Marina Hotel Athens

Surprised

We took the subway from the airport. I am 6’, bald, and have tattoos...I was somewhat aprehensive about walking in that part of Athens after dark. When we got to the hotel, we were surprised at how "upscale" it is (when you pass the doors. We were met with a smile and were asked what they could do to make our stay more comfortable.

ECONOMY HOTEL/NICE STAFF/BAD AREA

This hotel is near the Omonia metro station which is quite dangerous. Although we weren’t bothered, we didn’t feel safe and were on-guard when we would head back to the hotel at night.

Athens - Omonia

We stayed for four nights and were very pleased with everything. The staff were all very helpful - the room maid even folded our pyjamas each morning! The lift was a bit scary at first, but we got used to it. Omonia Station was only a five-minute walk, so was very convenient for visits to other parts of the city.

Traveler's tip

Rafina hint: Take Omonia to Viktoria Station (1st train at 0515, takes 5 minutes) and then walk from 28th Oktovriuo Street to the coach station on Mavrommateon Street (about 10 minutes) - coaches leave for Rafina Port every 15 minutes from 0545 onwards, coach journey takes about 1 hour - we could not find this information anywhere!

Very Bad Location

The hotel is in a very bad part of town, Onmomia. Very unsafe. Lots of very shady characters on the streets making it uncomfortable for one to leave the hotel. Management was not friendly at all. We only stayed one night even though we had paid for the whole stay and moved to another hotel on another part of the town: Plaka. That is a lovely area.

Good price but be careful

This hotel is great for the price, but I do not recommend the are where it is located. If you are travelling with children this is not where you want to stay...very scary neighborhood!!!

Stay on the main roads and take a cab at night, it will cost you 10 euros.

The hotel is fair but the neiborhood rough

The streets closed by are very unpleasent and even threatening. full of strangers that do not look too simpathetic

Bad Area of Athens

I booked this hotel not knowing how the area was. I probably should have done more research. It’s located in a bad neighborhood (Omonia area) where illegal immigrants now stay, and lots of violence occur. There was a stabbing just right in front of the hotel the night we checked in! Very scary! And, the night receptionist was not friendly at all. He seemed like he hated being there, but I can’t blame him. Breakfast was not great compare to other ones I’ve had. Our room was not fully cleaned--there was a can of soda left and the glass in the bathroom was still dirty! Yuck! Go find somewhere else to stay, this place may be cheap, but it’s better to pay more for your safety and peace of mind.

Good Service, Great Rates, Tough Location

The Hotel Marina has a charming and very helpful staff, good service, and excellent rates. It runs well and the rooms are clean and well kept. This older hotel is located within an easy 5-minute or so walk of Ommonia Metro station and that’s a good thing. Its critical flaw lies outside the boundaries of the hotel itself. The two-block radius surrounding the hotel has grubby streets, rough activity, and a threatening vibe. For those with a hearty confidence, seasoned travel disposition, and maybe some command of the language this hotel is a very good deal.

Traveler's tip on local attractions

Great souvlaki stand right around the corner and close to a major street.

Seedy Area; Poor Hotel; Wouldn’t go again

Just finished our travel in Athens in May 09. We stayed at the Marina for three nights with my family. I would not go again. Hotel is located in bad area (Omonia Square) with a bunch of shady characters around. Thug tried to grab my wife’s purse on way back to the hotel one evening. Breakfast was minimal and poorly arranged. My shower leaked into the hallway and created a pond on the floor - manager didn’t seem to care. Rooms themselves were OK and inexpensive. I would pay a few extra bucks next time to room in a better area.

Traveler's tip on getting the most out of your stay

Athens itself is not a beautiful city. You can see necessary sights in a day and a half then go to the islands for the great scenerey

This hotel is ok for the price but the neighborhood is scary!

For the price the overall quality of this hotel is very good! But the streets around the hotel is always full of strange people that made my stay pretty scary. The hotel manager told me that the problem was new, started a couple of month ago, and that the Athens Police is trying to "clean up" de area. The fact of life is that during my stay it was frightening to walk in and out of the hotel!

OK

Location is okay except that neighborhood is a bit on the fringe. The hotel is pretty much as advertised.

Scary location and poor breackfast

Even the low price does not off set the bad location, small rooms and miserable breackfast.

Traveler's tip on getting the most out of your stay

Two days in Athens is enough. Go to the islands.

Budget hotel

For a budget hotel the Marina did a fine job. The location was not as good as I would have liked, but it was ok and there were a lot of similar hotels in the area. The desk clerk helped me negotiate a fare with the taxi driver and check-in check-out was fast and convenient Breakfast (free) was adequate I was only there one day.

