We just got back from a quick couples trip to Crete, Greece. It was a two-night, three-day stop that we paired with a visit to the Cotswolds in England. On this trip, we stayed at the new JW Marriott Crete Resort and Spa.

Here’s my full review, what we loved, what we didn’t, and whether we’d return.

Overall, the JW Marriott Crete is a stunning property. We loved the views and the design. But there are a few things that could be improved.

How We Booked the JW Marriott Crete

We booked the JW Marriott Crete using Marriott Bonvoy points and a free night certificate. I earn an 85K Free Night Award each year from my Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Credit Card, and it covered one night of our stay. That night priced close to 85,000 points. The second night dropped later to 65,000 points, so I rebooked to save points.

It looks like the award rates are slowly increasing. The lowest I could find is 77,000 points per night, and some nights are now over 100,000 points.

One thing to note: when I tried to book both nights together using my certificate plus points, the Marriott app showed a higher points total than when I booked each night separately. So check your pricing—sometimes breaking up the reservation saves points.

We only paid about $15 in taxes at checkout, in addition to our meals, since parking and the resort fee were included in the award rate. I love when a stay is points plus $0 in resort fees and just minimal taxes!

The easiest way to earn Marriott points is through co-branded Marriott credit cards. You can also transfer American Express Membership Rewards to Marriott at a 1:1 ratio. This is a great option if you’re short on points or want to take advantage of the fifth night free on award stays.

The Welcome at the JW Crete

The welcome was really nice. As soon as we pulled up, someone helped with our luggage and walked us inside. We were greeted with welcome drinks and checked in while sitting on the couches that overlook the pools and the ocean. It’s such a pretty first impression.

The front desk let us know we were upgraded to a room with a private pool, which I had requested by email using my upgrade template. We both have Marriott Platinum Elite status through the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, and we’re upgraded most of the time.

Related: Grab My Hotel Upgrade Template

They gave us a quick tour of the property and explained that we had the largest private pool because our room was on the corner. I was so excited to see it.

The Room at the New JW Crete Resort: Junior Suite with Private Pool

We were upgraded to a Junior Suite King Bed, Sea View, and Private Pool. The room was absolutely gorgeous. The resort is brand new, and there’s nothing better to me than staying at a brand-new property. The space felt fresh, modern, and really well designed.

The room was very spacious with two sinks, a walk-in shower, a large king bed, a big sectional couch, a desk, and a huge sliding door that opened to the most stunning view. Our private infinity pool overlooked the ocean with a beautiful mountain backdrop. It was one of those views you can’t stop staring at.

The room had everything we needed, but I did notice the motion-sensor lights were a little annoying. Every time I turned over in bed, they would switch on and stay on for a while.

We absolutely loved the room. There was plenty of bottled water and a small welcome snack, which was a nice touch.

The private infinity pool was huge, with a table for four and two comfy loungers. This might be one of my favorite views ever. The light on the mountains in the morning and at sunset was unreal.

The Breakfast at the JW Crete Resort

Breakfast is included for all guests at the JW Marriott Crete, so our elite status didn’t make a difference here. It’s a great perk if you don’t have Marriott status because you get the full complimentary breakfast experience either way.

On our first morning, we went early around 7 a.m. before heading out to explore Balos Beach. This day was amazing. We sat outside overlooking the pools, ocean, and mountains — the perfect setting. The buffet was extensive, and you could order eggs or omelets made to order. The pastry and dessert station had so many choices, and several were delicious. I ordered a cappuccino that was pretty good. The buffet itself was solid, not necessarily unforgettable, but the overall first-morning experience was perfect.

The second morning was completely different. We arrived around 9 a.m., and there was a huge line. No tables were available, and the staff seemed overwhelmed trying to clean tables and serve drinks. They placed us indoors, which was disappointing after how beautiful the outdoor seating was. When we returned from the buffet, another couple was sitting at our table.

We ended up in the middle of the dining room and waited 20–30 minutes without anyone taking our coffee or egg order. We eventually had to ask someone ourselves. Many buffet items were out, even water, and the whole place felt chaotic.

It wasn’t a great experience, but I’m glad our first morning was so lovely because it balanced things out a bit.

You can enjoy a full breakfast buffet every day from 7:00 to 11:00 AM.

The Pools at the JW Crete

There are two main pools at the JW Marriott Crete — the main pool and an adults-only pool. Because so many rooms have private pools, both shared pools stayed quiet and relaxing. I didn’t notice a hot tub, which might be a downside for some guests, but the resort does close in the winter.

The loungers and sunbeds around the pools were beautiful, and both pools look straight out to the ocean. You get incredible ocean and mountain views while swimming. There’s also a large bar between the two pools where you can order food and drinks.

