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.