Here are 10 new Marriott hotels you’ll want to visit in 2021

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• Chris Heyes says:

  7 Dec7 December 05:54

  Rhys/Rob Is there a review somewhere of the: Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel or is one planned
  Or any views on here from any hfps who have stayed
  I’ve never stayed (knowingly) at any Marriott but might give it a go for 7 nights as part of our 3 week Dubrovnik trip Hilton Imperial, Sun Gardens and maybe Sheraton (a week at each) i know a bit near each other but Daughter and Grand kids tagging along

  • Chris Heyes says:

    7 Dec7 December 06:00

    i should add I’m Gold even though never stopped at Marriott, enough points for Hilton stay (Gold) (nothing Sun Gardens or Sheraton) plus 3 Hotels.Com Vouchers around £200 each i could poss use

  • Marko says:

    7 Dec7 December 07:24

    I stayed at the Sheraton Dubrovnik and the Hilton Imperial this year in July. I am Marriott Gold and Hilton Diamond. The Sheraton gave me an one category upgrade (same room type but sea view), while Hilton upgraded me from the lowest room category to a suite with view on the old city and sea. I found the Sheraton pleasant, although it felt very generic and lacking some local touch and atmosphere. It will take you 20-30 min with car to Dubrovnik, and the town where the Sheraton is located is fairly small and there is not that much to do there. The pool was decent, but it is all concrete and little greenery. The beach in front of the Sheraton is public, but it was not overly crowded in July despite the hotel being at 60-70% occupancy and locals also using the beach. I enjoyed the beach and the water was always clear, although I think you can get much better beaches in Croatia. I think it really comes down to what you want (activities or just chilling at the pool/beach). A week there sounds long to me though – why don’t you go to the island of Mljet by ferry? While it lacks a fancy resort, the nature there is amazing and you can find nicer and quieter beaches. Locals are super friendly and more outgoing because it is a small island and they are very keen to make people feel welcome. If you prefer fancy resorts, you will find them on the islands of Hvar and Korcula – not too far from Dubrovnik.

    • Chris Heyes says:

      7 Dec7 December 11:06

      Thanks Marko/meta I’m 73 shortly so our activities are sightseeing chilling walking n short trips
      Up at 7.00am bed 10.30ish coffee n partner coke rather than alcohol
      her brother couple of beers only
      We like to eat out at restaurants casual rather than hotel although i do like my Breakfast at hotel 7.30 lol (especially Hiltons)
      plus lounge access nibbles n soft drinks mostly
      For some reason we have always been upgraded to a suite with Lounge Access at every single Hilton we have stayed at (we book a room for three a double/king and sofa bed) but end up with a Junior Suite or Suite not complaining lol
      Marko Do you have any details on Mljet and ferry sounds good thanks

      • meta says:

        7 Dec7 December 12:39

        @Chris Heyes there is a speedboat to Pomena on Mljet from Dubrovnik port. Accommodation wise a few small hotels and AirBnBs, nothing fancy. This is the best starting location to walk around national park and the two lakes. Boat to St. Maria island on the lake is a must as is the swimming on the other side of the island.

        You could also do Elafiti Islands.

      • Lady London says:

        7 Dec7 December 14:33

        Did you really mean “partner coke rather than alcohol” @Chris H 🙂 ?

        • Chris Heyes says:

          7 Dec7 December 21:53

          lol LL ok ment coke as in drink lol

    • John says:

      7 Dec7 December 12:32

      How was the lounge in Hilton DBV?

  • meta says:

    7 Dec7 December 07:27

    I’ve been 3-4 years ago when it was still under SPG. Sheraton is not in Dubrovnik, but about 40 minutes by bus or 20 minutes by boat from there. The pool area and the spa are really nice.There is a hotel section of the beach and the beach is lovely (prefer sea to pool) . I didn’t eat much in the hotel. Breakfast was standard buffet fare, nothing spectacular. Service was sometimes fine, sometimes totally lacking. There are plenty excellent restaurants along the shore leading from the hotel to the next town. It is also lovely for walks. I enjoyed that bit if not always the service at the hotel.

    • meta says:

      7 Dec7 December 07:59

      I echo Marko’s comment that a week would be too long. I would say 3 days tops.

