Holiday Inn Thessaloniki by IHG

We felt truly welcome and had a great time in Thessaloniki. The staff went out of their way to make sure guests were happy, and any issues were sorted out right away. The front desk was warm and welcoming, and the service was amazing. This may not be a 5-star hotel by industry standards, but the experience was worth 5 stars to us. The pool was really nice, too, with a great ambiance.

Amazing! The pool was cold, there was no warm water in the pool shower, and the rooms barely had any water. Water from the sink and shower was brown, and the shower barely worked because the pressure was so low. There was reconstruction going on, but they hadn’t mentioned it in the booking. If a 0-star rating were available, I’d give it.

The location was handy for walking to the seafront, restaurants, and bars, and the staff were nice and helpful. Breakfast was good, though when large groups were there, the line to get food took a long time. That’s a problem if you’re on a tight schedule. The room was comfortable and big enough, and the hotel restaurant was good. My main issue was the temperature. At the end of October, the air conditioning wasn’t working, and the room was too hot even with the window open. That only worked if your room didn’t face the main street, otherwise it was too noisy. I couldn’t get a good night’s sleep during my stay.

The hotel itself is part of the city's history, and the streets of Thessaloniki are right there to explore. Traffic can be madness, though, so be ready for it. The bus stops outside make getting straight to the airport easy, and with the balcony door shut, you can't hear the noise. I loved sitting in the modern, unstuffy lobby with a glass of wine in the early evening and chatting with the staff. The downstairs WC was clean and handy between walks. The rooms are fabulous, the showers are great, and the water feels so natural, with no limescale. I even managed the stairs, though I didn't make it to the gym or swimming pool. The ladies at the top floor restaurant are gorgeous, and made my stay feel full of love and happiness. The bar upstairs has awesome views. If the hotel's history isn't your thing, it might not be the place for you, but I loved the busy city outside, morning, afternoon, and evening. Greeks work hard to make the experience pleasant. I just got home, and it's early in the UK. I loved the place so much I'm already thinking about coming back as soon as I can, maybe twice in the next six months.