My wife and I try to plan a trip for our anniversary every year, and this year, to celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary, we chose Greece.
The journey there was a bit of a nightmare, but we eventually reached it, and it was worthwhile.
Our journey included a five-night stay at the Domes of Elounda, a Marriott Autograph Collection property on the island of Crete's eastern coast.
This turned out to be a great decision because it provides a lovely setting, a variety of amenities, and excellent service.
If you have a reservation at (or are thinking about visiting) Domes of Elounda, here is all you need to know.
Before use points, verify paid rates.
The Domes of Elounda is still priced at (or close to) former levels despite the Marriott Bonvoy program removing published award charts earlier this year.
Typically, free nights cost up to 100,000 points.
Check the paid prices for your stay, especially if you are making a far in advance reservation.
Booking many months in advance allowed us to lock in a discount of 370 euros ($391) per night.
Even if the lower demand for overseas travel at the time of booking (August 2021) may have contributed to that, there are still some late-summer and early-fall dates that are reasonably priced.
Even though Marriott offers a fifth night free on award stays, we still wouldn't have found a redemption to be worthwhile.
The standard room is a complete suite.
Numerous luxurious buildings offer a variety of lodging options, from simple rooms to villas with multiple bedrooms.
Thankfully, the Domes of Elounda's standard room is a sizable suite with a garden outlook.
The fundamental layout remained the same, but we were upgraded to a suite with a sea view thanks to my Marriott Platinum membership (more on that later). It was a very nice place to stay for our five-night vacation.
Our daughter, 7, had a couch bed that could be rolled out in the room's huge sitting area.
A Nespresso machine with plenty of pods, various types of tea bags, and a fully stocked minibar were also available (which we promptly asked housekeeping to remove so as to prevent a certain little travel companion from having an expensive drink or bite to eat).
A comfortable king-size bed and his and hers closets could be found in the bedroom.
Although the bathroom was small, the shower/tub combination was perfect for us.
The spacious balcony outside was the room's true focal point, though.
We were able to fit all three of us comfortably on the love seat, and it also featured a two-person hot tub, a butterfly chair, a tiny dining table, and a small dining area where we ate room service our first night.
While we were there, the temperature kept very warm, but taking a little soak in the hot water was really soothing.
The vista, however, was the real draw of the deck.
We had magnificent views of the sea and Spinalonga, the ancient leper colony on a little island just off the coast, even though we were only in Suite 208 on the second floor of the building.
We prefer extra space when we travel with our daughter, so we've just made several reservations for vacation rentals.
At Domes of Elounda, there's no need to do that.
Just be aware that since the hotel only offers suites, you cannot use Suite Night Awards if you choose them as a Choice Benefit to earn Marriott Platinum or Titanium status.
All visitors receive breakfast.
Free breakfast is another benefit that is generally only available to higher-tier Marriott elite travelers, but at Domes of Elounda, it is available to all visitors each morning of their stay.
This comprised a huge assortment of cold foods, heated dishes, dishes created to order, and even sparkling champagne.
We inquired about a to-go option on our final day because we had an early flight out of Heraklion (about an hour's drive from the resort) that morning.
The staff was glad to prepare breakfast boxes for us, which had chocolate muffins, ham-and-cheese sandwiches, and a variety of fruit and juice drinks.
Even though breakfast is provided to everyone, Platinum and Titanium guests still receive benefits for their commitment.
Several benefits are available to Marriott elite members.
During our visit, I benefited from the following perks because I am a Platinum member:
• Free upgrading from a suite with a garden view to one with a sea view.
• A complimentary 25-minute "thermae spa" session (use of the spa facilities).
• Each visitor received one dinner at Blend that included an appetiser, an entree, and a dessert.
• a box of Cretan olive oil biscuits and a welcome bottle of sparkling wine.
We also had access to the Haute Living Room, which is essentially an executive-style lounge by the main pool, thanks to my status.
This was a wonderful relief from the heat (and noise) that was characteristic of the pool area and offered food and drinks from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
I made sure to take both the key card and my regular room key with me whenever we left our suite because you need to use a different key card for this lounge.
Lastly, on the Wednesday evening of our stay, we received an invitation to a cocktail reception for elite members at the Grand Domes Bar, which is located just off the main lobby.
It was a wonderful chance to take in the breathtaking environment while the resort's management team spoke with Marriott's devoted guests over a chilled glass of prosecco and nibbles.
There are 5 hotel restaurants — but try to eat as possible on-site
When it comes to dining while travelling, there's something to be said for convenience, so if you plan to stay at Domes of Elounda for an extended period of time, you'll value the fact that there are a number of restaurants (and food trucks) there.
• Tholos, which serves breakfast and dinner buffets.
• A seafood restaurant on the beach called Topos 1910.
• Steakhouse Blend is located close to the main pool.
• Near the adults-only pool is an Asian fusion restaurant called Yaosai (open to families for dinner).
• Between the pool and the kids club, there is a plaza with a number of food trucks called Core.
Then there were four bars: one near the adults-only and main pools, one by the beach, and the Grand Domes Bar in the lobby.
You can view all meal menus by scanning the QR code on your room key packet, which is also available 24/7, and room service is also offered.
We were given a complete list of these operating hours at check-in, even though some of these outlets were only open on specific days of the week.
But if you eat all or even the majority of your meals there, you are missing out and perhaps doing more financial harm than necessary.
