Greek Hotels
 

My wife and I will be staying in Athens 3 nights and Nafplion 1 night. Does anyone have thoughts regarding the following budget hotels in Athens:
Hotel Attalos
Hotel Cecil
Hotel Tempi
and the following budget hotels in Nafplion:
Byron Hotel
Dioscouri Hotel
Nafplia Hotel
Basically, we are looking for a clean & quiet room in a safe neighborhood. Since we are only in the room from very late at night to early the next morning, a fancy foyer, etc. is not required. If it is clean with a en suite bath with hot water that's all we really require.

Any thoughts on these hotels? Any negatives? Breakfast? Security? Cleanliness?

At this time we are leaning toward the Tempi in Athens and the Byron in Nafplion.
Your help is greatly appreciated. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
James

Read reviews of these hotels on www.tripadvisor.com. The Attalos Hotel receives consistently higher ratings than either the Tempi or Cecil. All are in the same general neighborhood, which is considered "safe." I've stayed at the Attalos. I was satisfied with the hotel and the staff, and the rooftop lounge has an excellent view of the Parthenon, especially at night when it's illumiated.

As Brotherlee says. I've stayed at the Cecil and wouldn't again. I arrived alone and very late; they ignored me for 10 minutes until I requested to be checked in. Then gave me a poky room on the inside of the hotel somewhere with a door that didn't lock properly. I checked out next morning and cancelled the rest of my reservation.
The people at the Tempi were nice but it was full when I tried to book. I believe it has about 5 floors and no lift!
All of these hotels in Athens are in the same street. It's safe and convenient.

I stayed at the Attalos this past Sept. I asked for a room on the top floor with a view of the Parthenon...and got it. Large, clean room with ensuite bath & shower, large patio, beautiful view. The Attalos is well located. I would stay there again.

I stayed at the Cecil last year in two different rooms. The first had a small balcony mostly occupied by the AC unit, but you could just see the Parthenon from it. I found the staff a bit scatterbrained, but the room was fine for the price, and the location convenient.

Definitely not the Tempi, I walked in and then walked straight out, it's horrible.
Trust tripadvisor, look up their website and then the individual websites of the hotels.

Hi

I have stayed at the Cecil and also the Attalos. Both were good budget choices only a few doors apart in an excellent location. The Cecil is a lovely neo classical building. There is a roof terrace but no seating - in fact there is nothing there, it's purely an observation deck. Breakfast was typically Greek but quite adequate. Rooms are spacious enough - those at the front were a little noisy if you are a light sleeper. The biggest advantage with the Attalos is its roof top bar. At night you can enjoy lovely views of Athens rooftops and of course the Acropolis. Alcohol is served at very reasonable prices. Before 5pm you can BYO. Rooms are bland but clean. Breakfast was a bit ho hum but palatable nonetheless. I did not have any complaints about the staff at either of two places. If I was to choose it would be the Attalos purely because of its roof top bar. There is 2 free internet terminals which is also a plus. If the Cecil got a rooftop bar happening it would be fanatstic!

Thanks to all!
I'm sharing your advice with my wife and hope to make reservations soon.

If anyone else has tips on budget hotels in Athens and Nafplion, please share them with me. I'm looking for a clean quiet hotel in a safe neighborhood.

Thanks again!
James

I also stayed at the Attalos and thought it had a perfect location. Close to Monastiraki, to the Plaka, to the Central Market, and with the Psirri neighborhood right behind it, full of restaurants and lively at night. The man at the front desk was very helpful to my daughter and me, calling a rembetika club to make reservations for us and then calling them back to get us in when the club denied having our reservations.

We had two different rooms, before and after our tour of the mainland. The first had a balcony and a view of the Parthenon and the second did not, but was larger and had a sofa.

Dear KathyNZ:
Just wondering...what caused you to walk out of the Tempi? Was it not very clean? Was it in a bad area? Could you give me any more details. Thanks!

We stayed at the Hotel Philippos - a 3 star hotel in a residentual area, but close to the Acropolis (south). It was perfect. Pleasant treatment, no big lobby, but adequate, as was the breakfast that is included. If you go there, ask for one of their rooms where you can lay in bed at night and see the Acropolis all lit up. It was fantastic. We walked to everything - the Flea Market, all the museums, shops, restuarants (this hotel does not have a restuarant, but has a sister hotel nearby that does), grocery stores, banks, etc. We never used a taxi - but if you do - be sure to negotiate the price before you get into one. We heards all kinds of stories about the cabs there.

I forgot to mention that the neighborhood was very safe. We were 2 ladies traveling on our own and were safe wandering around at night and going back to this hotel.

Dear Travelingforever:
Do you remember the cost on the hotel you mentioned? We are hoping to stay with budget type hotels (80 euros or less per night). We realize that limits us greatly but we need to stay within our budget. As long as the hotel is clean, quiet, and in a safe neighborhood, that's all we requre.
Thanks!

We have stayed at both the Attalos and the Phillopos. Attalos is certainly less expensive. Philipos is better appointed however the rooms are smaller and they do not have Atillos wonderful Acropolis view rooftop garden.
It has been our experience that we have been able to obtain better rates at Athens hotels using a Greek travel agents compared to posted rates on internet.

Hi there
Re Hotel Tempi. I don't know if I was shown the servants quarters or not but a jail cell came to mind when I saw the room they showed me, not that I have stayed in a jail cell, ha ha, but it was a bare concrete floor, tiny narrow bed, a cold water hand tub on one wall. This was up a narrow spiral staircase. I have no idea where the bathroom was. I said 'no thankyou' to the young receptionist and he answered, 'yes, I understand' much to my amusement.

Its been awhile but we have stayed at The Plaka Hotel-In the Plaka. It is in the old town and you can walk everywhere. Ask for a room in the back-away from the street and as high up as possible. You have a wonderful view of the Parthanon. There is also a roof top area where you can have a drink. The last time we were in Athens we stayed somewhere else and I was sorry we didn't go back there-Chris

Dear Chris and KathyNZ:
Thanks again for the info! I'm checking out the Hotel Plaka and have ruled OUT the Tempi. Thanks again!
James Michael

Prices drop dramatically once you leave Athens.

In Nafplion, the Byron Hotel is in a lovely quiet location in the desireable Venetian "Old Town" section of Nafplion. (Quiet except for the occasional church bell !)

The 70-80 euro rates of the Byron would increase to 150 and higher, were it in Athens.

I'm unfamilar with the Dioscouri Hotel and Nafplia Hotel, but the Byron rates very highly with me.

Thanks Tom_R for your thoughts regarding the Byron Hotel.