Marriott Associates' Top Europe and Middle East Hotels

Marriott International associates have the world’s finest accommodations at their fingertips. When your job is to ensure guests relish their stays in the world’s most enchanting properties, you come to recognize the best of the globe’s hotels and resorts. Here are seven favorite properties in Europe and the Middle East where associates choose to check in when they’re ready to check out.

The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert, UAE

A Bedouin-inspired retreat with tented suites, intricate woodwork, and traditional watchtowers, The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert lies in the middle of the Al Wadi Nature Reserve, so don’t be surprised when curious Arabian oryx and gazelles meander past to greet you.

All guest rooms are spacious villas with private pools — often with uninterrupted views of the desert. Spa lovers praise the Rainforest, a refreshing circuit of 16 hydrothermal experiences. The Farmhouse restaurant specializes in smoked meats and other dishes; the lounge even makes a smoked Negroni. Available activities include camel treks, falconry and archery.

JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa

An infinity pool on a lagoon — Relish in lagoon views while you go for a swim. (Photo: Marriott International)

Embrace the serenity of “La Serenissima” (as Venice is known) at the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa. Located on a lush 40-acre private island, the hotel invites you to exhale. Lounge around the rooftop infinity pool overlooking the Venice Lagoon, relish a mango-butter scrub at the spa and perfect your pasta at the Sapori Cooking Academy.

At mealtime, dine at Fiola at Dopolavoro, where Michelin-starred chef Fabio Trabocchi crafts Venetian delicacies using hyper-local ingredients, including produce and olive oil from the resort’s own gardens. Ready to explore in town? A private water shuttle can whisk you to St. Mark’s Square in 20 minutes.

St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel London

a hotel bar in an old train station — Grab a bite of modern traditional dishes at the bar. (Photo: Marriott International)

Calling all trainspotters to St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel London. Watch as Eurostar trains snake in and out of the adjacent St. Pancras Station at this Victorian Gothic gem (which “Harry Potter” aficionados will recognize as the building Harry and Ron soared over in a flying car).

Booking Office 1869 — the station’s original ticketing office — is today reimagined as a dazzling restaurant with vaulted ceilings, leaded-glass arches and towering palm trees. It serves updated interpretations of traditional dishes like steak tartare with salsa verde and barbecued carrots with jalapeño dressing.

The most opulent guest rooms, The Chambers Suites, are in the hotel’s original wing and offer access to a private club with complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea and cocktails.

The Reykjavik EDITION

A hotel bar in Iceland — Savor freshly caught seafood and local meats at the hotel restaurant. (Photo: Marriott International)

The Reykjavik EDITION, designed in partnership with hotelier Ian Schrager, has already become the Icelandic capital’s social hub thanks to a selection of buzzy spaces. The hotel overlooks the Old Harbor, and the decor has a soothing, minimalist palette of light woods with floor-to-ceiling windows and stunning landscape paintings that showcase Iceland’s natural beauty.

Tides restaurant is helmed by Iceland’s first Michelin-starred chef, Gunnar Karl Gíslason, who prepares just-caught seafood and local meats over an open fire. A special perk for hotel guests? They’re the only ones who receive the password to the hotel’s hip speakeasy, Tölt.

Hotel Marqués de Riscal, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Elciego, Spain

a hotel in a wine complex — Bask in the wine complex’s architecture. (Photo: Marriott International)

Housed in a chateau designed by famed architect Frank Gehry, Hotel Marqués de Riscal is a fantasy worthy of Dr. Seuss, with undulating metal ribbons and asymmetrical spaces, set in the heart of Spain’s Basque wine region.

Part of the Marqués de Riscal wine complex that includes a bodega founded in 1858, the hotel has light-filled guest rooms with curved maple headboards, leather furniture and black marble bathrooms. Enjoy the culinary creations of Michelin-starred chef Francis Paniego, which include local delicacies like Idiazabal cheese; and don’t miss the spa’s invigorating cabernet scrub.

The Shelbourne, Autograph Collection, Dublin

A Irish hotel room in Dublin — Surround yourself with Irish history. (Photo: Marriott International)

Overlooking St. Stephen’s Green, The Shelbourne, Autograph Collection has borne witness to almost two centuries of Irish history. In 1922, a committee headed by Michael Collins drafted the Constitution of the Irish Free State in Room 112, while more recently the hotel has hosted Bill Clinton, Liam Neeson and Julia Roberts.

Sophisticated guest rooms have Italian linens and marble bathrooms. For a decadent night in, emulate frequent guest Peter O’Toole, who was said to enjoy a Champagne bath in his room’s deep soaking tub. The 1824 Bar offers sophisticated cocktails in an exclusive wood-paneled hideaway.

Dead Sea Marriott Resort & Spa, Jordan

a pool on the banks of the Dead Sea — Rejuvenate yourself in the Dead Sea Salt Pool. (Photo: Marriott International)

The serene Dead Sea Marriott Resort & Spa sits more than 1,000 feet below sea level on the banks of the Dead Sea (which is actually a saltwater lake).

The property’s four pools include a Dead Sea Salt Pool, which will detoxify and nourish your skin. At the spa, unique treatments include a mineral-rich Dead Sea mud wrap. With panoramic Dead Sea views, Il Terrazzo restaurant is the ideal place to dine on homemade pastas and wood-fired pizzas.

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