Surat Marriott Hotel – Luxury staycation in Surat

Woah, January is in the past? The month has gone by so quickly that I would barely remember it, had it not been for my trip to the two beautiful cities of Surat & Ahmedabad. Before heading to Ahmedabad, we halted in Surat for a couple of days where I was hosted by Surat Marriott for a short staycation.

Located on the banks of the Tapti river, Surat Marriott is the newest jewel in Marriott’s crown. The iconic building that has been there for over 30 years, (formerly known as Taj and Holiday Inn) has gone through a massive makeover matching Marriott’s standard.

We arrived early in the morning and post a smooth check-in process, we were ushered to our room. Surat Marriott offers a range of rooms and suites varying from deluxe to suite and presidential suite to suit the discerning traveller alike.

Rooms at Surat Marriott: We stayed in the Marriott suite #832, a plush room with a glistening river view. The room was undoubtedly luxe: a spacious living room with a sofa, an equally spacious bedroom with a king-size “fluffy” bed, a bookshelf along a cozy reading nook by the tall windows, two widescreen televisions, a walk-in closet and a gorgeous white bathtub (I spent hours in this tub sipping on coffee and reading my fav book… aah guilty pleasures!) The room was well-equipped with Wi-Fi, toiletries and plenty of charging points to juice up the innumerable gadgets I carry on every trip.

All the toiletries were neatly packed within a wooden drawer especially designed for the hotel. The newspaper, daily change of fruits and a minibar stocked with refreshments (on chargeable basis) just added to their top notch hospitality.

Food: Surat Marriott has outdone themselves on the food. They have two inhouse restaurants Table 101 & SBC (Deli) and a third, Vintage Asia, is due to open soon.

Table 101 is where food dreams come to life. A great breakfast is a key to a great day and here at Marriott, this seems true. A large buffet overflowing with croissants, pancakes, waffles, eggs of choice, sausages, cold cuts, a cheese platter, Indian and Continental breakfast staples, it just doesn’t stop. They have a grand counter serving healthy foods: fresh fruits & juices, salads, cereals, nuts and so much more. If you are on a specific health diet, you wouldn’t be disappointed either. The vegetarian counter looked tempting too serving some local Gujarati snacks like Khaman, Khandvi, Khakras and even Surati Chai. Do try the Almond Croissant; they are made fresh and taste delicious with either jams, butter or preserves.

For Lunch, the Gujarati Thali awaited; some of the best veg delicacies served in a large thali. Bhajjiyas, Khaman, and Dahi Wada made their way to the Thali in the form of appetizers, while the mains consisted of Undhyu (mixed vegetables with dumpling), four different types of vegetable preparations (menu refreshed on a daily basis), Phulkas and Theplas, Kadhi, khichdi. The dessert included Mohan Thal and Strawberry Shrikhand, so Yum! The meal is fit for a royal feast. It’s enough to send you to the food heavens 😊 Currently, only the Thali is served but there are plans to begin lunch buffets here in the immediate future.

Dinner is buffet styled with a variety of cuisines on offer with a live kitchen. I could easily spend hours here and still not be able to try everything on the counter. What I particularly loved about the dinner was the wide spread of desserts. From cheesecakes to fresh fruit cakes, it was worth indulging in (cheat day activated)

Surat Baking Co. is the place you want to be at if you love coffee. The deli has floor to ceiling glass windows, a comfortable seating area and a large counter showcasing breads and desserts. SBC offers an array of irresistible desserts and freshly baked breads to go along with freshly brewed Coffee and Tea. The menu extends to croissants, focaccia, macarons, pastries, and a whole lot more. I even tried my hands on their coffee machine 😀 You can sit back with your favorite read and sip on a cuppa to unwind. They also do High Tea on requests.

Note: Being a dry state, they do not serve any alcoholic beverages

Floating breakfast in the Pool at Surat Marriott: A stay here is incomplete without a dip in the picturesque swimming pool surrounded by palm trees that spread good vibes.

You can dive in for a quiet morning swim and have your breakfast delivered at the pool. Yessss! Floating breakfast is a thing and Surat Marriott offers an experience like no other. Enjoy a beautifully plated breakfast in a floating tray while you splash around. The water was quite chilly but who’d say no to this one of a kind experience, not me for sure 😛 Special Kudos to Chef SKG and Chef Prem for setting this beautiful breakfast for us which is available for guests on request.

Sva at Surat Marriott: It ain’t a staycation if you haven’t pampered your body with aromatic therapies. The in-house gym, Spa, Sauna, Steam Room and Jacuzzi are located on the Lower Ground/ Basement.

SVA offers a number of therapy treatments, massages, body wraps, scrub and more keeping in mind the needs and preferences of a weary traveller. I opted for Aromatherapy which left me rejuvenated from head to toe. My therapist Sarah did a fantastic job and ensured I felt relaxed after a 90-minute session.

Things to do around: It is kind of difficult to leave the comfort of the hotel and wander around the city but if you have itchy feet like me then you can visit some major attractions in Surat.

Textile market, for shopping, is one of India’s largest markets where you will find many shops selling fabrics, sarees, suits, lehengas and much more. (wedding shopping on the mind, head here)

Night Food Bazar is an open-air food court where numerous food stalls sell street food items like Dosa, Chinese dishes, Pizzas and so on. Do try GodFather Pizza at Den’s Pizza Center, Locho (a local cuisine made of gram flour) at Jani Sweets and Cold Coco at A1, also available at many outlets around the city.

We were feeling lazy and didn’t want to exhaust ourselves in the limited time at our disposal but Dumas Beach for Sunset, Jagdish Chandra Bose Aquarium and Surat Castle are also some great places to visit while in Surat.

Overall Experience at Surat Marriott: Surat Marriott is possibly the most beautifully-designed luxury hotel in Surat. The rooms are plush, the top-notch hospitality and excellent food makes for a perfect stay for travellers seeking a staycation as well as for those visiting for business purposes. A 10-minute ride from the city center, the hotel is ideal for weddings, corporate parties, and staycations. Ensure to request for river facing rooms to wake up to a beautiful view in the morning. Check here for the best deals.

I was a guest of Surat Marriott. However, all opinions and pictures are my own.

Pictures featuring me are clicked by Sasha.okay.please