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Residence Inn Dubai – Booking
Three weeks ago, I stayed at the Residence Inn Dubai, a luxury apartment-style hotel (according to Marriott). As a Gold Elite member, I booked my stay through the Marriott Bonvoy website. The booking included a Deluxe Studio, 1 King for six nights with breakfast included each day, totalling 5,407 AED ($2,121 CAD).
This was my fifth time visiting Dubai and my first time staying at the Residence Inn. I usually booked with other Marriott properties when I visited the UAE, but my trip was very last-minute, which meant that the Residence Inn was the most economical Marriott option in the city.
Residence Inn Dubai – Arrival & Check-In
I arrived at the hotel in an airport taxi at around 8 pm. The pick-up/drop-off area in front of the hotel was quite small and congested, causing a short delay upon arrival. After about two minutes of waiting in a line of cabs, I was dropped off in front of the hotel entrance. I was a bit surprised that I had to retrieve my bags from the trunk of the car, with some help from the taxi driver. It wasn’t until I climbed a couple of steps into the hotel’s front door that one of the concierge staff offered to take my bags. In all my other Dubai hotel experiences, I’ve always been greeted by hotel staff opening my vehicle door and taking my bags inside for me, so I was a bit disappointed that my arrival at the Residence Inn did not match the standard of treatment that I’m used to.
Check-in Desks (Credit: Marriott)
Lobby Lounge
The lobby is very small, and the check-in counter is front and centre immediately inside the hotel’s entrance. There are two small lounge areas beside the check-in counters, each with some comfortable chairs, a couch and decorative furniture. The check-in process went smoothly, taking about five minutes of general formalities. The gentleman who checked me in was very friendly and gave me a complimentary upgrade to a 1-bedroom suite, King Bed, on the 17th floor.
Residence Inn Dubai – 1-Bedroom Suite, King
My 1-Bedroom Suite with a king bed was very spacious and comfortable. The lightly coloured walls and furniture, paired with a minimalist style and room layout, made the space feel relatively relaxing but not luxurious. The kitchen boasted lots of counter and storage space, as well as a full-sized fridge and freezer, kitchenware and even a washing machine (no, not a dishwasher – a washing machine!).
One-Bedroom Suite: Living Room
Tucked away working desk
The living room was cozy, offering a relaxing space to decompress on the couch while watching something on the TV. However, I was disappointed that there was no desk in the suite. There was only a small ledge that popped out from the wall with a chair that was uncomfortable. It was a less-than-ideal setup for doing work.
Kitchen and Dining
Powder Room
Bedroom
King Bed
Bedroom Closet
Two of my biggest frustrations with the experience were the windows and the location of my room. I was annoyed that the windows were incredibly dirty from the outside, and I was facing a building that was about 30 feet away from my room. Having the curtains open made me feel incredibly exposed, especially as a solo-travelling woman, but having them closed made the suite feel very dark and depressing. I opted for the dark and dreary option most of the time.
Living room window (extremely dirty)
My room was located right beside the garbage room, so I would often hear loud noises throughout all times of the day. These disturbances were agitating, especially in the middle of the night.
Garbage Room on the 17th floor
Residence Inn Dubai – Food
Unfortunately, the breakfast spread was mediocre at best. It was the smallest spread I had ever seen at a Middle Eastern hotel and the food lacked in flavour and freshness. I tried many of the offerings – pastries, yogurt, pancakes, fruit, noodles – and was disappointed each time. I usually left breakfast feeling hungry and would get food outside of the hotel shortly after. There was also minimal seating and I struggled to find a table most days.
Breakfast Spread
Breakfast – Dips & Spreads
Cold Cuts and Salads
Residence Inn Dubai – Location Caution
Though it is located relatively close to Dubai Mall, the infamous Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain, the constant heavy traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road causes major delays, and therefore, getting to those places can be difficult and time-consuming. I often had to budget one hour to get somewhere that was only five km away, taking away valuable time that could have been spent otherwise. I felt like half of my stay was spent sitting in a taxi and feeling stressed about my work day ahead.
Takeaway
Residence Inn Dubai is a hotel that ‘gets the job done’ but is not reflective of the luxury and glamour that Dubai is so well known for. The food is subpar, the service is good but not stellar and the location on Sheikh Zayed Road is unfortunate. It is certainly budget-friendly but I would not recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a luxurious or authentic Dubai experience.
Other Hotel Reviews from Dubai;
Al-Maha Desert Resort – Luxury Collection
Featured Image Credit: Marriott
