Yes, I know the Grand Bretagne is the truly "grand hotel" of Athens...it is never a challenge finding an expensive accommodation...the challenge is finding a mid-range hotel that is a VERY good value. Many people recommend the Electra Palace, but these days, I would consider this UPPER END. Anyone out there have some good recommendation for the Best Value Hotels in Athens...reasonably priced, good location, decent bathroom, etc.? Many Thanks. Also, recommendations in Imerovigli, Santorini would be appreciated!

I have reservations at the Electra Palace in September. I agree with you about the price..it seems very high for Athens, for a hotel that gets pretty good, but not great, reviews. But I did a lot of research and the only other hotel that seemed a possibility (for me, that is) was the Herodion. (The Gb was full so cannot be tempted to splurge on that one!) The rates at Herodion are quite a bit lower than the GB or EP so you might try their web site. For Santorini we are staying at Pegasus Suites..check out their web site; the place looks great, in Imerovigli for not too bad a rate. I think it is a new hotel and does not get too many reviews but my friend did lots of research for us and choose it.

We stayed at the St. George Lycabettus Hotel in May. It is a lovely, small, luxury hotel located in Kolonaki and is about a 10 minute walk from Syntagma Square. We had a room with a 5* bed and bathroom ,with no view and no breakast, for 146E per night. We would stay there again without hesitation. (www.sglycabettus.gr)

Our friends stayed at the Georgiou, which is between the Archeological Museum and Omonia Square. We visited their room, which was beautiful! I think it is quite reasonably priced. Other friends stayed at the Kaningos in Kaningos Square.
My wife, our kids and I stayed at the Dorian Inn, also near Omonia Square. The room was okay, the bathroom was nice, and the breakfast was great (squeeze-your-own orange juice)

Check out the Hotel Plaka. Nothing fancy, but nice rooms and baths and great location. We were there in early June and paid $145 per night for a double.

We stayed at the Athens Cypria in October and were very satisfied. Our room was a good size, the bathroom was clean and modern, the desk staff were helpful, the location was convenient. I beleive that we paid 125 Euros.

Be sure to ask for a 6th floor room with a view of the Parthenon from your balcony.

We've stayed at the Acropolis View Hotel twice--'97 and'98. We thought it was good value for the money then, and I see on their website that they renovated in 2004. It's a few minutes walk from Plaka and even fewer to Acropolis, and it's on a quiet street. They didn't give their rates on the site, but I'm sure they'd email them if you'd ask. Fodors, Frommers, and NYT recommend it.

Have fun!

Check it out at www.acropolisview.gr

We were in Athens in June and stayed at the Adrian Hotel in the Platka area. Our room had a view of the Acropolis lit up at night that was spectacular! Breaksfast was served on the rooftop terrace each a.m. The rooms weren't fancy, but the view & the location made up for it.

Hi Fluff224, I'm also staying at the Adrian -- actually just later this week (so excited for my Greece adventure!) and was wondering how it is getting there from the airport on Metro. Any suggestions? Is it easy to find?

I just returned from Greece and while in Athens, I stayed in three places. I would only recommend the Attalos Hotel out of the three - it's in a great area, next to the metro and very reasonably priced. I think I paid 80 euro per night. You can opt out of the breakfast and they don't charge you. They have a wonderful rooftop deck looking out on the Acropolis.

For more options, check out www.hotelsofgreece.com.

I would not recommend the Hotel Marina or Zorbas Hotel (the other two places I stayed).

Ditto on the Attalos. We just returned from Greece and stayed at the Attalos on our way in and out. It is very easy to get to from the airport being just a block away from the Monastiraki Station. A short walk to Monastriaki and the Plaka...very lively. We are a family of four and had the quad room which is on the top floor...lovely porch with a magnificent view of the Acropolis and the roof top garden is really lovely. We also have had double rooms there. It is quite clean and the staff are quite helpful. I think we paid 120 euro for the quad and about 80 for the double room.

Thanks, all for your recommendations. I have recently heard from a good source who returned from Electra Palace, and rated it very highly. It's a bit high price-wise for us. I think we've narrowed down our options to Hotel Plaka or Hotel Hermes (both owned by same family. (145 E per night for a double Anyone out there stay in either of these hotels recently?
Also, in Santorini, I'm looking for feedback on the Xenones Filotera in Imerovigli.

Hi Parzmom - Just got back from Greece including 2 nights at Hotel Plaka (7/16 and 7/17). We found it to be perfect - pleasant reception, nice rooms, small but clean and modern bathrooms (with the most powerful overhead showers we had during our entire trip!), and in a great location. And, the view of the city from the rooftop bar at sunset is a wonderful bonus! Were I to return to Athens to see the sights, I would definitely stay there again.

Hotel Amazon gets good writeups for value hotels in Athens.

We stayed at the Attalos Hotel as well. It's clean, comfortable, very reasonably priced (we also paid $80 for a double, surprise!)...and the staff are VERY helpful. We enjoyed a beer on the rooftop bar/patio at night (only $3) overlooking the lit-up Acropolis. It was a great way to end the day of sightseeing.

It's close to the subway (Montsaraki I believe), within walking distance to the Plaka and Acropolis, and if you go uphill away from the Plaka, there's a great fish market to wander around in and see fish you've NEVER seen before, I guarantee it! LOL.

Here's the web site:

http://www.greekhotel.com/athens/attalos/more.htm

Happy travels.

Jules

Jules, the website for the Attalos is http://www.attalos.gr. It may be cheaper booking direct. Shop around I guess!

See ya

We were also pleased with the Attalos in May. Had a larger room than either (more expensive) hotel on Crete, pretty decent size for a budget hotel. Clean, attractive and convenient. If you have a front room (or some on the side) you will have a view of the Acropolis - but on the front you have to lean out just slightly past the divider between balconies unless you get the room on the end (an 06 room, I believe). We got the room with breakfast for about 60 Euros through an agent - their website was 80 without breakfast. But if through an agent, you have to book a minimum of about 300 Euros or pay a fee. (Could still come out cheaper, depending on how many nights.) If you have to pay extra for breakfast, don't. Not worth what they charge.

At my daughter's urging, we stayed in Imerovigli. Had a nice "traditional apartment" room at Villa Lukas right at the top of the hill - so a bit farther than some of the other places but a great view and a nice room (efficiency apt., really) for the price. Only 5 or 6 apartments, lovely private balcony, great view, very quiet. http://www.villalukas-santorini.com/ We had the room on the home page and balcony on the right of the pic a the top of that page for 75 Euros a night low season. Convenient parking if you're renting a car.