- JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa launched as the first JW Marriott beachfront property in the Mediterranean.
- Located on 100 acres of Cretan coastline near Chania, boasting 160 sea-facing rooms, suites, and villas.
- Most units include private pools or jacuzzis.
- Architecture by Block722 combines modern minimalism with environmental guilt reduction, featuring geothermal and solar energy, planted roofs, and sustainable wastewater management.
- Six dining options starring everything from open-fire Cretan nostalgia to Italian comfort and fresh seafood.
- The Family by JW entertains younger guests with nature, creativity, and well-supervised chaos.
- Special opening offer: 15% off all bookings and €50 resort credit (but only if you’re quick).
The First JW Marriott Beach Resort in the Mediterranean
Anyone with a thirst for luxury and a mild allergy to subtlety may soon find themselves at JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa. Because who hasn’t dreamed of spending a week in a temple of beige marble and carefully curated thyme scents, lifting themselves out of their private infinity pool only to gaze at the drama of the Aegean?
Located on the gracious coast of Marathi, just far enough from Chania to pretend you’re a local but close enough to still find decent WiFi, this sprawling property dominates more than 100 acres. Its 160 rooms, suites, and villas (most with private pools or jacuzzis because nothing says “I’ve made it” like not sharing the deep end) face the sea. The Aegean stares back, unimpressed.
This is how they rewrite luxury on the island: “The arrival of JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa introduces a new standard to Crete and the whole Mediterranean, pairing nature’s show with top-tier hospitality,” says resort owner Antonios Vasilakis. Guests will “unwind and experience a calm and contemplative lifestyle.” This may be a polite way of suggesting you leave your phone in airplane mode and reflect on the meaninglessness of it all.
And for those anxious about leaving a carbon footprint the size of Santorini: relaxed—geothermal and solar power, heat recovery from air conditioning, water recycling for the olive trees. You’ll leave no trace, at least in theory.
Design: Minimalism with a Side of Cretan Guilt
For those who want more than a cookie-cutter luxury suite, the architecture (by Block722, which sounds less like a firm and more like a secret society) promises to both honor and gently parody Cretan heritage. Green roofs, olive groves, and installments of carob trees tick the sustainability box while providing excellent Instagram backgrounds. Interiors keep it earthy: terracotta, olive, sand, and stone—all the colors of an Ancient Greek dish towel—handcrafted ceramics and strategic lighting tip a hat to tradition, or at least to good taste.
Meanwhile, Vice President Helen Leighton insists, “JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa embodies our vision to deliver elevated experiences with well-being and connection at the center.” Guests are nudged, with the gentle force of a Cretan taxi driver, toward meaningful engagement with land, people, and the hotel spa menu.
Dining & Diversions: From Farm to Expensive Plate (and Cocktail)
If there’s one thing that can distract from existential dread, it’s food. Lucky for all, gastronomy here comes dressed in six distinct personalities. At ANOEE, celebrated chef Manolis Papoutsakis crafts menus from the raw tradition of Cretan fire-cooking, reminding diners of a time before Uber Eats. Every plate, they say, is “an ode to Crete’s earth and history”—though not a literal one (the Health Department wouldn’t allow it).
ONALOS goes complete Poseidon, serving up the sea’s bounty in the form of suspiciously fresh fish. Meanwhile, CUCCAGNA draws on Italian roots, offering cozy trattoria comfort with zero irony.
Cocktail enthusiasts will be pleased, or distracted, by Line—No. 6 on The World’s 50 Best Bars list—curating drink lists for EEXIS and SUNCTI Pool Bar. Expect inventive concoctions featuring herbs from JW Garden because nothing spells vacation like pondering the subtle notes of rosemary in your spritz.
For those seeking wellness—or just a break from eating—ANOSEAS Spa offers five treatment rooms and rituals with traditional Cretan therapies and modern wellness treatments. Hydrotherapy, signature spa packages, and holistic activities come standard.
Families are not forgotten. The Phaistos Den, a collaboration with Worldwide Kids, boasts imaginative play spaces, gardens, and custom activities that promise to link young minds to Crete’s storied past or at least keep them quiet for a few hours.
The Opening Gambit: A Special Offer That’s Worth Reading
For the early adopters and value hunters: JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa’s grand opening invitation is live. From June 16 to August 31, 2025, guests can secure 15% off all stays and a €50 resort credit, an offer that comes with restrictions, much like common sense on vacation. Use promotional code E6774. No, the staff will not carry you to your room—some experiences remain priceless.
Key Features:
- 160 rooms, suites, and villas (almost all with private pools or jacuzzis);
- Six dining venues, one serious chef, and a celebrity mixologist team;
- ANOSEAS Spa: five rooms, hydrotherapy, questionable wellness claims;
- Kids’ club with educational and imaginative programs;
- Design in harmony with nature, or at least with current trends;
- Geothermal and solar-powered operations, water recycling (for real);
- Located in Marathi, just outside the city of Chania.
As president of SWOT Hospitality, Stelios Koutsivitis puts it, “The arrival of the first JW Marriott beachfront resort in the Mediterranean signals an exciting new chapter—proof that when it comes to luxury, Greece can outdo the competition and itself. Such projects raise our international profile and highlight Greece’s potential as one of the world’s most luxurious destinations.”
So go ahead, make the trip. Sun, sea, heritage, and soft towels—JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa, because life’s too short for mediocre room service.
