We (couple with 2-year-old boy) stayed 4 nights at Athos Hotel (Athens, Plaka) in May 2009. The hotel is well situated and the room was clean, the receptionists were really friendly. Even though, we would not go back, because we had a serious dispute with the hotel owner. We booked our double room with a baby cot through e-mail; the rate was 75 EUR incl. cot and taxes per room. When I arrived at the hotel after a long journey, I was as inattentive as to sign a paper which stated that the rate was 75 EUR plus 13% taxes. Later we went to the hotel owner and showed her the printout of her e-mail confirming the rate of 75 EUR. She said that since I signed the paper at arrival, her email is not valid any more. We tried to explain how immoral her approach is. She said that we got linens for the baby cot for free (as if it was not natural!!) and a big room (it was not at all big). She added that if I had said at the arrival that I want a cheaper room, she would have given us a smaller one, but that would have been really tiny for the 3 of us. We told her that she should not have confirmed a room for 3 persons if she is not willing to accept the agreed rate for the particular room. Later, we heard that ours was not the first case like this. At the end, after we had told her we would call the police, she accepted that we pay 75 EUR (plus 6 EUR/breakfast), but we really had a bad feeling in that hotel.

A fine place to land if you're arriving dazed after a long trip from the U.S. Athos is cool, clean, quiet, and friendly. Location A+. Good value for Plaka.

Coming up to Athos Hotel, you might initially be very wary of its location. Patroou Street is very narrow and the surrounding buildings display evidence of a once unhappy period with all their graffiti slogans. However, we were very pleased with Athos Hotel. The rooms were very clean and they were certainly spacious enough. The bathroom was a comfortable size and the aircon was a most appreciated amenity in the Athens summer. The highlight however of room 402 (the one we were staying in) was the beautiful view of the Acropolis from our very tiny balcony. We would definitely recommend Athos Hotel if you are just using Athens as a stopover before moving onto an island hopping itinerary. From a logistical perspective, Athos hotel is very close to all the restaurants and shops in the Plaka district and it is an easy 10 minute walk to the Monastariki Train station, which is then a 20 min ride to the Port of Pireaus. The hotel is also very closely situated to the bus stop at Syntagma square. However, be weary of pick pockets that operate on the X95 bus from the Airport to Syntagma Square.

We booked this hotel for the end of our vacation in Greece based on some postitive comments on trip advisor & the hotel's website......we did NOT GET WHAT WE EXPECTED!!

We thought we would splurge for the 6th floor "superior" room with private balcony with acropolis view. What we found was a clean hotel from the entrance but the room on the 6th floor was not even large enough to hold our luggage and be able to walk around it. We had to wheel our luggage out of the room to exit and then wheel it back in to lock the door.

The bathroom was clean and impressive until we saw that this was a hotel with small pipes still so the sign clearly states you cannot throw your toilet paper in the toilet. Unless I'm in jail one day, I don't plan on ever sleeping next to a garbage can with "stuff" in it on paper. I understand that situation for public bathrooms which is fine, but not for a hotel, especially not a hotel that charged 115 euros a night!

Then we turned on the AC to find that as soon as it started blowing, the stench of cigarette smoke (probably from a very unclean filter) filled the room, so the choice was smoky smell or no AC.

Lastly, we found out the private balcony was actually the roof top terrace that we had a key to, but was to be shared with the other guests. We had control to lock it at night, but basically anyone who came up to use it would be standing pratically in our room, so a romantic & private hotel stay was out of the question. Plus the terrace had no shade to pull down during the day so only at night would the temperature be bearable to use the terrace.

This was just not the way we wanted to end our vacation (which included very nice hotels for only 60 euros is some places) we are not very fussy or high maintenance travellers.

Location was fine, but the room was just too too small, espeically for the price, and the toilet situation was not acceptable.

We complained and were told another room could be used after we stayed 1 night. We said no, & then a room magically became avaliable once we tried to cancel. We still just wanted to leave since the toilet situation would be the same and we didn't think the price was worth it.

We subsequently found a very upscale large hotel in a better area and got a SUITE for only 26 euros more than Athos hotel. From bad we went to the best we've ever experienced.