort
• Caribbean The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
• Caribbean The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas
• Caribbean The Ritz-Carlton, Turks & Caicos
• Europe Domes Miramare, a Luxury Collection Resort, Corfu
• The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice
• Europe The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix, Geneva
• Europe The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort
• Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai
• Middle East Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Waterpark
• Middle East The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach

Click here to see the full list of 200 hotels.

Changes in rates for stays in 2023 above or below the high-low range for stays in 2022 are “planned to be incremental” whatever that means. In late April members will be able to combine their Free Night Award with up to 15,000 points to help access more hotels.

It’s definitely worth booking your future stay now as rates could increase as hotels get busier. Obviously, should the price become lower you can cancel and rebook.

It will be interesting to see how it pans out with the remaining 97% of hotels in 2023. If all the luxury hotels become ridiculously expensive I can see it deterring people from Marriott Bonvoy loyalty, especially given the lack of points promotions compared to Hilton.  

You can book points redemption stays here.

The post NEWS: Marriott announces flexible point redemption start date appeared first on Turning left for less.

Today’s review is about Marriott Royal Hotel Bristol by regular contributor Gus. If you like this blog, you can read more about contributor Gus’ other review called First class long distance on LNER and Avanti West Coast Trains here. 

Location

The Marriott Royal in Bristol (not to be confused with the Marriott City Centre hotel) stands grandly on the edge of Bristol’s College Green, and seems to have a place of affection in the heart of Bristolians. Clearly, it has done something right in its 150 years of welcoming guests, and today the hotel offers an air of grandeur and place, while also providing comfort and relaxation in the heart of a buzzing city.

Check-in

The front of the hotel is attractive, and it opens onto a pleasant and airy reception area. The covid plastic screens seem particularly out-of-place in such a setting, but the receptionist was friendly, attentive, and helpful. I had splurged on a Royal Junior Suite room in ‘the Royal Wing’ (more on this to follow), which cost a hefty £250+. But this was a weekend night, and apparently, the hotel had 90% occupancy, plus entry-level rooms can be snared from as little as £89.

The room

Part of this premium apparently also came from the room being in the Royal Wing – the newer and more recently renovated part of the hotel. The suite was certainly new and spacious, but personally, it failed on two fronts. First-world problems, yes, but the first was that there was no bathtub. In a suite, you’d hope and expect there to be one.

And second, there was a small and odd galley kitchenette. It felt like they weren’t quite sure how to use the space, so stuck it in as an after-thought! To be fair the age of the building must have created some challenges for the architects, but it wasn’t needed, and seemed to change the appeal of the room.

One quick call to the helpful receptionist and she happily offered another room. However, given availability, and it seems a general lack of bathtubs in the suites, this necessitated a downgrade of rooms. The weird thing was that this meant we moved to the ‘older’ wing of the hotel but ended up with a much larger, and all-around more pleasant room.

This second room (with a lovely tub, of course) boasted a generous entrance walkway and cupboard area, plus two seating areas inside the massive room itself.

Clearly, this particular space is fairly unique given the floorplate, but the age of the room wasn’t remotely a problem and seemed to simply refer to a bit of a lack of plug sockets – which was further made up by the fact that the table lights had a clever USB power dock inside the base.

Given the downgrade, £30 was taken off the bill, plus the £17 parking fee (for 24 hours) was also waived. This is a reduced parking rate for hotel guests, and the car park – a snug but surprisingly large multi-story space – is handily located right underneath the belly of the building, with a lift taking you back up to the hotel reception and rooms.

All the corridors were adorned with artwork.

Some very sober and old-skool, and others very modern and fun. If you’re an art fan it’s also worth peeking in the Palm Court Room, which used to be a dining hall, and even when empty was pretty stunning to peek into.

The (second) room itself also was comfortable, surprisingly cosy, and almost fun to explore given its relatively quirky shape and size.

