JW Marriott Crete assessment – 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 friends 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 personal 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 listing of most enjoyable resort openings of 2025.

And we have been among the many first paying friends 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 facets 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 perfect panoramic views as you climb.

You get a way of calmness as quickly as you arrive on-site: Mushy 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; all the course of occurred from the consolation of a settee whereas sipping a complimentary signature mocktail (lemon verbena with contemporary thyme).

Rooms

Protecting 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 arduous to beat. The particular charge 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 (due to my Platinum Elite standing within the Marriott Bonvoy program) to a deluxe room with a personal 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 toilet up high and the lounge and couch part down a single step, type of sunken beneath the highest degree.

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 exterior the sliding glass door. The pool had greater than sufficient house for 2 friends (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 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 do not have fairly the views of the ocean and mountains you’d get for those who’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 couple 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.

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 well-liked 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 couple of daytime drinks) from Suncti, the poolside bar located below a bamboo awning.

Up on the principle degree of the property, extending outward from the check-in space, the lobby-esque bar Eexis had cocktails, wines and beer obtainable throughout our keep and proved an excellent place to take pleasure in an early night drink whereas watching the solar set.

Subsequent door, Fayi is marketed on the Marriott app because the “important 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 nicely ready, contemporary and filled 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 in quest of an excellent pool, the highest amenity at this resort is, no doubt, the three important swimming pools — one among 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 utilize at no cost.

From there, it is only some 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 heart

Inside the principle constructing, the gymnasium 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 means of opening a spa that, from renderings TPG shared earlier this summer time, seems to be like it is going to be a serious draw going ahead.

Boat excursions

Along with the property’s important facilities, the on-site concierge can join friends 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 motels on the planet that you may 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 couple of 20-minute drive from Chania Worldwide Airport (CHQ), making for a seamless journey, thanks, partly, to a personal 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 Outdated 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 manner. Given this additional expense, I might suggest 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 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).

The best way 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.

Visitors hoping to make use of factors and miles to e book the JW Marriott Crete have a couple of choices.

The best manner, 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 a giant assist in boosting my Marriott Bonvoy elite standing. The cardboard has a $95 annual price.

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 may wish to use a bank card that earns probably the most factors for Marriott stays, in addition to one which presumably presents computerized Bonvoy elite standing for value-added advantages. These embody:

• Marriott Bonvoy Sensible® American Specific® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at motels taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Platinum Elite standing and 25 elite night time credit per yr towards the next tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Specific® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at motels taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Gold Elite standing and 15 elite night time credit per yr towards the next tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® Credit score Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at motels taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Gold Elite standing and 15 elite night time credit per yr towards the next tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Enterprise® American Specific® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at motels taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Gold Elite standing and 15 elite night time credit per yr towards the next tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit score Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at motels taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Silver Elite standing and 15 elite night time credit per yr towards the next tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Daring® Credit score Card (see charges and charges): Earn 3 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at motels taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Silver Elite standing and 5 elite night time credit per yr 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 supplied by the cardboard issuer.

Backside line

There is a motive why the JW Marriott Crete appeared on TPG’s listing of most anticipated resort 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 totally ramp up within the coming weeks and months, it will be an attractive choice for any traveler trying to redeem factors within the Greek islands.

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