Hotel Review: Radisson Blu Park Hotel, Athens

Ramsey Qubein is a freelance travel journalist covering hotels, cruises,…

Athens has its fair share of luxury, business and tourist hotels. They range from uber-priced beds near Syntagma Square to value-focused digs near the airport. Radisson Blu’s Athens location has found the perfect balance between central to the touristic heart without charging the hefty rates that those in the traffic-clogged center tend to do. These are the top five reasons why Radisson Blu is the brand to gravitate towards in Athens these days.

The rooms

Clean and fresh, they feature hardwood floors, oversized beds with duvets, ample power outlets and large TVs facing the bed. Desks are tucked into the corner with space to lay out a laptop, paperwork and unpack a purse or briefcase. Complimentary bottled water is a welcome perk, especially if you plan to stroll through the park across the street.

Glass windows separate the bedroom and bathroom, but don’t worry there are shares for privacy. Many will enjoy the natural light that otherwise streams inside while getting ready or enjoying the rainfall showerheads. Radisson Blu’s signature toiletries are on offer including fresh scents like goji berry.

Suites provide extra living space, and rooms at the front of the building are popular for their large balconies. Most face the street in front and the park across the street. Those on higher floors benefit from wide cityscape views, which are almost as good as the rooftop bar and restaurant. Some of the best rooms have views of the Acropolis.

The location

For less than $10, you can take the city’s metro from the airport to the hotel in just under an hour. While taxis and Ubers are plentiful, they are known for their shifty antics to overcharge or sometimes even dissuade travelers from the most direct route. Athens has a history of this type of deception; this author has seen it on multiple occasions and has been to Athens more than 30 times.

The walk to the nearest metro station (Victoria) takes less than five minutes. You are two stops away from Syntagma station and just a few more to reach most of the city’s top attractions. If you are headed on a cruise from Piraeus port, the metro will even take you all the way there.

The rooftop

On the top floor of the hotel is a stunning swimming pool ringed with lounge chairs and day beds. In the corner sits the hotel’s well-known bar and lounge serving up a variety of cocktails plus a large selection of Greek beers and wines. From this vantage point, the entire city unfurls in front of you. The Acropolis and Syntagma Square are visible from here.

There is also a private dining venue and restaurant that can be booked for special events. A menu of regional food is the perfect complement to take in the excellent views.

The menus

The main restaurant on the lobby level serves a huge breakfast buffet each morning. Guests can slice and squeeze fresh oranges, sample one of a dozen local honeys or jams, enjoy freshly baked Greek bread and pastries with local cheeses, and help themselves to a selection of olives. The Greek corner also has some sweet and savory items to complement the traditional buffet of fruit, eggs and yogurts. Speaking of yogurt, the local yogurt and honey combination is a must-try before leaving.

Throughout the day, the menus include a mix of regional and international dishes from burgers to salads. If you want to try something local, the street facing the hotel has several restaurants and bars plus grab-and-go venues for all the souvlaki or gyros you could ever eat.

The loyalty program

Radisson Blu belongs to the Radisson Rewards program. Members can sign up for free and earn or redeem points for their stay. They can pay in full using points or use a combination of cash and points to lower the overall cost.

The frequent stay program also has a VIP tier, which comes with space-available room upgrades (perhaps to one of those high-floor rooms with a balcony), late checkout and complimentary breakfast.

More than a dozen brands participate in the program so you can stay in a top-tier Radisson RED hotel in Europe or a Radisson Blu resort in the Caribbean using the same program.