The JW Marriott brand will be expanding to Greece. While plans for this property were first announced in March 2024, there’s an update. The hotel is now bookable, so we know when it will open, and how much a stay will cost.
In this post:
Details of the JW Marriott Crete, Greece
The JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa is now accepting reservations for stays as of August 1, 2025. This will be a seasonal resort, so the property is currently open for stays through October 31, 2025 (and will then presumably reopen in the spring of 2026).
The 160-room property is expected to span 100 coastal acres on Greece’s largest island, with all suites featuring a private pool or jacuzzi.
The property’s design is described as blending modern elegance with authentic Cretan heritage. The hotel will feature five culinary experiences (including a Cretan restaurant and a beach dining venue), multiple swimming pools, a fitness center and spa, and a beach club.
The JW Marriott Crete will be located on the outskirts of the town of Chania, along Marathi Beach. The property will be a short drive from Chania Airport (CHQ), and a roughly two-hour drive from Heraklion Airport (HER).
Below you can find some renderings of the property.
JW Marriott Crete rates & points requirements
Now that the JW Marriott Crete is bookable, what are rates like? As you’d expect for a seasonal resort in Greece, the closer to the middle of summer that you stay, the higher the rates are. In August I see rates of around €500 per night, while toward the end of the season, I see rates of under €300 per night.
While it will soon be possible to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for stays at this property, it’s not yet accepting points bookings, for whatever reason.
I’m surprised the hotel is even bothering to open for the season, given the anticipated August opening date. That only leaves three months for the season, and on top of that, this assumes there won’t be an additional opening delay (hotels almost always have additional opening delays).
Why I’m excited about this new JW Marriott property
Greece is one of my favorite places in the world — I love the climate, the food is delicious, and the country has so much to offer, and even the islands are so varied.
Crete is my favorite “popular” island in Greece, as it has so much to offer. It’s quite large, and I also like how the culture is a bit more diverse, given how close it is to Africa. It’s also not quite as touristy as a place like Mykonos or Santorini (which admittedly aren’t my favorite places in Greece), or at least the tourists are spread out a bit more.
Anyway, it’s exciting to see more points hotel options in Crete. When I visited Crete a few years back, I stayed at Domes Zeen Chania, a Marriott Autograph Collection property. That’s in the same area of Greece as this property.
The town of Chania is super charming, and is worth a visit (though nowadays during the peak of summer, is often overcrowded with cruise ship visitors during the day).
I also loved Blue Palace Elounda, a Marriott Luxury Collection property. That’s currently undergoing a major renovation, and will reopen as a Rosewood. The hotel could definitely use a refresh, though it’s unfortunately probably going to be much more expensive, and won’t be bookable with points.
Bottom line
A JW Marriott will be opening in Crete, Greece, in August 2025, and will be located near the town of Chania. I adore Crete, so I’m always pleased to see more points hotels opening there. The renderings of this property look great, so hopefully it’s as nice as the pictures suggest.
What do you make of the JW Marriott Crete?
Stayed at Domes Noruz in Chania and Domes of Elounda. Both are wonderful places for different reasons. So wonderful, in fact, that I'd be hard pressed to stay anywhere else in Crete.
One caveat though. Domes Noruz is adults only. So families are better off at Domes of Elounda.
I stated at Domes Zeen Chania in 2023. FYI, it is largely a family hotel with lots of young children. Great rooms but the pool was to chaotic to even attempt enjoying.
Later, we traveled to the east side of Crete and stated at Minos Beach Art Hotel which i loved. It's quiet large and meandering and we were given an upgrade to a cabana with private pool. It was fabulous.
FNT Delta Diamond.
Been staying at London hotels for years. Sometimes long visits for a month or so.
Recently have unpleasantly experienced a decline in the product. The prices have risen significantly and the services, and products in the hotel have declined significantly.
London can no longer be consider a Stop for us.
