We were staying one night at the Elysium and thank goodness. The guy at the front desk was very nice, but I think after walking from the subway to the hotel, anyone who was not a hooker, on drugs, or looking as though they were going to rob us would be nice. But I do not want to take away from the really nice guy at the desk - he even gave us the bigger room than we had booked. (We booked over the phone from Canada through the Best Western 1.800. number). We went up the tiny elevator which was hot as hell - but it was hot everywhere in Athens even at 11pm in August. Once we got to the room, we could barely get in, my husband had to go in and shove the suitcases in the room before I could get in. Manoeuvring in the room was challenging in the tight and confined space. The air-conditioning required you to leave the key in the socket to work; we took the key off the key chain so that the room would cool down while we grabbed something to eat. We braved the very dangerous neighbourhood to grab a bite to eat. We found a dive of a place that sold Lebanese/mid-eastern food - the best falafel EVER! on the corner, and the guys were so kind. Definitely go to the corner restaurant if you go to this area. The washroom was so small, I wore shower shoes in the shower because the place creeped me out so badly (and I am not a anti-bacteria squirting freak). There was a balcony but tp look out onto the pimps, drunks, and prostitutes was a little nerving. Seeing all the police cars drive by did not make me feel better. Overall the place is not the worst ever like with bedbugs, but I most certainly would not recommend this place for anything other than a stop over - but not those with families. Can't tell you about the breakfast as we were out of there before they served it. Good Luck if you do go here, yikes.

if you wish to get out of athens alive do not stay in this hotel!

the hotel itself is fine... but the major problem is it surrondings with drug dealers and prostitution going on at its footstep. To have an idea, when I came back from clubbing in other nicer areas of Athens I had to talk to at least three different cab drivers, cause none of them wanted to go to the area where the hotel was... I think this speaks for itself...

on top of everything the hotel staff was extremely rude to me and my friends.... treating us as if we were part of the low life elements that are constantly surronding it....

We stay in this hotel just a few nights. Although the rooms are very nice, and the hotel seems very clean, the area where it is is not very nice. At the day of our arrival, around 23.00h the street where the hotel is located was full of prostitutes. Also the streets nearby are very dirty. Athens has lots of hotels, so my recomendations is not to stay here. The Plaka zone is very nice, next time i would search for an hotel in that area.

DO NOT STAY HERE! Several locals actually told us (without knowing where we were staying) "Just whatever you do, don't go to Omonia (the area where this hotel is located)! Unless you want to get stabbed or mugged."

We dropped our bags, and ran to the nicer areas. On our way out though, we witnessed a drug deal, and several people with severe skin disease. We took a cab back that night straight to the front door - where we were greeted by two prostitutes. We promptly left the next morning - never to return.

Try to stay in Plaka if possible. It's the best area to stay in - and very safe. We were able to find a very nice place with a balcony for 75 euros a night, and in the heart of Plaka.

Also, if you're up for it, don't waste your money on a cab from the airport. The metro and buses are fantastic! They go straight into the center of Athens, and you'll save a ton of money!