Some 100 miles south of mainland Greece, there’s an alluring new island oasis to eliminate your stress — and your stash of Marriott Bonvoy factors, too.
Final month, the JW Marriott in Crete started welcoming friends to its 160-room hillside resort that hugs the Aegean shoreline, simply outdoors the Cretan metropolis of Chania.
A spot the place you’ll be able to soak in a non-public infinity pool whereas concurrently taking in views of the Dikti mountains, this new high-end Marriott-affiliated property lives as much as the spot it claimed earlier this 12 months on TPG’s checklist of most exciting hotel openings of 2025.
And we have been among the many first paying friends to test it out. This is what it was like.
First impressions
When pulling as much as the brand-new JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa, it is clear water figures prominently into all elements of the property, from the shimmering reflection swimming pools surrounding the foyer to the myriad locations to take a dip.
And that is to say nothing of the Aegean Sea, which is accessible simply steps from the resort.
The entire property is constructed into the hillside, with clusters of villas, eating places and swimming pools lining the rugged terrain — with the most effective panoramic views as you climb.
You get a way of calmness as quickly as you arrive on-site: Gentle music performs within the background, a sea breeze gently blows and views of the mountain peaks throughout the cove greet you.
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There is no want to go to the entrance desk at check-in; your complete course of occurred from the consolation of a settee whereas sipping a complimentary signature mocktail (lemon verbena with recent thyme).
Rooms
Maintaining with the concept that water is a focus at this property, the kind of room (and worth you pay) hinges, largely, on the kind of pool you get (or do not get) together with your lodging.
I booked one of many property’s deluxe swim-up rooms, which sounded onerous to beat. The particular charge included breakfast as a part of the property’s opening and got here to 346 euros (about $405) per evening all-in.
Upon arrival, although, the property did me one higher, upgrading me (because of my Platinum Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program) to a deluxe room with a non-public pool.
Inside, the room itself adopted the minimalist design distinguished all through the property, with impartial colours accented by brown wooden components.
The room was set on two ranges, with the mattress and toilet up prime and the lounge and couch part down a single step, form of sunken under the highest degree.
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The lavatory featured an expansive soaking tub with a skylight and a big open bathe space. Toiletries have been from Aromatherapy Associates London.
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By far the star of your complete house, although, was the non-public infinity pool outdoors the sliding glass door. The pool had greater than sufficient house for 2 friends (and doubtless a few children, too,).
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The patio/pool deck got here with a eating desk and two padded lounge chairs, together with seashore towels that housekeeping saved replenished all through the keep.
If I am being choosy, there’s not a ton of privateness whereas sitting on this explicit patio; you are fairly shut each to neighbors and passersby. You additionally haven’t got fairly the views of the ocean and mountains you’d get when you’re in a room that is set increased up the hillside, if that issues to you.
Different lodging embrace the swim-up pool that just a few rooms share. There are additionally rooms that do not embrace a pool. There are even some extra luxurious suites and multistory villas up the hill, a few of which have been nonetheless underneath building (fortunately, there have been no points with building noise throughout my keep).
Associated: 14 best all-inclusive resorts with swim-up rooms
Eating
The JW Marriott Crete technically has six eating choices, although some have been nonetheless simply of their opening phases throughout my keep.
In actual fact, through the night dinnertime hours, solely two full-service eateries have been open, each overlooking the ocean.
A favourite: Anoee, which serves scrumptious, simply shareable Cretan-inspired dishes in an outside setup that leans into the encompassing rugged, rocky terrain. Highlights included the kalitsounia (cheese pastries) appetizer for $21, Cretan pilafi (a preferred native rice dish) for $25 and keftedes (Greek meatballs) for $29.
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Steps away was Onalos, the upscale patio-style seafood eatery.
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In the course of the day, we ate all our lunches (and loved just a few daytime drinks) from Suncti, the poolside bar located underneath a bamboo awning.
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Up on the primary degree of the property, extending outward from the check-in space, the lobby-esque bar Eexis had cocktails, wines and beer out there throughout our keep and proved an important place to take pleasure in an early night drink whereas watching the solar set.
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Subsequent door, Fayi is marketed on the Marriott app because the “major restaurant” for the property, however throughout my go to, it merely provided an expansive breakfast buffet that mixed American and Mediterranean flavors. It ought to definitely fulfill Platinum Elite (and above) Marriott Bonvoy members entitled to free breakfast.
