need room suggestions for mid-May in safe area close to Acropolis

Pre-Covid we stayed 2 different times at the OLympia Hotel which really close in to the Forum, however doubt if it would be any cheaper that what you've been quoted; they have 24 hour doorman and very secure.

If I’m only in Athens for a night or two I always stay at the Attalos. It’s a five minute walk from Plaka and a fairly standard C class hotel. It’s on a well lit major road and the area is safe

https://www.attaloshotel.com/

If you’re happy with comfortable and clean but not particularly modern you might try the Phaedra. Some of the rooms have great Acropolis views.

https://hotelphaedra.com/

Alan

IT would be easier to help if you would give an exact date and what you mean by "reasonably priced", is there a prooblem with that? For instance, my beloved & modest little Hotel Phaedra (21 rooms) is right in the shadow of the Acropolis, about 300 yards from Acropolis museum currently shows availability for the night of May 15 of a double room with Queen bed, balcony with Acropolis view for $109 .... but are you looking for something at €50-60?

As you describe the places you want to avoid, do not go to Omonia Square area, especially if you are a single woman. You are definitely not going to like the Dulin hotel area.
This area is strongly discouraged, especially in the evening. I suggest you cancel your reservation.

The Abov hotel in Fiokionos street you are talking about is around 150€/night in mid May. and not at 250€ / night. Double check here:

https://www.booking.com/hotel/gr/abov-athens.en-gb.html

The area (Abov Hotel) is safe, close to Plaka and Fiokionos street crosses Ermou Street which is the most commercial street in Athens.
In addition there is a nice bar right next, the "Heteroclito".

Next door there is also the Metropolis hotel which has apparently availability except on May 13, 19 and 20 (about 150€/night)

https://www.booking.com/hotel/gr/metropolis.html

I don't see why you don't want to go to aparthotel or Airbnb type places.
I have been going to Athens regularly for more than 20 years and I have hardly ever slept in a hotel room. For example last year I stayed in May in the Koukaki district, a very safe and family-friendly neighborhood just south of the Acropolis Museum, here:

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/29359316

It cost me 75€ per night (with a huge private rooftop, view on the Acropolis from your bed) and the owner is a resident of Athens, not a real estate agency

In a few weeks I will be for a week in a lovely area of ​​Athens (Mets) in a large Airbnb apartment for 70€/night.

So think twice...

Excellent budget hotel. Will stay here again in September. https://tinyurl.com/5fuwhsm4

Have you tried the Aerotel Parthenon hotel? We stayed there last May. It's about a 5-minute walk from the Plaka and 10 minute walk from the Acropolis. Lots of restaurants nearby.
https://www.airotel.gr/en/Parthenon-Hotel-795.htm
Last year we paid about $140 for our room and that includes breakfast, but the buffet breakfast was mediocre, IMO.

When you say booking sites "get hotels that require a drive or are in other neighborhoods, even if I specify Plaka! "Here's how t see Exactily where things are

When I use booking dot com, I use their "Landmark" filter and specify "Acropolis" -- this means every hotel or pvt aprt listed shows how near ( or far) it is to the Acropolis.. i.e. .5 miles 2 miles. etc Here's a tiny url - https://tinyurl.com/heq6edp for that Booking.com filter. Here are complete instructions to browse for what you want WHERE you want it

On that website, FIRST go up top & choose Money Ikon & select what currency you want ( €, $US, etc). Then insert data (how many people/rooms, checkin & checkout dates) & hit "search". Up comes a hotel list. Don't click on these. Instead, click Ikon at upper RH "Show hotels on Map" -- a map opens up, with blue balloons in EXACT Location of hotel/apt. Red centers mean fully booked, white centers mean availability. X (delete) a Row of "our selections" partly obscuring map. Then enlarge map -- this makes more balloons appear. Look ONLY at balloons in areas near acropolis. When you touch a balloon, it shows a $ total for 3 nights -- if you see a total you like (such as $300), you click on balloon to see photos & details... If you decide no, just hit back-arrow up top, and return to the full map.

Just to add to Janets advice. I do exactly as she suggested when looking for a hotel. However when I choose one I contact the hotel to compare their price versus what Booking.com charges. Lots of hotels keep some rooms off of Booking sites so they do not have to pay commission.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions, it's been a whirlwind the last few days getting ready.

Even when I booked a couple of weeks ago for these dates (5/19-22), most hotels were already sold out, particularly for Sat. 5/20. That's why I ended up with both an expensive Plaka hotel and a much cheaper one near Omonia, and nothing in between. Thanks to JoLui confirming that the Omonia area is not as safe (as I feared), I've cancelled the Dunlin hotel.

All the suggested hotels sound good, but not available for my dates. I'll keep them in mind for my next trip. Since I fly out tomorrow for Greece, I'll stick with the Abov Athens and be happy to have something confirmed in the Plaka, even if expensive!

Best wishes,

Latha

Check out Airbnb. While I normally deal directly with owners of accommodations rather than through a third party like booking.com I've used Airbnb three times and always had great service and far less expensive accommodations if you aren't looking for something over the top.

There's usually some good accommodations especially on the south side of the Acropolis in the area known as Koukaki.

Just a short walk from the south entrance of the Acropolis and in an area that doesn't get the crowds like Monistiraki, Plaka, or Syntagma but still lots of shops, markets and tavernas geared more to Greeks than tourists.

It's still not that far of a walk if you want to get to those areas above but you can return to a more tranquil and peaceful part of Athens.