Esse Athens

The trouble started when we arrived late at night and found water from a bathroom leak dripping onto an electrical outlet. Water was everywhere. Staff said we would need to cancel through Expedia and might get a refund, but then urged us to pay cash for an “upgrade.” They even suggested walking to an ATM in an area that felt sketchy at midnight. The replacement room was only a little better: dirty grout, broken outlets, scratched walls, missing drain covers, and a telescope that was useless. The hotel felt run-down, unsafe, and unaccommodating. We also didn't feel comfortable walking around the neighborhood at night, and the location did nothing to offset such a terrible stay. I definitely wouldn't recommend it.

Esse is in Plaka, which we thought was the best spot, and we spent our three days in Athens walking around the downtown neighborhoods before our cruise. The rooms are on the small side, but cozy and just right for us. Everything was very clean and had all the amenities. The staff were fantastic and helpful. If you're coming from the States, give the front desk a call with any questions. They can help organize things, plan, or offer advice to make the trip less stressful.

Virginia deserves a special mention. She helped me arrange taxis and sort out so many other things, and was so caring throughout my stay. The rest of the staff were lovely too. The hotel is elegant and clean, with perfect rooms and a really good breakfast. I loved wandering around the streets nearby. I recommend the hotel to all my friends, and I'll stay here again when I come back.

The location made it easy to walk to plenty of places we wanted to visit, lots of places to eat, and, most importantly for us, ice cream shops. Our room was comfortable, with a beautiful Parthenon view, and the patio hot tub was great. We used it several times. The washroom was beautiful too, with dual shower heads. We were here for two nights before our cruise. They let us check out later so the timing worked better for boarding, and held our luggage when we arrived early and again when we wanted to spend more time in the city before leaving. We had a great stay and would recommend it.