Marriott Bonvoy hotels in GREECE [Master Thread]
Nov 17, 2015, 4:47 am
#121
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
All I know for sure is that we'll pick Hotel Grand Bretegne for 1st 3 nights. It looks perfectly placed and I like it. The pics remind me a bit of the Hotel Pulitzer in Amsterdam. 
If I can talk my friend into only 1 night in Santorini, then we can chill 2 nights at the end at Westin Astir Beach place. I think prices of flights from Athens to Santorini/Crete and back are going to be what makes or breaks the itinerary. We both want to go but have so little knowledge of the area. I know the UK and other countries so easily, but being as I've never seen Greece, the whole thing is pretty confusing. Yet, fun to figure out! 
Once you get to Greece it won't seem confusing. Just go with the flow.
Nov 17, 2015, 9:08 am
#122
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CT/ Germany - Ich spreche deutsch
Programs: UA 1K, Bonvoy LTTE, HH Dia, HY Expl
Posts: 4,652
All in all we did:
Flew into ATH from the US and spent 2 nights there at the GB
Flew from ATH into Santorini and spent 3 nights at the Mystique
Took high speed ferry to Crete and spent 5 nights at the Blue Palace
Flew back to ATH and spent night near airport for an early morning return flight to the US the next day
Jun 3, 2016, 8:36 pm
#123
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Programs: Military Space-A, UA Plat, AS MVP Gold 75K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,246
So, you must be back by now. Where did you end up staying and what were your impressions?
Anything new on Greece properties? I'm headed there in May and traveling with a friend. I was thinking we'd do 2 nights in Athens to start at Grand Bretagne, then Santorini for 2 nights (at Mystique or Vedema but I'm not sure about which is better for upgrades and overall stay) possibly a night in Crete, and then back to Athens for our last night at the Westin Astir Beach place.
Jun 6, 2016, 12:12 am
#124
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ann Arbor Area
Programs: UA Million Miler, BonVoyLifetime Platinum, UA Platinum, President's Club,
Posts: 1,494
Thanks for asking! Both were beyond my imagination. HGB was perfection, from start to finish. I stayed on points, 12K a night with 5th night free, and received the greatest upgrade of my life, a view that was literally, out of my dreams, and the kindest staff I've ever encountered. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a living room, and as a shocking but special surprise, a gorgeous suede/leather duffle I'd admired on their FB page. There was one for each of us waiting in our suite, with our names embossed in gold on the tags. In the gift shop, they were going for $365 Euros each. We had Afternoon Tea there, and bought items in the shoppes, and of course, instagrammed and Facebooked all about the trip. But I still feel as if they lost money on us. Such kind, generous people.
Blue Palace treated us very kindly. Crete is beautiful, the bi-level Masionette Suite was worth the extra money we paid (for an UG) and I still have wonderful dreams of laying on the float, feeling the waves beneath me, feeling the sun. The spa was the best I've ever been to, and fantastic restaurants. We had our own pool, had room service breakfast out there, and a balcony above that. Great location, absolutely perfectly clear water, like glass. Our pictures are so gorgeous. I'd HIGHLY recommend both hotels. We planned SO far in advance (I'm usually a last-minute traveler) that when it finally arrived, it went too fast. I wish we'd have stayed longer, but I'll do just about anything to get back there.
I traveled with my BFF and she had her own room and bathroom at both properties. We received gifts upon gifts, and were treated like VIPs. We did have an encounter with a huge strike on Parliament due to an unpopular (to put it mildly) vote, but we were safe the whole time. The police and military lined up in front of HGB and other 2 hotels and we watched from 3 views AND CNN International, for 2 days as they peacefully protested. The final night there were a few bad apples throwing molotov cocktails and firing up tires, but we were safe. If anything, it was interesting to watch. We felt badly for the people of Greece who had been SO welcoming.
It was a dream trip, no other way to say it. And honestly, I'd go back in a second if I could. I'm praying that I can return next year. I'd love to hit a few more sights in Athens and then a few different islands. But we chose exactly what we wanted and it worked out perfectly. I've been all over Europe but never felt such love and kindness, from the hotel staff, the people of Athens, the people of Crete, etc. I can't wait to get back.
Blue Palace treated us very kindly. Crete is beautiful, the bi-level Masionette Suite was worth the extra money we paid (for an UG) and I still have wonderful dreams of laying on the float, feeling the waves beneath me, feeling the sun. The spa was the best I've ever been to, and fantastic restaurants. We had our own pool, had room service breakfast out there, and a balcony above that. Great location, absolutely perfectly clear water, like glass. Our pictures are so gorgeous. I'd HIGHLY recommend both hotels. We planned SO far in advance (I'm usually a last-minute traveler) that when it finally arrived, it went too fast. I wish we'd have stayed longer, but I'll do just about anything to get back there.
