JW Marriott Crete evaluation – The Factors Man

Some 100 miles south of mainland Greece, there’s an alluring new island oasis to get rid of your stress — and your stash of Marriott Bonvoy factors, too.

Final month, the JW Marriott in Crete started welcoming company 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 yr on TPG’s checklist of most fun lodge openings of 2025.

And we have been among the many first paying company to test it out. Here 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 points 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: Smooth music performs within the background, a sea breeze gently blows and views of the mountain peaks throughout the cove greet you.

There is not any want to go to the entrance desk at check-in; all the course of occurred from the consolation of a settee whereas sipping a complimentary signature mocktail (lemon verbena with contemporary thyme).

Rooms

Holding 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) together 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 night time 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 distinguished all through the property, with impartial colours accented by brown wooden components.

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

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

By far the star of all the house, although, was the personal infinity pool outdoors the sliding glass door. The pool had greater than sufficient house for 2 company (and doubtless 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 specific 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 in the event you’re in a room that is set greater up the hillside, if that issues to you.

Different lodging embody the swim-up pool that a number of rooms share. There are additionally rooms that do not embody a pool. There are even some extra luxurious suites and multistory villas up the hill, a few of which have been nonetheless below development (fortunately, there have been no points with development 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 have been nonetheless simply of their opening phases throughout my keep.

Actually, throughout 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 out of doors setup that leans into the encircling 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.

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

Throughout the day, we ate all our lunches (and loved a number of daytime drinks) from Suncti, the poolside bar located below 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 accessible throughout our keep and proved an ideal 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 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, contemporary 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 depend.

Facilities

As a traveler endlessly in quest of an ideal pool, the highest amenity at this resort is, indubitably, the three major swimming pools — one in every 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 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 seaside.

Health heart

Inside the primary constructing, the fitness center 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.

Spa

The property can be within the means of opening a spa that, from renderings TPG shared earlier this summer time, seems like will probably be a significant draw going ahead.

Boat excursions

Along with the property’s major facilities, the on-site concierge can join company with personal 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 price range for this journey.

Associated: 30 greatest Marriott accommodations on the earth that you would be able to guide 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, partly, to a non-public black car-esque switch the entrance desk arrange forward of arrival. The switch was 35 euros ($41) every means.

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 personal switch service organized by the resort, which prices 40 euros (about $47) every means. 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 best way 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).

How one can guide

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 guide the JW Marriott Crete have a number of choices.

The only means, after all, is to make use of Marriott Bonvoy factors in your account. Personally, I earn the majority of my Marriott factors by way of purchases charged to the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit score Card (see charges and costs), which has additionally been a giant assist in boosting my Marriott Bonvoy elite standing. The cardboard has a $95 annual price.

You may as well switch bank card rewards at a 1:1 ratio from a handful of main packages, together with:

When reserving the JW Marriott Crete, you may wish to use a bank card that earns essentially the most factors for Marriott stays, in addition to one which probably gives computerized Bonvoy elite standing for value-added advantages. These embody:

• Marriott Bonvoy Good® 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 night time credit per yr towards a better 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 night time credit per yr towards a better 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 night time credit per yr towards a better 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 night time credit per yr towards a better 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 night time credit per yr towards a better tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Daring® Credit score Card (see charges and costs): Earn 3 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at accommodations collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Silver Elite standing and 5 elite night time credit per yr towards a better 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 supplied by the cardboard issuer.

Backside line

There is a purpose 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 totally ramp up within the coming weeks and months, it’s going to be an attractive choice for any traveler trying to redeem factors within the Greek islands.

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