Only a three-minute drive away from the resort lies the small village of Plaka, which alone has over a dozen restaurants, several of which have views of the water.
The distance to the much bigger town of Elounda is only ten minutes.
And both include some genuine jewels.
The grilled octopus and seafood spaghetti at Thalasso and Piralia were highlights of our two fantastic lunches in Plaka (we started with the blue crab appetizer, then chose one of the pasta dishes).
The invoices at each one came to less than 57 euros ($60), even though we ordered starters, two dinners, a bottle of wine, and a drink for our daughter at each one.
Just keep in mind that some of the hosts in Plaka's waterfront neighbourhoods can be pushy in their attempts to entice you in, so do your research and decide which location(s) you want to visit before you go.
We went to Elounda more frequently, and we also had some amazing meals there.
On our first full day, we had a terrific lunch at Rusteak and equally fantastic meals at Lotus Eaters and Moon Spinners.
At Moon Spinners, the entire, grilled snapper with roasted veggies was fantastic.
It should be noted that Elounda has two distinct strips of eateries along the ocean. One is close to the town's major harbour and has slightly elevated views (Lotus Eaters), while the other is further away and requires a drive directly along the sea (Rusteak and Moon Spinners).
Finally, I discovered that American Express acceptance was quite uncommon; in fact, out of our seven meals off-property, only one accepted my American Express® Gold Card (one restaurant owner indicated this was a Bank of Greece restriction).
However, the 3 points every $1 I got for dining made using my Chase Sapphire Reserve a simple replacement.
You should get a rental automobile.
Domes of Elounda is around an hour's drive from Heraklion International Airport, one of the island's two air-access points, as was previously indicated.
It might have been possible to arrange transportation to the resort and back to the airport, but I'd strongly advise renting a car.
This provided us the flexibility to explore the wonderful eateries in Elounda and get some snacks and beverages for the accommodation at the grocery store.
It also gave us the opportunity to travel less than 20 minutes to the village of Agios Nikolaos to see a Cretan olive oil farm.
We chose the Cretan Culture Panorama, which featured the following:
• An explanation of the property's history and the production of olive oil on the island.
• A chance to visit some goats and milk one of them!
• A lesson on the many cheeses found in Crete as well as an opportunity to sample freshly made cheese made with the milk we had just gathered.
• Fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, and olives as a snack.
• In a practical culinary class, we prepared tzatziki and dolmades (stuffed grape leaves).
• Several shots of raki, a potent spirit that is a symbol of family in Greek culture.
The three-hour excursion provided a wonderful opportunity to experience Cretan hospitality and discover the island's culture.
A terrific place for families.
Beyond the lodgings, Domes of Elounda is a fantastic resort for families with young children.
First off, there is a free kids club with planned activities for children ages 4 to 12.
There is no all-day option because this was split into morning sessions (from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and afternoon sessions (from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.).
During each of her visits, our daughter had a great time, and we loved that she was making friends with children from all over the world.
There is also a paid alternative for child care available for parents with younger children.
• Ages 4 months to 2 years: 30 euros (or 32 dollars) per session (or 50 euros (or 53 dollars) for two sessions in one day).
• For children ages 2-4, the cost is €25 ($26) each session (or €40 ($42) for two sessions in one day).
The property's Core area (near the main pool) then changed into a family-friendly outdoor event on Tuesday and Friday nights, with a bubble show on one night and face painting, stilt walkers, and balloon animals on the other night.
The kids basically had an excuse to run about and play with the new friends they had made at the kids club earlier in the day. There were also a few food trucks that provided drinks and appetizing-looking munchies.
There is enough to do, but reserve in advance if you like.
Domes of Elounda's wide range of appeal is one of its outstanding qualities.
Do you simply wish to relax with a book and some sunscreen by the pool or on the shore?
Would you prefer to be active at all times of the day, partaking in water sports, spa treatments, or live music in the Grand Domes Bar?
Or do you like a hybrid of the two?
The resort should be appealing to you regardless of where you are on this spectrum.
Many couples were just unwinding when we were there, but there were also lots of couples out and about.
After our stressful trip experience, my wife and I tended to lean more toward the "do nothing" crowd, but it was wonderful to have the option.
On our final full day, we even attempted renting a paddleboat with a slide to cool down in the sea during the heat of the day. Be aware that these water activities require cash only and cannot be charged to the accommodation.
Additionally, the adjacent towns offered a wide range of activities.
Still, we discovered that making reservations in advance was crucial.
We attempted to plan a few sessions at the kids club for our daughter on our first day, but every morning time slot for the remainder of the week was taken.
My wife and I then attempted to book a couples massage when the director managed to get her in, but there was only one time slot left that day.
Everything worked great because we were fairly flexible with our travel dates, but if you have a more fixed itinerary or are visiting the resort in the height of the summer, it's absolutely worth getting in touch to reserve some items.
In conclusion
We had been looking forward to our stay at the Domes of Elounda for many months because Crete had been on our bucket list for a very long time.
Our expectations increased as we got closer to our vacation.
Thankfully, the resort and the island ended up fulfilling our high expectations.
The people of Crete are friendly, and the island is magnificent.
Domes of Elounda, on the other hand, provided a lovely environment for unwinding and recharging, as well as a variety of family-friendly amenities like free breakfast, full suites, and a complementary kids club, as well as service members that made us feel right at home.
Look no further than Domes of Elounda if you're seeking for a method to accumulate (or use) Marriott points while taking advantage of a beautiful resort in Greece.
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