First look: This Greek island just got its first JW Marriott, complete with direct sea access and private infinity pools

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

Last month, the JW Marriott in Crete began welcoming guests to its 160-room hillside resort that hugs the Aegean coastline, just outside the Cretan city of Chania.

A place where you can soak in a private infinity pool while simultaneously taking in views of the Dikti mountains, this new high-end Marriott-affiliated property lives up to the spot it claimed earlier this year on TPG’s list of most exciting hotel openings of 2025.

And we were among the first paying guests to check it out. Here’s what it was like.

First impressions

When pulling up to the brand-new JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa, it’s clear water figures prominently into all aspects of the property, from the shimmering reflection pools surrounding the lobby to the myriad places to take a dip.

And that’s to say nothing of the Aegean Sea, which is accessible just steps from the resort.

The whole property is built into the hillside, with clusters of villas, restaurants and pools lining the rugged terrain — with the best panoramic views as you climb.

You get a sense of calmness as soon as you arrive on-site: Soft music plays in the background, a sea breeze gently blows and views of the mountain peaks across the cove greet you.

There’s no need to visit the front desk at check-in; the entire process happened from the comfort of a sofa while sipping a complimentary signature mocktail (lemon verbena with fresh thyme).

Rooms

Keeping with the idea that water is a focal point at this property, the type of room (and price you pay) hinges, in large part, on the type of pool you get (or don’t get) with your accommodations.

I booked one of the property’s deluxe swim-up rooms, which sounded hard to beat. The special rate included breakfast as part of the property’s opening and came to 346 euros (about $405) per night all-in.

Upon arrival, though, the property did me one better, upgrading me (thanks to my Platinum Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program) to a deluxe room with a private pool.

Inside, the room itself followed the minimalist design prominent throughout the property, with neutral colors accented by brown wood elements.

The room was set on two levels, with the bed and bathroom up top and the living room and sofa section down a single step, sort of sunken below the top level.

The bathroom featured an expansive soaking tub with a skylight and a large open shower area. Toiletries were from Aromatherapy Associates London.

By far the star of the entire space, though, was the private infinity pool outside the sliding glass door. The pool had more than enough space for two guests (and probably a couple of kids, too,).

The patio/pool deck came with a dining table and two padded lounge chairs, along with beach towels that housekeeping kept replenished throughout the stay.

If I’m being picky, there’s not a ton of privacy while sitting on this particular patio; you’re pretty close both to neighbors and passersby. You also don’t have quite the views of the sea and mountains you’d get if you’re in a room that’s set higher up the hillside, if that matters to you.

Other accommodations include the swim-up pool that a few rooms share. There are also rooms that don’t include a pool. There are even some more luxurious suites and multistory villas up the hill, some of which were still under construction (luckily, there were no issues with construction noise during my stay).

Related: 14 best all-inclusive resorts with swim-up rooms

Dining

The JW Marriott Crete technically has six dining options, though some were still just in their opening phases during my stay.

In fact, during the evening dinnertime hours, only two full-service eateries were open, both overlooking the sea.

A favorite: Anoee, which serves delicious, easily shareable Cretan-inspired dishes in an outdoor setup that leans into the surrounding rugged, rocky terrain. Highlights included the kalitsounia (cheese pastries) appetizer for $21, Cretan pilafi (a popular local rice dish) for $25 and keftedes (Greek meatballs) for $29.

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

During the day, we ate all our lunches (and enjoyed a few daytime beverages) from Suncti, the poolside bar situated under a bamboo awning.

Up on the main level of the property, extending outward from the check-in area, the lobby-esque bar Eexis had cocktails, wines and beer available during our stay and proved a great place to enjoy an early evening drink while watching the sun set.

Next door, Fayi is advertised on the Marriott app as the “main restaurant” for the property, but during my visit, it simply offered an expansive breakfast buffet that combined American and Mediterranean flavors. It should certainly satisfy Platinum Elite (and above) Marriott Bonvoy members entitled to free breakfast.

Cuccagna, the adjacent Italian eatery with a brick oven, was set to open on the day I departed.

