We are getting a special rate here so staying at a bigger hotel than I usually do---question is: is this close to the main area of town e.g. Plaka area?

Doesn't seem too bad, about 1 km to southern edge of Plaka , albeit along noisy, diesel-fume-filled boulevards.

See:
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ic/...transportation

The sure thing is that you'll have excellent food over there, one of the chefs there is my professor in Athens university!!! Tell us your dining experience after you go! Enjoy!

For me, the Intercontinental is NOT close to Plaka or downtown. It is more like a mile to the southern edge of Plaka, a little over a mile to Syntagma, a little less than a mile to the Acropolis, a little less than 1.5 miles to Monastiraki, and a little more than 1.5 miles to Kolonaki. The hotel does have a shuttle bus that goes, as I recall, about once an hour to more central Athens. There is nothing of interest, at least to me, in the area of the Intercontinental. I prefer staying closer in, since I like wandering around and being able to see interesting things in the neighborhood in which I stay.

That being said, the hotel is clean, the bedding wonderful, and the service decent. You should definitely try and get a room with an Acropolis view. And Nikoleta is correct, the Premiere restaurant at the top of the Intercontinental is absolutely excellent, although quite expensive (and, honestly, I prefer spending less money and eating more traditional Greek food).

Thanks for all of your honesty---I am checking out other hotels. Eating in hotels is not our thing and did not realize the location was so far away.

wordsmith-

If your budget is in the range of 200-250 Euro, you may want to consider the Electra Palace, at 18 Nikodimou St. *IN* Plaka.

This is a deluxe hotel, and you're within easy walking distance to most of Athens' sites of interest.

Hotel main website:
http://www.electrahotels.gr/english/english.html

Map:
http://www.electrahotels.gr/map/nikodimou.html