I'll be visiting Thessaloniki by train from Macedonia during spring of 2006. Any suggesitons for comfortable, clean, safe and affordable places to stay, as well as to eat, for a 48 yr. old woman traveling on her own? Other places to visit close to Thessaloniki thatI should consider? thanks!

topping...

Oh how wonderful! I was born in Thessaloniki and have been back a few times. Some may say the city is small and dirty... I found it charming with some great shopping. I hear from friends that the Hyatt regency is wonderful... one of the best hotels in the city and not terribly expensive. http://thessaloniki.regency.hyatt.co.../photo_04.html

As for other places to check out, will you have a car? Take a road trip into Halkidiki. The beaches are incredible. And for food? You can go wrong. Any taverna will serve up good traditional greek food. Have fun!

1/ The Macadonia Palace (www.Grecotel.gr)has the best location for shopping, sightseeing or just walking and enjoying this beautifull city

2/ The
City hotel is an excellent value.

3/DO NOT miss Veryina or the tombs of Philippos father of Alexander the Great..maybe the mosy magic places after the Acropolis... and a tour of Chalkidiki.

thanks for the suggestions, although the "topping" comments from rex have me stymied! I'll defintely try out the locations suggested and look into the hotels, as well. Any other thoughts, let me know

bethrich

"topping" - - is an expression used to bring your message back up "to the top" - - to improve its visibility for others to answer.

Your question had fallen way past the "second page" with no answers in its first twelve hours. "Topping" it... put it back in sight, for someone else to answer it.

It's (mildly) kind of a "good Samaritan" thing to do, for an unanswered "orphaned" post - - for a newbie, who might know to do it (for yourself) to improve the chances of getting an answer.

Best wishes,

Rex

THANKS, Rex - had no idea...and always wondered what that was. I don't spend much time at all on talk sites/message boards, - actually this is the only one I use - so I'm learning all of the time.

best,

bethrich

I attended a meeting in Thessaloniki last year and got to see a number of the hotels, including some that have been mentioned upthread.

The Hyatt Regency is large and very nice, but it's a long distance from the city center (though close to the airport). I took a cab there to a gala dinner one night, not knowing how far it was, and the trip was so far that I became concerned that the cabdriver was lost, or purposely jacking up the fare (which he wasn't, of course, he just didn't speak English well enough to explain how far it was).

The Makedonia Palace was the meeting hotel, and it's nice, right on the waterfront with a lovely pool and so forth, but it's not central---not bad if you want to stroll along the waterfront back to the main part of town, but any serious sightseeing will require a cab or bus.

Hotel Olga's not been mentioned yet, but I'll go ahead and tell you to not stay there---I did (it was on the list of meeting hotels) and it was altogether not nice in a number of ways.

Another hotel that's not been mentioned that I'm going to recommend strongly is the Electra Palace. Right in town on a busy central plaza (so close to shopping, public transportation. etc.) that turns into one large cafe in the evening, but also very close to the waterfront (and the old port that's been turned into an entertainment/shopping area). Because the hotel is five or six stories high your room will be above all the hustle and bustle, plus there's a bar, restaurant, and rooftop garden on the roof that's just lovely---views over the city and over the sea. I got to see a colleague's room and it was every bit as nice as the remainder of the hotel. Breakfast reportedly great.

Food in Thessaloniki was generally okay---the more traditional the better. Remember that restaurants serve dinner late. Bars/cafes very nice, assuming you can take advantage of the weather outside. There's a particularly nice one next door to the Makedonia Palace Hotel, part of a restaurant called Interni, also right on the water. Food just okay.

Kitchen Bar was recommended to me frequently. Located in a rehabbed warehouse in the old port, outside seating on the water, great views back towards the city. Food execrable.

We stayed several nights at the Mediterranean Palace Hotel in May(spring special 136E for double without breakfast) We found the location to be great- we walked all over the city. We had a very good dinner at a restaurant just down the street from the hotel called Kioupia. We also had several good meals at restaurants near the market.

You're quite welcome.

these are terrific suggestions - thanks all. Sightseeing suggestions are most welcome, as well.

bethrich

Don't miss the Archaeological Museum and the Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki- both have world class collections. Also, the Arch of Galerius, the Rotunda, the Modiano Market and the view form the upper city were highlights for us.