Help with Athens please.. thank you!
 

Hello and thank you in advance for your help. I apologize in advance for the long post...

My sister and I are going to be in Athens in Mid June for 4 days... I am still working on the itinerary but I wanted to see if I could get some help. We are also going to spend 4 days in Santorini.

I have read that 2 days are enough in Athens, so that's what I am planning on. We would also like to visit Sounion, Delphi and maybe Meteora, but I know that it all depends on the timing.

Would 2 days be enough to visit Sounion, Delphi and Meteora?

If adding Meteora is too much, which I have a feeling it might be, we'll just do the Sounion and Delphi; in this case, should we just stay at the hotel in Athens the whole time and do day trips, or since we are going out of the city would it be beneficial to get a hotel somewhere else? - We do not mind changing hotels often as we'll only have a backpack.

If we should get a hotel somewhere else could you recommend a town/city?

Or, would it be better to scratch the outside Athens trips, stay only 2 days there and go to another island?

Finally, could you recommend a clean, safe, budget hotel in Athens? Brotherleelove recommended a few in a separate post, I already contacted the Arethusa and the Metropolis, but I am looking for something VERY cheap... 50 - 55E for 2 people? impossible?

I found Dioskouros and Hostel Aphrodite... any experience with these? Too terrible?

Thank you so very much!

ttt

Yes I'm afraid that I can't suggest anything at 50-55 per room in Athens in Mid-june, if you are talking about something close to the Plaka District -- at least I've never found anything like that, and I've been going to greece almost yearly since 1999.

Are you up for a backpacker's place with dorm room and shared bath? There is Athens backpackers -- and its sister building AthensStudios. These are just below the acropolis, behind the new Acropolis Museum, by the Acropolis metro stop.

THe latter has apartments you can share with other people (of course this will require more security measures on your part. Here's a link to the rates:
http://www.athensstudios.gr/web/inde...ge=choosearoom
and there's an e-mail to contact.
Here's another site that describes the shared apt. idea too -- you do have to book for 3 days however.
http://reservations.bookhostels.com/...8&SubID=en
... I think the minimum (it's a per-person thing would be about 30E.

Whoa, I just realized I forgot the Tempi-- this is on the edge between Monastriki and Plaka, and is a bare-bones hotel, but beloved of backpackers... so you would have to book NOW to get anything in JUne... their double with shared bath is 57€, with pvt bath is 64, no 3-day stay required. Go for it!

http://www.travelling.gr/tempihotel/

Hi

There is also the Student and Travellers Inn - http://www.studenttravellersinn.com. Try also http://www.pella-inn.gr or http://www.marblehouse.gr or http://www.zorbashotel.com or http://www.athensstudios.com or http://www.greekhotel.com/athens/amaryllis-inn/home.htm

Thank you very much for the suggestions.... I will contact them today.
Is there any of them that you wouldn't recommend safety-wise for 2 girls?

Anybody have any recommendation on if we should do the day trips outside Athens and either stay in Athens or somewhere else?

Thank you!!

Just don't miss Meteora!!!! Jane

Safety-wise stay away from hotels in the Omonia Square area. After dark it gets a bit rough, is known for the druggies and prostitutes that hang out there.

OP wrote:
" ... have read that 2 days are enough in Athens, so that's what I am planning on."

Opinions vary. Eg, 4 full days usually suits me!

"Would 2 days be enough to visit Sounion, Delphi and Meteora?"

I cannot imagine doing so! Too much traveling, even with private car.

Sounion can be done as a 1/2 day excursion from Athens.

Delphi *could* be done as 1 *very* long rushed day, but most people find it more satisfying to an overnight.

Meteora is around 5 hrs drive north of Athens. Usually involves an overnight stay.

What about a day trip to the island of Hydra? Nafplion and Ephesus is also possible.

Ephesus, Worldinabag? As a DAY trip??!! I think you mean Epidauros! (Combined with Mycenae, maybe - terrific!)

Oops sorry yes Epidaurus. Too much ouzo, or was it raki? :-!

I've stayed at Dioskouros - only for one night because we just returned from the islands and were due to take a flight back to London.

HORRIBLE PLACE!

Great location but the place itself is terrible. What it says on its profile page - nothing like that at all. I was so glad to check out the following morning.

I've stayed at Hotel Neos Olympos, which is also a hostel. It was a great deal and great place. It's located near the Larissa train station but only a few minutes by subway to Athens. Just search for that place on HostelWorld :)

travellover36

Just in reply to your Athens hotel query, we stayed in a wonderful budget hotel in September last year. It is called Hotel Phaedra - the location could not be beaten (Plaka) and we had a balcony with Acropolis views and airconditioning! It is quite basic but very clean, has a lift and we found it very characterful. We had our baby in a cot in the double room and there was still plenty of space left.

We did not sample the breakfast but there was so much on offer around the hotel, it really was better to eat breakfast outside. We paid around 70 euros per night in September (I think roughly about the same prices as June) for a double which I know is a little over your budget but definately worth the small extra and very reasonable for Athens.

http://www.hotelphaedra.com/

We kept patting ourselves on the back for finding such a little gem at the price.

Have a lovely time in Greece.

Martyg

Martyg,
did you have a bathroom in your room or outside of it?
Just wondering because I just looked into staying there next week but they only have 2 rooms left.
a twin bedded with a bathroom included
or a double bedded with a private bath outside the room

Bettina, Phaedra does have 2-3 rooms with bath outside the room -- I think they are 10€ less per night. You should know that the bath outside is not like a "dorm" bath. It is for an individual, you go in & lock it. When I rented one of those rooms, the bath was SPARKLY clean.

thank you travelerjan.
I'm thinking about changing my mind and staying there instead of Attalos

<i>Larissa train station but only a few minutes by subway to Athens</i>

To clarify, this is IN Athens, just not an area many North American tourists see. But It's actually an easy walk to the NAM and Omonia. Plus, there's the great suburban rail connection to the airport.

Hi Bettina222

Yes we had a bathroom inside the double room which was extremely clean and well set out.

We did have a look and the external bathrooms looked fine as well and we probably would have gone for those rooms if we were not travelling with a baby.

Martyg

thank you!
just booked it!