With the beautifully illuminated Acropolis Hill behind me I walked towards the entrance of the Hera Hotel. The two Greek flags above the hotel doors waved in the wind. At the lobby I was soon welcomed by Iro, the friendly owner of the hotel.
Iro and her family have been running the Hera hotel for about 10 years now and during my recent visit to the travel blogger conference TBEX in Athens I had the opportunity to stay at their hotel. Read about my experience with the Hera Hotel below.
The hotel
The Hera is a beautiful boutique hotel right at the food of the Acropolis Hill and a perfect base to explore Athens. It has classical grandeur with beautiful marble and dark wood. Adjoining the lobby lies a beautiful light breakfast room and if you take the elevator to the top floor you will find the hotels highlight: the ‘Peacock’ restaurant with unsurpassed views on the Acropolis. Because of the conference dinners I did not have time to eat here and I only went up to enjoy the views. However, one of the fellow Hera guests told me that they serve delicious Greek-Mediterranean food against a reasonable price.
The room
My room was located on the third floor on the street side. It was decorated in the same classical style as the rest of the hotel and even had a small balcony. The room was a bit small, but spick-and-span and had all the room facilities you need such as a flat-screen tv, desktop, air-conditioning and fast and free wi-fi. Also, I had forgotten my shampoo and although I normally don’t like hotel shampoo, this one was probably better than my own!
The location
The hotel is located in a quiet street, but restaurants and cafes are just around the corner. It’s a 5-minute walk to major attractions such as the modern Acropolis Museum and the Acropolis Hill and to the metro station. Walking a bit further you reach Hadrians Library and small colorful back streets full of lively Greek restaurants and shops. The famous Syntagma Square, Monastiraki and Ancient Agora can be reached in 5-minutes by metro or 20-minutes by foot.
In the end…
The Hera hotel offered what I would expect from a modern four star boutique hotel. It had great service, beautiful rooms and modern facilities. The beds were comfortable, the room was cool and the shower hot.
So, your average four-star hotel?
No, for me it was more. What the Hera Hotel distinguished from other hotels was the personal touch and the genuine warmth and friendliness of the staff. Iro and her staff made me feel welcome right from the start. They treated me like I was a long lost friend and even surprised me with a piece of traditional Greek cake in my room. Feeling at home and being surrounded by friendly people, whether in a hostel or a hotel, is something I consider highly important. The Hera Hotel did that.
The Hera Hotel
Website: www.herahotel.com
Phone: +30-210-9236682(Hotel & Restaurant bookings)
Adress: Falirou 9, 11742, Acropoli
Email: info[at]herahotel[dot]gr
My stay at the Hera Hotel was sponsored. Views and opinions are as always my own.
Did you ever stay at the Hera Hotel? What is your experience?