Hotel King Jason - but could be Jason King (King Jason Hotel)

Member Name: timtm

Product:	King Jason Hotel
Date:	02/10/01 (1038 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap, Very central, Friendly staff

Disadvantages: Occasionaly noisy, Bit of a 70s throwback!

Having cancelled a trip to New York, we booked up in a bit of a hurry to go to Athens. Few hotels were left, and since we were on a bit of a budget, we went for the King Jason.

Due to awkward flights running early (!) and general misplanning on our part, we arrived at about 4am on the day we were checking in - and obviously were unable to get a room for that night! However, they kindly let us put our bags behind the reception, and to doze off on the sofas in the lounge. Which we did.

First impressions then: from the outside it's not great - it's a 60s tower block (as is most of Athens, in fact), and the name's in big tacky blocks up the side of the building. By night, admittedly, all of the letters light up (unlike most hotels!), but it's still a little ... well, tacky. However, it is right in the centre of the city, which is a bonus.

Once you get inside, it's much nicer. The lounge/bar area is top class, and as you walk in the air conditioning hits you like ... a cool breeze, I suppose! People behind the desk are pretty friendly, and they all speak English quite well (though as always it would be good to see if you can speek Greek - though it's a rather difficult language to get by with!). The reception desk sells bottles of water or cans for non-extortionate prices.

Up in the lifts ... oooh, the lifts. The lifts only have an outside door, so as you go up, don't lean on the wall! It's freaky the first time you go in them, but you'll get used to it.

Up to the rooms, and they're not bad at all, especially given their relative cheapness. Beds are comfy, and each room has its own bathroom with loo, sink, and bath/shower. The shower is excellent, and there was never a problem with no hot water while we were there. The room is cleaned every day, with fresh towels and even bathmat.

Inside the room, you've a very (even too!)efficient air conditioner, which pumps o
ut more cold air than you'll ever need. This uses the only plug socket, though, so you'll have to turn it off to recharge your phone, or whatever! There's a dressing-table and stool, and another bedside table on the other side. Enough drawers and wardrobe space to go round as well.

There's a TV, with quite a few channels - CNN is the only one completely in English, but some others show subtitled programmes sometimes.

Each room has a balcony, though some look into an inner area. Some of those on the outside are sort of side-on to the Acropolis, so you can see it at night - just! The balcony's not in a great state of repair generally, though.

Included in the price is breakfast, which was fine - though "sausages and eggs" are just frankfurters and scrambled, they were quite nice. Some of the bread is the nicest thing ever, especially with strawberry jam. This is also the only time you'll get tea or coffee inside the hotel, since the rooms don't have facilities themselves.

A nice hotel, all in all. However: one warning. Make sure you're not on a floor with lots of schoolkids or a large party. The first couple of nights we were there, it was difficult to sleep because of noise. The reception eventually sorted it out, but it's a bit of hassle.

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