King Of The Harbor – Marina Del Rey Marriott
Located In The Heart of LA’s Premier Harbor.
I have my standards. I have become a hotel connoisseur and will accept nothing but the best. Despite what others might recommend, I prefer to sample the lobby of a hotel first. It’s an event akin to sampling a bottle of fine wine before it is poured. When I arrived at the Marina Del Rey Marriott, the door man popped open my car door. As if swirling the wine in a glass, I was gracefully escorted into the golden hued lobby. James checked us into our room with the elegance of a sommelier. He described the hotel’s rich amenities and proudly delivered the keys to our room as if pouring the first glass of his finest wine. My daughter and I savored that first pour. Like a great bottle of wine, the full body aroma of this lush oasis tingled our palettes with warm sophistication. And this was only our first glass!
The First Warm Welcome – The Front Desk.
When we arrived in our room, the second pour was even more delightful than the first! It was one of 370 rooms of the nine- story building. which is a non-smoking hotel. Our room over looked the Marina Del Rey Harbor, which in Spanish means the “Harbor of the King.” The ambiance of our room reflected the richness reserved for royalty.
We opened the eight foot sliding glass doors and basked in the freshness of the sea breeze . As we took a deep breath, the fragrance tingled our nostrils. The excitement of this new adventure swirled around us. Our room became filled with the gentle sounds of palm trees swaying, harbor bells clanking, and seagulls calling.
Awesome Harbor Views From The Suites and Rooms.
The view of the marina was enticing. The white sandy beach was a playground for all kinds of water sports. The yachts were opulent. The fiery sunset spewed golden rays onto our beachey sand-colored carpets and walls. The red mahogany furniture created a dramatic backdrop for the luxurious white and grey pebble bedding with a pillow-top mattress, dressed in a custom made duvet, accented with orange linen throw pillows. (We were delighted with our night time turn down service.) The flat-panel TV came with premium cable and HBO. The marble bathroom was spa-delicious. The white shower curtains floated around the over-sized tub like the sea foam of waves playing on the sand. Their hand soap was designed to be embraced like a cool marble sculpture. Our 16 x 16 foot spacious retreat became a symphony of unexpected surprises.
The ninth floor concierge suite was another amenity that was made to order. Our room reservation allowed us access to this special treat. The concierge suite proved to be a welcomed respite after our day of work and LA traffic. The room had an expansive view of the ocean. The aroma of a home cooked meal settled our traveler’s angst. A comfort meal of home-made breads, mashed potatoes, and chicken was the fare. The staff was so happy to see us that we immediately felt like we had arrived at home. We ordered a glass of California white wine and finished our meal with home-made brownies and ice cream. How could this night get any better?
Plan The Day At the Hotel Bar.
The truth is, it did. We went back to our room to freshen up. The hotel bar and outdoor patio was calling to us. Like the lobby, a hotel bar is a key indicator for a hotel’s first class rating. The Marina Del Rey Marriott scored a perfect 5 stars. The bar is hip, lively, romantic, and chic. It’s designed for fun gatherings, business meetings, intimate conversations, or just a romantic interlude.
Meet Guests From Around The World at The Patio.
The outdoor patio proved to be the piece de resistance for this property. Intimate seating in the cool California air, with bronzed lit water walls, and free standing fire pits created an evening of enlightenment and secret’s shared that my daughter and I will never forget. We relaxed with a scrumptious glass of California Chardonnay and giggled and laughed with each other for over three hours. We kicked off our shoes and lounged on their comfortable pillowed sofas. The ambiance of the flames warming our toes and the soothing sounds of the water wall singing behind us, created an evening of Zen well being. Relaxed and happy, we retired to our room for an amazing night’s sleep, which is another hallmark for a fabulous hotel.
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The Beautiful and Sunny Pool.
The next morning greeted us with zesty California sunshine that screamed, “pool time!” We donned our bathing suits and terry clothed room robes and headed down to the pool. Our pool experience felt like we were at a small boutique hotel. Beautiful lounge chairs, oversized fluffy pool towels, heated pool and jacuzzi were perfect. It was a garden pool dotted with potted palms, lush foliage and vibrant colored flowers. The ocean breeze soothed the warm rays from the sun while we soaked up our vitamin D for the day. An hour of pool therapy was perfect for us.
What would we do next with our California dreaming day? Would we find our Marina moment in paddle boarding to breakfast? Or would we take a sailing lesson, go parasailing over the marina, or rent bicycles to Venice Beach? We decided to take the few minute walk to Venice Beach and dip our toes in the ocean. That white sandy beach is one of the most glorious pristine beaches I’ve ever seen. We walked the beach and flirted with the waves. The expansiveness of the shoreline, the crisp breeze from the Pacific ocean and the sun soaked day unfolding around us was thrilling.
We decided to add more adventure to our day and took an Uber ride to the hip new shopping and restaurant scene called Abbot Kinney. A quick six minutes away, we arrived to explore the eclectic, hipster, chic shops of the latest fashion, art, and food. It had the sophistication and trend setting feeling with that laid back Venice vibe. It was so much fun!
Click Photo For The 9 story Marina Del Rey Marriott.
Our stay was short. Yet, the luxury and amenities of the Marina Del Rey Marriott made us feel like we had enjoyed a couple of weeks of amazing and unforgettable experiences. So if you have two days, two weeks or two months to spend in Southern California, this is the place that will make your every moment a toast to adventures, sun kissed memories and the sheer joy of relaxation.
Feature by Janice Wilson, Jetsetters Magazine Leisure Editor. Photos courtesy of Marriott Hotels International.