Thessaloniki, Greece: Hyatt or Excelsior (SLH)?
Nov 29, 2018, 11:23 am
#1
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Thessaloniki, Greece: Hyatt or Excelsior (SLH)?
The Excelsior (SLH) can now be booked for 12K points/night. Folks have seemed indifferent to the Hyatt and have mentioned that it doesn't have a great location. The Excelsior is top rated on TripAdvisor. Is anyone familiar with both and can compare them? Or familiar with the Excelsior and can comment on it?
Jun 23, 2019, 8:11 am
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The hotels are very different in terms of location, plant/facilities and service levels. Unless it were for the pool and/or an airport transit stay (or for driving/parking reasons), I would suggest staying at the Exelsior. The lounge at the Hyatt is a physically nice facility, but it had no service while I was there and its food and beverage offerings were a joke during the time I was there — so bare-bone that I recall having had more on offer from some Radisson hotel lounge in the US. I took breakfast in the restaurant and ate outside overlooking toward the pool.
I wasn’t impressed by the assigned rooms at either of these hotels, but they were both ok. For Hyatt members using points without Globalist status, I would say that Excelsior is the easy choice unless the 4K points means a lot in some way or another.
Last edited by GUWonder; Jun 23, 2019 at 8:16 am
Jun 23, 2019, 8:35 am
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Thank you. This is very helpful. I was momentarily tempted by larger rooms at the Hyatt, but I do like the Excelsior's location in the heart of the city.
Jun 23, 2019, 8:37 am
#6
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Thank you. We'll be there two nights, meeting San Diego friends one night who by random chance are overlapping our stay. They will be at the Makedonia Palace. Do you have a favorite restaurant to recommend?
Jun 23, 2019, 8:38 am
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The regular paid hotel rates at the Excelsior can be low enough at times as not to always make it worth using points. Something I have had to remind myself to consider at times.
Last edited by GUWonder; Jun 23, 2019 at 8:45 am
Jun 23, 2019, 8:54 am
#8
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Both right around the corner from the Excelsior:
for dinner: https://www.gradanuevo.gr/
for dessert: http://www.plaisirbrasserie.gr
Will ask my local friends for more recommendations.
http://www.ble.com.gr
http://www.maganie.gr
https://www.loupino.gr/loupinoen/
for dinner: https://www.gradanuevo.gr/
for dessert: http://www.plaisirbrasserie.gr
Will ask my local friends for more recommendations.
http://www.ble.com.gr
http://www.maganie.gr
https://www.loupino.gr/loupinoen/
Last edited by justforfun; Jun 23, 2019 at 9:25 am
Jun 24, 2019, 12:15 am
#9
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We had friends who loved the Excelsior. They recommended this restaurant:
Kazika De Malta. It is in the Ano Ladadika neighborhood- they called it a “hidden gem “
Kazika De Malta. It is in the Ano Ladadika neighborhood- they called it a “hidden gem “
Sep 12, 2019, 10:13 am
#10
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I chose the Excelsior and was disappointed. Mind you, that doesn't mean I should have chosen the Hyatt. I did want to be in town. But if I cut loyalty program ties, perhaps the Makedonia Palace would be a better choice. I was concerned about small rooms at the Excelsior. I chose to spend the money for their top category, a suite. It was a waste of money. The bedroom is spacious with a sitting area at the end. There are two bathrooms between the bedroom and the sitting room. Thus, there's no flow or sense of space between the two. The living room is half the size of the bedroom and oddly furnished. It has six chairs and no sofa. Everything is a little shabby with no decor whatsoever. The hotel has a minuscule lobby and offers no alternative to the room as a place to relax. The water is two blocks away but the hotel is in a very busy commercial area so has no views whatsoever.
We drove to Thessaloniki and dropped our Sixt rental at an office just a few blocks away. The Hertz office was in the same block as Sixt.
We drove to Thessaloniki and dropped our Sixt rental at an office just a few blocks away. The Hertz office was in the same block as Sixt.
Sep 20, 2019, 2:01 am
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Apr 14, 2022, 7:20 pm
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Stayed at the Thessaloniki a few weeks back.. I know I have to post a review on the main thread, but HR Thess was still amazing even when it was 50 degrees F.
Would return again if I visited during the summer. They recognize and treat globalists very well.
Would return again if I visited during the summer. They recognize and treat globalists very well.
Apr 15, 2022, 7:29 am
#14
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Only the Hyatt! It was on points and a steal when cash rates were still $180/night.
I wanted to be away from the city/away from being centrally located, which the Excelsior is the opposite.
I wanted to be away from the city/away from being centrally located, which the Excelsior is the opposite.
Thanks Gertjaars for the report! Did you happen to check out the Excelsior at all or only the Hyatt? Thinking of heading there next month and curious if there's any recent reports from the Excelsior...thanks!
Aug 12, 2022, 11:18 am
#15
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I will be staying at both properties over the next week. I just checked into the Hyatt Regency Thessaloniki and found out that the Regency Suite I booked was upgraded to the Presidential Suite. It's massive with multiple balconies, a dining room that seats eight, a kitchen, and even its own private sauna. The grounds are beautiful and the lounge is nice. So far no complaints. I'll put together more after I stay at both.