That said the tabletops seemed to have been cleaned with some kind of spray, but had not been wiped down afterwards, so there was a layer of residue on the surface. It came off easily, but probably shouldn’t have been left there. Plus the pillows were those usual flimsy affairs, which flattened to a pancake even if you put two together in a desperate type of pillow-sandwich!

The Hotel

The hotel also had a buzzing and fun bar – which seemed full of weekend drinkers both early in the afternoon and much later in the evening – and a Miller & Carter steakhouse.

I didn’t have an evening meal there, but it is where breakfast was served, and boy what a breakfast. Despite being really busy, the staff were speedy, efficient, and chirpy. And the food itself was great. A full spread of almost anything you wanted, including a personal favourite of pancakes.

Conclusion

All in all it was a really lovely stay, and the Marriott Royal provided a great base to explore parts of Bristol. There’s obviously a bit of a distinction between the older and newer wings of the hotel, but the staff are consistently good, and the atmosphere was vibrant and moreish.

You can find information and rates here. 

The post Marriott Royal Hotel Bristol review appeared first on Turning left for less.

Status extension

More good news for those that were struggling to maintain their status with Marriott. Previously Marriott has made it easier to get status this year by gifting elite members night credit equivalent to 50% of what is needed to maintain status. Now they are going even further. The company today announced that it would follow Hilton in extending status for members until February 2023, whether you earned your status in 2019 or 2020. 

By December 2021,  you should see your Elite status expiration extended in your account. You can view their account by logging into Marriott.com or via the mobile app.

Points Expiration

To provide you ample time to redeem Marriott Bonvoy® Points, the expiration of points is paused until 31 December 2022 (previously March 31, 2022). At that time, your Marriott Bonvoy® Points will only expire if your Account has been inactive for at least 24 months.

Free Night Awards (FNAs)

FNAs are given when you reach 50 nights a year or more if you choose not to opt for the Suite Night Award as their annual choice benefit. 

By December, Members who currently have a Free Night Award (FNA) with an expiration date between January 3, 2022 and June 29, 2022 as part of as part of their cobrand credit card benefit, annual choice benefit, promotions, or travel package will be able to redeem it through June 30, 2022. 

Suite Night Awards

By December, Members who have Suite Night Awards previously set to expire on 31 December  2021 will see their Suite Night Awards expiration extended to 30 June 30, 2022.

How many nights do you need for status?

The Elite status requirements are the published thresholds:

• Silver Elite: 10 – 24 qualifying nights annually
• Gold Elite: 25 – 49 qualifying nights annually
• Platinum Elite: 50 – 74 qualifying nights annually
• Titanium Elite: 75+ qualifying nights annually
• Ambassador Elite: 100 qualifying nights annually and $14,000 USD in qualified annual spend on stays in 2021 only (in 2022, the qualified annual spend requirement will return to $20,000 USD).

Marriott Reward nights are changing for the worse

With one hand Marriott gives, with the other, they take away. As well as the status extension they also announced today that they will changing the way the rates for redemption nights are calculated. No longer will there be a fixed rate or category chart. So in summary it will be extremely difficult for members to work out exactly how many points they will need for a stay in advance. 

Starting March 2022, hotel categories (1-8) and redemption rates classified as Off-Peak, Peak, or Standard will be replaced with flexible point redemption rates. That means the number of points needed to redeem a stay will be more flexible and will more closely align with hotel rates — based on availability, seasonality, etc. If you’re traveling somewhere with a lot of availability, you can expect to use fewer points. And if the destination is busier during your preferred dates, the redemption amount may increase. Let’s be honest, most of the good hotels will increase!

Hotels will no longer use the category chart. Standard, Peak, and Off-peak redemption levels will also be going away in favor of flexible point redemption rates.

If you need to change any dates for a trip, make sure you do it before March 22. Similar to today, when you modify a reservation, it may impact the points needed to redeem the stay, which may go up or down depending on the dates.

There is no change to other offers such as PointSavers and Cash & Points. Marriott Homes & Villas redemptions stay the same as now. 

Marriott insists that “In general, the range of points required to redeem a stay at a hotel will be the same as they are today.” But let’s be honest, they are not making the change so everything will stay the way it is now. Otherwise, it will be pointless. 