I traveled with my BFF and she had her own room and bathroom at both properties. We received gifts upon gifts, and were treated like VIPs. We did have an encounter with a huge strike on Parliament due to an unpopular (to put it mildly) vote, but we were safe the whole time. The police and military lined up in front of HGB and other 2 hotels and we watched from 3 views AND CNN International, for 2 days as they peacefully protested. The final night there were a few bad apples throwing molotov cocktails and firing up tires, but we were safe. If anything, it was interesting to watch. We felt badly for the people of Greece who had been SO welcoming.
It was a dream trip, no other way to say it. And honestly, I'd go back in a second if I could. I'm praying that I can return next year. I'd love to hit a few more sights in Athens and then a few different islands. But we chose exactly what we wanted and it worked out perfectly. I've been all over Europe but never felt such love and kindness, from the hotel staff, the people of Athens, the people of Crete, etc. I can't wait to get back.
Last edited by thaliajen; Jun 6, 2016 at 12:27 am
Nov 2, 2016, 3:34 am
#126
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 905
Breakfast is very nice in Tudor Hall , good spread made special by sunrise over the Acropolis.
Nice staff throughout.
Can't really compare with the GB as my last stay there was in the 70s.
Dec 7, 2016, 12:01 pm
#127
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: UA:1k; MR: PLT; Hilton: Gold
Posts: 1,324
Looks like some new Design options popped up recently.
Was looking at Mykonos Theoxenia as the Santa Marina is something like EUR 1,000+/night for my desired dates. Anybody stayed here before or have any thoughts?
We're going to be going to stay at the Mystique in Santorini after, so would be okay if our Mykonos hotel isn't the most amazing.
Was looking at Mykonos Theoxenia as the Santa Marina is something like EUR 1,000+/night for my desired dates. Anybody stayed here before or have any thoughts?
We're going to be going to stay at the Mystique in Santorini after, so would be okay if our Mykonos hotel isn't the most amazing.
Dec 7, 2016, 12:37 pm
#128
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,958
Looks like some new Design options popped up recently.
Was looking at Mykonos Theoxenia as the Santa Marina is something like EUR 1,000+/night for my desired dates. Anybody stayed here before or have any thoughts?
We're going to be going to stay at the Mystique in Santorini after, so would be okay if our Mykonos hotel isn't the most amazing.
Was looking at Mykonos Theoxenia as the Santa Marina is something like EUR 1,000+/night for my desired dates. Anybody stayed here before or have any thoughts?
We're going to be going to stay at the Mystique in Santorini after, so would be okay if our Mykonos hotel isn't the most amazing.
Dec 8, 2016, 6:20 am
#130
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CT/ Germany - Ich spreche deutsch
Programs: UA 1K, Bonvoy LTTE, HH Dia, HY Expl
Posts: 4,652
If you Google the new hotel you can find their actual website outside of the SPG system. There is a tab on that page for FAQs and if you scroll thru that to the section on "Hotel Hightlights" there are comments on the location. (I tried to cut and paste the wording but it's not allowing me to do so. Here is the link to the page but you will have to scroll to the "Hotel Hightlights" section - http://louishotels.com/mykonos-theox...303.1481202699) Basically to me the location description indicates to me that the Mykonos Theoxenia is NOT on the beach!.
We just booked our second trip to Greece for next June. As an SPG loyalist, we looked at the options on Mykonos but based on all the recommendations we got we are going with a smaller independent hotel called the Rochari. (If you want info send me a PM.)
We just booked our second trip to Greece for next June. As an SPG loyalist, we looked at the options on Mykonos but based on all the recommendations we got we are going with a smaller independent hotel called the Rochari. (If you want info send me a PM.)
Dec 8, 2016, 6:43 am
#132
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,958
If you Google the new hotel you can find their actual website outside of the SPG system. There is a tab on that page for FAQs and if you scroll thru that to the section on "Hotel Hightlights" there are comments on the location. (I tried to cut and paste the wording but it's not allowing me to do so. Here is the link to the page but you will have to scroll to the "Hotel Hightlights" section - http://louishotels.com/mykonos-theox...303.1481202699) Basically to me the location description indicates to me that the Mykonos Theoxenia is NOT on the beach!.
We just booked our second trip to Greece for next June. As an SPG loyalist, we looked at the options on Mykonos but based on all the recommendations we got we are going with a smaller independent hotel called the Rochari. (If you want info send me a PM.)
We just booked our second trip to Greece for next June. As an SPG loyalist, we looked at the options on Mykonos but based on all the recommendations we got we are going with a smaller independent hotel called the Rochari. (If you want info send me a PM.)
If you google map "Mykonos Theoxenia" and use the satellite image you can see it is as they describe it.... " seaside"......but it does not look like a sand beach but typical shoreline rocks.
Feb 6, 2017, 3:26 pm
#133
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Southern Cali
Programs: AA ExPlat, Marriott Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,022
Anyone have any experience with the New Hotel in Athens? It is ranked as a Category 5 hotel but is much cheaper than the two Luxury Privileges Properties in the city. I was curious how it compares.
Mar 11, 2017, 4:21 pm
#135
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,958
A basic room at the GB will trump a suite at the New Hotel any day. The GB is an experience that everyone should have at least once in life.