BE CAREFUL OF NEIGHBORHOOD

Hotel is clean friendly service rooms are "small" but very adequate area outside hotel is "spookey" I did not have a problem but the area is not attractive

Traveler's tip on local attractions

Walk as often as possible hidden parks museums amazing ruins throughout the city of Athens

Good Hotel, Mediocore Location

I stayed in Athens 3 nights in 2 different hotels. Initially, I stayed in the Syntagma/Plaka district of Athens. That is the area I would recommend a traveler to stay during their stay in Athens. That area is closer to a a lot of restaurants and a great place to walk around at night. However, you get a lot less for the price you pay in Syntagma. Marina Hotel actually is a good hotel. The rooms are comfortably sized. The staff were friendly and helpful. It’s about a 5 minute walk to the nearest subway station. Breakfast is included but isn’t anything special. WiFi is available, but 3e(uros) for 30m, 5e for 1h, and 7e for 3h. They also have a computer in the lobby you can use if you don’t have your own computer at the same rates. The biggest downside to the hotel was the location. The Omonnia area of Athens isn’t that great (as other people have already said). I’m sure it would have been fine to walk around at night in this area, but I didn’t feel comfortable doing it myself. Walking around Athens at night is a great way to experience the city and I feel like a traveler would be missing out on this if they stayed here. If you are willing to stay in a significantly smaller room for the same price, I would recommend that you find a hotel in the Plaka district as opposed the Omonia area.

A youth hostel with a pretty entrance

The 3 beds were crammed into the room leaving no room to move. The furniture was old and held together with tape. Water stains and mold was on the celing. Avoid this hotel!

Hotel

When you come into the hotel... it doesnt look so nice by outside. But inside is nice hotel... is clean and comfortable. Staff hotel they usually are helpfull. but you know there are some that are not. there is a computer so you can check all you need. email. chat. etc... theres is 3 stores near hotel and one restaurant across the street.

Traveler's tip on local attractions

You have to check your map. Always have a map with you. is not so hard to understand and theres a lot of things near hotel, by foot. sometimes you have to take the sub (metro). Beware for the taxis because the usually charge you more than the taximeter says after midnight... the best way to go from Airport to the City is in the BUS. it cost like 3.20 EURO per person. and then take a taxi from the syntagma station...

Great, unless you are a spoiled traveler

This Hotel does exactly what it needs to do.. be comfortable, with a good staff. If you are expecting resort treatment.. get over yourself. This part of town may not look great (but Athens is an ugly city).. the area is safe, the people are safe, if you understand the culture a bit.. everything will be fine. If you try and JAM your culture ideas of what this should be.. you will have a very unhappy time.

Traveler's tip on getting the most out of your stay

Take a map and walk around a few blocks to understand how the city is layed out with signs/directions. Than have a blast!

returned visits

We went back and stayed in this hotel each time we returned to Athens. Why? Breakfast was included, reception staff spoke English, it wasn’t expensive.

Traveler's tip on local attractions

it is convenient to the train station, central to Syntagma, Plaka and other spots. Breakfast was included, reception staff spoke English. Yes, the area does look a bit dodgy, but we ignored people we didn’t want to talk and they didn’t bother us.

Unbearable

It felt like I was staying in a college dorm; it fell short of an actual Adult Hotel. It felt more like I was being treated like a child not a guest.

we are re booking

When we printed off the booking there was no address. we didn’t notice until we got to Athens, so finding the hotel was hard. Area looked a bit dodgy but hotel was clean and welcoming. We had no problems with walking the streets. I wouldn’t do it on my own. Cheap hotel, breakfasts were good and staff helpful

Suitable for low-budget backpackers

Vacinity appeared dangerous and poorly lit. Room was in very poor condition with large holes in the walls and water damage. There was no wall safe and it was not very clean. While the staff were very attentive, this is clearly a budget hotel and provides none of the standard features that one expects. I moved to a much better hotel and found that the cost was not significantly higher.

Low Cost, No Frills Athens Hotel

Location is near Omonia Square where the metro has a station. We saw some drug activity at Omonia square which we now understand is normal for this area. We saw no other crime. The streets in this area were less clean and more cluttered than in the surrounding area. Internet service costs per 1/2 hour and is wireless, so leave your vonage box at home. Instead get the Vonage USB adapter (with headset) for your laptop. The elevator (lift) is for two persons only. Breakfast is the same every day - no variety whatsoever. Wash Cloths are evidently not a normal offering in Greece as neither of the hotels we stayed at had them. Also, two single beds pushed together was the norm for the hotels we stayed at, no true queen or king beds -is this also the norm for Greece? This hotel is on a side street with no worthwhile view. Otherwise the location offers a very reasonable walk to the Acropolis, Archealogical Museum etc.. Be sure to visit Victoria Square about 10 to 12 blocks North for a break from the city hustle and bustle - it’s a very nice and laid back area with several nice cafe’s.

Traveler's tip on dining

There are several low cost places to eat at Omonia square. We suggest you eat before the Sun goes down as the area is more pleasant than during later evening hours.

Delightful stay

Very good hotel; excellent location; staff very helpful and friendly. We had a delightful stay there and would go back.

decent hotel decent price

decent interior, location is in a small dirtier part of town, once you enter the lobby, it seems okay compared to budget athens hotel. location is close to ommonia metro stop. view was of someones backyard laundry line. internet has a charge