Hotels in Athens pre-cruise May12,2009

[skip01per]

We are first time cruisers-looking forward to it. We'd like to fly into Athens a day early and take care of the jet lag before we start our cruise.We thought we'd use the Oceania hotels to keep things simple but the price is horrendous (over $500 a night for EACH of us). Apparently if we don't use their hotels we lose our transfer fees ($67.00 per person) Does anyone know of a decent nice hotel within walking district of the Plaka area (even $500 for 2 of us would be OK)? Also, does anyone have any idea of the cost of a taxi from the airport to town?

Also, we want to visit every port-we just figured that we would do the Oceania tours to keep it simple, but reading the forums it sounds like we're crazy to do so.Any thoughts on this? We've never travelled to this area of the world before.

[meow!]

If you want an economical local four-star hotel right in the middle of the main shopping street, try the Electra Hotel on Emou Street. If you want a luxury hotel also at city centre, try the Grande Britagne or King George. These would be 300+ euros (now below $500) including buffet breakfast and taxes.

 

Taxi from airport to down town SHOULD be 30 euros, but as you queue up at the taxi stand at the airport and desparate, don't be surprised if you end up paying 60 euros for your half hour ride (they may tell you that they need to go the long roundabout route to avoid the traffic or whatever). Don't worry about Oceania's transfer fees, if you don't use it, tell your TA to cancel that item.

 

Good luck, and while in Athens, remember to take that trolley ride for 6 euros per person for a full hour going through all the interesting sites (except for the Acropolis, of course, for that you have to climb!!)

[Aussie Gal]

We loved the King George Palace Hotel which is right next to the fabulously expensive Grand Bretagne right on the Syntaga Square opposite Parliament House.

 

We stayed there in May after our Nautica cruise and from memory it cost us around 200 odd Euros for the night. It is a lovely boutique hotel that is part of the Leading Hotels of the World Chain. A lot cheaper than its neighbour where we have stayed 3 times before.

 

We will be in Athens at the end of October next year and we have elected to stay at the Intercontinenal Hotel for a change of scenery and change in our pocket!

 

Jennie

[LHT28]

A few years ago we stayed at the Hotel Titania .....the rooms were ok but the location was good. Ask for a room away from the street though

 

Check Venere.com for hotels ..you can search by the area you want to be in.

 

Check the roll call forum maybe there will be other willing to private share tours in some of the ports.

 

 

[StanandJim]

Does anyone know of a decent nice hotel within walking district of the Plaka area (even $500 for 2 of us would be OK

If that is your price range, and you've never done Athens before, we'd recomend the Grand Bretagne

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/luxury/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=101&EM=DNA_Google_US_Grand_Bretagne,Exact_LC_101_GTC_ECE

It's an absolutely stunning property which fronts on the Plaka and has rear views of the acropolis (this is the view from the rooftop restaurant where the pool is too!)

 

Hint: don't book The Grand Bretagne without getting a Starwood Amex, you'll get better prices and a better room.

https://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/index.html

 

Have a wonderful cruise-

 

S&J

[Globe]

Can also recommend the Grand Bretagne if it's in your price range. It truly is the Grand Dame of Athens and we've enjoyed staying there on 3 different occasions.

 

As StanandJim has mentioned, the rooftop lounge/restaurant really offers an amazing view of the Acropolis and especially at night ( as in the picture posted ) when it is open during the warmer months. Recall having a few cocktails one evening and it was very memorable.

[Paulchili]

The problem with hotels like the Grand Bretagne (and the Majestic in Barcelona and the like) is that you MIGHT get a room for $ 500/night but you wouldn't be very happy with that room. It's likely to be a tiny room facing nowhere. The better rooms cost a lot more.

Hotels like this have a large variety & sizes (and locations) of rooms and their cheapest rooms are still very expensive and really not worth it. If you can afford the higher priced rooms in these hotels then you will be getting something nice for your money.

We stayed at the Marriott for a fraction of the cost in a very nice room, breakfast included. They have a free shuttle to center of town; besides for the difference in the price you could ride cabs all day long and still be ahead. The Marriott brand is predictable internationally.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[StanandJim]

The better rooms cost a lot more.

 

Paul-

 

Not if you do your homework. Through Starwood Preferred Guest, we booked a Superior Acropolis view room for next June @ under $450.00 per night. (And we earn points towards a free stay at another Starwood hotel in the future!).

 

If you go blind into anything, you're likely to get rooked.

[orchestrapal]

Skip01per: Satan and Jim are right as always. The Grand Bretagne is one of the great hotels of the world. When we checked in, having booked an Acropolis deluxe room in 2007, I just asked for an upgrade and we were given a fabulous suite with a bathroom as large as most normal hotel rooms. The accommodations, food and service are beyond excellent and the location could not be better. Splurge if you can you won't be sorry.:)

[Paulchili]

Paul-

 

Not if you do your homework. Through Starwood Preferred Guest, we booked a Superior Acropolis view room for next June @ under $450.00 per night. (And we earn points towards a free stay at another Starwood hotel in the future!).

 

If you go blind into anything, you're likely to get rooked.

 

Enjoy your stay (let's hope the $ stays strong)!

[Aussie Gal]

But if you want the same experience with five star luxury but a smaller hotel, then stay next door at the beautiful King George Palace.