  • Rhys says:

    7 Dec7 December 08:37

    We don’t have one for the Riviera Hotel but here’s the Hilton Imperial review: https://www.headforpoints.com/2020/06/03/review-hilton-imperial-dubrovnik-hotel/

    • Chris Heyes says:

      7 Dec7 December 10:46

      Thanks Rhys read the Hilton Imperial review 3 times when it came out and again this morning lol that’s already a definite.
      We very rarely go with Daughter n Grandkids so having to think outside the box (Sun Gardens for them poss)
      If just us it would be Hilton Imperial then ?

      • pauldb says:

        7 Dec7 December 18:50

        Suggestion: if you can cope with a 90 minute drive make a side trip to Montenegro, specifically Perast. There’s a full service Iberoster or some smaller hotels: we stayed in a family room at Hotel Nauta. You need a car but Montenegro has less crowds, plenty to see and – for the kids – better beaches, a water park and boat trips.

        • Chris Heyes says:

          7 Dec7 December 22:06

          Thanks pauldb unfortunately cant drive (none of us can)
          But Montenegro sounds good might be worth us looking into Both have you more details please ?

• Michael C says:

  7 Dec7 December 06:37

  Fam. rooms/pool/price of Moxy Lisbon looking good!
  Not prime location but not the worst.

  I always think I’m going to like the Ws, but they seem to have universally small rooms (but obvs. not aimed at the family market, and that’s fair enough).

  Potentially some w/end bargains at the Westin City?

  • NC says:

    7 Dec7 December 07:25

    IME W hotels’ MO is to use unusual (although often in a dated way) design to mask tiny rooms and poor amenities.

    • Phillip says:

      7 Dec7 December 08:34

      I have to say, I am surprised to see so many W and Westin openings. They do feel a little past their sell by date as brands, but happy to be shown otherwise!

  • Harry T says:

    7 Dec7 December 07:37

    Base rooms at Ws do seem to be small. If you get upgraded to a suite, you likely won’t have an issue.

  • BP says:

    7 Dec7 December 10:29

    Heading to Lisbon in September for a Stag party. The Moxy looks ideal with the pool, trendy decor and cheap rates.

• Matthew Bennion says:

  7 Dec7 December 07:34

  Watch this space for a Moxy Milton Keynes opening next year…odd.

  • Nick says:

    7 Dec7 December 13:38

    Moxy Slough town centre is either about to open or maybe already has. Will be handy(ish) for heathrow given the buses right outside. Can’t wait for the HfP review!!

• Harry T says:

  7 Dec7 December 07:38

  Well, call me biased, but this is a more exciting list than the Hilton one. I’m hoping to try the W Osaka in June.

  The rooftop pool for W Rome looks very similar to Amsterdam.

  • Harry T says:

    7 Dec7 December 07:44

    And W Algarve will hopefully be better than Pine Cliffs, which has been rebranded as a Luxury Collection but is definitely still a Sheraton at heart.

    • Chrisasaurus says:

      7 Dec7 December 08:24

      W looks nice – see you all in the Algarve I reckon!

    • David S says:

      7 Dec7 December 08:36

      You won’t be going there for the beach or fantastic grounds like Pinecliffs. Take a look on maps – access along with joe public to a couple of small beaches only

      • David S says:

        7 Dec7 December 08:39

        Just to add to this, assume the W Residences being built is the same location as the hotel

  • meta says:

    7 Dec7 December 08:18

    There is also The Hotel Mitsui, Luxury Collection in Kyoto! Currently at 70k points a night. Based on Japanese bloggers’ reviews, it’s an amazing property. Every guest can pre-book private onsen suite for 2-3 hours which includes a huge relaxation room with free drinks and snacks and obviously private onsen. The rooms are also quite spacious for Japan.

    • Harry T says:

      7 Dec7 December 14:59

      @meta
      I’m hoping to stay there in June.

      • meta says:

        7 Dec7 December 21:58

        Fingers crossed for you! At least in my mind, I am postponing my trip for 2022.

  • Brian says:

    7 Dec7 December 09:04

    Isn’t that picture of the Moxy Lisbon??

• Matthew says:

  7 Dec7 December 07:40

  Been eyeing up the Lucca hotel for some time. Looks fab and cracking value as a Cat 3 hotel.

  • Harry T says:

    7 Dec7 December 07:44

    Looks beautiful! Likely to be an excellent redemption at Cat 3.

