Athens Hotels

davidlizard

Off round the Greek Islands in June, but as we are taking a one-year old this time, I (or more correctly, my wife) does not fancy dashing off the aircraft and making our way to the docks and spending several hours on a boat - so we plan to spend one night in Athens and get the ferry the following morning.

If anyone can recommend a suitable budget range hotel in the city, or a suitable website, I would be most grateful. It will only be for one night, so do not really need loads of facilities - a basic clean room will be great, ideally situated near the metro or public transport to allow easy access from the airport/to the docks.

All advice gratefully received.

Dave

MrSmartprice

Decent hotels in the budget range in Athens are thin on the ground. But whatever you do don't be tempted to try and find one in Piraeus! Sailor's doss houses.

The Exarchion in Athens is nice, but not very conveniently situated for the metro, being north of Omonia. Last year we spent a night at the Tembi in the Plaka. Ok, and not expensive, and near Monastirion metro station. Some rooms are up a few flights of stairs though.

Remember that when you buy your 2.90 euro ticket on the airport bus, it also includes unlimited metro travel for 24 hrs, so you can get to Piraeus on it in the morning, as well as getting from Syntagma, where the bus stops, to your hotel.

If your flight gets in in the early hours you can get a bus direct from the airport to Piraeus that avoids the centre altogether, the #96. The #95 takes you to Syntagma and the #94 to the metro terminus at Ethniki Amyna. Same deal on all of them.

I don't know how familiar you are with this type of holiday, but we have done it many times, to quite a few islands. Let me know if I can help, either here or by private message.

albalad

there was this thread , from a couple of months ago Re: athens

we stayed at kaningos 21 when we went , the view from the rooftop bar was superb , although it's a little further out than plaka . it was really easy to get around using metro

marlowtech

We did exactly the journey you are talking about last year in June with a 1yr old and 3 yr old. We always go to the island of Paros. It rather depends on your budget, but the Sofitel at the airport is fantastic - but pricey. We flew onto the island the next morning with Olympic - I think it's £73 return (fully refundable and you don't pay for the baby).

One thing to watch with Olympic - the flights to the islands get extremely booked up, so try to book early - BUT, they only release their summer schedule in Feb/March, and at that time they change the flight times they had already sold you. So instead of leaving at 9am the next morning on a flight, we had to leave at 7am, checking in by 6.15am and given the 2hr time difference, meant the kids were up at 4am UK time.

The big bonus of the Sofitel is that you literally walk across from the airport concourse to the hotel - its about 20 yards away - and no taxis needed.

If you're going island hopping you can always fly down to Paros/Mykonos/Santorini and start your hopping from there.

Check out tripadvisor.com for other hotels....

See you there in June!

davidlizard

Thanks all for the pointers and general advice. Some hotels to google for! Have not thought about doing hops by air so will look at the Olympic and Aegean websites, with the warnings fully heeded !

Yes - we are island hopping. We tend to go to Naxos (via Athens and Pireaus) each year as a base, and then do additional islands for a few days typically on the way or the way back, or both as the mood (or ferries) takes us.

This year, we plan to get from Athens to Serifos and explore the Western Cyclades (never been that way before) before making our way (somehow?) over to Paros/Naxos and having a week or so there (and maybe go off for 2-3 nights to one of the little Cyclades). If anyone can recommend anywhere to stay on Serifos, or how to get from Serifos to Paros or Naxos by boat I would again be most grateful.

As we now have the little one, my wife wants a bit more from me on the planning front this year beyond "turn up at Pireaus and see where a boat is going to !".

Cheers

Dave

MrSmartprice

Wow, you've set yourself an almost impossible task, I reckon. I can see no regular boat that connects Serifos with Naxos or Paros, or even the West and Central lines of the Cyclades. There used to be a boat called the Santorini Sky which did Paros-Serifos once a week, but no idea if it still runs.

Not done Serifos, but have been to Paros. Stayed 3 nights in Paros and 3 in Antiparos, which is a real sleepy island. Easy to get to Antiparos too, just get the bus from Parikia port to Punta where the landing craft ferries cross frequently. Bus is 60c, boat 50c per person, both rides take 10 minutes. Accommodation plentiful and cheap on both islands.

Have you tried the Northern Cyclades out of Rafina? Andros and Tinos are worth a few days, and you can go round in a circle back to Piraeus via Syros/Mykonos, where you can get to Naxos and Paros. It's a useful way of seeing a number of islands without retracing your way back along the line.

davidlizard

Yes - the Serifos Naxos jump is the grey bit at the moment. However, in previous years, on Naxos I have seen a boats on the ticket office boards for Sifnos, so we may be able to do Serifos->Sifnos late morning, and get this boat from there, or alternately get the boat from Serifos to Milos or Ios, and get up to Naxos that way. Depending on times, both may require an overnight stop but may then turn that into our advantage by spending a two or three nights on the intermediate island. If the worst comes to the worst, we can go back into Athens and come back out again.

Visited Anti Paros a couple of years ago and agree its a gem (cave was worth seeing), and have indeed considered the Andros option on the way back, as it splits the 6 hour return to Athens up nicely.

What source of information do you use for ferry timetables ? I have the Greek Island Hopping book, but find the ferry timetables useful indicators of how busy routes are, but not much use beyond that - e.g. there is no Sifnos-Paros boat listed, but the diagram shows a near daily link in high season between these islands !

MrSmartprice

We also use the Greek Island Hopping book, but for up to date ferry timetables also use their website: https://www.greekislandhopping.com It is usually quite up to date.

Andros is unlike other islands, as the port, Gavrion, is not the main town. In fact there is nothing there at all. Most of the accommodation is at Batsi, a sleepy resort with some nice beaches and tavernas. And the capital, Andros Town, is a busride away on the opposite side of the island. Its worth a few days though, and a day's car hire is quite rewarding.

Next to Andros, an hour on the ferry, is Tinos, which is also worth a stay. Lovely hilly island, with plenty to see, and not full of tourists. Can recommend some good accommodation there if you're interested. (PM if you need more info.)

marlowtech

Without wishing to criticise the country that I love, the problem is that you are dealing with Greece! There is almost definitely going to be a way of getting from Serifnos to Paros in June, but unfortunately you won't know about it until you get there! Paros is a bit of a hub and we know someone who runs a travel agency so I'll drop them an email and see what they say. I have a feeling you might have to wait until May to find out the finer details of your travels.

It does rather change thing having a baby!