My wife and I are on the cruise-only portion of Orient Line's Crown Odyssey trip that will end in Athens 1 August. I'm looking for a hotel for 2 nights that will make it easy to get from the port to the hotel and then from the hotel to the airport when we leave. The metro (http://www.ametro.gr) looks promising, but it's unclear where the project stands. As far as I can tell we'll at least be able to use line #1 to get from the port into town.

We're not on a shoestring budget but neither can we afford the $700 a night suite at the Grand Bretagne Considering it's a major city in the high season I was thinking 100-150 Euros a night. Any ideas?

Thanks, Ted

The Grand Bretagne has a special for $220 a night during that period, Otherwise you can check the NJV Plaza next door, or the newly remodeled Hilton in Athens, or the Intercontinental that has a $100/nite rate for 21 day advance purchase.

Thanks, I've looked at all 3 and they look nice, but I'm more concerned with the transportation part. I've never been to Athens before so I'm wondering if it's a hassle to get from the port to one of those hotels and then 2 days later get to the airport. I know if all else fails I can hire an expensive taxi, but prefer to use metros when possible.

We finished a cruise in Athens in October 2001. Stayed (after much research, including on this site) at the Electra Palace. It was reasonable cost (don't remember exactly what), pleasant service, good location in walking distance to the Plaka.

We took a taxi from Piraeus to the hotel (because we didn't want to wrestle cruise luggage) and also from hotel to airport. We had an early flight, didn't want to mix it up with rush hour traffic. (There's a lot of that, probably more now with pre-Olympic construction. Leave plenty of time.) We were on a budget, so taxis were a necessary luxury (if there is such a thing).

When we unloaded our bags at the airport, a cop came over to check that the driver had charged us the correct amount (as shown on the meter). Amount was right -- hotel told us the correct rate.

It was harder to get a taxi while in the city -- they would pull over and look at you, then drive off if you didn't meet whatever they were looking for!!

Best memories of the Electra Palace were: sitting by the pool on the roof with a view of the Acropolis; and taking oranges from a basket to put in the machine and squeeze my own orange juice for breakfast!

I believe the metro now goes from syntagma square to Piraeus, the port (main port) of Athens.
You can easily get a taxi to take you to the airport... any hotel you stay in can arrange this for you.