Exclusive HfP reader benefits from the Domes hotel group

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There has been quite a lot of HfP coverage, much of it in the comments section, about the ‘Domes’ hotel group in recent years. Domes also generously donated a 2-night stay at their Corfu hotel as a grand prize for the raffle at the Head for Points Winter party in 2019.

The coverage was driven by Domes of Elounda in Crete. Until it was repriced last year, this was exceptional value for money if you had Marriott Bonvoy points and a family, as large villas were available.

Many HfP readers went there – including myself last October – and I don’t think any were disappointed. Here is a review of Domes of Elounda written by a reader as part of our ‘My Favourite Hotels’ series. I took a totally different angle here.

There are actually four hotels in the group, all part of Marriott. Elounda is not typical, as two of the others are adults-only:

Domes of Elounda in Crete, Autograph Collection (the two pictures here are Elounda)

Domes Noruz Chania, Autograph Collection (adults only)

Domes Zeen, a Luxury Collection Resort, Chania (ex Casa Cook Chania)

Domes Miramare, a Luxury Collection Resort, Corfu (adults only)

Domes has offered exclusive benefits for any Head for Points reader who books via our booking partner Emyr Thomas. We offered this deal to readers last year and it proved popular.

On top of the standard added benefits that Emyr can get you as a preferred partner with Marriott’s luxury brands, ie:

Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability

Complimentary breakfast for two daily for duration of the stay

Early check-in / late check-out, subject to availability

Complimentary wi-fi

….. you will also receive, exclusively as a HfP reader:

One head & shoulder massage / per booking / per stay

One complimentary 3 course lunch / per booking / per stay

For clarity, bookings made via Emyr are ‘pay on departure’ and DO qualify for Marriott Bonvoy points and elite night credits.

You need to book by 28th February but your stay can be at any future date.

In terms of pricing, he should be able to match the flexible rate offered on the Marriott website. Bookings are cancellable under the standard hotel terms.

If any of these resorts are of interest, please email Emyr via the form on this page of HfP and he can send you a quote for your dates. Be sure to specify which room type you are interested in.

How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (December 2021)

There are various ways of earning Marriott Bonvoy points from UK credit cards. Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

The official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card usually comes with 20,000 points for signing up, 2 points for every £1 you spend and 15 elite night credits per year.

You can apply here.

American Express Marriott Bonvoy credit card

Marriott Bonvoy American Express

20,000 points sign-up bonus and 15 elite night credits Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points by converting American Express Membership Rewards points at the rate of 2:3.

Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Marriott Bonvoy Gold status for as long as they hold the card? It also comes with Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Gold and MeliaRewards Gold status. We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

The Platinum Card from American Express

30,000 points and an unbeatable set of travel benefits – for a fee Read our full review

You can also earn American Express Membership Rewards points with American Express Gold (20,000 bonus points), the American Express Rewards Credit Card (5,000 bonus points) and – for small business owners – American Express Business Gold (20,000 bonus points) and Business Platinum (40,000 bonus points).

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Marriott Bonvoy points.

(Want to earn more hotel points? Click here to see our complete list of promotions from the major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.)

Category

Marriott Bonvoy

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

Phillip says:

26 Jan26 January 05:49

Many of the flexible rates at Domes require deposits this year (normally 3 nights’ worth for a 5 night stay).
- Phillip says:
  
  26 Jan26 January 05:50
  
  I should add – which would work well with the current bonus points promotion on the Marriott Amex!
  - BuildBackBetter says:
    
    26 Jan26 January 06:39
    
    Wiped out by fx charges?
    - Phillip says:
      
      26 Jan26 January 07:54
      
      As always, the value you get out of any points currency depends on your individual use.
      - Genghis says:
        
        26 Jan26 January 10:19
        
        Equally, should always use replacement cost as the comparison, not what you can get for your points.
- ChrisC says:
  
  26 Jan26 January 06:27
  
  Does that apply to this offer which should be booked via Emyr?
  - Phillip says:
    
    26 Jan26 January 07:55
    
    I was referring to the flexible rates directly with Marriott.
- Paul says:
  
  26 Jan26 January 07:42
  
  A deposit?! That sounds mad! I won’t look at anyone who is doing this
  - Phillip says:
    
    26 Jan26 January 07:56
    
    I wouldn’t be surprised if more hotels try this to bring in cash – they are refundable deposits – but still deposits.
    - A says:
      
      26 Jan26 January 08:15
      
      Risk is obviously “local legislation” appearing which permits any such deposit to be returned in the form of a voucher. If you pay even a refundable deposit, go into that with your eyes open.
      
      (Leaving aside questions of governing law…)
      - Matthew says:
        
        26 Jan26 January 08:23
        
        And domes were doing this. My pal had his whole ‘refundable’ stay monies kept by Domes of Elounda claiming Greek legislation.
        
        I emailed Emyr last week and the terms was a 30% deposit which has put me off.
        
