Review: JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort & Spa (Signature Suite)

More from this trip:
Suite Trip to Bangalore: Trip Planning
Review: Hyatt Centric MG Road Bangalore (Garden Suite)
Review: JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort & Spa (Signature Suite)

We’ve been wanting to stay at the JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort & Spa ever since it opened. It is a brand-new resort having started operating from May 2022 onwards. We spent the previous night at the Hyatt Centric MG Road Bangalore, as mentioned in the introduction.

It is a brand new property with decent enough food. The biggest draw is you are away from the hustle and bustle of the city and various activity to partake which can range from lounging around all day to playing golf.

Booking 

We were three adults, and the base category room cost about Rs 31,500 per night, or 30,000 points. Points booking gives a value of about Rs. 1.05 (1.3 cents) a point. After the recent devaluation of Marriott Bonvoy, this is a good value per point.

We made a reservation for the weekend before the initial booking, but we had to change the date due to a wedding (this property receives a lot of wedding reservations, so you may want to call the hotel and confirm before arriving). Ironically, when we visited, there was another wedding happening! Despite the minor inconveniences (loud music and a section of the property being cordoned off), they upgraded us to a Signature Suite to compensate. Since there were vacant suites and I have Platinum Elite Status with Marriott Bonvoy, we should have ideally been upgraded.

Fortunately, we had a Guest Relations representative assigned to us who had called a few days earlier to learn about our preferences and introduced themselves as our point of contact for the duration of our stay. More on this is discussed in the section that follows.

Check- In

We had previously requested an early check-in at 11 AM and received notification at 10:30 AM on the Bonvoy App that the room was ready. After driving from the Hyatt Centric Bangalore, we arrived around 1 PM. They stopped us at the gate and asked about our purpose for the visit. People not having reservations and who were for lunch were turned back.

The entrance was completely jam-packed with different vehicles, and we could see cars everywhere. Fortunately, there was room for us to stop and turn the keys over for the valet parking. The night before, a proactive phone call from our Guest Relations representative asked us to let them know when we would be arriving. When we first arrived, she was waiting at the entrance to greet us and assisted us until we were in our suite.

We offered sparkling water as a welcome drink and were told that we could complete the rest of the check-in at our room itself. So, the person in Guest Relations called us a buggy to our room. It took some time for our luggage to arrive, and we had to ask twice for them to be sent to our room.

The Room – Signature Suite

First, when I entered the room, I was surprised if this was a suite at all as it looked like just a normal room but what I didn’t notice was there is a hallway to the other portions of the suite. Even when my wife entered, she said it seemed like a regular room.

This is one big spacious suite, with a separate living area, bedroom, a bathroom, and a half bathroom.  

Since we had indicated that we were there for my wife’s belated birthday, they had decorated our room with balloons and a customized greeting paper. Later that evening we received a card from the GM as well along with a small cake and some other accomplishments.

The whole suite had only electronic switches and not a single normal switch. There were multiple places for charging our electronics.

The room had two balconies with a Golf Course view and it was fantastic. We made good use of this fantastic space. We had bought binoculars (for bird watching, but they didn’t look conducive for this) and every morning I could see golf plays and it felt very satisfying.

There was a Nespresso machine, TWG Tea amenities, and the regular tea/coffee stuff but the minibar was empty. We had Kelzai Volcanic water provided in the rooms and were happy they have not cut corners. My water consumption must have been 20% above normal!

The bathroom had his and her sink, a bathtub with a gold course view (blinds are adjusted with a switch), and separate enclosures for the bath and toilet. There is a half bath which is to the living room.

The toiletries were a mix between The French Note and Forest Essentials. Wish it was only Forest Essentials only as they are the better-quality ones. The bath salt that was available for us to use was another thing that we appreciated.

In Room Service

As a part of the welcome gift, we were offered the standard offering of One beverage (Wine/Beer, Juice, etc.) and a snacks/appetizer or 1000 points. We choose tender coconut water and a tandoori paneer platter. It was lunchtime so it was a perfect accomplishment to our lunch order of Pizza and Vegetable Biryani. The quality of food was excellent and the staff proactively asked if we wanted to dine on the balcony. Why not? It doesn’t hurt to have lunch with a Golf course view!

