Spending two nights in Athens after touring the islands for our October honeymoon. We'd like a place with an Acropolis view, A/C, and perhaps a swimming pool, between $100-150 per night. At this point it is between Grand Bretagne or Electra Palace. Has anybody been to either or both? Any other suggestions?

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I'm wondering about these same two hotels. The Acropolis View hotel, too. Any firsthand feedback?

Hello, <BR>Well this past October I stayed at both the Acropolis View and enjoyed it. True to it's name our window view was dominated by the parthenon, the decor was nice for a 2 star, the staff was friendly and it was very clean. It is on the otherside of the hill from the Plaka, so to get to the Plaka you have to walk, not a horrible walk, but it's not "a block away" we actually enjoyed it. I liked the Attalos better though it is more a 2 star since it was only a block away from the Plaka and we also had an Acropolis view, but not all the rooms have this.. for around 30-50 USD per night for either hotel, I would stay at either again.

I swear, I answered this and saw my answer IN this thread...this disappearing stuff is so strange...

We stayed at the Electra Palace and really liked it because of it's location - only several minutes walk to the Plaka. Some rooms have a view of the Acropolis, all have A/C and there is a pool on the roof. I'd definitely stay there again. We visited the Grand Bretagne and it seems more upscale and expensive than the Electra Palace. While the hotel is fancier, I prefer the Electra Palace because it is much closer to all the activities of the Plaka.

Thanks Thyra and Karen. For Karen, I have a kinda goofy, anal-retentive question about the Electra Palace -- in the guidebooks it's suggested that the best rooms are on the top floor because they have the best views -- but do they also have the most noise, being right below the pool and restaurant? And Thyra, how was the street noise at the Attalos? As you can probably guess, I'm a light sleeper and need to know whether to bring my industrial-strength French "Quie" earplugs with me ;-).

P.S. Janelle, are there really rooms available at the Grand Bretagne for $150 a night? I'd heard it was much more expensive.

Rosenatti- <BR>I am also a light sleeper. We requested a room facing the back of the hotel. It did not have a view (the front of the hotel faces the Acropolis, but also faces the street), but it was quiet and I was able to sleep. Last May, the pool was not open yet but I don't think that at night there would be a problem with noise coming from the pool area.

I stayed at the EP twice, it's an excellent Class B/4* hotel, no complaints except I thought the front desk staff could be more pleasant. The hotel is actually *in* the Plaka, but just on the border with the Syntagma area. I passed on one of the upper front-facing rooms with a view because they were non-smoking but I wouldn't think there would be any problem with street noise. The small one-way Plaka street in front of the hotel doesn't see much traffic and I believe the top 2 floors have patios so the bedroom would be set back. I don't know about the restaurant/pool noise though. <BR>Acropolis View: Thyra, it's a Class C hotel which I believe is equal to a 3*. I also liked this hotel and really loved the price. It's a 10min walk to the heart of the Plaka and probably one of the closest to the Acropolis entrance. The excellent view is the lenght of the Southside from the Gate to past the Partheon with a section of the theatre visible above the rooftops. HTH Regards, Walter <BR>

Karen and Walter, thank you for your advice!

I suppose this is a perfect example of why topping bothers Santa Chiara. <BR> <BR>This original mesage languished unanswered for 6 days. Then it was topped. Then it got a great exchange of useful information between people who needed it. <BR> <BR>Apparently Santa Chiara cannot stand to see this happen. <BR>

Hello Janelle! <BR>If you don't think around 72000 drachmas is too much, I would highly recommend Electra Palace. This is what you get for a small suite with a large balcony and a wonderful view to Acropolis (especially in the evening when they light the lights, and also when they have the light and sound show, although I'm not sure they have them in October). In my experience the pool and the traffic is no problem (you may choose not the upper floor, but the one below it). In the morning you get a nice and huge breakfast and it's also nice to have a pool if you want to cool down a bit. I agree though with the one who said that staff at the front desk may have been more welcoming (I'm sorry to say, although I love the city, that that goes for a lot of the service personel in Athens. The city has changed a lot since we first started going there). The hotel is also close to everything. I have not stayed there since 1998, but I'm going there this September with my husband, when we come in from our island hopping. Have a nice trip! Vigdis

Hi, <BR>we just returned from Athens last night. We stayed at the Athens Plaza Hotel that is right next door from the Grand Bretagne. We thought the Grand Bretagne looked old and run down and was told that they will be closing next year for a complete renovation in advance of the Olympics. they have major plumbing problems. <BR> <BR>I thought the Electra Palace was o.k., rooms are basic. We booked our room through Interdynamic and received a big discount ($133 USD a night including breakfast at the Athens Plaza. No view of the Acropolis however, but a view of Syntagma Square. <BR>By the way, don't miss the neat exhibit in the Syntagma Square Metro station. It shows you the archelogical layers in the city. <BR> <BR>hope this helps <BR>Ken

Elektra Palace hands down! I thought it was great. In the Plaka, we had great experiences with the staff and the rooftop bar was could not be beat. Also the included breakfast where you just threw your orange into the machine and came out with a glass of wonderful fresh squeezed orange juice. Ask Sophicles (I kid you not), the barman, for restaurant recommendations and don't fall for the Taxi and the Taverna scam! <BR> <BR>A great place to watch the lights go on the Accropolis. What ever you do DON'T go to the Olympic Palace as a substitute. Same price, terrible rooms, a view of the Accropolis from your "balcony" if you lean way out, and nasty service.

Katherine, <BR>I second your thumbs down on Olympic Palace. I found it on the internet, and they assured me the hotel was recently renovated in 1999. If so, then they have done a fabulous job of evoking mid-70s decor. The service was non-existent, and the newspaper vendor in the gift shop started yelling at me as I was fumbling for the correct change. <BR> <BR>One of the reasons I chose the place was that it advertised having a gym. Half the exercise is to find the elevator that takes you to the so-called gym. Once on the elevator, you get the rest of your exercise futiley pressing the buttons. You see, it doesn't go anywhere. So the cool-down phase of your exercise is to trod back to the front desk to find out what the problem is, only to be met with a massive Mediterranean shrug. <BR> <BR>I hate that place and am on a personal mission to make sure no one stays there again.

The Grande Bretagne was, years ago, the best hotel in town, for its location, amenities, service and good taste decor. I've also heard that it got run down lately... <BR> <BR>Can't comment on the Electra Palace. <BR> <BR>Surlok

On the AOL Greece Message Boards, someone who just returned from Athens posted a message abotu the EP. She said it was a nice hotel BUT there is construction going on next door to them, which means they heard jackhammering at 7:30 in the morning. Also, there's a large crane from the building that hangs over the rooftop pool there. I was booked for there in mid=-Sept and I got my hotel booking agency to ask the hotel how long this was going on. The hotel said for at least 6 months! Ouch! I cancelled my room and booked elsewhere. But the person who posted this said they moved to another room (more expensive) and it was quieter. I would hate for this to ruin part of your honeymoon. I have no other suggestions for you. I'll be back in mid-Sept., but that may be too late for you. Sorry! <BR>Felicia