Athens hotels

[sueleekey]

Any suggestions for hotels in Athens. Plan on staying a couple of days May 2 after the Rotterdam cruise from Rio. Looking for a good hotel with a good rate. If that is possible. Also any must see or do places in Athens. Thanks Sue

[hammybee]

We have always enjoyed The Marriott with its roof top pool and fabulous view of the Parthenon on the Acropolis.

You have chosen an excellent time to be in Greece as the summers tend to be miserably hot. When in Athens:

I love The Plaka in the evening, with it's street vendors, music, sidewalk cafes and friendly wild dogs. There is an outdoor roof top movie venue in the Plaka that tends to show English movies with Greek sub titles. Everyone talks, eats and drinks throughout the movie and you certainly know you are not in Kansas.

Stopping, just about anywhere, for a frappe and people watching is fun.

Greeks are serious about their shoes. Take an evening stroll and watch the hoards gathered in front of the windows at the shoe stores. Syntagma is the best area for this and full of boutiques, restauants and tavernas, mostly high end. You can also catch the changing og the guard here as well as the First Cemetary.

On Saturday , right before 6:00 P.M, the meat market within the central market holds a "buy one get one free" sale for lambs heads. This draws a huge crowd and there are not enough heads to go around.

The Monasteraki Flea Market early on Sunday is wonderful.

Athen's is a Smoker's Paradise so if bothered by this, be prepared. Unlike the U.S., there tend to be more smokers than not. Dining outside is better if you do not want the aroma to interfere with your meal.

Whatever you do in Ahtens you are going to have a wonderful time.

[Aussie Gal]

We have always stayed at the Grand Bretagne but next time we are going to stay next door at the King George Palace Hotel which is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World. This is a little cheaper than the Grand Bretagne but still in the same wonderful position.

Athens is a fun city, easy to walk around and as hammybee suggests go and eat in the Plaka and enjoy watching everyone.

Jennie