Breakfast

Breakfast is served at The Aviary. We had a breakfast situation on the first day we had gone for breakfast. As there was this weeding happening, the guest from at event were also having breakfast. Not sure what the issue was but the counters were closed earlier than closing time. I asked to speak with the F&B Manager. He apologized for the inconvenience caused and we were told to order anything and the same would be bought to our table. 

Breakfast itself was very good and had good variety of items. I particularly liked the Japanese section where they had sushi, jasmine fried rice and other items. 

Live counters were the usual suspects of pancakes, waffles, dosas, egg and parathas. 

Breakfast gets crowded and it would be better to go early and have an outdoor sitting by the lake of the golf course to take in the views. 

Dinner

The Dinner was a buffet was an elaborate affair with good variety and quality food. There was separate Oriental, continental, South and North Indian items. Bread were made to order and bough to the table. The staff also proactively asked if we wanted pasta and bought to our table. There is a huge section for deserts as well. There was only one regular pizza available, but there could have been a pizza station counter if a fire oven had been kept.

The dinner was a much quieter than breakfast time. 

The Executive Lounge

Rooms and suites which has lounge access and Platinum and above members of Marriott Bonvoy. The lounge had a low sitting capacity for the size of the hotel. It maybe difficult to get a seating if the hotel is ruuning on a high occupany. 

There were salads, beverage section, cheese and snacks section, appitizers and bread. It would easily be a dinner substitute. We could order coffee or alcoholic drinks as well. 

The lounge is open from 6:30 AM to 11:30 PM.

Activities

The main draw of this property is of course the 18 holes golf course. However, we need to book the “Stay and Play Golf” package which entitles us to one round of 18 holes, a shared Golf cart, caddy, and Tees. We could also use the free Golf lessons and play that we get from Citi Prestige, Standard Chartered Ultimate, or American Express Platinum Charge cards. There is also a mini “Golf Putting Green” where we get the feel of Golf play.

There is also Halli Katte from 5-6 PM which is the communal Hi-Tea along with snacks for all guests. On the first day, they had this around the lap pool but for the second day, they had it outside the Western Guest Room Block. There is also a magic show and nail art for kids.

Canvas painting is also an activity from 4-5 PM which we can partake in. Kite flying is another activity, but it wasn’t available on the days we went because it may have been slightly drizzling.

There is an Entertainment Zone at the Spa building wherein we can play Table Tennis, Foosball, Carrom Board, and Chess. For a fee, we can engage in Bowling, Air Hockey, Pool Table, and Play Station. There is also a semi-outdoor simple basketball ring. It feels the hotel is nickel and diming by charging for individual items after charging 30,000 points or Rs 30,000 a night.

We might participate in external activities like a trek to the Nandi Hills. This can be done as a trek at either sunrise or sunset. The hotel can assist in giving the guide’s contact information.

Gym, pool, Kids Play Club and other amenities

The 24-hour Fitness Centre-Gym was housed in the Spa building and was impressive. It faced the mountains to one side and we should have a good view while we work out.

There was a mix of weight and cardio equipment.

There are two pools- a lap pool and Flamingo pool. The lap pool was supposedly temperature controlled but we didn’t notice any difference.

Flamingo Pool was a bigger one and had plenty of cabanas around the pool. There was also the Flamingo pool bar.

There is a Kids’ play called Family by JW. However, it seemed more like a child sitting service than an actual play area as there is space and can be utilized much more efficiently.

There is a Yoga hall at the Spa building and they have regular and private sessions. They also have a Yoga session on the terrace, enjoying the sunrise.

Bottom line

On the whole, it was a fantastic stay and there is still so much more that the hotel can do particularly on the activity side. Marriott has a lesser proportion of leisure and luxury properties in India and this hotel is a welcome addition to their portfolio.

This Signature suite is by far the best suite that we have stayed at. And we would return in a heartbeat.