Review: Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi

I stayed for a night at the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi during my trip to the Middle East, checking out the last of the trio of Marriott Bonvoy properties in Dubai’s Mina Seyahi district.

From looking at the photos of the Westin, I was expecting a modern and nicely refurbished facility. Unfortunately, the reality was a lot less appealing, though the hotel still had its fair share of strengths. 

Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi – Booking

Cash rates at this hotel can fall to as low as 780 AED ($287 CAD) and, at times, climb to as high as 3,900 AED ($1,433 CAD). However, you’ll find that most dates fall within the range of 1,000–2,000 AED ($367–735 CAD).

A points redemption will fall in the range of 50,000–75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, depending on the time of year. In my case, I booked this stay for a reasonable Cash & Points rate of 35,000 points + 560 AED ($205 CAD).

Based on our valuation of Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.9 cents per point (cpp), I was pretty happy with this. The cash component was a much better value than the equivalent amount if I’d redeemed points in full.

Additionally, the full cash rate was sky-high on account of the concurrent World Cup in Qatar and Formula One race in Abu Dhabi during my visit.

It goes to show that it’s worthwhile considering all payment options available in the booking process, as your points may not stretch the full distance every time, and there are occasionally pockets of value to be had with Marriott’s Cash & Points and points options. 

If you’re planning to pay cash for a stay at the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi, be sure to get in touch with a travel advisor with access to Marriott Luminous. You’ll enjoy a full suite of extra perks, such as free breakfast for two, a $100 (USD) property credit, and more, all for the same cost as what you’d otherwise pay on a refundable rate.

Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi – Location

The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi is situated in the Mina Seyahi district of the eastern region of the Dubai Marina, with panoramic views of Palm Jumeirah.

The hotel is part of a beachfront complex including both the Le Méridien Dubai Mina Seyahi and the W Dubai Mina Seyahi, both of which I had the pleasure of staying at prior to this stay at the Westin.

The district of Mina Seyahi boasts a skyline of towering residential and commercial buildings, and the Westin has a prime location, minutes from eateries, cafés, and beaches.

Popular attractions nearby are Palm Jumeirah, the man-made island known for its luxury resorts and entertainment, and the Dubai Marina, a bustling waterfront area. These attractions are just a few blocks away, each requiring less than a ten-minute drive.

Some of Dubai’s most sought-after sights are outside the district, thus requiring longer travel times and additional planning. For example, the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, and Dubai Fountain are 20 minutes away by vehicle.

The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi is 25 minutes from Dubai International Airport. Abu Dhabi International Airport is about an hour away by car.

Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi – Check-In

Upon arriving at the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi, I noted its elegant neoclassical façade. The hotel’s entrance is easily accessible from Highway D94, and features a lush landscape of palm trees and a water feature.

Inside, the lobby has recently undergone an impressive transformation, featuring a stylish new design.

The lobby lounge, referred to by the hotel as The Conservatory, boasts rich greenery, plush furnishings, and art déco accents and artwork.

I was welcomed upon arrival by a friendly associate who helped me out with a smooth and swift check-in process.

The associate confirmed my upgrade to a Deluxe Suite and went through my Titanium Elite benefits, informing me that I’d have access to breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres in the Executive Lounge.

Once we wrapped up, I took my room key and made my way over to the elevators to check out my room for the night.

Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi – Deluxe Suite

Unfortunately, my Deluxe Suite featured more drab interiors than the rest of the hotel, with muted colours and brown tones which lack modern appeal.

The hotel is only midway through a transformative renovation, and only a portion of its rooms (and no suites) have been renovated. Therefore, I was very much in an older-style suite that felt somewhat behind the times.

The living room features a beige sofa with a matching armchair around a glass coffee table.

On the opposite wall, there’s a large flat-screen TV perched atop an entertainment unit, and a small bench sits directly adjacent.

In the far right-hand corner is a small dining table with four chairs.

In the nearest right-hand corner of the room is a large dark oak desk with a vintage chair, where I found a bowl of fruit and some nuts when I arrived.

Additionally, a small half-bathroom connects to the living room.

Meanwhile, the bedroom is located through a doorway to the left of the living room.

The bedroom features a king bed imposingly positioned against a very large upholstered headboard, with a pair of nightstands and a plush bench at the foot of the bed.

On the wall opposite the bed is a double armoire and a flat-screen TV. The left drawer reveals the Nespresso machine, as well as the coffee and tea selection.

Leading into the primary bathroom is a large walk-in closet. Inside is a large mirror, desk, chair, luggage rack, and ample storage space.

Turning left leads to the bathroom, which features a double vanity, a large alcove bathtub, and two separate shower and toilet compartments.

Although the room could certainly benefit from some refurbishment, the suite itself was quite spacious, particularly the living room and walk-in closet.

However, for such a large suite, there is a disappointing lack of power outlets available in the room, let alone universal power outlets. Hopefully, the oversight will be addressed once the suite is updated.

Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi – Deluxe Room

I also had the chance to tour one of the newly renovated Deluxe Rooms during my visit.

These newly refurbished rooms have a much nicer colour palette featuring light pastel hues, complemented by unique textures and patterns on the carpeting and wall coverings.

The room is further enhanced by modern and stylish furnishings, lending a contemporary aesthetic to the overall ambiance.

