The Other Athens

Advantages: fun, charming and diverting city with plenty of interesting things to see and do; great variety of bars and restaurants
Disadvantages: has some shonky areas, may bring you to spend more than you'd like

...The city of Athens, Georgia, USA, is one of those eclectic university towns scattered all the way across the country. If you're an American and a seasoned college student, you know all about what that means - an infinite variety of bars, pubs, theatres and crack houses. And, of course, a vast number of students to take advantage of whichever of these vices may take their fancy. In this particular case, it's the enormous campus of the University of Georgia which has set up shop in this interesting town. Athens is about 70 miles from Atlanta, anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half drive depending on various things - the traffic, whether there is a thunderstorm present, or if someone has managed to cark it somewhere along the road and has thus blocked it in some manner. Once you're out of the suburban and ugly sprawl of Atlanta you...

adamsputnik 05.06.2004 · Read review
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Review of Athens

Athens - Haven't You Grown Since I Saw You Last?

Advantages: Vibrant, cheap excellent public transport. Famous historic sites. Eating out
Disadvantages: Not as 'Greek' as it used to be. Poor air quality. The drivers!

...I'd been to Athens before, but not since 1973 so I was fully expecting a lot of changes, and to a greater extent I was right. For example, I was probably amongst the last tourists to be allowed full access to wander all over the famous Parthenon on the Acropolis hill. Since then it has been fenced off and variously concealed behind one piece of scaffolding or another, and is rumoured to stay that way for decades. I remember that summer of '73 with some trepidation - it was damned hot to be in a city and the traffic was truly awful, with blue fumes from two-stroke 'pop-pops' everywhere. Since then, cars have got a lot cleaner, but regrettably more numerous. Of course, going there in the October half-term holiday helps with the air-quality too! WHERE IS IT? It's the capital of Greece and lies in the province...

BNibbles 30.11.2007 (06.09.2008) · Read review
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Review of Athens in general

Plaka Hotel, Athens

Advantages: Position, Price
Disadvantages: Basic (but plentiful) breakfast

...The Plaka Hotel is a real find. It is ideally situated at the foot of the Acropolis and is amongst ,or within easy walking distance, of many of Athens attractions. It is on the corner of a small side street just a hundred yards or so from the metro station that is at the end of the line from the airport. Some bedrooms do have a direct view to the Acropolis. The hotel staff are friendly and helpful and the accomodation is generally clean and modern. Our room was quite small but not so much that it was a problem. There was an adequate amount of storage space. The bathroom was small and a bit dated but ok, considering the price! We paid £33 a night for a double room with breakfast and thought this was a real bargain. Make sure you compare sites for prices as they vary considerably. The breakfast was quite basic but included...

suelr13 21.07.2007 (26.07.2007) · Read review
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Review of Plaka Hotel, Athens

Long awaited Athens 2004

Advantages: Good graphics, realistic, fun game!
Disadvantages: Controls can b difficult to master.

...I've owned this game for little over 24hours, I'd say I know pretty much everything there is to know about the game, now that's not cos it's simple, or that it's an easy game, it's most likely cos I've played it for around 12 of the 24 hours I've owned it. THE GAME Well It's Athens 2004, so yeah it's an Olympics game.... Not all events are included in Athens 2004, so that's a downside but the main events are there. CONTROLS The controls are not simple, but once you have played for a while, they do come more naturally. For most events "x" and "o" are the buttons used to gain speed, or distance when throwing the javelin or shot put. When running this can be uncomfortable. For example the 400m sprint often proves difficult for me as you must hold "L1" to take your mark, then be quick off the release to make sure you get a quick...

PlaceboFan 01.09.2004 · Read review
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Review of Athens 2004 (PS2)

Athens off the tourist track

Advantages: Fun, fascinating and altogether fabulous
Disadvantages: Chaotic and confusing for the first time visitor

...The first thing I should say is that I never visited Athens purely as a tourist. I lived in Greece for three years, and spent the first two in Halkida, on an island called Evia, about an hour and a half north of Athens (well worth a day out for seafood lunch, the beach and the bars but that is another review). We didn't go to Athens often, and when we did the first stop was usually Marks and Spencers to stock up our small English community on tights and underwear! After two years I moved to Piraeus and set about discovering the capital in all its glory. Now I'm not going to spend this review talking about the Acropolis, or Plaka, or taxis, or pollution, or any of the other things that are discussed in many of the other fine reviews on this site. Those places are very interesting to visit - the Acropolis is a must for the first time...