• meta says:

  7 Dec7 December 07:58

  Stayed at Domes Zeen this October. It is an amazing property for service. It was impeccable. However, the rooms lack privacy. In fact everyone can see into your room or at least when you are on your patio by the pool. The walls separating the various villas/bungalows are not high enough and there is not enough vegetation to make up for it. It might over time grow more. The private pools in some of the rooms are ice cold and not heated. Even in the height of summer, you wouldn’t be able to stay long in it. There is also noise issue. Despite concrete walls, you can hear people walking by your room. You really need to request the room on either side of the resort to get at least some privacy.

  There is a pebbly semi-private beach with
  hotel sun loungers and service. The main pool is also ice cold and not heated. People would just jump in for a quick refreshment.

  This year breakfast and dinner were served a la carte with QR code. We were on half board complimentary (due to mess up with upgrade). It is a lot of food and everything was really delicious. It was also really hard to choose as there were many options and they change mains daily.

  Plat benefits: My partner and I stayed at Sapphire Bungalow Sea View with Private Pool (upgrade two categories – one is included in the rate, the other was based on Plat status). There is also a lounge for Plats and above by the reception with excellent selection of high quality finger food and drinks. Every afternoon, either by the pool or on the beach, they would bring a snack and a drink to you. Mini bar is free for Plats and above. First is complimentary in full and then you can top up with 8 items per day (anything!). Our room rate also included 50 euros daily credit. There was also a welcome amenity of fruit and wine. Mod-stay we also got some local sweets as well. The last night we also got a hamper from the hotel to take home including olive oil and vinegar, wine bottle and some local snacks and sweets. The hotel also paid for three-course dinner for us in the top restaurant Chania and organised free transport to/from the restaurant. Apparently so we don’t get bored with hotel food!

  Locations wise. It’s very close to Chania. You can walk apparently, but my partner and I had a car. It also meant we can explore other parts of west coast with much better beaches!

  Overall, I would definitely return, but request a room on the side and save money and take a room without the pool (a gimmick really).

• YC says:

  7 Dec7 December 08:06

  Have kept an eye on Budapest for a while now. Looks great and will probably give the RC good competition

• Phillip says:

  7 Dec7 December 08:26

  A bit of a warning for Domes Zeen – the property is apparently excluded from any bonus promotions on the SPG/Marriott Amex. I was there during the 10x promo, and not only did those not credit, Amex didn’t even credit with the standard double points. I raised a claim but Amex is not budging! This is the first Marriott property I have stayed at over the last 5 years that doesn’t even get the double points.

  The hotel was originally a new property of the Casa Cook collection and did operate as that for one year before it became part of the Luxury Collection. I got the feeling that management was trying very hard to engage with customers and try and build up repeat clientele. I was upgraded to Half Board from B&B and wasn’t even told. Also got an upgrade from a standard room to one of the Sapphire Pavilions with private pool opposite the restaurant which did feel more private than some of the elevated rooms.

  I second meta’s comments on food quality and variety. Having also stayed at Domes Miramare a few weeks beforehand, I think Domes Zeen did a much better job on the food in Covid times, although I loved the Miramare for other reasons. Domes Zeen is also a 30 minute walk from Domes Noruz, which is adults only.

  • meta says:

    7 Dec7 December 08:31

    I got Amex to add double points and then 10x points no problem. I sent them a link from Marriott website and this seem to do the trick.

    • Phillip says:

      7 Dec7 December 08:35

      I did too, as I normally do. Still no budging. Thank you though, good to know. I have written in asking Amex to clarify which properties are exceptions and which not.

      • meta says:

        7 Dec7 December 08:41

        Did you raise formal complaint or just normal complaint? I would do that. Perhaps give them a call? There are no exclusions from double points promo and 10x promo. It is pretty clear. They initially tried to fob me off by saying that 10x promo is Marriott’s, but I sent them a link from Amex website.

        • Phillip says:

          7 Dec7 December 08:51

          Depending on the agent, I too find them very inconsistent in how they do things. My first point of call is usually via the chat function (I provide the hotel link from the get go, details etc) and that is normally enough. Alas, not in this case. For some reason, with Luxury Collection properties they start off by trying to say they are not Marriott properties. Once they even tried to tell me that it would be Marriott themselves that has to credit all the bonus points, hence providing the link at the outset. I have since written in a formal complaint by post. If that doesn’t go anywhere, I’ll give them a call for one final attempt.

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