Property-wide, I found the dishes well prepared, fresh and full of local flavor, even as many of the venues were still getting their footing on service as the resort ramps up its guest count.

Amenities

As a traveler forever in search of a great pool, the top amenity at this resort is, without a doubt, the three main pools — one of which is a wading pool and another is exclusively for adults — that overlook the Aegean and Crete’s mountains.

Seaside cabanas

If close access to the sea is more your vibe, there are cabanas lining the rocky shore that you can use for free.

From there, it’s only a few steps down the dock to a ladder to lower yourself into the water. Or, you can walk over to a narrow zero-entry beach.

Fitness center

Inside the main building, the gym was well equipped with brand-new cardio and weight machines. Additionally, there was a yoga room used for a variety of yoga and Pilates group workouts.

Spa

The property is also in the process of opening a spa that, from renderings TPG shared earlier this summer, looks like it will be a major draw going forward.

Boat excursions

In addition to the property’s main amenities, the on-site concierge can connect guests with private boat reservations that depart from the nearby dock. Full-day tours start at 1,500 euros ($1,759) … a tempting option but one that was not in the budget for this trip.

Related: 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 side of the Greek island.

The resort is about a 20-minute drive from Chania International Airport (CHQ), making for a seamless trip, thanks, in part, to a private black car-esque transfer the front desk set up ahead of arrival. The transfer was 35 euros ($41) each way.

It’s about 25 to 30 minutes to the center of Chania and its Old Venetian Harbor, with its myriad of shops and restaurants. You can use the same private transfer service arranged by the resort, which costs 40 euros (about $47) each way. Given this extra expense, I’d recommend setting aside a single afternoon and evening for that visit if it’s of interest.

The property is about a five-minute walk from a public beach area and a handful of beach bar-style restaurants, but don’t expect much nearby in the way of convenience stores, pharmacies and the like.

This resort is the fourth Marriott-affiliated property on the island of Crete and the first JW Marriott. It’s the second near Chania (the first being Domes Zeen Chania, a Luxury Collection Resort, Crete).

How to book

Over the next six months, nightly rates at the JW Marriott Crete start as low as $343, or 44,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Guests hoping to use points and miles to book the JW Marriott Crete have a few options.

The simplest way, of course, is to use Marriott Bonvoy points in your account. Personally, I earn the bulk of my Marriott points through purchases charged to the [applyLink pid=”6389″ overridetext=”Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card”] (see [termsConditions pid=”6389″ overridetext=”rates and fees”]), which has also been a big help in boosting my Marriott Bonvoy elite status. The card has a $95 annual fee.

You can also transfer credit card rewards at a 1:1 ratio from a handful of major programs, including:

• American Express Membership Rewards
• Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Bilt Rewards

When booking the JW Marriott Crete, you’ll want to use a credit card that earns the most points for Marriott stays, as well as one that possibly offers automatic Bonvoy elite status for value-added benefits. These include:

• [applyLink pid=”6396″ overridetext=”Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card”]: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, automatic Platinum Elite status and 25 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• [applyLink pid=”8467″ overridetext=”Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card”]: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, automatic Gold Elite status and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® Credit Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, automatic Gold Elite status and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• [applyLink pid=”6771″ overridetext=”Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card”]: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, automatic Gold Elite status and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• [applyLink pid=”6389″ overridetext=”Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card”]: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, automatic Silver Elite status and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• [applyLink pid=”6696″ overridetext=”Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card”] (see [termsConditions pid=”6696″ overridetext=”rates and fees”]): Earn 3 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, automatic Silver Elite status and 5 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.

The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Bottom line

There’s a reason why the JW Marriott Crete appeared on TPG’s list of most anticipated hotel openings in 2025, and this property delivers on that excitement with its shimmering infinity pools, direct access to the Aegean Sea and incredible mountain views. As the service and amenities fully ramp up in the coming weeks and months, it’ll be an enticing option for any traveler looking to redeem points in the Greek islands.

Related reading:

• Best Marriott credit cards
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• Best hotel rewards programs in the world: Which one is right for you?
• Best hotel credit cards