Agglida 11.06.2005 · Read review
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Review of Athens in general

Good and bad of Athens

Advantages: Vibrant, lively, good food, great sights.
Disadvantages: Some dodgy bits!

...I recently took a four day break in Athens with my wife and thirteen year old son. Like all cities, we found it had good and bad bits, but on the whole, I would highly recommend a visit. Our hotel was located just off an area called Omonia Square. The guide book described this area as 'gritty'. I guess we should have read into that what we actually found. There are men with obvious Heroin addictions wandering around the area day and night. Prostitutes can be seen plying their trade. One of these was at least sixty-five years old and was wearing a skirt that revealed her bum cheeks. The shock registered by my wife and me was only matched by the amusement caused to my son. The stalls evenly dotted around the square sell the usual magazines, cigarettes, touristy stuff, and sweets, but also have a fine selection of pornographic videos...

GF1124 12.12.2007 · Read review
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Review of Athens in general

Sofitel ....Heaven at Athens airport

Advantages: Luxury just steps away from the airport
Disadvantages: That I cant stay there more often

...Location: ######## Sofitel are a large chain of hotels across the world that are 4/5 star. I have only experience of the ones at Athens and Gatwick airports. The Athens Sofitel is the only hotel right on site at the airport. It is just across the road from the airport and is perfect for a transfer. All other transfer hotels are a coach ride away (Holiday Inn) or are in the town itself which is about 1 hour bus ride away. I found details of the Athens airport on the internet when searching for somewhere to stay to kill a 10 hour wait between flights and expected to get the normal bored airport reception that I have experienced before at a highly inflated price.I liked the fact that I could stagger across and not have to worry about getting back to the airport in the morning. The hotel itself looks like a square box that...

garageroom 21.11.2006 · Read review
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Review of Sofitel Athens Airport, Spata

new airport athens

Advantages: clean,efficient,quick check-in
Disadvantages: access time

...The new airport brings greek aviation into the 21st century. Due to the traffic situation in athens travel time to the airport should be assesed by the day and time of day. The airport can be reached by the new motorway if you are in north or west of athens and by a back road ( now being converted into a motorway)if you are in the south or east of the city. Other than by private cars and coaches, the airport can be reached by taxi or bus. Taxi costs in greece are low and the cost to the airport will average at about 20-25Euro from athens center, should the taxi cost too much more than this you should note the taxi number ( displayed in the taxi) and ask for an official reciept.At the airport you should then take the reciept and number of the taxi to the police office at the airport where it will be dealt with to your advantage...

johngrant 06.05.2003 · Read review
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Review of Athens (ATH)

Athens - Summer 2000

Advantages:
Disadvantages:

...Athens, in the scorching heat of July, I must admit, was a somewhat daunting proposition. However, surely anything could have been an improvement from the dully, grey and overcast weather of West London. I arrived to find temperatures surprisingly pleasant, and found that, during my stay, they remained so. Although warm in the middle of the day, humidity was low and a cool breeze would often spring up from the meditteranean, especially in the Port of Piraeus area. These conditions made for reasonable 'sight-seeing' weather, and such sights as 'The Temple of Zeus', the Acropolis and Mt. Lekavitas were breathtaking, especially at sunset. All in all, a wonderful place to visit, my only reservation being the traffic and air pollution encountered in the centre of the city. I look forward to travelling there one again....

AdonisC 14.08.2000 · Read review
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Review of Athens in general

Amazing and beautiful. A must see in Athens.

Advantages: Stunning, Awe inspiring and beautiful
Disadvantages: Scaffolding

...The Acropolis or "Sacred Rock" of Athens stands high above the city. On it are built many beautiful and frankly amazing structures. For a construction dating back to 450 B.C. the precision and architecture are something that should be seen by everyone. You enter the acropolis through the Propylaea which is the gateway to the acropolis. It is an incredible structure. There are three main temples on the Acropolis. The main one is the Parthenon. The parthenon is dedicated to Athena Parthenos, the patron goddess of athens. It is an immense structure and is vast and beautiful. Sculptures can still be seen on the corners of the roof. Just an amazing building considering it was built in 15 years, back in 447 B.C. Unfortunately, the parthenon was used by the Turks as an ammunition dump, and the venetians blew the roof off it. So its...

LenaSophia 06.04.2004 · Read review
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Review of Acropolis (Athens)