When I was younger, I spent two weeks in Greece to visit various places on the Peloponnese peninsula, but up until this year, I had never been to Athens before. I am someone who likes to explore places, and I often do not have day by day plans - but the one thing that is always important for me is a good base, a place to come back to in the late afternoon or evening to relax. I generally am not into nightlife, so I usually spend evenings in my accommodation - so I try to make sure to book a good place. I was tempted to go for a cheaper option, but after the last few years and all the stress, I decided to treat myself. Why earn all that money if I don’t use it right? I spent nine days in the Academias Hotel in Athens. I chose it because the location seemed ideal on a map. Fortunately, the reality also was not a disappointment. I visited the Acropolis a couple of times. It takes about 20-30 minutes to walk there, but I also saw that there are bus connections if you do not like to walk (I LOVE walking, because you also get to see more of the places and can sometimes come across interesting shops, parks, etc.). I could go on about places that are within easy reach, but you’re probably more interested in the hotel itself! The check-in was easy and I felt very welcome. There wasn’t a grumpy staff member in sight (hotel staff in certain places in the UK could learn from that friendliness!). I tried to impress with my few sentences of Greek that I learned, but fortunately, staff in this hotel has no problem with other languages. Not once during my stay did I have an issue with staff. They were all polite and respectful. The big plus for me also was that they did not annoy me. Friendly yes, but they did not make me feel harassed like it can happen in other hotels. While I did obviously check out photos of the hotel in advance before I booked, I was pleasantly surprised by my room (I booked a room with a king-sized bed). Everything was very clean, and there were BOOKS on the shelves. That was really a nice touch, I think. The bathroom was HUGE, and let me tell you: the showers are awesome. You’ll really appreciate a good shower after an active day in Athens, especially in summer! It was lovely! The room was nice and I had lots of space.The writing desk was perfect because I’m a writer and always in need of such a space! There was even a nice little coffee machine. Of course, also the usual stuff like a TV (with Netflix access!), shampoos, all the stuff you’d expect from a high quality hotel. The hotel has a lot to offer in addition to your actual room. There is a gym (I didn’t use that, I didn’t go on holiday to work out) and also a spa if you are into that. Worth a mention is the food as well. There’s a great restaurant with excellent views - and the food is just as excellent, which makes this a wonderful eating experience. Breakfast was also excellent, I really can’t complain. If you feel like trying something else, there are also plenty of restau
44 opinii