Where to stay in Athens Convenience VS. Budget

In Athens you'll be safe if you stay in the Monastiraki area in hotels such as Plaka Hotel, Amazon Hotel, Metropolis Hotel and A For Athens Hotel. These are all close to the Monastiraki Metro Station on the edge of the Plaka, and most are along Mitropoleos Street.

Another good area, a bit quieter but very safe is on the south side of the Acropolis near the Akropoli Metro Station. Check the Acropolis View Hotel, Philippos Hotel, Athens Gate Hotel and the Airotel Parthenon.

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Hi Joey, you did not mention if you were traveling alone and whether you were sharing the cost of a room. However, we did stay in a nice budget place listed in Rick Steves book and it was a great location within walking distance to everything. Around the corner were nice restraunts and nightlife where you could sit, people watch or shop till midnight. We stayed at the hotel Phaedra and mentioned Rick Steves when we booked directly with them and got a discount by mentioning him. 3 of us stayed in a room for 85Euro so I think a single may be about 60Euro.

It has WiFi and served breakfast and was helpful in making recommendations on what times to see sights based on weather that day.

Joey

The Phaedra, as Jon suggests, is a good bet. An alternative is the Art Gallery Hotel which has singles for 60 euros. It's only 10 minutes from the Acropolis but in a less touristy area than Plaka. It's 5 minutes from the metro for easy access to the airport and other parts of town.

Alan

We stayed in the Hera Hotel in the Plaka district in May of 2012. Loved it! Its Trip Advisor ranking is 21 out of 283 hotels in Athens. Rick Steves recommends it, too. It's a wonderful 38-room boutique hotel with a very friendly and helpful staff. The hotel was remodeled relatively recently and the lobby and rooms are beautiful . . . many modern amenities. It had the feel of a 4-star hotel to us. We had a balcony in our room, overlooking the street in front of the hotel. There a lot of street noise at night in this area, but there are heavy shutters that can be closed over the sliding doors and, amazingly, they completely block out the sound. The AC was turned on even in early May, so we did not need to sleep with the sliding doors open. I just checked rates and it looks like you can get a room there for about $109 per night, including taxes and fees, using booking.com, if booking this far in advance. You will love the rooftop bar and restaurant with a view of the acropolis. It's especially nice in the evening when the acropolis is lit up. There is a beautiful breakfast room where they set out an abundant breakfast buffet each morning. This was included in our room price when we stayed there. The acropolis will be a 10-15 minute walk away. The New Acropolis Museum will be just a couple minutes away. You're amid many wonderful restaurants and cafes. I highly recommend this hotel.

Thanks,

Thank all of you for the helpful info. Any recommendations of where to stay on Santorini. As far as my party goes it's still up in the air as to if I might have a girlfriend and/or another couple with me.

Thanks,
Joey

For Santorini, what would your maximum daily room budget be, NOT including food and spending? Also, do you want a beach environment or to be on the cliff over the caldera?

We had a wonderful time at the Esperas Traditional Houses in the Village of Oia. It's set into the side of the cliff, high above the sea, with absolutely stunning views of the caldera and the town. We had a junior suite, which provided a very comfortable stay for myself, my husband, and our two daughters (in their 20's). It had two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a kitchenette and a private veranda. I thought the cost was very reasonable for this beautiful hotel. I think our stay, in the first half of May, was right before the switch to high season rates. The staff members are wonderful--very hard working, helpful and attentive. In May, it was so uncrowded that we felt we had the place to ourselves. Oia has the best sunset viewing on Santorini, and at this hotel, you enjoy it right from the pool deck or the privacy of your own veranda, instead of jostling with hundreds of others who visit Oia at sunset each day, from other parts of the island, to get a spot on the castle wall, to try to get the best view of the sunset. It's a short walk from the hotel into town when you want to shop or dine. Lots of quaint shops and wonderful restaurants with amazing views.

Vicky, for the most helpfulness, it would be nice if you'd actually give the May room rate that you found to be "quite reasonable" ... that means different things to people in different budget categories ...

Janet, We worked with a Greek travel agent and she put together a package price. I know the total that we paid for a family of four for an 8 night trip, and at one time had the breakdown, but I no longer remember what each component cost. Our package included (a) cab transfer from the airport to the Hera Hotel in Athens (b) two double rooms for 2 nights at the Hera Hotel with breakfast included, (c) cab transfer to Pireaus (port), (d) the fast ferry to Santorini, (e) transfer from the port on Santorini to the Traditional Esperas House in Oia, (f) two nights in a Junior Suite at the hotel including breakfast, (g) transfer back to the port, (h) fast ferry to the island of Naxos, (i) a two day rental car on Naxos, (j) two rooms for 2 nights at the Naxos Beach Resort Hotel including breakfast, (k) ferry back to Pireaus, (i) two day car rental so we could drive to Nafplion and then get ourselves to the airport after our stay there, and (j) 2 superior double rooms for 2 nights at the Hotel Aetoma in Nafplion. Our package price for this 8 night trip that included all hotels, all transfers or rental cars, all breakfasts, all ferries, came out to 734 Euro per person, or 91 Euro per person per day. We had never before used a travel agent to book independent (non-group) travel but were advised that this is the way to go in Greece. Ferries can be canceled last minute due to strikes or rough seas. If you have booked a hotel on an island on your own, and are unable to get to it, and the cancellation deadline has passed, you'll be stuck paying for the hotel that you can't get to. If you use a Greek travel agent, they'll cancel that hotel at no penalty and find someplace else for you to stay, and alternative activities to enjoy. Fortunately, nothing like this happened to us, but we were very happy with our decision to use a Greek travel agent. The woman we used was very intuitive. She put together the perfect trip for us after many emails back and forth between us. She was someone I could turn to for information and answers to my many questions both in advance of travel and while we were there.

Thank you Vickie, for your detailed breakout of your travel agency package, and yes it certainly looks reasonable for the accommodations you were given and extra services. I totally agree with you that the Greek travel agencies are the way to go ... they know how to negotiate the best deals, and ALSO how to handle last-minute glitches. When BB regulars hear piteous postings from people who say 'my ferry is cancelled and my agent says we can't change my dates' ... it's more than likely something booked thru a US agent.

We have stayed at the Attalos Hotel in 2009 and 2012, very good accommodations each time. In 2012 we returned with four friends and they all enjoyed the rooftop view of the Acropolis, especially at night. No problems at night and very close to the train stop.

Thanks Vicki, and everyone else too.

Second the recommendation of the Hotel Attalos. Stayed there in June, 2013... The rooftop bar CAN NOT be beat for a drink in the afternoon or evening. Amazing city and acropolis views that you'd pay through the nose for anywhere else...but you can bring your 2 Euro street Gyro up there to eat "for free." The service is great, the location is perfect. Halfway between the National Archaological Museum and the Acropolis/Plaka. Right in the middle of a bunch of great local shopping/markets. Be sure to check out the local spice, meat, produce, fish, etc. markets! They're amazing! Bring home some spices! I brought home some spices, but didn't have enough and ran out! The Hotel Attalos staff was kind enough to mail me some spices FREE OF CHARGE from Athens as they were the best I'd ever had for chicken...that is how nice the hotel staff are!!

In Athens - roof top lounges. There is also a really nice one on the Hotel Plaka - I think the view is better than the view from Hotel Attalos.

In Santorini - I recommend the Theoxenia Hotel on Via d'Oro (the main pedestrian street along the Caldera.
We had a terrace on the 3rd floor with fabulous sunset views, and breakfast delivered to our terrace
each AM at a set time.