Oddly enough, the renovated bathroom still looks dated. It has essentially the same style as the older rooms and just a few additions, such as wallpaper and decorative accents.

I found the more contemporary aesthetic of the renovated rooms to be quite nice, although the hotel could have gone the extra mile and also updated the bathrooms to match the new direction.

Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi – Executive Lounge

The hotel’s Executive Lounge spans across the eighth floor, which is accessible by Marriott Bonvoy members with Platinum Elite status and above. The lounge is also available to Club Level guests staying at the hotel.

It’s open from 7am to 10pm daily, and offers multiple food presentations, including breakfast, afternoon tea, evening canapés, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

The seating options include about a dozen dining tables near the windows, from where you can also access an outdoor area. Then, there are a few clusters of booths and sofas by the bar.

The buffet is located in the hallway just before entering the lounge. For breakfast, there’s a handful of hot items, including potatoes, sausages, turkey bacon, waffles, and pancakes.

There’s also a variety of cereals, fruits, cold cuts, dips, pastries, and self-serve juice.

There’s also quite a tasty evening spread, and I was even able to come to have dinner at 6pm on the second night after checking out.

There were a few hot items available, and then some fruits, veggies. dips, meats, cheese, and a good amount of sweets and desserts. Some of the portions are small, but there’s nothing to stop you from going back for multiple helpings.

The Executive Lounge is a true strength of the hotel, with an excellent buffet in the mornings and ample evening spreads. The service in the Club Lounge is also of a high standard, with staff on hand to pour wine directly at your seat.

Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi – Dining

The hotel is an expansive space, with wide hallways across multiple buildings, as well as a giant atrium in the middle of one of its buildings. As with many Middle Eastern hotels, there is an impressive number of dining options available, with many international flavours.

Sui Miu is the hotel’s Asian restaurant that serves playful dishes in an elegant setting.

El Sur presents a modern take on traditional Spanish cuisine and offers a bright and casual setting.

Bussola and Mare by Bussola offer authentic Italian flavours, with the latter featuring a luxurious pool and beach club setting.

Baba Steakhouse offers a sophisticated venue with dim lighting, dark wood panelling, and brick-layered walls. Here, you can enjoy prime cuts of meat cooked over an open flame, paired with a fine selection of wines.

Mina’s Kitchen offers a vibrant and contemporary space with stunning orange leather seating against lush greenery. Here, the restaurant offers live cooking stations for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

For those looking for a night out, Papillon is the hotel’s French restaurant that transforms into a nightlife hotspot on weekends, and Oeno Wine Bar serves an extensive collection of liqueurs and vintage Champagnes.

Lastly, The Conservatory offers a happy hour and afternoon tea throughout the day.

Afternoon Tea is available from 2–6pm every day, offering various tea options, and sweet and savoury treats. Happy Hour runs from 5–8pm and offers a selection of cocktails, beers, and grapes.

Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi – Pools & Beach

There are three outdoor pools at the hotel. There’s a large lap pool in the centre of the grounds, a winding pool which stretches and curves across the property, and then a separate shaded pool for children with a water slide.

There’s an array of lounge chairs and umbrellas dotted around the hotel, offering both sun-soaking and shaded options. Additionally, there are designated adult-only areas.

You can also enjoy poolside drinks via the handy swim-up bar.

Keep in mind the pool and beach facilities are shared between the neighbouring hotels, the W Dubai Mina Seyahi and Le Méridien Dubai Mina Seyahi. Access is reciprocal, allowing guests at those hotels also to utilize one another’s facilities, including the waterpark.

For beach-goers, the hotel has a 400-metre stretch of private beach, easily accessible from the hotel’s grounds.

Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi – Other Facilities

As for facilities, the hotel has a fitness centre, spa, sauna, jacuzzi, and steam rooms. If you’re a bathing enthusiast, you’ve come to the right place.

The fitness centre is open 24 hours a day, with a good range of cardio equipment and circuit training. It’s a tad on the smaller side, but is well-equipped to provide a good workout.

Through the locker rooms, you can access the sauna and steam rooms.

Additionally, you’ll have access to the Mina Club on the ground floor at Le Méridien, where you’ll find a much larger, state-of-the-art gym.

For those visiting with young children, take note of “Westin Family”, which offers complimentary Kids Club space, and interactive programming.

A major highlight includes the Jungle Bay Waterpark. The aquatic complex sits on the Mina Seyahi bay, offering a variety of water slides, wave pools, and lazy rivers.

Lastly, the Heavenly Spa by Westin offers both male and female changing rooms, equipped with their own sauna, steam room, and jacuzzi. The spa offers a selection of massages, body treatments, facials, and packages.

Conclusion

As the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi continues to make further updates, I think the hotel has some real potential to improve upon its current state.

Despite my stay in an older-style suite, the room was indeed very spacious. Upon completion of its refurbishment, the suites should provide a comfortable retreat after milling around the hotel grounds or taking dip in the pool.

I was particularly impressed by the hotel’s Executive Lounge, which offered superb breakfast and evening spreads that could easily serve as a replacement meal.

Additionally, the recently refurbished public areas boast striking and contemporary designs that are on par with the modern designs of the other hotel stays I’ve had thus far in the UAE.

Overall, the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi can be a solid choice once the entire property has been renovated in the hotel’s new style, and I may well return at that time to check it out for myself.