Quite often when travelling abroad, what most marks your experience are the people you encounter on your travels. If you are lucky enough to meet some like-minded travellers, or better still, to befriend some locals, you can experience the city from the inside and take home some ever-lasting memories. Of equal importance however, is the accommodation you choose. I have always opted for budget accommodation and found that, in general, it ranges from dirty and crowded at worst to non-descript at best. Fortunately, the intelligent few have spotted the gap in the market for affordable, comfortable accommodation with something special to offer. Athens has its fair share of such establishments; here are some tips on how to find good, budget accommodation in Athens that will enrich rather than spoil your trip!
The first thing to be aware of when booking accommodation in Athens is the rating system. Hotels in Athens are often rated as a A, B, or C category hotels – which corresponds to a 4-star, 3-star or 2-star hotel. There can be a great difference in quality though within these categories, so it is a good idea to check the hotel’s web site (if they have one) or look up opinions by other guests on travellers forums online.
Choose a hotel, B&B, self-catering apartment or hostel in Athens that has facilities which best suit your requirements (i.e apartments can be more convenient for families with children, hostels better for young people looking to socialise, etc), check out photos on-line to avoid nasty surprises on arrival and double check the location! What does “near to the Acropolis” mean? Within walking distance or a 20 minute bus ride? You can look on google maps to get a clearer idea.
Plaka, Makrianni, Koukaki, Thission, Syntagma and Monastiraki are all great areas for visitors to stay in as they are all close to the Acropolis and full of restaurants, shops, local transport stops and the city’s best nightlife. If you really want to save money though, you can find some decent, budget establishments around Omonia Square and the train station which, while not such a desirable area, is central. The Port of Pireaus is obviously the best choice if you are simple using Athens as a base from which to visit the Greek Islands.
Just bare in mind that cheap doesn’t have to be synonymous with nasty and that in the Greek capital you can find some very attractive, friendly, family-run establishments that could end up being the highlight of your trip.