You can find the official page here.

The post NEWS: Marriott Bonvoy extending status until February 2023 BUT rewards are changing for the worse appeared first on Turning left for less.

This is a review of The Westin Dragonara hotel in St Julian’s Malta during my visit in June 2021. If you want to read more about Malta, my food and drink recommendation, and other hotels as well as my experience entering the country you can read more here. In July 2021, fully vaccinated Brits are allowed to visit Malta and the country is on the UK’s green list.

Booking

Being part of Marriott you can book using points. This is a category 6 hotel which means prices range from 40-60,000. Whether this is good value or not depends on the price. I had booked before it went on the green list when prices were low as it would have been a poor use of points. I paid €160 per night. If I was trying to book now prices are around €280 which would be a better use of points although still not fantastic value.

I booked through our partner GTC, a Marriott Luminous agent. You can get Marriott Luminous perks on participating W Hotels – Westin – Renaissance – Marriott – Autograph – Le Meridien and Tribute Portfolio hotels.

The benefits for this Westin are:

• Daily complimentary breakfast for 2 guests per day

• Early Check-in/late Check-out, based on availability

• Upgrade on arrival subject to availability

You still get your Marriott benefits and points too. 

Location

It’s up a bit of a hill which was a pain in the heat with a mask on, although it is on the bus route. The rules have changed since I was there and now fully vaccinated people do not need to wear their masks outdoors as from 1 July 2021. There are a few local restaurants within a 2-minute walk and the centre of St Julians is about 5 minutes walk.

The airport is around 20-25 minutes as is the main city of Valetta.

There is another entrance to the The Westin Dragonara Resort hotel through an archway which brings you out near the restaurants by the resort. This is a quicker and nicer walk than on the road. However, for some reason, most of the entrances were shut so you had to walk a bit further to the main entrance. 

You can see more about restaurants in this article. 

Check-in

I was helped with my luggage out of the Bolt car (like Uber) fairly quickly on arrival and headed through to the impressive lobby. On first impressions the The Westin Dragonara Resort hotel feels quite grand but more like you could be in the US than Malta.

The receptionist was friendly and explained which restaurants and bars were open. Prior to arrival, I had also had an email that explained which restaurants would be open and when plus what the Covid precautions were and changes in service. 

I had booked a King Garden view and got upgraded to a 2 Queen Executive Sea View. Effectively this is a 2 Queen Seaview, so the same room as the type I had booked but with a better view. Normally you would have access to the lounge but it was closed due to Covid. Given that the hotel seemed pretty busy and there was an outdoor terrace in the lounge, this felt very much like a Covid excuse. The hotel refused to give any compensation, not even one free drink in the bar which was very poor and not something I have seen before. I was entitled to the lounge access through my Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status, as obviously with a free upgrade you can’t really complain that there is no lounge.

The Westin Dragonara Resort hotel room

All the rooms at the The Westin Dragonara Resort hotel were recently refurbished which definitely showed. The decor is very neutral and not likely to offend anyone but I did find it a little dull. The main thing I liked about the room was the size. It was a huge room with two queen size beds which although I had booked a king I quite liked as I could store all my stuff on the other bed.

There were power points and USB charging in multiple locations next to the beds, including at the base of the reading lights.

By the desk, there was also another couple of power points (UK ). Wipes had been provided in case you wanted to wipe anything down.

I found the bed of The Westin Dragonara Resort hotel very comfortable and the room was pretty quiet apart from the odd late-night person talking loudly in the corridor. As you’d expect the hotel had everything you would expect for a luxury hotel with the exception of a coffee machine. However, there was a kettle for tea and coffee at least. Bathrobes and slippers were also provided.

Every day I was given two bottles of water free and I was pleased to see that there was an ice bucket and glasses in the room. There was a reasonably mini bar fridge so there was room for your own things. My floor had an ice machine by the corridor. Housekeeping was regular every day when I went for breakfast all except one when it happened very late in the afternoon. 

