To the point
Check out our review of the Domes of Elounda Hotel, Autograph Collection located in Crete (Greece) near the city of Elounda. Obtained with Marriott Bonvoy points.
An affordable hotel with Marriott Bonvoy points
L’hôtel Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection est de catégorie 8.
Cela signifie qu’il en coûte 85 000 points Marriott Bonvoy pour y séjourner une nuit. À la date de notre séjour, en plein été, il en coûtait autour de 1 000 CA$ pour une nuit… !
Note: nous avions réservé cet hôtel AVANT les changements de mars 2019, lorsque TOUS les hôtels de luxe ne coûtaient “que” 60 000 points par nuit (y compris l’Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai).
Contrairement à l’hôtel Domes Noruz Chania, Autograph Collection – réservé aux adultes – l’hôtel Domes of Elounda – Autograph Collection accueille de nombreuses familles.
Que vous choisissiez de payer en argent… ou en points, celui-ci sera très onéreux !
How to get Marriott Bonvoy points
Pour obtenir des points Marriott Bonvoy au Canada, le plus simple est via l’une de ces 3 cartes de crédit:
- La carte Marriott Bonvoyᵐᶜ American ExpressMD
- La carte Marriott Bonvoyᵐᶜ Entreprise American ExpressMD
- La carte Cobaltᵐᶜ American Express
Chacune d’entre elles offre une belle prime de bienvenue et la possibilité d’accumuler des points Marriott Bonvoy sur chacun de vos achats.
Vous pourriez avoir les deux cartes Marriott Bonvoy et réunir vos points dans votre compte Marriott Bonvoy !
Quant à la carte Cobaltᵐᶜ American Express, elle permet de transférer ses points-privilèges en points Marriott Bonvoy au taux de 1:1.2.
Cela signifie que les 5 points-privilèges accumulés par dollar d’achats dans certaines catégories:
- épiceries
- restaurants-bars
- dépanneurs
- livraison de nourriture à domicile
…vous permettent d’obtenir l’équivalent de 6 points Marriott Bonvoy par dollar d’achats !
Our review of the Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection
Dans le cadre de notre voyage d’une semaine en Crète – sans les enfants -, avant de nous rendre à l’hôtel Domes Noruz Chania, Autograph Collection, nous avons séjourné 2 nuits dans cet hôtel Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection.
Location
L’hôtel Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection est situé sur la côte Nord-Est de la Crète, à proximité de la ville d’Elounda et environ 1 heure de route d’Héraklion.
Son adresse: Tsifliki, Elounda – Crete 72053 Greece
Arrival
À environ 1 heure de voiture d’Héraklion et 3h30 de Chania, l’hôtel Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection se situe en bord de mer dans une zone encore bien sauvage.
If you are in a rental car, a valet will take care of your car. Our luggage is taken care of too, and we will see them back in our room.
Instead of checking in at the front desk, we will be brought outside by a receptionist, which makes for a nice introduction!
While she was handling our passports and some formalities, the bartender brought us some very refreshing welcome cocktails.
We appreciate the calm on this terrace and a light breeze while it is more than 35 degrees Celsius.
While Jean-Maximilien is busy filling out the registration documents…
… I take the opportunity to walk around this terrace.
It is a particularly pleasant place, especially in the early evening when a pianist is present near the bar.
Once the registration is complete, the advantages reserved for Titanium (and Platinum) Elite members are presented to us:
- breakfasts
- 1 meal for 2 people at dinner during our stay
- 30 minutes access to the spa
We will then be taken to our room in a cart.
Our first suite: 314
The room booked with points was type “1 suite with a room and a bubbling bath”.
We were upgraded to a 2 bedroom suite with private pool, i.e. 4 categories above. Thanks to Titanium Elite status for this new upgrade!
The living room
So we arrive directly in the living room:
Lounge that has a very nice ceiling height:
In this lounge, there is a well-stocked mini-bar.
And a Nespresso coffee machine, with an office that we won’t use… preferring “the one” on the terrace!
A welcome gift awaited us (Jean-Maximilien said we were celebrating a birthday during our stay):
Head to the master bedroom, with a wardrobe separating it from the bathroom.
The bedroom
The master bedroom is pretty ordinary. No “wow” effect as in other luxury hotels we have been able to stay in.
The bathrobes are good quality, on the other hand the television is rather old and small. But who watches TV during a holiday in Greece?!
Little surprise when we return to our room the first night… 😉
The bathroom
The bathroom consists of a large bathtub/shower and toilets.
The copper sink is surrounded by the usual toiletries.
The focal point of this room is of course the huge bubbling bath, in the center of which is the shower!
The guest room
The other part of our suite is made up of a second room that we will not use.
The second bathroom
The second bathroom consists of a copper sink, toilets and a small shower.
The terrace
The centerpiece of this suite is its terrace.
It consists of a sofa, 2 sun deckchairs and a table Jean-Maximilien will use as a desk:
From this terrace, we have access to a small private swimming pool.
