We are a family of 5 adults. What would be the best choice in Athens for a two night stay, with room comfort and location being our focus. The Heritage House apartment or two rooms at the Athenian Callirhoe?

I always try to stay in the Divani Palace Acropolis hotel, when in Athens. It is located on a quiet street, just 2 blocks from the path around the Acropolis, and a few more blocks to the Plaka. It is on the Acropolis side of Syngrou Ave., which makes it closer to that area than the Athenian Callirhoe. Also, it's easy to get to either the Syngrou Fix or Acropolis Metro stops. Make sure you get the large buffet breakfast included in the rate!

Although I haven't personally stayed here, there's been favorable mention of the AVA Hotel-Apartments :
www.avahotel.gr

It's location inside Plaka section seems very desireable, and the website pics seem pretty good, too.

Probably there are Trip Advisor reviews on AVA.

This is the first time I've ever seen the Heritage House apartment, but it looks really really interesting and, by address, is in a good area. I suggest you post a question on the Tripadvisor Athens forum, asking specifically about the Heritage House, and see if one of the Athens experts has been by the address or knows abut the place. This could be a terrific find. But that is based solely on their website and the location, so can't say for sure.

As for the Callirhoe, I wouldn't. Although it is close to the Plaka, you have to cross a lot of traffic to get there -- the Callirhoe is on very busy main streets. There aren't any shops or restaurants nearby, it's more like car stores and the like. I like areas with less heavy traffic, and where I can wander around and find a charming cafe or restaurant or shop nearby (which is why the Heritage House apartment looks interesting).

Listing some hotels we've liked, of all price ranges and quality (since you didn't really say what you were looking for):
--the Electra Palace (lux in the heart of Plaka)
--the AVA (kitchenettes a bonus)
--the Cypria (right off Ermou - pedestrianized shopping street - near Syntagma)
--the Adrian (but only the Acropolis view rooms--right in the heart of Plaka)
--the Amazon (particularly the suite)
--the Attalos (cheap but convenient)

All of these are in great locations, and convenient to either the Syndagma or Monastiraki metro stations, and are listed in order of room comfort.

If I were you, though, I'd keep checking up on that Heritage House apartment. I want to round up enough people to stay there! In fact, I like it so much I'm bookmarking it. Thanks!

The Grande Bretagne on Constitution Square is our favoured hotel in Athens - pretty central to everything. Though for our last visit we tried the Electra Palace in Plaka which is a good alternative to the Bretagne though not as grand.

Ys, I agree the GB is the best hotel in Athens, but it is also probably the most expensive. Count on a minumum of $800-1000 a night for 5 (and it's probably more, cause I'm just guessing and have no idea of your dates or sleeping arrangements).

Thanks for the responses. I actually found a posting by a Fodorite that had stayed in the Heritage house and loved it. Eleni -- is the location of the HH excellent as we only have 2 days in Athens. Thanks --- I'm so excited about going there and appreciate the help in booking this.

I am staying at the Intercontinental from July 17-20. You'll find me a the pool. If you have a bottle of Krug you'd like to share, please feel free to drop by.

The Great and Powerful Thingorjus

The address given on the Heritage House website is Vassilis Street which is described as "a quiet side street that connects into the pedestrian zone that meanders its way into Plaka, Monasteraki, past the Ancient Agora, around the Acropolis and up Phillopapou Hill."

Here is a map of Athens:
http://www.athensguide.com/map/athens.htm

On the left hand side of the map you will see in big red letters the words Gazi, Kerameikos, and Thissio. Right below where it says Thissio in red, you will see a street named Vasilis. This is where the ad says the Heritage House is located (You will see that Vasilis connects to Apost. Pavlou, which would be the pedestrian zone described in the ad.) It is right by the Thisio metro station which will make it convenient and, as you can see from the map, right in the heart of the area that visitors most like to see. So yes, I'd say it's an excellent location.

Do you have the link to the prior review of Heritage House apartments on Fodors? I can't seem to find it. Thanks!

