Aug 10, 2014, 4:07 pm
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Hotel Grande Bretagne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Athens (a Starwood property)
Syntagma Square · Athens 10564 ∙ Greece · Phone: +30 210 3330000 · Fax: +30 210 3228034
http://www.grandebretagne.gr/en/ (English web pages)
e-mail: info.gb starwoodhotels.com
Reservations: United States 1-800-325-3589
GB France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom: +800-325-45454
CN China 8008 688 688; IN India 000 800 650 1405; RU Russian Federation +353-21-4930492; SA Saudi Arabia 800 844 1348
Dining options: link
In-room amenities and gifts available: link
Synopsis: Historical hotel at Syntagma (Constitution) Square, across street from Parliament, views from rooftop garden of Parthenon, Acropolis, Lycabettus and much more. Some great view rooms, some patio rooms.
Getting there from ATH / Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos" (Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Αθηνών "Ελευθέριος Βενιζέλος"):
Express bus X95 to Syntagma (Constitution) Square, c 20 min 24 hrs, duration ~70 minutes. EUR 6.00 per person.
Metro number 3 from airport (signed Aghia Marina) to Syntagma Square (but watch for thieves and pickpockets). You can also connect from this metro to Line 1 at Monastiraki to Piraeus and its cruise and ferry ship terminal. EUR 8.00 per person, 36 minutes.
Taxi: From Door 3 of the Arrivals Level: 5 AM - midnight €35 and
Night Service midnight - 5 AM: €50. Athens Taxi Tours costs EUR 38 - link About 45 minutes. Note: The charge is determined by the time of arrival at the destination and includes all applicable surcharges and extras. No extra baggage, toll, etc. charges, and if they tell you there are, it's a lie to get more money.
Arranged transport: I use Greek Taxi / PK Travel for EUR 50 for a carload; they wait for me at the terminal with a name sign, can stop at an ATM and the like, and use modern, comfortable Mercedes vehicles. Hotel can also arrange vehicle, limousine or VIP transfers.
We used George’s Taxi for 5 different airport transfers and 2 tours and they were fantastic- they also charge EUR 50, have Mercedes cabs, meet and greet and assist with luggage, and have friendly, English speaking drivers. https://www.taxigreece.com/
(lower right wiki corner)Hotel Grande Bretagne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Athens (a Starwood property)
Syntagma Square · Athens 10564 ∙ Greece · Phone: +30 210 3330000 · Fax: +30 210 3228034
http://www.grandebretagne.gr/en/ (English web pages)
e-mail: info.gb starwoodhotels.com
Reservations: United States 1-800-325-3589
GB France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom: +800-325-45454
CN China 8008 688 688; IN India 000 800 650 1405; RU Russian Federation +353-21-4930492; SA Saudi Arabia 800 844 1348
Dining options: link
In-room amenities and gifts available: link
Synopsis: Historical hotel at Syntagma (Constitution) Square, across street from Parliament, views from rooftop garden of Parthenon, Acropolis, Lycabettus and much more. Some great view rooms, some patio rooms.
Getting there from ATH / Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos" (Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Αθηνών "Ελευθέριος Βενιζέλος"):
Express bus X95 to Syntagma (Constitution) Square, c 20 min 24 hrs, duration ~70 minutes. EUR 6.00 per person.
Metro number 3 from airport (signed Aghia Marina) to Syntagma Square (but watch for thieves and pickpockets). You can also connect from this metro to Line 1 at Monastiraki to Piraeus and its cruise and ferry ship terminal. EUR 8.00 per person, 36 minutes.
Taxi: From Door 3 of the Arrivals Level: 5 AM - midnight €35 and
Night Service midnight - 5 AM: €50. Athens Taxi Tours costs EUR 38 - link About 45 minutes. Note: The charge is determined by the time of arrival at the destination and includes all applicable surcharges and extras. No extra baggage, toll, etc. charges, and if they tell you there are, it's a lie to get more money.
Arranged transport: I use Greek Taxi / PK Travel for EUR 50 for a carload; they wait for me at the terminal with a name sign, can stop at an ATM and the like, and use modern, comfortable Mercedes vehicles. Hotel can also arrange vehicle, limousine or VIP transfers.
We used George’s Taxi for 5 different airport transfers and 2 tours and they were fantastic- they also charge EUR 50, have Mercedes cabs, meet and greet and assist with luggage, and have friendly, English speaking drivers. https://www.taxigreece.com/
Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens, Greece [Master Thread]
Jan 16, 2018, 9:29 am
#241
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: AC
Posts: 2,167
In general you are correct they are the SPOC, but I use them for shining my shoes, bringing coffee / tea in the morning, newspaper delivery in the morning, and taking any laundry. The packing and unpacking I have never used and wouldn't, although they push that angle quite a bit.
