Looking for recommendations on hotels in Athens based on personal experience...will be flying in last week of June.

More information please. If you're a student backpacker and someone recommends the Grand Bretagne, how will that help you?

I stayed at the Grand Bretagne back in 1998. It is a very elegant hotel in a prime location. I hear that it is even better since it has been remodeled.

I am staying at the Intercontinental this July. I also stayed here back in 1986. It has a fabulous pool, although it is out of the way. The Metro is close by so that won't be a problemo for us.

My good friends, Joyce and Heather, have stayed at the Royal Olympic. They really liked it, especially the pool and the view of the ruins across the street (Temple of Artemis?). It is a short walk to the Plaka.

The Plaka--"Hey, lady, where you from? My brother he live in Chicago. Go da Bears!"

Here are a few great, personal hotel recommendations for your stay in Athens. Check out the links for more info:

Eridanus: brand new, boutique style (a little out of the way) Michelin chef rated restaurant next door.
http://www.eridanus.gr/

King George Palace: great, central location in Athens
http://www.ghotw.com/hotel/home/king-george-II.htm

Athens Hilton: an ol’ standby!
http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hote...thens/index.do

I hope this helps! My personal fav is Eridanus...but this is not as centrally located as the others.

We stayed at The Grand Bretagne in July. WOW. It was absolutely fantastic in every way, especially the amazing spa. Don't know that we can afford it again, but I think it deserves its tremendous reputation.

I'm with brotherleelove on this one -- to give you good advice, we need more information about how much you want to spend and what are your priorities: convenience to metro, location in relation to Plaka/central Athens, room size, amenities etc.

There are many posts on this site about hotels in Athens -- you may want to read through some of them and then ask more specific questions.

Last summer we stayed at the Magna Grecia. Three of us two adults and a teenager. It was wonderful. GREAT location and a beautiful boutique hotel in an historic building. We paid cash and got a great deal. Ask for Stelios

I've stayed at the Central Hotel, and would never recommend it. It is overpriced for what it provides, and wasn't very clean. Athens offers many better options than the Central.

We are 2 fit and active 40-somethings, husband and wife, traveling lightly. Willing to pay for outstanding accommodations, but more so looking to get as authentic an experience as possible. Potentially booking Petasos Beach on Mykonos, Porto Fira on Santorini, and Vilelmine in Chania (Crete), price is not really our primary consideration. Looking for varied accommodations through the trip (14 days total). Spending one night in Athens on arrival before we take the overnight ferry to Crete, and 2 nights at the end of our trip. Would consider 2 different accommodations for each of these (1st night vs. last 2) to get varied perspective on the city. Expect to do the majority of our Athens sightseeing at the end of our 14 day adventure. First night is to recuperate from travel from the US and get ready for overnight to Crete. Hope this gives a better idea of what we're looking for, and maybe we can get some specific suggestions based on this additional info. There are so many properties to choose from, I'm getting burnt out looking at them all!

We stayed at St. George-Lycabettus when we were in Athens and found it very hip and gorgeous, with a fantastic roof-top pool and wonderful breakfast included. Downside??? A bit of a hike from the Plaka but so great for working off those extra 'indulgences'. Also, close to some very chic shopping and restaurants in the area.

We'll also be in Athens in June andlooking for a moderate hotel close to Plaka and acropolis. Considering the Philippos Hotel, which I believe is a sister hotel to the Herodian. Does anyone have any personal experience with this hotel. I'm not expecting charm or character, just a clean decent place that can accomodate a family of 4, which the Philippos Hotel can do without having to pay for 2 rooms, but one large room.

I have stayed at the Phillipos twice. It is suitable for your purpose. The rooms are small with little tiny balconies. The closets and bathrooms are fitted into corners, like puzzle boxes. A good location, within walking distance of many tourist attractions, with many restauarnts nearby. I recommend it.

Phillipos, Eridanus, or Magna Grecia? Any additional experience with either of these? Also considering 2 different hotels, one for our first night of arrival proir to Crete and also another for our final 2 nights of vacation.

Bumping to the top

1/The Petassos Beach (fully renovated) is now one of the best hotels in Mykonos ,with easy access to Psarou Beach.

2/In Athens ,if money is not a problem then the Grande Bretagne is a central option ,or on the Athens riviera the luxurious and renovated Westin and Luxury collection hotel (former Astir Palace)in Vouliagmeni.

I've stayed or reserved at all three of the Athens hotels you're asking about - the Philippos, the Eridanos, and the Magna Grecia.

1. The Philippos is on a quiet side street that is very close to Plaka and to the Akropoli metro stop. It is pleasant and convenient to the Acropolis and Plaka, which is where you will most likely go for restaurants.

2. The Eridanus strives to be more of a luxury hotel than the Philipos. It is located in a busier, and more vibrant, area, than the Philippos. A new metro stop (Kerameikos) opened May 26 right by the Eridanus, so it is now much more convenient than it used to be. One of the best restaurants in Athens (Varoulko) is right next door and there are many other intersting restaurants in the area.

3. Magna Grecia has a bad habit of overbooking and being unable to honor reservations. They shunt the overflow off to other, less desirable hotels (this happened to me, but also to others, check the tripadvisor reviews). They also allow strangers into guests rooms, have keys that work in more than one room, and have room safes that are not bolted down. Unless you are prepared to be moved to an undesirable hotel that the Magna Grecia staff picks for you when they can't find a room for you, don't book here.

As follow up, we stayed at 2 hotels in Athens. Our first night we stayed at The Hotel Amazon. It was an excellent choice, a really outstanding value. Yes, the room was a little small, but the location was great (short walk to Monstraki (sp?) Square and Station), a safe area, clean, and the breakfast was good. The hotel we used for our last 2 nights of vacation was Fresh Hotel. We were upgraded to a suite, the hotel was clean, although the suite was worn a little and the decor was irritating after a while - cold and modernistic. (Not bad, just not for me). The rooftop pool and bar/lounge was great, although the pool was very tiny and crowded and we had touble getting lounge chairs both days as people would reserve with their stuff but not actually be present. Young-ish crowd here as well. The area around the hotel was not great, but we never felt unsafe and walked freely to/from all hours of the day and night. Very close to the open meat/produce/fish markets which we enjoy but others may not. It was a good value, and siuted our purpose, but I just wouldn't stay there again.