I was given a welcome gift by the hotel of some wine and local snacks.

The balcony had a table and chairs plus a decent sea view that was particularly pretty at night.

The bathroom was a little bit clinical looking for my tastes.

However, the bath was a proper size for having a decent soak plus there was a rain head shower over it. I also liked that there was plenty of space to store your toiletries. 

Toiletries were the usual Westin ones that have a light refreshing scent and included a mouthwash and vanity pack. 

Food and drink at The Westin Dragonara Resort hotel

Breakfast

Breakfast was served at the Terrace restaurant either inside or outside near the pool until 10.30am. The staff at the door were always incredibly friendly as were most of the waiters. Generally, they were pretty efficient although one day I had to ask again for my coffee. 

I liked the area just by the doors as shown above as it was pretty hot outside even by 10am.

The breakfast was still a buffet but the staff helped you to what you wanted. There was no issue with queuing when I was there.

The selection was reasonable but it didn’t change really from one day to the next so got quite repetitive after a few days. For the cold section, there was meat, cheese, salad, tuna, bread, and pastries plus yogurt fruit, and cereals. The juice was disappointing as it was only orange or apple and they were both poor quality that tasted like they were from concentrate. Coffee was out of a machine and wasn’t great either. However, all the food I had was good. There was a full hot breakfast and you could also order omelettes and eggs to order. 

Other dining

In-Room Dining
Brought to your door – 24/7

Terrace Restaurant

The terrace restaurant also did a brunch on Sundays. 

Sundays 13:00 – 14:30hrs

ORVM Lounge & Piano Barat at The Westin Dragonara Resort hotel

Daily 08:00 – 00:00hrs and Saturday Brunch 11:00 – 15:30hrs

This was my favourite part of the hotel for eating and drinks thanks to the lovely location overlooking the pool and sea. It was a good place to catch the sunset. 

There was a comprehensive cocktail list.

The food here and throughout the resort was fairly similar with some local favourites and Italian dishes as well.

The thing that struck me was the amazingly cheap prices with cocktails starting at just €8.50. Often resorts hold you to ransom but everything was a reasonable price here.

I ate dinner one night in the bar and had some tomato bruschetta to start. The tomatoes had plenty of flavour and it tasted fresh. I liked that the bread was focaccia which made it light and gave a bit more flavour to the dish. 

Then I tried a local pasta dish with Maltese sausage which was a little oily for my tastes although it had a little kick that made it tasty enough.

I ate lunch there one day as well and had a huge portion of chicken tacos which were tasty.

I also liked the indoor section with its grand piano.

Bay View Pool Bar and Reef Club Pool Bar at The Westin Dragonara Resort hotel

Food & Beverage service was available Daily 10:00 – 18:00hrs except at the Reef Club which had limited hours at weekends. Service was good and they had a great system for ordering via a QR code at your lounger. Most things arrived very quickly.

I enjoyed all the cocktails I had by the pool and everything was very cheap for a 5* resort. One lunch I had, a Mexican chicken wrap was awful as it was literally dripping grease. Everything else I had was really tasty, particularly the potato-wrapped prawns. 

The cocktails were also a large size for the price and there were plenty to chose from as well as the usual beer, wine and spirits. 

The other restaurants are:

Palio’s Trattoria (Italian)

Daily  18:30 – 22:00hrs

Sunday Lunch 12:00 – 14:30hrs

Quadro Brasserie

Tuesdays through Saturdays 19:00 – 22:00hrs

The Boathouse was shut on my visit but it looked lovely.

Facilities, services & pools at The Westin Dragonara Resort hotel

 There are two outdoor pools at the hotel and an indoor one. 

Bay View Pool Deck

It’s open daily 10:00 – 18:00hrs and has two unheated jacuzzis and a kids paddling pool. The pool is unheated. There was never an issue getting a lounger except at the weekend though I still managed to find one eventually. The loungers were not the most luxurious and quite low to the ground. 

Reef Club Pool Deck

This also has a kids pool and a large shaded area to sit under. This is a better bet if loungers are short by the other pool.

