JW Marriott Hotel Mexico City Polanco, Mexico [Master Thread]
I am currently holding a Terrace Suite at $339 per night. However, it seems that I can book a Master Suite for just $249 per night. The website is suitably vague as to the difference between a Terrace Suite and a Master Suite - obviously one has a terrace (!) but there is no indication of whether one is bigger than the other or whether they have the same views. Basically, what I want to know is - does the Terrace Suite justify a $90 + 17% per night premium?
Any feedback from anyone who has stayed in a Master Suite or a Terrace Suite would be welcome. Thanks!
I am currently holding a Terrace Suite at $339 per night. However, it seems that I can book a Master Suite for just $249 per night. The website is suitably vague as to the difference between a Terrace Suite and a Master Suite - obviously one has a terrace (!) but there is no indication of whether one is bigger than the other or whether they have the same views. Basically, what I want to know is - does the Terrace Suite justify a $90 + 17% per night premium?
Any feedback from anyone who has stayed in a Master Suite or a Terrace Suite would be welcome. Thanks!
At weekends, the JWM in Mexico City sells Master Suites for $249 plus tax or Terrace Suites for $339. I took a Terrace Suite because I fancied a terrace (nice outdoor breakfast, quiet drink in the evening watching the sun go down etc).
Well, I arrived here on Friday to find .... the Terrace Suite HAS NO TERRACE! I am in the right room because it says Terrace Suite on the door. Off I go to reception, who tell me that calling it a Terrace Suite is simply a marketing term!!! No suites in the hotel have a terrace.
The Master Suite, it turns out, is what we would know as a junior suite. The bottom line is that is only a bit smaller than the ´doesnt have a terrace´Terrace Suite, despite the $90 per night plus tax price differential.
Anyway, the hotel eventually agreed that I may, possibly, somehow, have a case and reduced the rate on my Terrace Suite to the Master Suite rate of $249 per night. So I am happy again.
More generally, I am a little surprised about the rave reviews this hotel gets on tripadvisor and the CN Gold List. What IS exceptional is the quality of staff, who have been unfailingly kind and helpful over the last three days. However, much of the hard product leaves a lot to be desired.
I expect to find the following items in a suite of a five star hotel :
Two sinks
A door to the toilet (and usually a second toilet in a separate room)
A separate bath and shower cubicle - not a shower above a bath
Brand name toiletries
Fully working lights
Toothbrush and shaving cream among the toiletries
Flowers or fresh fruit in my room
NONE of these are in the suites at the JWM. I was also surprised to find one of the blinds in my room broken so it would not open (still not fixed by day 3) and to have the instructions to the safe made available (so you dont find that the safe is using the combination of the PREVIOUS guest!!).
The only bits of hardware that are truly world class are the flowers in the communal areas, the decoration of the corridors and the quality of the changing rooms in the gym. Sadly the rest of this property, quality of staff aside, is simply a four star at best.
If only the Four Seasons would move to Polanco then life would be easier!
Last edited by Raffles; Mar 14, 2006 at 7:19 pm
The Master Suite, it turns out, is what we would know as a junior suite. The bottom line is that is only a bit smaller than the ´doesnt have a terrace´Terrace Suite, despite the $90 per night plus tax price differential.
I was there recently and I believe the level of suites went something like this:
Master Suite
Junior Suite
Terrace Suite
Executive Suite
Presidential Suite
This list is posted at the front desk and you can ask for a detailed explanation as to what the differences are. As for the "regular" rooms, there are larger corner rooms that have a great view of the National Auditorium and Campo Marte which are probably just as good as some of the suites.
I agree with you that the huge floral arrangements in the lobby are wonderful. The entire staff was consistently excellent during all of my visits and I think it is definitely one of the best JWM in terms of service. One time I left my wallet in the taxi when I arrived at the hotel and I didn't discover it until I checked in at the front desk. Luckily I had the taxi receipt with me, and the bellman, concierge, and front desk manager all assured me that they will do everything they can to take care of it. It was found within two hours! The dedication, effort, and the level of service provided by the staff is outstanding!
JW Marriott Hotel Mexico City
JW Marriott Hotel Mexico City
Andres Bello No 29 Mexico City, MX 11560
JW Marriott Mexico City = Renovations Would Make Hotel More Attractive (10 Photos)
JW Marriott Hotel Mexico City
I stayed at JW Marriott Mexico City during a mattress run in CDMX, in part because they were one of the hotels which offered PCR covid testing from the hotel itself, unlike St.Regis which required me to go to an external clinic. So I booked a stay at JWM at the end of my trip for the convenience. My stay ended up being ok but not great; unlike other hotels they closed the executive lounge and I received a suite upgrade but it was merely a corner room with moderately aging hardware.
Room
A couple of days before my stay the hotel informed me that they did not have many suites available because some were being renovated, but that they would put one suite aside for me ahead of time. This was appreciated and it’s clear that for Bonvoy elites they go out of their way to ensure guests will get an upgrade. The problem is that the suites are not that big, the junior suite is 43 sqm and I received an executive corner suite which is one category above and barely larger at 45 sqm.
Some features were interesting for example the floor to ceiling windows separated by a stone beam a bit below waist height, and the same could be found in the bathroom which made the room very bright. I also had nice view of Chapultepec Park in front from either the bedroom or the shower and privacy was not a problem since there was no building in front. Other than that, the room was partially renovated, the bathroom was nice and modern but the bedroom had carpet which was not very much to my liking and some older and brittle cabinets.
