The Westin is neoclassical in design. The Westin is neoclassical in design.

BACKGROUND: The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina is the upmarket big sister of Le Meridien Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina and officially opened in May last year. Neoclassical in design, the five-star resort features 294 rooms and suites and boasts 1200 metres of private beach. It is located around 30 minutes by road from Dubai International Airport and is close to Dubai Marina, Dubai Media City, The Palm Jumeirah and several shopping malls — Marina Mall, Mall of the Emirates and Ibn Battuta are all in close proximity.

ARRIVAL: As is often the case, the doormen were a little confused as to whether or not we were staying when we pulled up outside the hotel in a car brandishing a Dubai number plate. This was quickly resolved although the valet parkers seemed unsure as to what to do with our luggage and so to be on the safe side, we took our bags ourselves as they were not at all heavy.

THE CHECK-IN: Because we were upgraded to an Executive King Suite, we were escorted to the Executive floor to check-in. We were given refreshments and told about the hotel facilities, before being escorted to the suite by a member of staff.

THE SUITE: The suite itself comprised a lounge with sofa, TV, dining room table and chairs and a small en-suite with toilet. This room led into a large bedroom with a balcony overlooking the resort gardens, Arabian Gulf and The Palm Jumeirah, and a sizeable bathroom with separate bath and a large walk-in shower, which didn’t leak like many I have tried do. A standout feature in this suite was Westin’s trademark ‘Heavenly Bed’, which lived up to its reputation. The all-white bed  made for a great night’s sleep.

LEISURE FACILITIES:  The Westin not only benefits from a beachfront location with expansive grass and sand relaxation areas and several swimming pools from which to choose, but also benefits from the watersports available next door at the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi. There’s a Heavenly Spa, which I did not get to sample, but I did work out in the Westin’s gym, where Technogym equipment on offer is more than ample.

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EXECUTIVE CLUB LOUNGE: The club lounge has food and snacks on tap for guests staying on the Executive floors. It comprises a dining area and a more informal lounge area, as well as a business centre. This is the perfect place to sip pre-dinner cocktails at the bar before heading to dinner.

This is also where a buffet breakfast is served, which like the majority of hotel club lounges, serves an adequate breakfast, but leaves you a little disappointed if you’re the kind of person who enjoys a mega-buffet in the morning  with their eggs cooked how they like at a live cooking station.

BUSSOLA: Bussola is arguably one of the best dining spots in Dubai, offering a spectacular al fresco setting with sea views. The Italian cuisine is of a good standard, but, I would argue, lacks authenticity. In a bid to differentiate itself, Bussola has made what could be simple Italian fare, much too complicated.

For example, in my mind, the perfect bruschetta is made from bread, garlic, olive oil, ripe tomatoes and maybe a tad of black pepper and basil — trattoria style. Instead, the bread was piled with mushrooms, parmesan and a medley of ingredients that overpowered the palate.

EDITOR'S VERDICT

The Westin caters to all types of guests, but with so many activities on offer at this large resort, combined with those offered next door at Le Meridien, this makes for a perfect family break or holiday. The location is superb and the accommodation is comfortable and luxurious, although I found the decor a little bland — I expected it to be more funky and contemporary, like The Address Downtown Dubai.

Despite my criticisms of Bussola, I would like to stress that I have eaten in several other outlets at this property and the standard is consistently high.