Has anyone stayed at the Art Hotel recently?

This hotel gets very good reviews on Trip Advisor and various other booking engines. The reviews on Fodor's though have not been so good. However, the most recent info I could find on Fodor's was from 2006.

Sooo...has anyone stayed here more recently? I know the area is not so good, but this seems to be said about many places in Athens.

Any advice greatly appreciated

I don't know this particular hotel, however, I googled some sample dates and the Fresh Hotel where we stayed a few years ago is only a little dearer. It was a very funky hotel with a stunning roof top bar (views to the Acropolis) and pool. It's within walking distance of the Plaka and we loved it. If you do book there ask for a room at the back as it will be quieter. By the way, the actual area is not flash, but the hotel is. Great breakfast too.

Hi travelbug75
We stayed at The Art Gallery Hotel in Erecthiou St, Koukaki, Athens in November 2007 and thoroughly enjoyed it. We paid E65 per night for a double with ensuite. Found the hotel clean and friendly and within walking distance to all the city attractions, close to a metro station, and seemed to be a safe area. At one end the street is a pedetrian mall where there are several good restaurants and bars and a great Taverna. The street was lined with orange trees and at one end we had a great view of the Acropolis. An excellent breakfast is available in the 4th floor restaurant which has a balcony with a great view of The Acropolis.

Thanks cathies and threadies

I've not stayed in this hotel, but visit Athens frequently (my 7th visit in 12 months on Weds!)as I live in Greece. I wouldn't choose to stay there myself, there are loads of hotels in a much better location, both for proximity to the sites & for the general surroundings. The Art Gallery hotel that threadies stayed at is in a totally different area to the Art Hotel.
The area is 'ugly' as in the activities around Omonia in general. It's home to many of the (illegal & legal)immigrants, prostitutes & drug addicts.This has escalated in recent years, although some 'clearing up' is being attempted. While I wouldn't class it as unsafe, especially compared to any other big city, it can be enough to make you feel uncomfortable. That is a personal feeling that will vary for different individuals, some may be fine with it, others really regret the choice.
If you state your budget per night in Euros & the time of year you'll be visiting some alternatives suggestions can be made.

BTW, plenty of recent reviews on Trip Advisor,
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUse...a.html#REVIEWS
It does seem to have some good reviews, particularly regarding excellent staff, as they are mentioned in many of them.

Hi yiassas,

Yes, the hotel (particularly the staff) has loads of great reviews on lots of different sites. The area though, as you've said, seems to be a little scary.

We'll arrive in Athens on October 10 for 3 nights. We're hoping to find somewhere for not more than 100euro per night. Preferably a hotel that will be convenient for walking to the various tourist sites...Acropolis, etc. Although I know public transport is very good, so if we have to use the metro/buses it won't be a big deal.

I really liked the Athens Gate Hotel, but that was a little more than we wanted to spend.

Thanks for your help.

All central & much more desirable areas,
Athos Hotel, €100
Acropolis view €99
Amalia €110
Amazon €112
Airotel Parthenon €119
Also Hotel Myrto at €70, used to get bad reviews, but I understand it's under new management & is now much better, sorry, no personal experience though!
These are the prices on here for your dates,
http://www.eurocheapo.com/search/?pa...earchid=419415
Out of these the 1st I would probably try for is Athos. I have stayed across the road at Hermes & have had my eye on this one as it looked good & the location quiet but central.
If you can stretch the budget a bit ( or the exchange rate does something nice!) I can recommend Airotel Parthenon, I have stayed there twice.
I have also stayed at Pan hotel (budget place, but clean & a few minutes walk from Syntagma Square), Cypria (excellent, staying again on Weds, usually above your budget, but you may find a deal if you check all sites), Attalos (again, budget & basic, but lovely views from the rooftop bar!). Others worth looking for a bargain/special offer are Astor, Hermes, Plaka Hotel.
When searching other sites look for the areas of Plaka, Koukaki, Makrigianni & some parts of Monastiraki.
The Attalos is in Monastiraki, as a guide don't go further north than that up Athinas Street.
Happy searching!

I stayed at the Amazon on Mitropoleos Street in May 2008. It's in a great spot... just steps away from the airport bus and subway at Syntagma with the Plaka just down the street the other way. There's a restaurant right across the street we enjoyed as well.

They have one room and one suite with Acropolis
views... I was lucky enough to get the room, I think it was 215.

The hotel is not fancy but very clean, well located and the rooms a decent size. I'd gladly stay again.

Rob

yiassas - such a wonderful, informative reply...thank you so much!

Rob - thanks for the recommendation

Off I go to research all your suggestions...thanks again, both of you

What about www.hotwire.com or bidding on priceline?
you can almost decipher the hotels on hotwire with the help of www.betterbidding.com

Thanks for that lincasanove, I had never heard of betterbidding before...seems like a very useful site.