Dining
The executive lounge was closed and they did not make much of an effort to offer a replacement unlike their competitors. At InterContinental the lounge was open, at Hyatt Regency it was open for drinks only while hors d’oeuvres were served in the restaurant during happy hour, and at Sofitel the lounge was closed but similar to HR they served happy hour in an alternative venue. At JWM they gave 750 points or breakfast, and since I was going to pick breakfast anyway as my welcome amenity, then the lounge closure meant I got nothing for happy hour. Partially making up for it, I can say JWM is the hotel which provided the best welcome gift: some sweets and a 375ml bottle of Tequila.
Breakfast was entirely a la carte with a decent menu. The Chilaquiles dish I ordered was excellent and one of the better breakfasts I had in the city. There was seating indoors and outdoors and I particularly enjoyed the terrace with nice cool weather outside.
Service
Service was very good during my stay, but also before the stay including the arrangements for the covid test which ended up being smooth, and ensuring I would get a suite for the stay.
Wifi
Wifi worked well with speeds of 45 Mbps.
Overall
Overall JWM is not very cheap and for that price it had more aging hardware than other hotels I stayed during my trip. I am not sure I would rush to come back in the unrenovated version of the rooms and even then, I suspect suite upgrades will always be barely more spacious than non-suites at other hotels. I would also need to see the lounge to have a more complete opinion about this hotel.
They also charged me $4 for a bottle of water at breakfast. And it has one of the smallest, most inadequate fitness centers I've ever seen at a major hotel. I would never return to this property.
- Vancouver: I received free breakfast in the room, the lounge was closed so that's probably the reason
- Bangkok: the lounge was open for happy hour, I don't recall perhaps it was not open during the morning? Anyway I had breakfast in the restaurant for sure.
- Istanbul: the hotel has no lounge, but I received breakfast anyway. I don't think breakfast was included in my room rate.
I have zero clue if the lounge will reopen when I head to MEX come January, but regardless I cancelled my reservation and booked at the Hyatt where the lounge is open.
Last edited by kmersh; Nov 2, 2022 at 7:06 pm
Pros:
- I was initially upgraded in app to an Executive Larger Suite (appeared to be one on the pyramid at the top of the building) several days prior but was moved to a Junior Suite directly facing the park at check-in (oh, well, it was still an upgrade)
- All rooms (I asked) have been beautifully remodeled with a modern, though slightly generic, look
- The Junior Suite was on the park-facing bridge that spans the 19th, 20th, and 21st floors - guess I was floating - and is really just a large room, but it worked well for me
- View towards the park and the large Mexican flag was beautiful
- Love the continuation of the outside stucco on the inside window frame
- Bed was fantastic - super plush mattress, plush and thick covers, plush, yet not too thick, pillows
- Bathroom had a separate tub and a large shower with fantastic pressure - despite the half-glass, you could still get some steam by closing the bathroom door
- Nice desk space
- Lots of accessible outlets
- Internet TV OS
- Executive Lounge is under renovation, but Elites get:
- A full dinner buffet from 5 to 9 PM in the lounge - lots of choices, but I just had dessert (both were really good)
- 750 points OR the full breakfast buffet in the restaurant that had delicious hashbrowns, chilaquilles, really yummy hot chocolate, made-to-order omelets, and one of the best made-to-order waffles I've ever had
- The two non-modernized elevators are Otis touch-sensitive - these are an amazing relic of the past that I absolutely loved riding) - the modernized elevator is Schindler and less fun than the touch-sensitive ones
- Towels were quite large and soft
- No issue with 4 PM late checkout
- The hotel uses a very valid 19.8 exchange rate for USD-MXN
- The couch would have been more comfortable if it had arms to facilitate laying down or leaning pillows against
- The Wi-Fi was finnicky and really seemed to dislike my iOS device (it worked better on my Chrome OS device)
Photos:
Pros:
- I was initially upgraded in app to an Executive Larger Suite (appeared to be one on the pyramid at the top of the building) several days prior but was moved to a Junior Suite directly facing the park at check-in (oh, well, it was still an upgrade)
- All rooms (I asked) have been beautifully remodeled with a modern, though slightly generic, look
- The Junior Suite was on the park-facing bridge that spans the 19th, 20th, and 21st floors - guess I was floating - and is really just a large room, but it worked well for me
- View towards the park and the large Mexican flag was beautiful
- Love the continuation of the outside stucco on the inside window frame
- Bed was fantastic - super plush mattress, plush and thick covers, plush, yet not too thick, pillows
- Bathroom had a separate tub and a large shower with fantastic pressure - despite the half-glass, you could still get some steam by closing the bathroom door
- Nice desk space
- Lots of accessible outlets
- Internet TV OS
- Executive Lounge is under renovation, but Elites get:
- A full dinner buffet from 5 to 9 PM in the lounge - lots of choices, but I just had dessert (both were really good)
- 750 points OR the full breakfast buffet in the restaurant that had delicious hashbrowns, chilaquilles, really yummy hot chocolate, made-to-order omelets, and one of the best made-to-order waffles I've ever had
- The two non-modernized elevators are Otis touch-sensitive - these are an amazing relic of the past that I absolutely loved riding) - the modernized elevator is Schindler and less fun than the touch-sensitive ones
- Towels were quite large and soft
- No issue with 4 PM late checkout
- The hotel uses a very valid 19.8 exchange rate for USD-MXN
- The couch would have been more comfortable if it had arms to facilitate laying down or leaning pillows against
- The Wi-Fi was finnicky and really seemed to dislike my iOS device (it worked better on my Chrome OS device)
Photos:
I have stayed at this property and the view from the Executive Lounge was one of the best views from any Executive Lounge that I have ever visited.
I have not been back since 2018, but it sounds like the hotel has offered a decent replacement for the Executive Lounge.
I have stayed at this property and the view from the Executive Lounge was one of the best views from any Executive Lounge that I have ever visited.
I have not been back since 2018, but it sounds like the hotel has offered a decent replacement for the Executive Lounge.