You won’t do any lengths in this pool! On the other hand, it is handy to cool off – every 10 minutes – during a tanning/working session on the terrace.
The view is particularly pleasant in the morning when the sun is flooding the terrace with light.
Note on this suite
This room was almost perfect… to one detail: its location. Our block of rooms was located at an intersection of 2 cart passages… and the truth is, we felt that all the hotel residents were passing under the windows, especially between 4 and 7pm.
It became so disturbing that we preferred to leave the room to go to the beach. The next day we asked to change room…. you’ll find out below.
Our second suite
Our second suite will be located in a much quieter place. Upon entry, the pool – nicer than our previous suite:
This pool is also very nice in the evening…
… or sunrise!
The terrace is smaller and is under an olive tree.
Whether it’s morning or evening, it’s a nice place!
The living room
By entering, we arrive in the living room.
The special feature of this suite is that it is a duplex.
In a small adjoining room is the mini-bar, the Nespresso coffee machine and an office.
The first bathroom
A bathroom is located on this level…
… and is made up of a large shower.
The bedroom
We clearly preferred this room to the one on the first night.
The master bathroom
Next door is the bathroom…
… with a large bathtub.
The terrace
On the same floor, at the top of the stairs, we access the very large terrace.
Only regret: there could have been 2 sun deckchairs to occupy the space!
Here’s a sunrise from this terrace… Pretty good, isn’t it?
Hotel amenities
The adult pool
Below the reception is a lightly used swimming pool.
This is the adult pool. As there are many children in this hotel, other swimming pools are dedicated to them.
The outdoor gym
No closed gym here: everything is outdoors.
The beach
Let’s go to the beach now!
To reach it, it is necessary to walk the path that leads to it (possibility of being taken down by cart) and which passes under the road along the seaside.
The beach is private and rather narrow.
However, there are many areas to be isolated under olive trees.
A bar and restaurant are present on both sides of the beach.
A pontoon allows you to admire the view, or make an appointment for water sports.
The spa
See you now at the spa!
Contrairement au spa du Domes Noruz Chania, Autograph Collection qui est gratuit et avec possibilité d’y accéder à volonté, le spa du Domes of Elounda , Autograph Collection est payant.
Toutefois, grâce au statut Élite Titanium (et Platine), nous avions accès à un parcours de 30 minutes.
I couldn’t photograph the other rooms that consisted of a sauna, a steam room, multiple showers with hot/cold/sound effect, and a rest room.
Haute - The complex for families
To access the family complex, I advise you to ask to be driven there by cart. This one is behind the hill of the main building.
In fact, the Elounda complex is divided into two parts.
On foot, you can first go up to the helipad, which will give you great views of the area…
… before accessing to the family complex.
The club for teenagers
The first space you will see is the teen club:
… or the big kids!
The children's club
Next door is the children’s club with indoor and outdoor spaces.
Everything is well-thought-out and the babysitters take care of the children.
The pool for families
Then you have access to a very large swimming pool for families, and a paddling pool for the little ones.
Many relaxation areas are available, as well as a convenience store with international newspapers and magazines.
A bar and restaurant are present:
To go back to our suite, we will use a cart.
Breakfast
Grâce au statut Élite Titanium (également possible avec Élite Platinum), nous avions droit au petit-déjeuner gratuit chaque matin.
This is a restaurant with indoor and outdoor spaces.
We chose to sit in the Silence Zone – compared to the one for families (including the terrace).
It’s a buffet, but it’s possible to get eggs served your way.
The sweet part:
The salty part:
This buffet was perfect, as was the table-service.
The evening buffet
Grâce au statut Élite Titanium (également possible avec Élite Platinum), nous avions droit à un souper pour 2 personnes, une fois pendant notre séjour.
We chose to have dinner there on Saturday for the Greek Evening. Here are the pictures of the buffet starting with the salty:
Then the sweet part:
A very good buffet to taste many Greek specialties!
Conclusion
Cet hôtel est un très beau complexe pour les familles.
Si vous êtes en couple, nous vous conseillerons plutôt de séjourner Domes Noruz Chania, Autograph Collection, à moins de vous rendre en Crète en dehors des vacances scolaires.
En effet, il y a toujours beaucoup d’activité, un peu partout sur le complexe, et nous restons toujours avec un goût amer sur notre première chambre: si belle… mais si bruyante par moment.
Vu que nous avons séjourné dans les deux Domes de la région, il est plutôt aisé pour nous de les comparer: le rapport qualité-prix penche, à nos yeux, en faveur du Domes Noruz Chania, Autograph Collection:
- Catégorie 7 contre Catégorie 8 (une différence de 25 000 points par nuit!)
- Des installations plus récentes tant sur le complexe que dans les chambres
- Un spa accessible à volonté
- Une proximité plus immédiate des points d’intérêts important de la Crète
À nos yeux, le Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection serait mieux catégorisé en niveau 7 qu’en niveau 8.
Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
