Story and photography by Melanie Votaw
 

Hotel Royal Olympic
28-34 Athanasiou Diakou Str.
117 43, Athens, Greece
Tel.: +30 210 92.88.400
Fax.: +30 210 92.33.317
E-mail: info@royalolympic.com

 

The 5-star family-owned Royal Olympic Hotel is located on a street directly across from the Temple of Zeus, and my room had a panoramic view of that temple. The enormous window was not the only great feature of the room, but it was certainly the most spectacular. While not all of the rooms in the hotel have this window, I recommend booking one of these rooms, called an Athenian Panorama room, if you can swing it. I had never seen anything like it.

A single shade, which spanned the full width of the window, could be lifted or raised by a push button on the side of the bedside table. Other buttons there worked the various lights and widescreen television.

The color scheme of my room was regal gold and royal blue with a beautiful carpet and living area. While it was not a suite, there was a couch, chair and desk in the large room, as well as a live plant. The spacious bathroom contained an enormous marble tub. So, you can bet I took advantage of the bubble bath that was provided and had a leisurely soak after spending the day on my feet, climbing up to the Acropolis. In the morning, I washed in the separate shower with a wide shower head and a temperature thermostat rather than hot and cold faucets.

There was also an open closet with shelves and a safe, which had room for me to change clothes. This was a great addition to the room because it allowed me to leave the panoramic window shade open without being seen while I changed.

Renovated in 2009, the Royal Olympic was turned into what they call an “art hotel” with attention also given to environmentally friendly practices. The lobby of the hotel is quite grand with several lounge areas, a bar, a jewelry store, and the only hotel library in Athens. The Roof Garden Bar, which also has a gourmet restaurant, is open from noon to 2:00 a.m. with an incredible view of the Acropolis. The extensive breakfast buffet is served here, so take your camera in the morning to get some great shots before the sun becomes too bright. The buffet changes a bit every day so that you can change it up and try new things. Of course, the main staples are always there – eggs, fruits, meats, breads, and pastries. Another restaurant called The Abbey has a medieval design and a fireplace.

Outdoors is a swimming pool garden with a poolside bar, and there is a state-of-the-art gym on the premises, while a spa is in the works. WiFi is free everywhere in the hotel (thank you!), but there is a Business Centre if you don’t want to bring your own laptop.

The hotel is in an ideal location for seeing the main sites. In a matter of minutes, I walked to the Athens Acropolis Museum and made my way up to the Acropolis. I took a taxi from the airport, but you can also take the metro from the airport. The hotel is just a 200-meter walk from Acropolis Station.

There are other types of rooms available besides the ones with the panoramic view. Some of the suites have their own library and a balcony with a view of the swimming pool garden that is large enough for sunbathing or a private dinner. Room rates are quite reasonable for a 5-star property starting at 120 Euros per night and up to less than 400 Euros for the Athenian Panorama room. Suite prices vary based on the size and the time of year of your visit.

The Royal Olympic is also one of the hotels on the route of most tour companies. I took a night tour booked through Viator.com called the “Athens Night Sightseeing Tour with Greek Dinner Show” and was picked up right in front of the hotel. This is a great way to get an overview of the city and see it all lit up at night, especially if, like me, you arrive late in the day. After a drive around the city in a small bus with a very friendly guide, we went to a dinner in the Plaka with traditional Greek musicians and dancers. The dinner was nothing to brag about, but the entertainment was fun, especially when they got members of the audience up on stage to participate.

When I return to Athens, I would love to stay in one of the Athenian Panorama rooms again. I can’t imagine ever growing tired of the décor, amenities, and especially the view. Plus, you can’t beat the convenience of the location.

 

 

 

© January 2011 LuxuryWeb Magazine. All rights reserved.

 

Issue:
January
2012