 

As I said in my post above we have stayed at both hotels and have had Acropolis view rooms at the Grand Bretagne but for less money we had the same experience at King George. Their breakfast room on the top floor has the most wonderful views of the Acropolis.

 

Remember, that the tariffs are in Euros, and who knows what is going to happen to your dollar against that currency in the next year or so.

 

Jennie

[brian_uk]

Just amazed that nobody has mentioned the 5 star Athens Marriott.

 

Amazing rates last August but we used Points and spent 35 euros to upgrade to a breakfast package with free internet access, We were also upgraded to a balcony room with a wonderful view of the Akropolis which is lit at night.

 

Taxi from the Airport was about 60 E but make sure you book in advance as the taxi line is chaos.

 

A transfer from the Marriott to Port is 35 E and takes 20 minutes, The Hotel will book it.

 

Not within walking distance but 10 E got us there.

 

Brian

[CintiPam]

Just amazed that nobody has mentioned the 5 star Athens Marriott.....

 

Not within walking distance but 10 E got us there.

 

Brian

 

Poster specifically requested "within walking district of the Plaka area" and there are many good options right there.

[BernardNL]

Try the Electra Palace hotel on nikoudimou street. It's in the Plaka district and close to everything in the city. Book an Acropolisview room and you will get a balcony. We recenty stayed there for two nights in september. Fantastic experience.

[RJB]

We stayed at the Intercontintal about 6 years ago and it was teriffic. But why would anyone be making plans to go to Athens now? No way that city is safe for anybody. The riots continue with no letup in sight.:confused:

[StanandJim]

We stayed at the Intercontintal about 6 years ago and it was teriffic. But why would anyone be making plans to go to Athens now? No way that city is safe for anybody. The riots continue with no letup in sight

 

RJB-

Personally speaking, we haven't cancelled our Athens plans because we're about 10k into the planning of this, right now.

 

The hotel and cruise reservations may be cancelled without penalty, but not the airline tickets, etc.

 

We only hope, no, pray that things calm down over there before June.

For their sake, even moreso than ours.

 

Cross your fingers for us-

S&J

[Aussie Gal]

We will be departing on our November cruise from Athens and I am sure that in the next few months that Athens will return to normality.

 

It is a delightful city and hopefully life will return to normal shortly.

 

Jennie

[RJB]

Sure hope you are right. Athens is a lovely city and would hate to think I could not be able to visit sometime in the future. But for the next 4 to 6 months I would have a plan B :)

[jmdpsca]

[We are booked on Oceania, 9/4/9 Athens to Rome, which hotel in SPG did you book?:confused:

 

 

quote=StanandJim;17155343]Paul-

 

Not if you do your homework. Through Starwood Preferred Guest, we booked a Superior Acropolis view room for next June @ under $450.00 per night. (And we earn points towards a free stay at another Starwood hotel in the future!).

 

If you go blind into anything, you're likely to get rooked.

[Aussie Gal]

jmdpsca,

 

I think you will find that Stan and Jim are talking about the Grand Bretagne Hotel which is the number one hotel in Athens.

 

We have stayed there quite a few times but we now prefer the lovely hotel right next door called the King George Palace which also has the view, but is a boutique hotel and therefore not quite as expensive.

 

Jennie

[jmdpsca]

fyi,

We just booked at the Westin Athens Astir Palace Beach Resort, it is a Starwood Property, and the Hotel offers complimentary airport transfers with the Executive Club Room for 13,500 spg points. The hotel also offers a shuttle to downtown city centre between 9:30 to 3 PM.

Has anyone stayed at this Resort?

The Grand Bretagne Hotel, does not offer transfers from the airport, best deal is 150.00 US plus 8000 points or 20,000 spg points.

[CintiPam]

fyi,

We just booked at the Westin Athens Astir Palace Beach Resort, it is a Starwood Property, and the Hotel offers complimentary airport transfers with the Executive Club Room for 13,500 spg points. The hotel also offers a shuttle to downtown city centre between 9:30 to 3 PM.

Has anyone stayed at this Resort?

The Grand Bretagne Hotel, does not offer transfers from the airport, best deal is 150.00 US plus 8000 points or 20,000 spg points.

 

It gets very nice reviews on the tripadvisor website. I personally prefer to stay in a central location when visiting the major cities of Europe because we like to walk around, eat locally, and enjoy the city at night and all it has to offer. However, I know that some feel very differently, so enjoy your stay and happy journeys!:)

[nanazsun]

We're also booked on this cruise and have until June to decide if we will go through with this trip. Haven't been in Greece since I was 17, and am really looking forward to this trip.

[StanandJim]

[We are booked on Oceania, 9/4/9 Athens to Rome, which hotel in SPG did you book?:confused:

 

jmdpsca,

 

I just re-read this post and think that you might be asking about the Starwood Hotel that we're using in Rome.

 

We're using the Eden:

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1872

 

it's delicious, and in a perfect location. We'd use it even if it were not Starwood.

 

Hope this helped-

 

S&J

[wripro]

HI StanandJim,

 

Steve and I stayed in the Eden once about ten years ago and loved it. The location is wonderful in that it's removed from all the noise and yet only a short walk to the Spanish Steps. In addition, the restaurant on the roof is one of the best in Rome with amazing views (the equivalent of those you'll get from the rooftop restaurant at the Grande Bretagne in Athens.) Of all the Starwood hotels in Rome it's the one I prefer as it's smaller and more intimate than either the Westin Palace or the St. Regis.

 

Henry