Beach and sea access

There’s an artificial beach at both pools with access into the beautiful turquoise sea. There are plenty of loungers and you can get service in that area too using the same QR code system as the pool. There’s also a small sandy area for sea access. 

The Westin Dragonara Resort hotel Indoor pool

Use of the indoor pool required pre-booking and the Jacuzzi, Steam room & Sauna were closed. This may have changed since my visit. 

The Westin Dragonara Resort hotel Workout Fitness Studio

There’s a large well equipped modern gym.

Beauty Clinic

The Beauty Clinic was open Mondays to Saturdays 09:00 – 19:00hrs with Sundays & Public Holiday on request. It offers a decent range of massages, body treatments, facials and manicures. The products are by Guinot. 

Children

For children, there is also a play area, a kids club, and even a small sandy beach ideal for younger children to paddle in the sea.  

Casino

The Dragonara Casino is housed within the impressive Dragonara Palace which was built in 1870 and has been operating since 1964, offering a unique gaming and entertainment destination 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Dragonara Casino features 300 slot machines, 15 live tables, a premier poker room overlooking the St. George’s Bay, a VIP-Lounge for high-roller private gaming, a Sports Lounge and one of Malta’s top-rated restaurants.

Watersports

Divewise, an award-winning dive centre, is located within the resort and is one of the biggest diving centres on the island. They offer year-round PADI diving courses amongst a number of other services.

Other

The business center was shut as were most of the shops apart from the one by the lobby. They were happy to print things out for you in reception. 

Conclusion for The Westin Dragonara Resort hotel

If you want a hotel away from the hustle and bustle of the main part of St Julian’s, The Westin Dragonara Resort hotel is a good choice. It’s still walking distance to the centre and there are a few restaurants nearby too. The hotel’s rooms are large and modern if bland with almost everything you’d expect from a luxury hotel.

The pools were pleasant although they feel a little dated in some respects. If you want a large sandy beach this isn’t the place but there is direct sea access and plenty of loungers to enjoy the view from. With all its facilities the hotel would be suitable for a summer or winter break and if you wanted to relax you wouldn’t actually need to leave the resort to eat and drink. Prices are very reasonable which makes this feel like you are not being ripped off. 

Service was generally good with friendly staff. My only real complaint was the lack of an alternative to the Executive lounge since every other hotel I have visited has at least provided some drinks in the bar.

You can find more information and rates about the Westin Dragonara hotel in St Julian’s Malta here or enquire with GTC to get the extra Marriott Luminous benefits. 

You can read my review of the Hyatt Regency Malta here.

Like our The Westin Dragonara Resort hotel review? You can read more hotel reviews here. 

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This was a very last-minute trip in terms of location as we had been due to go to Portugal, but only found out with 6 days to go that it would not be possible due to entry restrictions. Fortunately, my flights had been on Avios, so I quickly cancelled our Porto flights and booked flights to Palma instead.

In terms of hotels, I was looking for something relaxing but with some good restaurants and bars nearby. Ideally, I also wanted Marriott as I am trying to maintain my Platinum status for next year. As Mallorca was put on the green list the week before, prices were soaring. When I saw the Castillo Son Vida by Luxury Collection close to Palma but in a quiet location, it looked perfect so I booked it straight away. The other thing that really sold it was that it is only available to adults aged 16+. 

Booking

I booked through our partners GTC for €276 per night. This was a special offer which gave 20% for a long stay of 7 nights or more (still available for stays until 31 October). I still got all my Marriott Platinum benefits but even without status with Debonair you also get:

• Free breakfast for 2
• $100 hotel credit
• Upgrade on arrival based on availability
• Early check-in and late checkout subject to availability

If you wanted to book on points, it’s a category 6 hotel which is 40,000-60,000 points per night. 

Location

I really liked the location of the hotel being just over 10 minutes to the centre of Palma and around 20 minutes to the airport. Nearby is their sister property, the Arabella Sheraton which provides a regular shuttle around the property and local golf courses. A taxi to Palma cost €12-14 and a taxi from the airport was around €30. We prebooked a taxi to pick us up and help with the luggage which cost €35 from TaxiPMI.

