JW Marriott Marquis Dubai: The Perfect Hotel for the Solo Traveler

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How I got here from the airport:

Dubai Metro (Gold Class) from airport to Dubai Mall

Free shuttle from Dubai Mall to hotel

Total cost: 14 Dhs

(Had I not splashed out on Gold Class, the price would only be 6Dhs)

Greetings Adventurers!

First, let me clarify that the J.W. Marriott Marquis Dubai at Business Bay is perfect for ANY traveler; solo, business, groups, families, etc. But from the perspective of one traveling alone, and because I stayed there alone, I wanted to share this delightful experience for others to consider. This trip was nothing short of amazing.

A solo female traveling just for fun (and because Dubai was on my bucket list), I chose this hotel for my holiday because: a) it's the world's tallest hotel and I'm a sucker for a great view; and b) I've stayed at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. This was a familiar name that I trusted because of their reputation for excellent customer service.

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Before I even walked thru the door, I was in good hands. Adnan, a bell man (who became my go-to guy for most of my needs) greeted me at the taxi, took my luggage while I checked in, then escorted me to my room. The front desk staff is delightfully diverse to accommodate guests who speak any language. I was checked in and out by Edward, which was probably a coincidence but it was a nice touch because I enjoyed and appreciated the familiarity and continuity.

Become a Flight Attendant

I'd done extensive research on this hotel and even watched some videos, but I still wasn't prepared for how awesome the rooms are. I requested the highest floor possible, and got an exquisite view of this beautiful and booming city. 

The beds in this hotel are downright luxuriant, and the pillows are like clouds. The room came with every extra you can imagine, including lush bath robes and slippers, and an entire dental kit in case you left your toothbrush at home. A prayer mat is also available in each room.

If you forgot to bring a plug adapter, fear not. The room comes with an outlet that can be used by multiple countries. If you decide to purchase one anyway while there, they are relatively inexpensive.

You'll also discover multiple bottles of water in your room. There's a reason for that. Take them with you whenever you go out. It is very important to stay hydrated in the heat.

The rooms are more high-tech than anything I've seen in my travels. They don't bother with 'do not disturb' signs on the door handle. There is a control panel near the door. Just push a button, and a light is illuminated on a panel outside your door alerting hotel staff not to disturb you, or signaling the housekeeping staff that your room is ready for cleaning. You can also access this feature from another control panel on the night stand that controls all the lighting in the room, including the bathroom. 

Speaking of which, the bathrooms in this place are absolutely stunning and nothing short of lavish, and HUGE. And this is just a standard room! There is a separate shower that's very spacious, and a standalone tub that is pure luxury. I ended up not using my own shampoo or other toiletry items, because the hotel provides lush Aromatherapy brand bath products, which include mineral bath salts. A long soak in these fabulous tubs are a great way to cap off each evening.

The hotel offers free round-trip shuttle service from the hotel to the Dubai Mall, the largest mall on the planet. This is perfect for the solo traveler unfamiliar with the territory, as many of Dubai's "must-see" spots are at or next to the mall, like the world-famous Burj Khalifa, the dancing fountain show; a new Virtual reality theme park; an ice rink, and the Souk Al Bahar, where I bought the bulk of my souvenirs. 

The J.W. Marriott has bars and a nightclub, which is great if you are a woman traveling alone, so after a fun day out, you can unwind, have a drink and/or get your boogie on in a safe environment and close proximity to your room. Ladies drink free at Ladies Night at Vault, where DJ Soso will play whatever jams you request. I also enjoyed a few cocktails at the Bridgewater Tavern, where Happy, Merwin, Armand, bar manager Andy and the rest of the staff served up great food and drinks, even better conversation, and gave me great recommendations about what to see and do in Dubai.

As a true die-hard foodie with hips to prove it, I delighted in the nine restaurants inside the hotel, each themed from a different region of the world. My personal favourite was the French themed eatery, La Farine Cafe & Bakery. The cuisine there, especially the Quiche Lorraine, offers your taste buds a purely authentic adventure to France.

My vacation package included breakfast every morning at Kitchen 6, located in the first floor of the hotel.  This restaurant was amazing, and very large, with multiple stations with custom and culinary offerings and fresh juices from different regions around the globe. The food is all incredible, but the hummus I ate in Dubai was literally the best I've ever had.

When I went for breakfast one morning, I was a bit worn out from the desert safari the day before, and Yasmin (the Manager), along with servers Rose and Jaime made certain that the plate I'd made for myself was sent to my room via room service. The staff here is top-knotch. Though people are coming and going as breakfast is a busy time, they welcomed me back every morning by name and treated me like family.

Travelers, remember, no matter where you are in the world, you are still a registered guest of any hotel until midnight of the day you check out. The day I left this glorious hotel, my flight home was scheduled to depart Dubai at 2:50 am the following morning. I was lucky enough to get a late check-out for 4pm. 

The hotel held my luggage until it was time to go to the airport, and even gave me access to a facility to shower and change (since I no longer had a room) if I went out and about for the day. That was a bonus for which I was grateful, and one I did not expect.

Note: Late check-out is not guaranteed. If you think you will need one, make certain to request it when you first arrive. 

The concierge staff at the hotel are outstanding and beyond helpful. They made certain that I knew how to get around safely, and helped me find restaurants I had researched so I could either get to them or get the food delivered. They recommended great activities, and knew I was traveling on my own, so even though the city is incredibly safe, they made sure I was okay at all times. I could not have asked for better service, and I absolutely recommend this hotel to every traveler, whether you're traveling solo or not. 

Late-night taxi from JW Marriott Business Bay to airport: 43Dhs

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