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Day 12-14: Leaving London we realised that we would be arriving in Athens late without anywhere to stay, so we hopped online to find ourselves a place. At the budget end of the market, the choice in Athens wasn’t great: the cheapest rooms, at around 90 Euros, were also the ones that tripadvisor members had reported (quite insistently) to be in less savoury areas of the city.

We decided to pay a little more and took a twin private room at this place for 120 Euros a night. Arriving at Akropoli Metro Station, we picked up our key from the Athens Backpackers reception and then found our place quite easily.

Athens Studios has a modern, “only just renovated” feel (in some parts the renovations are ongoing and small panels from our walls are missing but hey, this is Athens) and is tastefully decorated.

Other features included:

• great location - close to the Acroplolis while not in Tourist Central
• kitchenette with microwave and plenty of cutlery and crockery
• airconditioning
• ADSL broadband - although getting hold of an ADSL cable was somewhat of a challenge.

Inititally we were put off because it didn’t appear that either of our balcony doors actually closed - both in fact appeared to hang back off a single hinge into the room. We subsequently learned that the doors had an unusual locking mechanism and a push and handle turn later, the room was secure again and we were free to roam the city.

Hotel summary
Double room, AC, private bathroom: US$165
In a few words: Comfortable and central
Rating: 7