BAHRAIN has long been known as the ‘Island of Golden Smiles’, and this holds true when you walk into the reception at the Marriott Executive Apartments in Juffair, Bahrain.
Coming straight from the airport, the warm smile and welcome I received at check-in made for a really pleasant arrival after the hassle of travelling – no matter how short or long of a trip.
Check-in was also fast and efficient with my bag being whisked straight to my room while I enjoyed a nice cup of coffee in the Skyw@lk Café on the ground floor – rejuvenating myself for a full day of meetings.
Nipping upstairs to freshen up, I was overawed at the sheer size of the one-bedroom deluxe apartment and wished I had more time to enjoy the space.
However, I made up for lost time in the 107-sq-m apartment that evening when I ordered a ‘grab to go’ dish from Skyw@lk and headed upstairs to put my feet up in the generous lounge area and watch the last episode of one of my favourate TV programmes.
The Skyw@lk Café not only offers the convenient ‘grab to go’ option of great takeaway meals, but you can also pick up soft drinks, snacks, such as peanuts, chocolate and chips, and other items you may have forgotten such as lotions, shampoos etc. The venue also has extensive dining options with an à la carte menu offering a choice of regional or international favourites.
Back to my room – all 188 apartments (one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments are available) feature fully-equipped kitchens with fridge, freezer, oven, washer/dryer, microwave, dishwasher, glassware, silverware cutlery and crockery. They also have satellite TV, hi-fi system, DVD player and, most important for me when on business, free high-speed internet.
Marriott hotels are known worldwide for the quality of their beds and this one certainly lived up to the reputation – soft, supportive and very, very comfortable. It took all I had to get up the next morning to hit the fully-equipped gym after a short run down the corniche, which is only a few hundred metres away.
As well as the gym, the property also has a gorgeous rooftop pool, which I didn’t get to experience on this occasion, so this and the salon are musts for my next visit.
Conveniently located to the airport and central business district, for long or short stays (I would opt for long if I were you!), the Marriott Executive Apartments definitely comes highly recommended.
By Kim Thomson