Hotel recommendations for Athens & Santorini..and any must see spots?

Laura, so that people won't need to guess what "spendy" means, please tell us what kind of accommodation you want (a single? a double?) and a desired budget range per night, in Euros; here's an instant conversion site http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/ -- just plug in your $$ and presto! Euro equivalent. ALSO, it's important to give dates of your visit -- rates vary greatly month by month.

Next, the "must-see" and "can't miss" requests --- It would be nice if you'd first do a quick browse thru some guidebooks (they are FREE at your public library, and you can also browse free at Barnes & Noble); that way, we won't have to write a guidebook summary for you here. (This is called "re-inventing the wheel") You'll get the best advice if you have a general idea of your "wish list" of sights, and we can help you choose what's tops and do-able, based on your very limited time.

Finally, with your extremely limited time, your first concern (before hotels & dining) should be logistics -- travel can eat up precious days. If u are arriving at Airport, we usually advise to not waste time by going in to central athens twice (start & end of trip), but instead immediately take domestic flight to Santorini, then return to Central Athens for your last 2-3 days.

I am going to Athens in late May and made reservations at the "Acropolis Select Hotel Athens". It is one of the hotels that RS tours use. I purchased RS "Greece, Athens & The Peloponnese" guide book which you can order elsewhere on this web site. It has LOTS of information of things to see and do as well as places to eat.

suggest you stay at attalos hotel in Athens. Good location, on metro line, nice view from roof top with cheap beer, reasonably priced. on santorini, I know a good place also called atalos (only 1 t). it's in karami, so not very expensive. it's about 2 min walk to the black beach and stores/bus stop. great swimming pool and breakfast. the owner is a great guy, he picked me up at the airport at 6am and also sent me to the ferry dock when I left, will stay there again next time. it's not expensive because it's not on the black beach or in any of those pricy towns.

We stayed at Central Hotel in Athens 'cause it was centrally located. Nice hotel, convenient, great view of the Acropolis. Would stay again.

We made a budget choice (Attalos) in Athens, which was quite satisfactory. That made it easier to allow ourselves more of a splurge with a view (Chelidonia Villas) in Oia, on Santorini. I recommend both. Favorite meals in Athens were at Filistro (address: Apostolou Pavlou 23). Don't miss the Museum of Prehistoric Thira in Fira, Santorini.

We liked Hotel Plaka in Athens--great location near good restaurants and roof top terrace has a view of the Acropolis. There is a fun restaurant in the area called Scholarheia and you have a choice of various Greek dishes and the price is great--we ate there twice. Go early to the Acropolis to avoid crowds and the museum is a must--built/redesigned for Olympics.

In Athens I also recommend Hotel Plaka, even if you don't stay there ...... go at sunset or in the evening to the bar on the roof. Beautiful views and many of the must see things are illuminated
at night - really amazing.
I went back 2 nights in a row - because I loved the views.

In Santorini in the main town Fera, I recommend Theoxenia hotel on the Via d'Oro
it has fabulous views of the caldera and it is easy walking to just about anywhere,
or a short walk to the bus station for a bus to many of the beaches etc.

You can find current prices and availability on tripadvisor or the hotel sites.

We loved the Santorini Palace!

This past October we stayed at the Hotel Philippos in Athens and were happy with our choice. It is on a quiet, residential street no more than 5,10 minute walk from Acropolis station and all the major sights. The people were friendly and helpful, breakfast quite nice and the room was comfortable and well maintained. We had a nice balcony as well. They held our luggage while we overnighted to Nafplion, arranged taxis at our request and could have helped arrange a car rental if we chose. I think we paid about 90 euro for a double. I would return to the Philippos without hesitation.