Read more of my travel features on Greece on this blog and many more published on SMR Culture Plus
Athens Center Square Hotel
Everything but "square"!
by Nancy Snipper
It’s a breath of fresh air the minute you step into the spacious bright lobby of Athens Center Square Hotel. Of course having the large colourful paintings of Corinna O’Brien on the walls (and in the rooms) adds to the happy feeling.
This recently renovated hotel, owned by Dorina and George Stathopoulou conveys a sparkling family ambiance. Ilias and Olga at the front desk, and Irini – who bartends on the sensational rooftop terrace are pure fun. Their impeccable service adds to guest-gusto satisfaction. This superbly located hotel offers casual trendiness with oodles of class. I loved the neon glass exterior that grabs your eye with its various colours, and the doors of the hotel are completely camouflaged in painted fruit images. The fun is instantaneous – the minute you step on the welcome mat and the “doors of fruit’ open up to reveal the interior lovely lobby.
Eight floors each sporting their own interior brightly coloured rooms that reiterate the colours of fruit – found in the fruit market just outside the hotel along with the artist’s paintings are oh so comfort and über-clean.
Wood and spanking new grey bathrooms in that new kind of dark textured tile with huge glass shower doorsare such a welcome luxury after a long plane ride or roughing it in the islands.
Some rooms have acropolis views, but no worries if yours doesn’t for on the rooftop terrace you get an outstanding 360 degree view of Athens ! That’s where you can sit on top of the world while ordering your drinks at the cozy bar.
The location, as mentioned is unbeatable. It's set on a square off bustling Athinas Street (there’s a fruit market facing the hotel and antique shop with tons of wares displayed right on the square's sidewalk).
This colourful street takes you right into Monasteraki – Athens labyrinth flea market where everything is sold. The acropolis and fancy, pedestrian-only Ermou Street is just 10 minutes away on foot which connects to Athens heartbeat hub – Syntagma Square . You can catch the airport bus there or go to Monasteraki to take the train there.
I can’t think of anything wrong with this hotel other than making you fat with its sensational breakfasts (included in the room price).
I can’t think of anything wrong with this hotel other than making you fat with its sensational breakfasts (included in the room price).
Webpage:
Hermes Hotel and Plaka Hotel – also owned by the Stathopoulous are nearby too, so if Athens Center Square Hotel is fully booked, reserve at one of them. Read my article, “Athens Hotel Hotties” to find out about these great hotels.
Thursday, 19 September 2013
Vagia Hotel, Aegina Island
by Panayiotis Chaldaios
In the heart of the picturesque fishing village of Vagia, a 30 minute walk from the Aphaia ancient temple and a 5 minute walk from the sandy beach, we created a traditional hotel to act as a base for those who want to discover the beautiful island of Aegina.
Built in traditional Aeginian architecture Vagia hotel’s rooms and gardens are stone paved with Karystos stones. Our rooms with stone build beds are overlooking the Ancient Temple of Afaia and the blue waters of the Saronic Gulf. TVs and refrigerators with mini bars can be found in all the rooms while Wi-Fi is free.
Our guests can enjoy home baked pies, different cakes and delicacies such our own organic marmalades as breakfast, a breakfast that changes almost daily! You can also enjoy finger food and Grappa, Ouzo or wine from Aegina vineyards!
Hotel Vagia features a large stoned terrace, shadowed from a pergola holding harbour trees that produce grapes in the summer. Picturesque spots can be found throughout the hotel such as pergolas overgrown by bougainvilleas, as the hotel is surrounded by lush gardens. The terrace can be rented for special occasions such as weddings and we take care of the catering!
Reviews about our hotel can be found on TripAdvisor, where we are rated as one of the finest hotels on Aegina!
Our family hotel is situated 12km from Aegina, 3km from Agia Marina and 2km from Souvala. You can also rent bikes and cars directly from our hotel.
Do not hesitate! Give us the pleasure of having you as our guests!
Panayiotis, Maria and Stelios
Hotel recommended by Nancy Snipper -- here's why:
Temple Aphea
Trip AdvisorSurrounded in floral splendour, this is the place to stay on Aegina Island
Tel: 6951708121, 6955413993, 2297071179
Email: mr_chaldaios@yahoo.com
Skype: chaldaios
Rastoni Hotel, Greece
by Nancy Snipper
Aegina’s beautiful respite
Rastoni in ancient Greek means ‘relaxing’, and this paradise nook, near the port of Aegina Island (a one-hour ferry-ride from Athens) is a short easy walk up from the buzz below. Yet the serenity is sublime. My room at Rastoni – a boutique hotel – overlooks a courtyard spilling over in floral growth; and at every turn along the stone pathways, vistas of trees, the still blue waters of the Aegean Sea and the gentle peaks of the Peloponnese greet the eye. The scent of jasmine wafts up; my senses are steeped in an oasis of tranquility.
Japanese-style room
View from Japanese-style room
All this appears from my room; Japanese-style door shutters fronted with glass doors open up to a stunning balcony. I am staring out to the ancient site of Kolona Hill, topped by a single sixth-century partial column of the Temple of Apollo. This inspiring panoramic view is enriched by the fact that the hotel used to be a property for farming the pistachio – a nut for which Aegina is renowned.
There is a pastoral pleasantness here, and fact that Rastoni has selected a style of design that is Japanese/Thai makes the entire premise Zen in feel. Here the oriental fuses with the Greek; the lobby has preserved an ancient Greek wall found during the archeological excavation of the site.
There is a pastoral pleasantness here, and fact that Rastoni has selected a style of design that is Japanese/Thai makes the entire premise Zen in feel. Here the oriental fuses with the Greek; the lobby has preserved an ancient Greek wall found during the archeological excavation of the site.
Lobby with preserved ruins
Twelve enormous rooms remarkably harmonize in colour and décor with the setting. Built in 2004, Rastoni offers 12 rooms - each impeccably furnished in varying styles with fitting monikers: country, rama (tropical in flavor with its own loft), Barbados (still sporting Oriental touches but influenced by the Caribbean) and Japanese – which is my room (#6 ).
My bed, topped by a ceiling fan, has a thin cotton canopy overhead. It drapes diaphanously to the floor and is tied to the bed posts with tassels. The head rest is simple in line and curve. Wood carved with oriental floral reliefs enriches the wood and cane furnishings that are most pleasing.
Of course Rastoni comes with all those modern amenities (air conditioning, TV, Internet), but they don’t take away from the idyllic ambiance that wraps each guest in a cocoon of calm.
I want to stay here for a very long time!
Rastoni‘s website is: www.rastoni.gr
For reservations, email: info@rastoni.gr
Telephone: +30 22970-27039
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