cheryl8

Based on comments/reviews here and at Trip Advisor, I tried to place a reservation with Attalos. This is the most difficult hotel reservation I have encountered in my 15 years of European travel. Maybe because the hotel is popular and they can afford to be non-responsive? I e-mailed them numerous times without response and finally called them. I was then advised to send a fax requesting reservation. After faxing, they e-mailed me the availability but when I faxed my credit card info to secure reservation for the last 2 days they have not e-mailed/faxed back to confirm receipt. I just sent a follow-up e-mail and hopefully they'll reply back. Does anyone has this kind of experience dealing with the Attalos Hotel? What would be a comparable hotel with Attalos? I am starting to look for another hotel as I am getting concerned with
that with my difficulties with the hotel reserving, what kind of service will I get if I stay at that hotel? Please help. My travel would be 1st week of June.

AnneO

I'm staying there in three weeks (!), and had some problems getting the reservation straight. I needed 2 single rooms, and they kept confirming my single room. I could see us getting there, and not even having a double room to share! I gave them two names and everything. Finally think I have it straight (I have a confirmation that says I have 2 separate single rooms). I don't know if I wasn't being clear, or there was a language barrier, but it was confusing! They weren't very quick to reply, as I recall, but I don't find that unusual...I think at these smaller places, email and confirming reservations takes a back seat to serving the customers that are there (at least I hope so!)

Anne

benitakaren

I stayed at the Attalos several years ago for two nights. The price they gave me included breakfast. When I checked out they charged me for two breakfasts. I immediately pulled out their e-mail listing price with breakfast and the extra charges were removed from my bill. I would recommend you take a copy of your e-mails with them.

cheryl8

Does anyone has a recommendation on a comparable hotel to Attalos? Part of me wants to boycott this hotel because of poor service. I am really getting nervous about this hotel eventhough they'll confirm my reservation.

brotherleelove2004

Go to this website:

http://www.bookings.fr/city/gr/athens.html?aid=305255

Click on the "Electra Hotel Athens" (not the Electra Palace), 6th one down on that first page. On the next page click on "Show map" under the hotel's name next to the address. When the map appears click on "Zoom out" (but only once).

What you'll then see are all the hotels in the same area of the Attalos, each "H" represents another hotel. The Attalos is just left of center, on Athinas Street, the 'white' street that runs vertically up and down the map. As you move your cursor over all the "H's" a little window will pop up with an image of the hotel, some information and the price range. This should help you find something acceptable. Check the prices against the prices on the hotels' actual websites to see if you're getting the best deal.

worldinabag

Hi

Yes I have recently booked the Attalos hotel for September. I had to email them a couple of times after faxing my credit card details. A few doors down and at the same price is the Cecil Hotel - www.cecil.gr. We stayed there in 2003. The building is beautiful (neo classical). They too have a terrace but there is no seating, bar etc. like at the Attalos. The rooms were spacious and clean. Make sure you book one off the main street as those can be a little noisy though bearable. I also must mention that the staff at the Cecil were efficient, polite and helpful. I would have stayed there again but I thought I'd try the Attalos only because of the terrace facilites. If the Cecil gets its terrace going it would have to turn new guests away!

Hope this helps

Heimdall

I love Greece and the Greeks, but (for you MBAs out there) they could have invented the "just in time" production system. I'm saying this with tongue in cheek, so don't take offense. You are making reservations in June, and this is February, for goodness sake! No one thought they would finish the Olympic venues in time, but they did. Had they put the last lick of paint on the stadium an hour before opening ceremony (and they probably did), the Greeks would be congratulating themselves on their perfect timing.

Seriously, though, the Attalos has gotten lots of good reviews on this board, so it must be okay. Have patience and I'm sure you will hear from them. It is frustrating for Americans and northern Europeans, but that's the way things are there. Greece has a very low rate of heart disease, and perhaps their relaxed attitude toward life has something to do with it.

cheryl8

Thanks for the piece of advice Heimdall. But considering that the other 4 hotels I will be staying (and these are in the islands)replied promptly and much sooner than Attalos, then I don't think it is a "Greek thing". As I mentioned earlier, I have traveled in Europe for the last 15 years and this is the first time I had this much difficulty........I still think it's because of its popularity based endorsements e.g. Matt Barrett's Guide, etc.

cheryl8

Thanks, brotherleelove2004, I'll be looking the website you sent. To Heimdall again, although my reservation is in June, another regular contributor here in Greece forum, stanbr, advised that he was not able to get a room at Attalos for May 19. So, June is not really far behind.