Butlers aren't necessary IMO for my stays and I certainly don't go out of my way to book a property that has them. I actually avoid using bellservice for luggage either as many times I'm in my room 15-30 minutes before my bags are delivered and then you need to tip 2-3 bucks a bag for this unnecessary delay.
It can be luxurious in some cases and full service hotels are separated by great service, but I don't need my hand held for my entire stay.
Butlers aren't necessary IMO for my stays and I certainly don't go out of my way to book a property that has them. I actually avoid using bellservice for luggage either as many times I'm in my room 15-30 minutes before my bags are delivered and then you need to tip 2-3 bucks a bag for this unnecessary delay.
It can be luxurious in some cases and full service hotels are separated by great service, but I don't need my hand held for my entire stay.
"Oh wait, I got charged for that?" - as this has not been my experience with other LC/StR. It is what it is. I'm not upset, it was more of a..."wait, what?" moment for me. The analogy I provided to SPG was...if a guest walks away from a hotel room and gets charged for taking a pair of slippers, is that fair? I think not, but policy is policy, and quite honestly, everything other than this has been great.
In the past, I tip the butler what I would have paid to get my garments pressed, or to have coffee in the room. All this means it that I have paid the hotel instead, and the money doesn't go to the butler. It's more of a loss to the butler, actually and there's no skin off of my back, so to say.
That said, I do intend to tip the butler 100 euros or whatever at the end of my trip. I should have suspected something was different than at other properties as I left an envelope yesterday for a tip addressed to my butler's name, and he never picked it up.
Oct 8, 2018, 5:39 am
#242
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: Delta Silver, SPG Gold
Posts: 79
Off-Season Visit as SPG
My husband and I are headed here right after Christmas.
Three questions for the group:
1. There seems to be a ton of availability. Have SPG Golds had luck in getting upgraded? I’m not expecting the Grand Suite, but the extra space in a Junior Suite or a nice view from a Deluxe Room would be amazing.
2. Is there a charge to use the sauna and the indoor spa pool?
3. What types of food are on the buffet breakfast?
Thanks in advance. We are very excited about this trip and this thread has been extremely helpful.
Three questions for the group:
1. There seems to be a ton of availability. Have SPG Golds had luck in getting upgraded? I’m not expecting the Grand Suite, but the extra space in a Junior Suite or a nice view from a Deluxe Room would be amazing.
2. Is there a charge to use the sauna and the indoor spa pool?
3. What types of food are on the buffet breakfast?
Thanks in advance. We are very excited about this trip and this thread has been extremely helpful.
Oct 8, 2018, 7:50 am
#243
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,963
My husband and I are headed here right after Christmas.
Three questions for the group:
1. There seems to be a ton of availability. Have SPG Golds had luck in getting upgraded? I’m not expecting the Grand Suite, but the extra space in a Junior Suite or a nice view from a Deluxe Room would be amazing.
2. Is there a charge to use the sauna and the indoor spa pool?
3. What types of food are on the buffet breakfast?
Thanks in advance. We are very excited about this trip and this thread has been extremely helpful.
Three questions for the group:
1. There seems to be a ton of availability. Have SPG Golds had luck in getting upgraded? I’m not expecting the Grand Suite, but the extra space in a Junior Suite or a nice view from a Deluxe Room would be amazing.
2. Is there a charge to use the sauna and the indoor spa pool?
3. What types of food are on the buffet breakfast?
Thanks in advance. We are very excited about this trip and this thread has been extremely helpful.
2. Sauna and pool are free to guests.
3. Buffet breakfast is ample. Hot and cold dishes, variety of fruit and pastries and good smoked salmon as I remember. If it is included in the rate...great. I would not pay extra for it ( it's like 40E a person or something like that) ......but pick off the menu and pay ala carte.
Oct 8, 2018, 6:00 pm
#244
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: Delta Silver, SPG Gold
Posts: 79
1. We have been upgraded before to a 6th floor terrace room overlooking the Acropolis as a gold. And then we have not been upgraded countless other times. I love the GB but stopped going there because I didn't like the not knowing what room we were going to get. ( There is a wide variation of size and location of each room category) Started going to smaller boutique hotels where we were able to pick our actual room when making a reservation.
2. Sauna and pool are free to guests.
3. Buffet breakfast is ample. Hot and cold dishes, variety of fruit and pastries and good smoked salmon as I remember. If it is included in the rate...great. I would not pay extra for it ( it's like 40E a person or something like that) ......but pick off the menu and pay ala carte.
