Novotel Athenes

"I'm taking the time to warn you against staying in a place that dares to call itself a 4-star hotel – Novotel Athens, Accor group. It doesn't matter that, as a status customer, I've received early check-in, late check-out and a free upgrade to an executive room on the 5th floor. Why? I encourage you to read about my experiences during my stay at this establishment and my experiences with Accor Customer Care. Of course, it is difficult to blame the hotel for its surroundings, but the view from the small balcony on the 5th floor (as a reminder, executive rooms #513 and #514 – received as part of a free upgrade for Gold members) is not very optimistic and can even be depressing. But this is only the beginning of this detailed review. 1. When you have spent over 1,000 nights in various hotels, you can be prepared for almost anything. Nevertheless, I have never experienced anything even remotely similar to what I experienced in this case. 2. Despite such extensive experience, I have never, ever been robbed in a hotel! At the Novotel Athens, it happened twice. The hotel staff stole my personalised luggage tag from room 513. According to Accor Customer Care, it was allegedly a mistake... (you can compare my luggage tag vs room key card in the pics attached.) A packet of plastic toothpicks I brought back from China was stolen from room 514. What is Accor Customer Care's position on this matter? The room is equipped with a safe... 3. So, remember to keep everything in the safe, including your toothbrush, because it may disappear! 4. The condition of the room and its cleanliness are below any standards. But since a picture is worth a thousand words, I recommend that everyone reading this review form their own opinion. 5. For the sake of formality, I will add that when reading reviews from other travellers, I often did not believe their stories about being robbed, but this stay changed my mind on the subject because, unfortunately, I experienced it myself! 6. Not only did the hotel management not deign to meet with me for two days, but they did not even contact me by phone. And that is still the case today... A typical avoidance strategy... 7. The biggest disappointment is Accor Customer Care. I choose international chain hotels because, as I say, ‘if there are any issues, at least there is someone who is interested in solving them’. Unfortunately, this was not the case. 8. The Accor Group holds its Gold & Explorer status customers in high regard, so it can be assumed that their attitude towards less frequent travellers is similar, if not worse. 9. Looking at the attached photos, I think you will agree with me that this establishment, which considers itself a hotel, and a 4-star one at that, should be inspected and then closed down by the relevant Greek health authorities, because staying in such a room full of dust mites, for which dust is a breeding ground, poses a serious health risk to anyone staying in such conditions. 10. I am sorry to say that the hotel staff focus on stealing items belonging to hotel guests instead of cleaning, because, unfortunately, they have no idea how to do that. They probably don't want to either... To sum up, and to paraphrase the warnings on cigarette packets, staying at this hotel poses a serious threat to your health and carries a serious risk of being robbed. Do not count on Accor Customer Care for help either..."

"We stayed at Novotel Athens for 12 nights and had a truly lovely experience. The hotel team went above and beyond to meet all our requests, including assigning us a room with a fantastic view. We were celebrating our honeymoon and my husband’s birthday, and the complimentary birthday cake was such a kind and memorable gesture. The staff were consistently warm, polite, and helpful, making us feel very well taken care of. We also really enjoyed the food at the hotel restaurant — everything we tried was delicious. While the surrounding area can feel a little rough at night (we opted for taxis in the evenings), it was perfectly fine to walk around during the day, and transport was always easy to arrange. Overall, a comfortable and memorable stay with great hospitality. We would happily stay here again."

"⭐ 1 Star – Extremely Disappointing: Not a Real 4-Star Hotel We stayed 9 nights at Novotel Athens and paid over €1000 for the stay, expecting the quality and service of a 4-star Accor experience. Instead, we encountered issues closer to a neglected roadside motel: Major Comfort & Cleanliness Failures: Air Conditioning was broken for the entire 9-night stay, forcing us to sleep with the window open every night. The sofa bed mattress was heavily stained (photos attached), and the carpet was dirty and full of stains. The entire hotel had a neglected, old smell. The rooftop pool and bar were closed with no prior notice before our arrival. Basic amenities expected at this price point were missing: The minibar was empty, and there were no slippers, bathrobes, or a dental kit provided. 🚨 Disturbing Safety & Service Failures: Upon my 2 AM arrival, no staff were present at reception. I was unable to check in or provide my passport, meaning I spent three nights unregistered—a serious legal and safety lapse. On a separate night, I was locked out when my key was demagnetized. I waited at the unattended front desk for over an hour. When an employee finally appeared, it was visually evident they had just woken up, making the service failure deliberate. The area surrounding the hotel feels unsafe, with people openly using and selling drugs visible right outside the entrance. The staff's repeated absence significantly compounded these security risks. Poor Staff Response: The reception staff’s English proficiency was limited, and they consistently refused to make any real effort to assist with our comfort requests (e.g., providing an HDMI cable). Verdict: The safety and service failures were unacceptable for any hotel, let alone one charging over €1000 and claiming a 4-star rating. Highly disappointing and absolutely not recommended."