There is no Uber in Mallorca or equivalent. We used taxis to and from the hotel which the hotel was great at organising quickly. There’s also a convenient bus stop by the hotel and parking is free if you want to hire a car. 

I will look at my recommendations for Palma in a later article. 

History of hotel

The Castillo Son Vida hotel originally dates back to the 13th Century when it began life as a Medieval castle. but it wasn’t until the 16th century, when Mateu Vida acquired the castle that now houses the hotel, that the building was baptized. The castle’s subsequent owners, the aristocratic Desmás and Truyols families, kept the castle’s distinctive name. Near the turn of the 20th century, Fernando Truyols and Despuig undertook extensive and extravagant renovations as a gift to his wife, Magdalena Villalonga. The result was a villa with the look of a castle, complete with a tower.

Fifty-seven years later, the Truyols family sold the private Son Vida estate to Steve Kusak, the founder of “Urbanización Son Vida,” and on June 23, 1961, the castle opened its doors as a luxury hotel. Three years later, the island’s first golf course, the Golf Son Vida, was inaugurated next door. In 1995, the hotel was purchased by the Schörghuber Group, renamed Castillo Hotel Son Vida, and designated as one of the “Leading Hotels of the World”. In January 2005, the hotel closed its doors and undertook a renovation and rebuilding, which was completed the following February. Two years later, in March 2007, the legendary hotel became a member of Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ Luxury Collection. Today, Castillo Hotel Son Vida is part of Marriott International, and many politicians and celebrities have chosen Castillo Hotel Son Vida including: Prince Rainier of Monaco and Grace Kelly, Aristotle Onassis, Maria Callas, Anthony Quinn, Pedro Almodóvar, Claudia Schiffer, and many more.

You can see many fine paintings and historical artifacts such as the dining room above which is surrounded by murals chronicling a family hunting trip. 

Check-in at Castillo Son Vida

As soon as our taxi arrived, one of the porters appeared to help with the luggage. One of the highlights of the trip was the lovely Davinia on reception. She was always genuinely warm and friendly from the word go. Every time I visited reception she always remembered me and greeted me by name. (The hotel were not aware I was writing a review until the end of the week). I had an unfortunate bag theft later in the week and Davinia really went out of her way to help.

Getting back to check-in, I was given all the details of the hotel such as dining, pool, and layout during check-in. There is also a handy service to get your return lateral flow tests booked at the hotel for €30 which is available via a QR code in reception.

I was travelling with my friend and sometimes TLFL contributor Katie in London (aka Jersey Girl), so we were given interconnecting rooms. I was welcomed as a Marriott Platinum member and automatically given the 1000 points welcome gift instead of breakfast since breakfast was already included due to booking through Debonair. 

We had booked the lowest category of room, a classic double with balcony. We were entitled to an upgrade, but the next category does not come with a balcony. I specifically stated that we wanted a balcony, so we both received a double upgrade to a Deluxe double with garden view which does come with a balcony. As a data point, my friend who also stayed at the hotel recently is a Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador and got a Grand Deluxe. However, all the hotel’s suites were fully booked that weekend, so he may have got a better upgrade if it had been quieter.

Castillo Son Vida room

On entering the room, I saw that we have been given a nice little welcome gift of a small bottle of rose fizz and some rather yummy chocolates. Both of us received these despite Katie having no status. The rooms are large but pretty traditional in design. If you prefer something more modern then the classic room may be better (see below). 

The bed was huge and very comfortable with a decent mattress topper providing softness and good quality plump pillows. Normally the hotel would provide kettles in the room of the Grand Deluxe and above, but these have currently been removed due to Covid. There are also coffee machines in the hotel’s 10 suites. You can request a coffee machine in any room but it’s not guaranteed due to availability.