It’s the perfect spot to spend a slow afternoon.

The Resort Grounds at the JW Crete

The resort grounds are on the smaller side, but they are absolutely gorgeous. I love the desert-modern Greece vibe. The moment I saw photos online, I knew I wanted to stay here. The design and the views from the property are almost perfect.

There’s a small trail that runs along the ocean right from the resort. We walked part of it, but didn’t have enough time to see where it led. There’s beautiful lavender planted throughout the property, which adds to the peaceful atmosphere.

Golf carts are available to take guests to the higher rooms and longer paths. Our room was in the center of everything, so getting around was easy.

The sunken seating areas in the middle of the pools, complete with firepits, are such a cozy and luxurious touch. It’s a great place to relax.

The Beach at the Oceanfront JW Crete

There isn’t a sandy beach at the JW Marriott Crete, but the resort created a really unique setup that we loved. They built wooden decks down by the ocean with plenty of daybeds. There are two different decks, each with ladders that go straight into the water. I didn’t try it, but it looks like you can jump in from the rock ledge or use the ladders to ease in. The water is crystal clear and perfect for swimming.

If you prefer a true sandy beach, there’s one within walking distance. Just a quick five-minute walk outside the property takes you to a small beach with beautiful, calm water.

The Food at the New JW Marriott

The biggest downside to the JW Marriott Crete — and maybe our only real negative — was the food. Breakfast was pretty good, but we’d heard the resort restaurants weren’t amazing, so we only tried one dinner.

The food itself wasn’t great. My meal was okay, but my husband didn’t enjoy his. Both meals were Italian. That said, the service was good, and the staff tried to accommodate us with a different option.

There are two restaurants outside the resort within walking distance. We went to one on our first evening and enjoyed the meal overall. The setting was beautiful, making it a great alternative to dining at the resort.

We had a car, which I think is essential in Crete. The island is so big, and having a car means you’re not stuck eating only resort food. Hopefully, the resort improves its dining options to match the rest of the property.

The JW Marriott Crete has five restaurants and a bar on the property, offering a variety of Italian and Mediterranean dishes. Prices weren’t too bad — I’d estimate dinner for two would be around $80–$90.

The Service at the New Marriott in Crete

Overall, we experienced great service at the JW Marriott Crete — from check-in and valet to general staff interactions. The one major exception was the second breakfast, which was chaotic and stressful, as I mentioned earlier.

We also had another exception with dinner at one of the resort’s restaurants. As I mentioned before, the food wasn’t great. My husband didn’t even finish his meal, though mine was okay. The waitress insisted he try something else on the house and really went out of her way to accommodate us. She brought him a pizza, which he enjoyed, and we weren’t charged for either his original meal or the pizza.

It was a kind gesture, and we appreciated how the staff tried to make things right after our first meal didn’t meet expectations.

The Amenities at the JW

The main amenities we noticed were snorkeling and the fitness center. The resort also provides a schedule of fitness classes and other activities, but we didn’t take part since we were focused on exploring Crete.

Hotel Status

As mentioned earlier, we hold Marriott Platinum Elite status through our credit card. This definitely helped us get upgraded to a room with a private pool, which made our stay extra special. If you don’t have status, I’d recommend paying for an upgrade if a complimentary one isn’t available.

Buffet breakfast is included for all guests, regardless of status.

I’m not sure if the special check-in on the couches was because of our Platinum Elite status, but it was a really nice touch.

Family Rooms

The suites at JW Marriott Crete sleep 3–4 guests with a king bed and a pull-out sofa. The resort also offers two-bedroom villas. If you’re booking with points, I recommend reserving a standard room first and then asking if you can upgrade to a two-bedroom villa with cash. This trick often works for us and can be a better option than booking two separate rooms, depending on the price they quote.

The Parking

Parking is complimentary for all guests.

The Location

I loved the location of the JW Marriott Crete. It’s just a 15-minute drive from Chania and an easy ride from the airport. Close enough to Chania to go for shopping or dining, but still peaceful and private.

Crete is huge, and many visitors stay in different parts of the island. If we had more time, we might have stayed on the opposite side to visit other famous beaches. That said, we were about 1.5 hours from Balos Beach, which was my top must-see, and about an hour from Rethymno.

The resort itself is within walking distance of two restaurants and a small sandy beach, which was a nice bonus.

Would we return?

We would not hesitate to return if we visit Crete again, though I do love trying new resorts. I would definitely recommend the JW Marriott Crete. Our room and the views were some of my favorites ever, and there’s something special about staying at a brand-new resort.

I hope they improve the restaurant food to bring the resort fully up to par, but overall, we had an amazing experience.

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