Reply to Eleni--The author of the endorsement of the ahtenspenthouses is hskol. The post is 4/9/07. It is entitled Greek Vacation, Athenpenthouse.
Thanks for your help.

Eleni-In booking the Heritage House, I find there is a 75 Euro cleaning fee. This makes it 200 Euro more than the Amazon. What do you think? Since we are there such a short time, is the location of the HH that much superior to the AH? By the way, thanks for the map!

The Amazon is also very conveniently located.

On the map, to the right of Thissio, you will see the large red letters Aerides slightly above the large red letters that say Plaka. Above where it says Aerides, you will see in smaller black letters MITROPOLIS and a cross (this is where the main Greek Orthodox cathedral in Athens is located). There are two short unnamed streets to the right of the cathedral; the second of these streets (which is just to the left of Voulis Street) is where the Amazon is located. Just above Voulis Street you will see in purple letters the words SYNTAGMATOS SQ. This square (commonly referred to as Syntagma) is the central square in Athens, and has a metro stop (the blue line which goes straight to and from the airport stops here), which makes the Amazon quite convenient. As you can see, the Amazon is very centrally located and, for me, is just as convenient. For such a short stay, I can see how the cleaning fee would make a difference. Plus, if you stay at the hotel, there will be someone conveniently available to help you, if the need arises.

Thanks for the reference to the posting. Have fun!

Eleni is right on the money...stay at one of her reccomended hotels..The suite at the Amazon is very nice...and perfectly located.

Eleni, how about Plaka Hotel?

the Plaka is a nice clean propety in a super location...owned by the same group as the Hermes, and smaller Achilleas...great location at the edge of Plaka, halfway between Syntagma Square and Monistiraki Square.

Help! I need some advise and am needing a vacation from all my research. ELENI!!, I respect your advise. There are at least six of us who will need three rooms in late April. The Grand Bretagne sounds wonderful, but I think is too expensive for us.

I have looked at the Philippos and the Herodion. Which of those do you or anyone else out there prefer, and/or are there better places in that price range or at least under $200 a night you would strongly recommend? Thank you so very much!!

I still recommend the Divani Palace Acropolis. Here is my comment, above:
Author: jkirkmd
Date: 06/20/2007, 01:47 pm
I always try to stay in the Divani Palace Acropolis hotel, when in Athens. It is located on a quiet street, just 2 blocks from the path around the Acropolis, and a few more blocks to the Plaka. It is on the Acropolis side of Syngrou Ave., which makes it closer to that area than the Athenian Callirhoe. Also, it's easy to get to either the Syngrou Fix or Acropolis Metro stops. Make sure you get the large buffet breakfast included in the rate!

We ended up having a travel coupon from Expedia for a canceled trip from a Mexican airline that folded last year. We used it to get a cheaper rate at the Electra Palace. It ended up averaging $250 a night and although that's a lot of money, it seemed like for five nights it was worth it. I mean...how many times do you go to Athens, Greece?

So, now, what would you do with those five days if you were me and my two...now four...now six...gulp eight friends? I knew this would happen, but I am used to traveling en masse.

Eleni, other experts:

I request your inputs on an apartment versus Adrian hotel. I have the option to stay either at an apartment located between president hotel and hilton hotel, in Vassilissis Sofias Avenue. The description says the area is very active, there is the park of Ambelokipi square and 2 small gardens separating the flat from Vassilissis Sofias Avenue and the business center of Athens.

Question is that the Adrian Hotel room may have a view of the Acropolis (I don't know how good the view is). Is the apartment location any good? Does the extra cost of Adrian Hotel justify it? This is for Dec 21 through new year.

I'll appreciate any advice/ guidance.

If anyone is looking for a room that can accommodate up to 5 people, you may check with the Phillipos hotel and ask about room 603, which we stayed in this past summer. It has one room with I'd say a dbl or queen sized bed and then a another room with a twin bed and a queen bed. There is a huge balcony with great views of the Acropolis. We found everything very nice at the hotel. Bathroom was small but very nice; and our room was perfect for our family of 2 adults and 2 kids.