Athens

[lftbeach]

Hi. We are looking for 4/5 nights in Athens before heading over to the islands.
Would anybody care to recommend a Hotel convenient in the city. Maybe not 4/5*, as we generally prefer the smaller, more sort in intimate place without the glitz. Thanks.
ps Appreciated the responses to the passport security issues on arrival.

[Rosalita]

we stayed in the Attalos Hotel. clean and did the job, great roof top bar with views over Athens and of course the Acropolis. Won’t win any prizes and the breakfast could be a little chaotic but for me when staying in a city you want somewhere clean, dry, comfy to sleep and have a shower before you are up and out again and this provides that

location is excellent, can walk pretty much everywhere and very close to numerous great gyros places

[JDB]

It’s worth looking The Modernist or Kolonaki 8. Kolonaki is a very nice, central and smart residential area to stay in with many interesting shops and good neighbourhood restaurants.

[lftbeach]

Thanks both of you. Of course, the BA flight doesn’t get in until 2.10am….I guess 3am+ at a hotel earliest?..bit early for check-in so we’ll have to bite the bullet and book a room, despite the time !

[masaccio]

Any of the COCO-MAT hotels. Very modern with a superb sleep comfort (they sell beds) and a good breakfast.

[davefl]

lftbeach wrote:

Thanks both of you. Of course, the BA flight doesn’t get in until 2.10am….I guess 3am+ at a hotel earliest?..bit early for check-in so we’ll have to bite the bullet and book a room, despite the time !

Takes 50 mins plus from the airport to the centre. With immigration and baggage it’l be nearer 4am than 3am.

[jj]

I’d also suggest you look at the NOT (No Ordinary Things) hotel. It’s not a cheap option, but it’s small, intimate and very stylish with an important courtyard swimming pool that’s a great way to relax after a hot day sightseeing. It’s in a beautifully restored old industrial building, and the rooms are very quirky and individual; we had a record player and a selection vintage LPs from Greek artists in ours, for example. And they’re big on local products which gives a sense of place: think coffee cups from a local ceramicist, soap and toiletries from local artisans, sponge from the Dodecanese instead of a face cloth.

It’s the kind of hotel that reminds my why I prefer boutiques to the soulless big chains.

[qc]

masaccio wrote:

Any of the COCO-MAT hotels. Very modern with a superb sleep comfort (they sell beds) and a good breakfast.

Yes the Coco Mat beds are great.

[TimM]

Athens is a massive sprawling city. The best locations to stay at are within a few minutes walk of the Plaka – between the Acropolis and Syntagma square. The Plaka has the best restaurants, best shopping, the most live music etc..

Bear in mind that Greeks don’t go out for dinner before 10pm. I remember holding myself back for dinner until 10pm and going to one of the Rough Guide’s top-rated tavernas. I was the only customer when I arrived. By the time I had finished my meal, the place was packed.

Compared to the islands, Athens is rather expensive for anything – hotel, food, shopping – only the public transport is reasonable. You may find 4/5 nights overkill. Then I don’t like huge, polluted cities.

For smaller, well-located hotels and pensions, the best-value restaurants and public transport and ferries to the islands, the Rough Guide to Greece is your friend.