There was also no iron or ironing board but you could request these. Otherwise the room layout was great. There was a large chaise lounge that actually made a great suitcase stand! The desk was good for working at and there were two chairs so you could use it for eating at as well. I have never seen quite so many cupboards in a hotel room as in the Castillo Son Vida! Behind one was a TV which had quite a few of the main UK channels. There was also a fridge which was empty except for the daily water. I did particularly like the safe as it had a socket for charging your laptop as well closing automatically when you shut it, instead of having to keep enter a number or press a button.

I also found an umbrella and robes and slippers by high-end linen brand Frette.

My room had a balcony overlooking the gardens which made a great place for a pre-dinner drink. 

Although the hotel was busy, rooms were generally quiet apart from a bit of banging of cupboard doors by people (you had to be very gentle to close them quietly). The light switches by the bed were not immediately visible but once you found them, they were simple to use and included a great night light under the bedside table if you needed to get up but not blind yourself. There were plenty of sockets with one by the bed underneath the table that was readily accessible. Most importantly when it’s 32c outside is the air conditioning and this was well up to my sub-zero requirements!

I also liked that there was a special vanity area with a large mirror, socket, and great lighting. There were also plenty of drawers for storing your make-up and hair products.

The bathroom was also large and had a window into the room which you could block off with large wooden shutters. There was an enormous deep bath which was a little too long for me but was otherwise great for a long soak.

The separate shower cubicle was also a good size and even had a special footrest which is great for washing your legs and feet or shaving legs.

Toiletries were Hierbas de Mallorca and provided in full-size bottles which were pretty large. They had a subtle fresh fragrance and felt luxurious. I thought the little bottles of sanitiser were also a good idea. 

There was still plenty of room in the shower for the toiletries on the shelf even with the hefty size bottles. 

Other room categories

Classic room with balcony

These rooms are smaller than the deluxe and in the more modern annexe. They are also a bit closer to the pool in terms of easy access.

The views are still good although you can’t see the sea.

The bathroom still has a separate bath and walk-in shower but it is a little smaller.

Deluxe room (no balcony)

These rooms have some of the best views and the same layout as the non-balcony rooms.

Grand Deluxe

This is identical to the deluxe with balcony but has a better view due to its higher floor.

Food and drink at Castillo Son Vida

Breakfast

Having been a bit disappointed with breakfast at another Marriott property recently, I was pleased to see a real spread available for breakfast at the Castillo. The staff were lovely too, particularly the sunny German lady that always remembered our coffee orders. If you order bog-standard coffee then you get something akin to the type of weak coffee you get in America in a big jug. Instead, we changed to ordering specific coffees as recommended to us. They had all the usual types of barista coffee plus something called cafe crema which appeared to be akin to a smaller Americano.

Delicious freshly squeezed orange juice was offered at the table along with a different smoothie every day. Cava was available although I did have a bit of a language barrier trying to ask for a Bucks Fizz, so I just ordered the fizz and poured it in my juice!

There was an extensive buffet with a Mallorcan specialty area such as tomato bread, sobrasada, and local cheese as well as the usual fare of fruit, pastries, bread, salad, smoked salmon, and yoghurts. The hot selection was equally comprehensive with a special every day such as cooked salmon or ham, different types of potato and croquettes, Padron peppers, and the usual eggs, sausages, and bacon. Dishes changed every day so there was no issue with getting bored. You could get omelets cooked to order and there was also a choice of several a la carte dishes.

I tried the eggs benedict which could have done with a less thick sauce for my liking, and the French toast.

Plus I also just ordered half an avocado instead of the avocado toast.

Here is the a la carte menu:

The bar

Bar Armas was the main bar which did great cocktails and lights meals/tapas.

We ate there on the first day and soaked in the gorgeous views down to the sea with some tapas and large G&Ts.

Food and beverage prices were high apart from wine. A G&T could easily cost €15+, although they were huge measures.

There are also a couple of very ornate lounges that serve drinks and afternoon tea. 

Other dining

As well as the bar there were two more formal restaurants. The main restaurant is called Es Castell and focuses on Spanish and international dishes. It has a gorgeous terrace for summer dining.

