Marine Heights Suites

The best part was the location, just a two minute walk to the beach, with Arena mall and restaurants close by. There’s also dedicated parking, a private pool that was open at the posted times and seemed well kept, and staff who were genuinely helpful and polite. They answered our questions quickly, provided good room service, and even brought extra mattresses when they realized we wanted the kids to sleep with us instead of in their prepared beds. But the apartment we got felt nothing like the “spacious, prestigious, and modern suites” advertised by Marina Heights as a “Luxury Suite Hotel.” It’s a serviced apartment building with no reception, restaurant, or usual hotel common areas, just a front desk and security guard. The building looks dated, and some shared parts need repairs, like a stairway door handle falling off. Our one bedroom apartment for four was around 270 GBP per night before VAT, which felt far too expensive. The balcony was small, the bathrooms cramped, and the kitchen only had a microwave and electric hob. The appliances seemed old: the TV was dated, the fridge rusty, the dishwasher didn’t work, and the washing machine boiled our laundry. Lighting and decor were basic and mismatched, the furniture was old, and there was a hole in the wall that looked like a botched AC installation. Maybe other apartments are finished to a higher standard, but ours wasn’t spacious, prestigious, or modern, and it didn’t feel like a home away from home. The marketing photos show a nicer apartment. I can see this working for a couple who are out most of the day, or a family with one child who won’t be hosting. The building and apartment were poorly maintained, and the stay was overpromised and underdelivered. I’ve experienced luxury at the Ritz-Carlton in Tokyo and the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London. This wasn’t that.