Like its mega-resort neighbors Sheraton, Hilton and Horizon, the Marriott has found a formula that works: a winding maze of waterfalls and fountains to draw guests in from the street level, and a palm-studded lagoon-style pool courtyard to attract patrons from the beach.
The front desk sits to the side of the open-air lobby that overlooks the activities of Yalong Bay, while a long hallway extends to the guest rooms in the East or West wings.
Winding staircases on either side of the lobby take guests to the beach level, and the restaurants on the ground floor, including Deep Blue (international), Indochine (Vietnamese) and Wan Hao (Chinese). A number of lounges and bars are scattered around the pool and beach areas. One of these, the View Lounge, offers live entertainment nightly.
Eleven function rooms make the Marriott good for meetings, events and weddings. The largest meeting space, the Grand Ballroom, can accommodate up to 900 people, although other resorts in the area can seat even larger groups.
All rooms have balconies with views of either the ocean or mountains, and twin or king-sized beds with fluffy duvets and pillows. Rooms come with TV, phone, high-speed Internet access, minibars and safes. Baths are large and new with separate tubs and showers, shampoo and conditioner, hair dryers and robes.
Only the most high-maintenance traveler could be disappointed with the Marriott's mix: seaside, swanky and seriously luxurious. That said, it doesn't offer any amenities that the Sheraton, Hilton, and Horizon do not.
