JW Marriott Crete assessment – The Factors Man

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 visitors to its 160-room hillside resort that hugs the Aegean shoreline, simply exterior the Cretan metropolis of Chania.

A spot the place you possibly can 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 enjoyable lodge openings of 2025.

And we had been among the many first paying visitors 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 features 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 one of the best panoramic views as you climb.

You get a way of calmness as quickly as you arrive on-site: Tender music performs within the background, a sea breeze gently blows and views of the mountain peaks throughout the cove greet you.

There is no want to go to the entrance desk at check-in; your entire course of occurred from the consolation of a settee whereas sipping a complimentary signature mocktail (lemon verbena with recent thyme).

Rooms

Preserving with the concept water is a focus at this property, the kind of room (and value you pay) hinges, largely, on the kind of pool you get (or do not get) along with your lodging.

I booked one of many property’s deluxe swim-up rooms, which sounded laborious to beat. The particular price 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 standing within the Marriott Bonvoy program) to a deluxe room with a non-public pool.

Inside, the room itself adopted the minimalist design outstanding all through the property, with impartial colours accented by brown wooden parts.

The room was set on two ranges, with the mattress and loo up high and the lounge and couch part down a single step, type of sunken beneath the highest stage.

The lavatory featured an expansive soaking tub with a skylight and a big open bathe space. Toiletries had been from Aromatherapy Associates London.

By far the star of your entire house, although, was the personal infinity pool exterior the sliding glass door. The pool had greater than sufficient house for 2 visitors (and possibly a few children, too,).

The patio/pool deck got here with a eating desk and two padded lounge chairs, together with seaside towels that housekeeping stored 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 do not have fairly the views of the ocean and mountains you’d get when you’re in a room that is set greater up the hillside, if that issues to you.

Different lodging embrace the swim-up pool that a couple of 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 had been nonetheless underneath building (fortunately, there have been no points with building noise throughout my keep).

Associated: 14 greatest all-inclusive resorts with swim-up rooms

Eating

The JW Marriott Crete technically has six eating choices, although some had been nonetheless simply of their opening phases throughout my keep.

Actually, throughout the night dinnertime hours, solely two full-service eateries had 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 well-liked native rice dish) for $25 and keftedes (Greek meatballs) for $29.

Steps away was Onalos, the upscale patio-style seafood eatery.

Through the day, we ate all our lunches (and loved a couple of daytime drinks) from Suncti, the poolside bar located underneath a bamboo awning.

Up on the primary stage 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 a terrific place to get pleasure from an early night drink whereas watching the solar set.

Subsequent door, Fayi is marketed on the Marriott app because the “major restaurant” for the property, however throughout my go to, it merely supplied 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 nicely ready, recent and stuffed with native taste, whilst lots of the venues had been nonetheless getting their footing on service because the resort ramps up its visitor depend.

Facilities

As a traveler perpetually looking for a terrific pool, the highest amenity at this resort is, undoubtedly, the three major swimming pools — certainly one of which is a wading pool and one other is completely for adults — that overlook the Aegean and Crete’s mountains.

Seaside cabanas

If shut entry to the ocean is extra your vibe, there are cabanas lining the rocky shore that you should use free of charge.

From there, it is just a few steps down the dock to a ladder to decrease your self into the water. Or, you possibly can stroll over to a slender zero-entry seaside.

Health middle

Inside the primary constructing, the fitness center was nicely geared up with brand-new cardio and weight machines. Moreover, there was a yoga room used for a wide range of yoga and Pilates group exercises.

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 visitors with personal boat reservations that depart from the close by dock. Full-day excursions begin at 1,500 euros ($1,759) … a tempting possibility however one which was not within the funds for this journey.

Associated: 30 greatest Marriott accommodations on this planet which you could e-book with factors

Location and logistics

This new JW Marriott property sits on the northern coast of Crete, on the western facet of the Greek island.

The resort is a few 20-minute drive from Chania Worldwide Airport (CHQ), making for a seamless journey, thanks, partially, to a non-public black car-esque switch the entrance desk arrange forward of arrival. The switch was 35 euros ($41) every approach.

It is about 25 to half-hour to the middle of Chania and its Outdated Venetian Harbor, with its myriad of outlets and eating places. You should use the identical personal switch service organized by the resort, which prices 40 euros (about $47) every approach. Given this further expense, I might suggest setting apart a single afternoon and night for that go to if it is of curiosity.

The property is a few five-minute stroll from a public seaside space and a handful of seaside 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 e-book

Over the subsequent 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 e-book the JW Marriott Crete have a couple of choices.

The only approach, in fact, 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 score Card (see charges and charges), which has additionally been an enormous assist in boosting my Marriott Bonvoy elite standing. The cardboard has a $95 annual charge.

You can too switch bank 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 bank card that earns probably the most factors for Marriott stays, in addition to one which probably gives computerized Bonvoy elite standing for value-added advantages. These embrace:

• Marriott Bonvoy Sensible® American Specific® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at accommodations collaborating 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 Specific® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at accommodations collaborating 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 score Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at accommodations collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Gold Elite standing and 15 elite evening credit per 12 months towards the next tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Enterprise® American Specific® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at accommodations collaborating 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 score Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at accommodations collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Silver Elite standing and 15 elite evening credit per 12 months towards the next tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Daring® Credit score Card (see charges and charges): Earn 3 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at accommodations collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Silver Elite standing and 5 elite evening credit per 12 months towards the next tier.

The data 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 motive 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 unbelievable mountain views. Because the service and facilities absolutely ramp up within the coming weeks and months, it will be an attractive possibility for any traveler trying to redeem factors within the Greek islands.

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