My latest stay in Greece was on the island of Crete at the Marriott Domes Zeen Chania Resort. My daughter, Kelly, had stayed there earlier and really enjoyed it. I wanted to stay in Crete, so I chose it as our destination. Crete is a huge island, and there are many different chain hotels to use points at throughout the island. Here is my Domes Zeen Chania Resort review.

 

The Resort Redemption

I spent three 85K annual night certificates for this stay. I earned them through my Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, Marriott Bonvoy Ritz Carlton card (only available through a product change now), and Marriott’s $15,000 spend challenge this year. 

 

First Impressions of the Domes Zeen Chania Resort

Honestly, I was underwhelmed. The main reception area from the outside doesn’t look very luxurious. However, it was much nicer when we got inside. We were warmly greeted and set on a couch for our registration process. We were offered some local tea and oriented to the hotel. Our room wasn’t ready, so they offered us the use of their lounge or the ability to go to the main swimming area and use the facilities. That was what we chose to do. 

About an hour later, I got a message that I could come pick up our key. The resort was spread out, and it was a hike from the pool to the reception area. Luckily, they gave me a ride to the room in a “buggy” (golf cart).

 

Our Room at the Resort

We were upgraded to a beautiful room. The Tropical Open Plan Suite had its own terrace and pool. It came with a King bed and sofa bed. They also had sparkling wine (sadly, it was wasted on us 😜), fresh fruit, and cookies waiting for us.  Cash price of this room was over $700/night.

 

 

 

 

This beautiful room had robes, slippers, complimentary water, and a large bathroom, which we appreciated. We enjoyed spending time at the main pool and then returning for quiet relaxation by our private pool.

 

 

Resort Amenities

The hotel has an outdoor gym and a spa. Around the pool area, they frequently come by with complimentary treats. On our first day, we were presented with fruit juice, watermelon, and some Greek donut holes, all in the space of a couple of hours. 

 

 

There is also a private beach area but it was small and not the best beach for swimming. There were quite a few loungers there and a lifeguard though. Just a short walk away is a large public beach area. 

 

 

You can also walk to the Old Town of Chania from the resort which is a delightful visit. We chose to take a taxi because my friend had bad ankles, however. It is a definite must-visit, though.

 

 

Food at the Resort

There are two main restaurants at the Domes Zeen Chania: the Beach House Restaurant and Enino Restaurant. We received complimentary breakfast at either restaurant. It was buffet-style at the Beach House and ala carte at Enino. 

We ate at the buffet-style Beach House because there were so many delicious choices. It was highly anticipated every morning, from hot courses to every type of fresh fruit (the watermelon was divine) to delicious pastries.

We also had dinner there twice and the truffle chicken was delicious. I highly recommend it. Around the pool, we ate snacks like burrata or salads. The staff around the pool couldn’t have been kinder.

 

 

Bottom Line

My Domes Zeen Chania review all in all is a positive one. I would absolutely return. I must say that English was spoken there but I felt we got the “deer in the headlights” look with a lot of requests. The resort itself was beautiful and the town of Chania was a beautiful place to explore.

 

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