Athens hotel - Fresh
 

Hi - What are your thoughts on this hotel? I read the tripadvisor reports. They seem favorable, with the exception of the location seeming seedy. I am looking for a hotel - in a nice location, perhaps walking distance to the acropolis. But, I would also like easy access to and from the airport. How do you get to the airport - would cabs be expensive?

Try the Herodion Hotel much nicer area and near the Acropolis

I have stayed at the Fresh Hotel and liked it. It is sort of a modern Euro-style hotel. The location didn't really bother me, although I wouldn't call it a "nice" location. It is definitely walking distance to the Acropolis. I've done it at night with my husband and it didn't bother me in the slightest. On the other hand, I don't know that I'd want to do it by myself at night (daytime is fine).

In my opinion, the best way to get to and from the airport is the metro (during the hours when the metro is running). It is fast, safe, easy, and convenient. Taxis to or from the airport to downtown Athens cost about 30 Euros.

OK, what is a nice location for you?
Here is a map of Athens.
http://www.athensguide.com/map/athens.htm

If you look at the map, you will see the Acropolis on the bottom left hand side of the map. The entrance to the Acropolis for seeing the Parthenon is off the yellow road on the map named Dionysiou Aerop. The Herodian Hotel referred to by mzani above is off this road. Some people like the Herodian because it is on a quiet side street; others don't like it because it is farther away from restaurants and shops than they prefer. I've stayed at the Herodian. It's fine. I'd stay there again in a pinch. I have nothing against it, it's just sort of, well, boring.

The area that most visitors to Greece refer to as Plaka encompasses the areas shown on the map in large red letters as Plaka and Aerides. This is where many visitors prefer to stay and feel has conveniently located hotels. There are many hotels in this area of all different qualities - Electra Palace is a nice one with a pool, if that is what you are looking for - Adrian is a more basic hotel, but has a few rooms with lovely Acropolis views. I don't really know what you are looking for in a hotel.

Right above and a little to the left of where it says National Gardens in redon the map, you will see the words Syntagmatos Sq. and Parliament. This location is commonly referred to as Syntagma Square and is where the nicest and most expensive hotels in Athens are located. If you can afford it, the Grande Bretagne is the best place to stay in Athens.

Oh, Thanks Mzani and Eleni!
I will look into Herodion Hotel and hotels in the Plaka neighborhood. From a matter of convenience, is the Plaka neighborhood a convenient location to the metro to the airport? (We will be going to Athens, then flying to an island, then back to Athens - so, that will be back and forth from the airport twice)

Here is a metro map:
http://www.ametro.gr/main/project/de...p_big_down.jpg

The blue line comes in from the airport. Most hotels in the Plaka area are near either the Syntagma or Monastiraki metro stops on the blue line, so yes, they are convenient.