Dead Sea Marriott Resort & Spa Review
Earlier this year I logged in to my Marriott account and found I had a free night certificate for a property up to 35,000 points. I don’t know why this was in my account. I’ve never had a Marriott credit card; I did have an SPG card but closed it in 2016. I haven’t stayed in a Marriott property since a visit to Haiti in 2017. Not that I am complaining!
I was spending a week in Jordan and decided to stay at the Marriott at the Dead Sea for a night on my way from Amman to Petra.
Location
The Dead Sea Marriott is located about an hour from the airport in Amman and about 3 hours north of Petra. There is a strip of a number of chain resorts right in a row on the banks of the Dead Sea including a Hilton, Mövenpick, Crowne Plaza, and Holiday Inn. There is not much else around besides the resorts; you should plan to just stay at the hotel and enjoy the Dead Sea.
Check In
Like at all hotels in Jordan, there is a security check to drive on to the property and again to get in to the hotel. Once inside I was welcomed to the Bonvoy desk for check in. I was told I had the choice of a standard room with a great view or a suite. The desk agent recommended the suite as it was also in a quieter part of the hotel (it is a popular location for families). I was also told as a Gold elite that I would have free breakfast in the buffet restaurant.
Suite
I was assigned room 536 in the main building.
You first enter the living room with a seating area, TV, and a desk. There is also a coffee set up in the corner.
The bedroom is a separate room with a king bed and second TV.
There is a small balcony off of the living room with a view of the neighboring resort and the Dead Sea in the distance.
While the furniture in the room seemed relatively new, the room itself was dated and could use a remodel. It seems that the property invests resources not on the rooms but instead on the pools and grounds.
Bathroom
There is one bathroom off of the bedroom. A toilet and bidet are on one side of the single vanity and a separate tub and shower are on the other side.
When I went to take a shower in the morning the clog was drained and it flooded into the bathroom and all the way to the bedroom. When I told the front desk they didn’t seem bothered by it or even offer an apology but said they would fix it. When I asked about another room nearby that I could use for a shower in the meantime he said it wasn’t possible. After breakfast I returned and it had been fixed so in the end it worked out.
The bath products are made in Jordan.
Pools & Beach
The majority of the guests seemed to be families from Jordan on vacation; looking to spend time at the pools. The pool area is massive. There is a main upper pool with a family pool below.
There is an adults only infinity pool just down from the family pool.
Down the hill from the resort is the private beach where you can take a float in the Dead Sea. It isn’t a pretty beach but it allows you to check off a bucket list item.
The grounds of the property are well maintained and it is quite expansive. There are a number of restaurants, both indoors and outdoors, available.
I’m glad I visited the Dead Sea. I don’t know that I would go back to the Marriott just because I don’t think I am the target demographic. For families in Jordan that want a vacation, I can see what this would be a great choice.