And these are hotels like Waldorf Aldwych, Park Hyatt, Hyatt Churchill, Hyatt Scotland Yard, Hilton Park Lane, Marriotts....
FNT Delta Diamond.
Been staying at London hotels for years. Sometimes long visits for a month or so.
Recently have unpleasantly experienced a decline in the product. The prices have risen significantly and the services, and products in the hotel have declined significantly.
London can no longer be consider a Stop for us.
And these are hotels like Waldorf Aldwych, Park Hyatt, Hyatt Churchill, Hyatt Scotland Yard, Hilton Park Lane, Marriotts. It is absolutely insane.
Park Hyatt and Andaz, they couldn't cook an egg properly.
Waldorf serves water in aluminum cans in your room. No amenities in your bathroom. The Exec lounge is impossible.
They are reaching the bottom of the barrel.
The two worst we've experienced recently are the Park Hyatt and Hilton Waldorf.
Probably there will be a reckoning, it can't last.
I think the single-biggest problem in London is staf or the lack thereof. Staff at hotels can't afford to live in London at what hotels pay. So, hotels have had to raise rates to afford higher wages to attract staff. And there's also likely a shortage of good staff too. I used to split my stays between the Marriott London County Hall and the J.W. Marriott Grosvenor House. I stopped staying at the Marriott London...
I think the single-biggest problem in London is staf or the lack thereof. Staff at hotels can't afford to live in London at what hotels pay. So, hotels have had to raise rates to afford higher wages to attract staff. And there's also likely a shortage of good staff too. I used to split my stays between the Marriott London County Hall and the J.W. Marriott Grosvenor House. I stopped staying at the Marriott London County Hall in 2018 when housekeeping was outsourced to a job agency. There was no consistency in housekeepers or the executed standard. And then they changed the club lounge offerings, restricting you to three single portions of food. No choice, no addition portions. It was like a Soviet lunch cafeteria. I then exclusively used the J.W. Marriott Grosvenor House. But I stopped staying at Grosvenor House after a noticeable decline following three stays in 2022. While still an elegant hotel, the overall competence had declined significantly. You couldn't even reliably get a newspaper delivered to your room at a 5-star hotel. I've shifted to the Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars, which is fine albeit not at the 5-star standard. Solid 4-star business hotel.
In October we spent 1 week in Crete - staying at the Blue Palace Elounda, Domes Zeen and the Tanneries.
The last time I was in Crete was 38 years ago, there were no luxury Properties.
We loved Chania then and more so now. Looking forward to staying at the JW on our next visit to Crete.
@Luxky - you probably meant “same area of Crete”.
You mention Mykonos and Santorini aren't your favorite places in Greece. Which are?
Why is this a J.W. Marriott?
I don’t understand why Marriott can’t at least be consistent in its branding. It is like they just randomly pick brands. Sarasota gets a St. Regis, which is way, way above the market, but Crete in Greece gets a J.W. Marriott.
I assume it’s because the owner thinks the J.W. Marriott brand has sufficient luxury cache without having to do the extras required for a Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis....
Why is this a J.W. Marriott?
I don’t understand why Marriott can’t at least be consistent in its branding. It is like they just randomly pick brands. Sarasota gets a St. Regis, which is way, way above the market, but Crete in Greece gets a J.W. Marriott.
I assume it’s because the owner thinks the J.W. Marriott brand has sufficient luxury cache without having to do the extras required for a Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis. But even then I can’t imagine J.W. Marriott — outside Americans — has any name recognition in Europe.
Agreed
It reminds me of the J.W. Marriott Grosvenor House in London. This property used to be operated at the Ritz-Carlton standard because Marriott was prohibited from having a Ritz-Carlton in London. Grosvenor House was for all intents and purposes a Ritz-Carlton by another name.
In recent years, the standard has been reduced but it's still generally above a typical J.W. Marriott. It will be interesting to see what happens when the St. Regis opens in London.
Exactly. But it will be good to house Americans in one place in Chania and out of everyone's way.