The other restaurant is focused on wine and is called Es Vi. It was only open on weekends when we visited. If you are a wine buff, this would be heaven with 400 different wines —50 of which are available by the glass. The menu has tapas and a tasting menu to accompany the wine.

At lunchtime, we ate on the terrace at el Castell. The menu did get a little repetitive as it wasn’t huge, but the food choices were modern and a little different as well as the typical classics like gazpacho.

We were both fans of the iced coffee which had ice cream and whipped cream on top, more of a dessert really!

Castillo Son Vida Leisure and sport

Castillo Son Vida Golf

The hotel is definitely at the centre of a golfer’s paradise! Both Son Vida Golf Course and the Executive Course of Son Quint surround the hotel whereas Son Muntaner & Son Quint Golf Courses are just two minutes drive. The hotel has Unlimited Golf Offers where you can play at all the nearby Arabella golf courses and offers a complimentary shuttle bus service between the 4 golf courses and the Castillo Hotel Son Vida as well as the Sheraton Mallorca Arabella Golf Hotel. There is a special golf desk in the lobby to help with arrangements. 

Castillo Son Vida Gym

I was surprised by the size of the large gym and the selection of equipment. They have Life Fitness machines, free weights, and the latest fitness accessories, and cardio machines like treadmills, elliptical trainers, and stationary bicycles.

Pools

There are two pools right by each other. The majority of the time both pools were a lovely temperature and not crowded. The main was long enough to swim properly. There was no issue getting a sunlounger until the Saturday when the hotel was a full capacity, when they did run out of loungers at one point. If you stay at a weekend, that may be the day to get out of the hotel and explore!

Service around the pool was a little varied as at lunchtime staff often had to go to the restaurant to help out but for the majority of the time, it was good.

Loungers were large and very comfortable with plenty of towels available. One major irritation for me is that no tap water is provided free by the pool. I would generally expect 5-star hotels in a hot location to provide some sort of iced water but the only option was to buy bottled water for a very high price. Given it was 32c one day, I think that’s not really on. 

Overall I enjoyed lounging by the pool with the beautiful views and comfy loungers. 

The Spa and indoor pool

The spa has a great range of treatments including some smaller 25 minutes ones if you are pushed for time. I advise booking ahead as there were not many time slots to choose from by the time I got there. The spa is not manned for much of the day so it’s best to phone. I did find it got a little confusing trying to book 2 treatments for one person but it all worked out in the end.

I had a shoulder, back and neck massage followed by a foot massage. Both treatments were performed very professionally and the room was comfortable.

If you went in the winter you may want to use the indoor pool but it was sweltering when we were there! The spa facilities are fairly comprehensive with three sauna versions, a Finnish sauna, a bio sauna, and a steam bath with temperatures of 45 – 90 degrees. To cool off, there are an ice fountain and experience showers too. Finally, there’s a light relaxation area overlooking the pool and a hair salon. 

Conclusion for Castillo Son Vida

The Castillo Son Vida was the perfect type of hotel for me – adults only, gorgeous setting, a great pool with service, and only a short distance to a multitude of bars and restaurants nearby in Palma. Add in a short distance from the airport and it would be equally good for a weekend break as it was for a longer trip. In terms of a Marriott redemption, at the normal rate of around €300 a night upwards, 40-60,000 a night is a reasonable value for points, although you can get better. 

Having seen the lowest classic category rooms, I would be perfectly happy with one of those, especially on the higher floor. They are a little more modern although the bathroom is a little smaller. I like the fact the hotel is a little different from most hotels with its history and castle-like feel. The views are also stunning and add to the feeling of relaxation and tranquility. 

The staff also made this hotel special. From the concierge, reception staff, and breakfast staff to the porters outside, nothing was too much hassle and they were all very friendly (with one pool staff exception). Everything felt well organised and befitting of a luxury hotel. 

You can find more information on the hotel here or enquire about prices with GTC here to get the extra perks. 

Like our hotel review? You can read more hotel reviews here. 

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