Cuccagna, the adjoining Italian eatery with a brick oven, was set to open on the day I departed.
Property-wide, I discovered the dishes properly ready, recent and stuffed with native taste, whilst lots of the venues have been nonetheless getting their footing on service because the resort ramps up its visitor rely.
Facilities
As a traveler perpetually seeking an important pool, the highest amenity at this resort is, no doubt, the three major swimming pools — considered one of which is a wading pool and one other is solely for adults — that overlook the Aegean and Crete’s mountains.
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Seaside cabanas
If shut entry to the ocean is extra your vibe, there are cabanas lining the rocky shore that you should utilize totally free.
From there, it is only some steps down the dock to a ladder to decrease your self into the water. Or, you’ll be able to stroll over to a slender zero-entry seashore.
Health middle
Inside the primary constructing, the health club was properly geared up with brand-new cardio and weight machines. Moreover, there was a yoga room used for quite a lot of yoga and Pilates group exercises.
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Spa
The property can be within the technique of opening a spa that, from renderings TPG shared earlier this summer season, seems to be like it will likely be a serious draw going ahead.
Boat excursions
Along with the property’s major facilities, the on-site concierge can join friends with non-public boat reservations that depart from the close by dock. Full-day excursions begin at 1,500 euros ($1,759) … a tempting choice however one which was not within the finances for this journey.
Associated: 30 best Marriott hotels in the world that you can book with points
Location and logistics
This new JW Marriott property sits on the northern coast of Crete, on the western aspect of the Greek island.
The resort is a couple of 20-minute drive from Chania Worldwide Airport (CHQ), making for a seamless journey, thanks, partly, to a non-public black car-esque switch the entrance desk arrange forward of arrival. The switch was 35 euros ($41) every manner.
It is about 25 to half-hour to the middle of Chania and its Previous Venetian Harbor, with its myriad of retailers and eating places. You should utilize the identical non-public switch service organized by the resort, which prices 40 euros (about $47) every manner. Given this additional expense, I might advocate setting apart a single afternoon and night for that go to if it is of curiosity.
The property is a couple of five-minute stroll from a public seashore space and a handful of seashore bar-style eating places, however do not anticipate a lot close by in the way in which of comfort shops, pharmacies and the like.
This resort is the fourth Marriott-affiliated property on the island of Crete and the primary JW Marriott. It is the second close to Chania (the primary being Domes Zeen Chania, a Luxurious Assortment Resort, Crete).
Find out how to ebook
Over the following six months, nightly charges on the JW Marriott Crete begin as little as $343, or 44,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors.
Friends hoping to make use of factors and miles to ebook the JW Marriott Crete have just a few choices.
The only manner, after all, is to make use of Marriott Bonvoy factors in your account. Personally, I earn the majority of my Marriott factors by means of purchases charged to the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (see rates and fees), which has additionally been a giant assist in boosting my Marriott Bonvoy elite status. The cardboard has a $95 annual price.
You can even transfer credit card rewards at a 1:1 ratio from a handful of main applications, together with:
When reserving the JW Marriott Crete, you will need to use a credit card that earns the most points for Marriott stays, in addition to one which probably affords computerized Bonvoy elite standing for value-added advantages. These embrace:
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at resorts taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Platinum Elite standing and 25 elite evening credit per 12 months towards the next tier.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at resorts taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Gold Elite standing and 15 elite evening credit per 12 months towards the next tier.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® Credit Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at resorts taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Gold Elite standing and 15 elite evening credit per 12 months towards the next tier.
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at resorts taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Gold Elite standing and 15 elite evening credit per 12 months towards the next tier.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at resorts taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Silver Elite standing and 15 elite evening credit per 12 months towards the next tier.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 3 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at resorts taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Silver Elite standing and 5 elite evening credit per 12 months towards the next tier.
The knowledge for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Backside line
There is a cause why the JW Marriott Crete appeared on TPG’s checklist of most anticipated lodge openings in 2025, and this property delivers on that pleasure with its shimmering infinity swimming pools, direct entry to the Aegean Sea and unimaginable mountain views. Because the service and facilities absolutely ramp up within the coming weeks and months, it’s going to be an attractive choice for any traveler seeking to redeem factors within the Greek islands.
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