Carolina

I have also stayed at the Attalos which was good value but they got my reservation wrong. We booked 2 rooms and were given a family suite instead (2 smaller rooms with 1 bathroom). When we complained they knocked something off the price and it worked okay for us but we would have preferred what we had booked (which they had comfirmed). We have also stayed at the Athens Gate a few times. It is a bit more expensive but a bit more central with a lovely rooftop bar / restaurant.
Carolena

Heimdall

Cheryl8, I did say my post was made "tongue in cheek" so please don't take it so seriously. Of course you have received replies from most of the hotels you have contacted - I wouldn't expect anything less.

May 20th is the date of the Eurovision Song Contest, held in Athens because Greece won the competition last year. The whole event, including rehearsals, will last from May 17th to May 20th. I'm not surprised that hotel rooms are hard to come by, because the event involves entrants, stage hands, officials, and television crews from 38 different countries. After those few days they will all be gone, and by June everything will have returned to normal.

Since you are already unhappy with the treatment you have received from Attalos, perhaps you should look for another hotel.

TexasAggie

We are staying at the Adrian Hotel for our trip this coming May. We booked through Dolphin-Hellas and received a great discounted rate. The Adrian Hotel gets good reviews both here and on www.Tripadvisor.com

http://www.douros-hotels.com/view_hotels.asp?hotel_id=2

The rates offered through Dolphin-Hellas are 96,76€ for a single, 112,10€ for a double, and 145,14€ for a triple. Rooms with a view of the Acropolis are 110,92€ for a single and for a 126,26€ double

spartakos

If you're looking to stay at a place similar to the Attalos, I most strongly urge you to stay at the Cecil Hotel.

It's on the same street as the Attalos only a small block further up.

If you book through greecead.com you even get a substantially cheaper rate.

DenverDice

That's strange - I had a wonderful experience with them. But the person who mentioned the Greek way of doing things was absolutely right. They are probably more concerned with reservations that are sooner. It's difficult for those of us who like to plan every detail (like me), but you might just wait. It's a wonderful place to stay - such a great value and the rooftop bar is awesome. A real treat in the crazy hot city.

I can't offer advice on where to stay other than the Attalos - but I can tell you where not to stay - avoid the Omonoia square area. It's shady.

HelenG

I also made inquiries and then reservations at the Attalos for two double rooms this coming June. Their response and their confirmation of my reservation was very prompt. I'll follow up with them again in mid-May to re-confirm all the details. I am sorry your experience has not been good, but I am sure that you will hear from them shortly. Enjoy your trip wherever you stay.

stanbr

The one constant I see on tnis thread is the people having problems with booking Attalos all have tried to book themselves. I have never had a problem with Attalos in 5 stays there but I have always booked through Dolphin Hellas. I wonder if using a travel agent helps the process.

polly229

After learning from Stanbr the other night that he couldn't get Attalos reservations because of the Song Contest, I quickly e-mailed them because I was arriving in Athens just a few days before. This was late at night, nearly start of the day in Athens. I had a confirmation response from them by mid-afternoon my time, about 15 hrs. later, but they quoted me the rate that included breakfast after I selected the no-breakfast option on their web reservation form. So I guess I will have to e-mail them about that. Like the location, was pleased with the room last year, but their breakfast was nothing to write home about.

Postal

I have stayed at the Attalos twice. It was okay but nothing special - I stayed there because of the low price. One time we (2 of us) were in a large room with a terrace; another time we were in a small room with the tiniest bathroom I have ever experienced in all my European travels! If there's a nearby place with similar rates, I would grab it. But make sure you're on the Attalos rooftop bar at least once when the Acropolis starts lighting up - the rooftop bar is the best part of the hotel.

cheryl8

To Stanbr: Thanks for the feedback but dealing with Dolphin Hellas means I have to pay 70 Euro,I have to pay in advance, & cancellation penalty is stiff. The 70 Euro is for 2 people as Attalos is the only hotel that's in their list that I am interested to stay. Car rental, ferry, flights within the islands, and transfers are also higher. Cecil Hotel is fully booked on the days we'll be in Athens. I was able to get a reservation and confirmation at Adrian. It'll cost more but it was very easy to deal with them + it's a nicer hotel. Thanks so much everyone. P.S. to Heimdall: No need to compare North Americans/Europeans to Greeks as far as heart disease is concerned; it does not have any relevance to the question per se. Bottom line is if you don't have any relevant info to pass, just don't post.

TexasAggie

Hi cheryl8,

Glad you got set up at the Adrian. We will be there for 5 nights at the beginning of May so I'll be sure to post a write up on the hotel as soon as we get back (May 13).