2. Sauna and pool are free to guests.
3. Buffet breakfast is ample. Hot and cold dishes, variety of fruit and pastries and good smoked salmon as I remember. If it is included in the rate...great. I would not pay extra for it ( it's like 40E a person or something like that) ......but pick off the menu and pay ala carte.
Thank you very much.
Oct 16, 2018, 3:37 pm
#245
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Gold and Current Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 280
Stay report from late September. Marriott Gold. Arrived ~9am and were escorted to the upstairs concierge floor check-in area. Room was not yet available but was made available to us around 10:30am. We were upgraded to a small suite with separate sitting area, and terrace overlooking a side street, after having booked a standard room. They also provided a handwritten note with a small gift of liqueur and chocolates. The room was fantastic, no complaints whatsoever except for there not being any night light in the bathroom and it therefore being pitch black at night. Location is ideal - right at Syntagma Square. The hotel arranged a great walking tour guide of the Parthenon for us. The breakfast buffet on the roof is fantastic - full spread and it was included in our rate. The view of the Parthenon as you are eating is simply stunning. Warm service all around... I would go back to the Grand Bretagne in a heartbeat.
Oct 16, 2018, 6:48 pm
#246
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: La Jolla, CA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Lifetime Titanium, Delta Plat, Hilton Diamond , Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,615
Our amazing terrace- will try to figure out how to post video when I get home. Photos don’t do it justice!
Our stunning 6th Floor Executive Suite
Agreed! We were at GB for 3 nights last week and loved it. Came back after a visit to Santorini Monday night and they blew us away by upgrading us to one of the best Suites in the hotel with a huge private Acropolis view terrace. One of our all time favorite rooms ever. Will post a full review when we return.
Last edited by damon88; Oct 16, 2018 at 6:53 pm
Dec 31, 2018, 1:49 pm
#248
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Diamond, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 36
Disappointing stay
As a platinum premier, we got nothing better than what we booked for. It is frustrating to see golds got upgraded at this place. I just don’t understand how people can call this hotel Grand. The lobby is very small and nothing special there. The breakfast buffet spread is not great. Have not been to a hotel at this caliber without Prosecco or Cava offerings. Putting that aside, being a Hilton diamond we got much better treatment at the Hilton Athens. Although it is a little far for the Parliament but only five minutes away by taxi. Maybe just me but I would not recommend this hotel. Point stay is fine but not for cash.
Dec 31, 2018, 2:35 pm
#250
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: La Jolla, CA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Lifetime Titanium, Delta Plat, Hilton Diamond , Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,615
As a platinum premier, we got nothing better than what we booked for. It is frustrating to see golds got upgraded at this place. I just don’t understand how people can call this hotel Grand. The lobby is very small and nothing special there. The breakfast buffet spread is not great. Have not been to a hotel at this caliber without Prosecco or Cava offerings. Putting that aside, being a Hilton diamond we got much better treatment at the Hilton Athens. Although it is a little far for the Parliament but only five minutes away by taxi. Maybe just me but I would not recommend this hotel. Point stay is fine but not for cash.
Confused by your comment about Parliament. It is right across the street- this is the view from our private terrace. Because it was so close we were able to walk over twice and watch the changing of the guards when there were no crowds- a virtually private audience!
Dec 31, 2018, 3:34 pm
#251
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,963
We have stayed at the GB many times in our life. It is w/o a doubt the Grand Dame of Athenian hotels by historical as well as opulence. It was always a little above our price comfort but we enjoyed location and amenities. That said, we stopped staying there several years ago when the " stress" of not knowing if we would be upgraded as well as the room location and size become too much of a variable. We now stay in smaller boutique hotels in Athens where we know exactly what our room will be.
Dec 31, 2018, 4:40 pm
#252
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,717
I always go for the Grand Bretagne, because why wouldn’t you
Jan 2, 2019, 5:01 pm
#253
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sacramento
Programs: UA 2MM/GS; SPG Lifetime Plat; MHC Lifetime; Tar Heel forever; and I "Dig the Pig" at Piggly Wiggly
Posts: 12,152
Jan 2, 2019, 5:20 pm
#254
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
It’s funny how often some of the biggest complaints about hotels and elite benefits on FlyerTalk come from people with so few posts on FlyerTalk. It’s also funny how lack of perspective is more quickly revealed to be the bigger issue in most cases.
Jan 2, 2019, 8:07 pm
#255
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,107
Mention of breakfast above in posts mentioned it was included in the rate. Has anyone stayed here post 8/18 where rate didn't include brekkie & can say what, if anything, they do for Plats so that I can update the exec lounge sticky? Thx!