With less than a year away, typically hotels, motels, etc. begin permitting reservations. Through some initial querying we've made, many mainland and island lodging owners have all rooms reserved for the Olympic period or are asking us to re-g contact them again in early 2004. Any advice on soon finding lodging while avoiding these hurdles? Thanks!

Your choices will be very limited and maybe even impossible if you wait. I suggest you accept the inevitable and contact travel agencies that are offering Olympic packages, airfare, hotels and event tickets. They're the ones who "own" most of the hotel rooms anyway, having bought up all the available space in anticipation of just this situation. If you want to go this might be the only way you'll ever get there. I can only imagine what rooms will be going for the closer to Opening Ceremonies we get, scalper's heaven!

They are also planning on a lot of cruise ships docking in the harbor and renting out their rooms.

Most small hoteliers--where the best values are--find it difficult to predict rates more than one season at a time. Also early 2004 is plenty of time for non-Olympic areas. Be patient, is my advice.
For Olympic areas here is the link for the official private residence programme.
http://www.athens2004.com/page/defau...14192&la=2

Thanks for the advice so far. I've been scouring various web sites - prominent or obscure as they may be. Coming-up short so far in that rooms aren't available in Athens area or rates are phenomenally high ($300/pp/per nite).
=> Anyone know who's booking the cruise ship rooms?
Thanks!

Cartan Tours is the one of the booking agents for the cruise ships and hotels. www.cartan.com

Yeah, but the package rates from Cartan are extremely outrageous - needless to say!

I wonder what the Acropolis View Hotel (small, privately owned, around $100 for double) is charging during the Olympics?

Re: Acropolis Hotel, it's likely the rooms have either been ear-marked and off-limits for Olympic athletes, families, officials, etc. If not, then some travel agency may be representing them at 3x normal rates. Else, this hotel may be the one exception to the above rules!

Acropolis does not accept any reservations - I already checked. They originally accepted, but then sent a fax, telling me - it was a mistake.
I have been told, that most of the hotels in the 80 km radius are sold out. Couple of small B&Bs want two-three hundred dollars/night, and want all the money upfront, without possibility of cancellation and no real guaranty.
If I find any good links, in addition to www.athens2004.com - I will post it here.

Interesting "mistake" Acropolis made!

This is going to be a very expensive exercise, the Olympics of 2004, and seems the only option that will guarantee that you're room will actually be available on arrival will be package tours. Personally I wouldn't trust dealing direct with any hotel as you might find yourself in some sort of dutch auction and be left 'high and dry'

Please keep in mind that Athens is one of the most horrible capitals in Europe.So if you stay in the city you will pay a fortune to sleep in a dump.

Thanks for all those who are replying. Fortunately, since my initial posting, I've come in contact with someone who has a relative that has a 1-bedroom apartmt to rent in Piraeus. Am pursuing this as our primary option. In the meantime, still searching....!

Some links:

http://www.athensgamesaccommodation.com/
http://www.thesaurus.gr/
http://www.fantasy.gr/
http://www.sportius-hospitality.gr/hospitality/

This is all very expensive, but, on the other hand, Olympic Games return to Greece not very often... Experience of a lifetime may be worth paying for...

Thanks for all those who replied so far. I appreciate the guidance. While searching via Orbitz recently, I was able to book a room and received a confirmation for a hotel in Athens itself. I was amazed at my luck until I received a phone call from Orbitz that " due to a technical gliche" with the hotel's own reservation system, the room cannot be booked and thus, Orbitz will be cancelling my reservation!!