        Also, Domes of Elounda gives free breakfast to all anyway.
        
        Lastly…has anyone stayed in the Private residences? Just wondering how these compare to the Luxury Residences?
      - DZOO says:
        
        26 Jan26 January 09:51
        
        Absolutely this – made a fully refundable booking directly on Marriott website in 2019 (i.e. pre C19) for a May 2020 stay. All I have now is a voucher due to said “local legislation” – needless to say Marriott unwilling to intervene.
      - A says:
        
        26 Jan26 January 11:25
        
        DZOO – worth checking the T&Cs from time of booking, if you have them. If governing law is English, Greek local legislation will be irrelevant (though may of course complicate enforcement)
  - Mike P says:
    
    26 Jan26 January 10:24
    
    100% this. Deposit, no thanks.
- Emyr says:
  
  7 Feb7 February 10:45
  
  Hi Phillip,
  
  I have negotiated with Domes to make an exception for HFP readers where no deposit is due, only a CC guarantee. If you are interested, please let me know.
  
  Best wishes,
  Emyr
The uncivil servant says:

26 Jan26 January 09:48

Why is it called Domes?
- Rob says:
  
  26 Jan26 January 10:37
  
  The Elounda one, the first one, has a dome on every villa in the original bit. The other three probably don’t have any domes 🙂 Neither does the newer section of Elounda where we were.
  - Phillip says:
    
    26 Jan26 January 21:10
    
    Domes Noruz has plenty of domes as part of the overall design. Miramare not so much.
Char Char says:

26 Jan26 January 10:34

I’d think it’s going to be even worse for deposits and refund now after Brexit, domes is nice but some things needed improving last visit.

Breakfast was complimentary for all, the buffet breakfast was always cold, if they haven’t fixed that by now….

3.5eur for your coffee pods in the room was also fun, does this still happen I wonder…
- Paul says:
  
  26 Jan26 January 12:37
  
  Yes I agree, now that we are a third country we have no protections other than taken up local legal actions. Last year the Hilton at CDG tried the local legislation route with me but luckily Amex Platinum stepped in.
- the_real_a says:
  
  26 Jan26 January 12:49
  
  3.5EUR for a coffee capsule? No matter how successful someone becomes, there comes a point when one refuses to be screwed out of principle through appreciation of the value of money.
  - Matthew says:
    
    26 Jan26 January 13:45
    
    I just take my own pods 😂
  - Chris says:
    
    26 Jan26 January 13:46
    
    You wont like Bora Bora – nespresso caps are 5usd each @ Thalasso.
    - Rob says:
      
      26 Jan26 January 13:59
      
      I remember paying €3 at Penha Longha about 10 years ago, although they were still a novelty then. I don’t think I’ve paid since then – I remember getting some off house keeping recently for free when I was meant to pay €1 though! I get a feeling a lot of people pocket the free capsules in the room.
      - mutley says:
        
        26 Jan26 January 14:08
        
        Unofficial perk of business travel, always ask for more pods! I just had to but some pods for the first time in a few years, as my last business trip was in March 2020, and I was spending about 80 nights away.
      - Harry T says:
        
        26 Jan26 January 21:33
        
        Pretty sure the pods were free at Penha Longa in summer 2020 😊
- Erico1875 says:
  
  26 Jan26 January 17:44
  
  £1.50 for a jar of Aldi Columbian instant does us for a fortnight on holiday.
  I’d rather poke myself in the eye with a fork than pay €3.50 for a cup of coffee
- Czechoslovakia says:
  
  26 Jan26 January 18:50
  
  When we stayed, we were told 2 pods per adult per day were included? 3 years back now, mind…
Anuj says:

26 Jan26 January 14:14

I stayed at Domes Miramare and I still remember the view of the sea splashing as you walk through the hotel lobby. Great hotel and it at least used to be a bargain.I think I paid 35,000 points for a night and used a free night voucher that I got through a targeted bonvoy promotion
- Chelseafi says:
  
  26 Jan26 January 18:57
  
  Stayed Miramare Sept 20, booked via BA Holidays, lovely place did really well with all the COVID changes. Recommend the Haute Living, hoping to go again this year if possible.
  - Nick says:
    
    27 Jan27 January 17:38
    
    Stayed Miramare September last year in Pavilion Suite Waterfront. It’s a beautiful location, but pay the extra for a suite with Haute Living access, unless you like the ‘Benedorm experience’ down the other end. Only downside, at least when we stayed, is that you end up having drinks with the local wasp population.
- Jordan D says:
  
  26 Jan26 January 22:46
  
  Did Domes Mirarmare last August, not long after they reopened. They were still getting used to the Covid Changes, especially around breakfast, but did a very good job overall. Got upgraded to the Villas, which was really lovely. Great experience, warm and calm seas, lovely atmosphere. Highly recommend – although prices for this summer are 2 to 3 times what they were for last August. On Points, a real bargain.