Novotel Athenes♡

A unique experience in a dingy establishment – the so-called Accor hotel

2.0

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! Now, analysing the attitude of the hotel staff and Accor Customer Care, I wanted to express my gratitude to them for stealing a packet of plastic toothpicks only, rather than an iPad or an electric toothbrush, which they could just as easily have taken from my room. 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 status customers in high regard, however not in this case, so I can’t imagine their attitude towards less frequent travellers, after the stay like this at Novotel Athens. 9. Looking at the attached photos, I think you will agree with me that this establishment, which considers itself a hotel, a 4-star one!, 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...

Excellent service, great views & thoughtful birthday surprise

10.0

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.

Not a four start experience.

2.0

⭐ 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.

Good but imperfect hotel

8.0

I had a generally pleasant stay at the Novotel Athènes. Staff were friendly. The room was well-equipped and for the most part fine. Breakfasts were excellent. The hotel’s location was perfect. It was less than a ten-minute walk to the Larissa train and subway stations and maybe a twenty-five-minute walk to Athens’ central business district. And I kind of enjoyed the gritty, economically heterogeneous neighborhood where the hotel is located; I did not find it threatening at all. But there were some signs (as other reviewers have noted) that the Novotel Athènes isn’t quite as well-maintained as most Novotels. The thing that bothered me most was that there was a strong smell of stale tobacco smoke in my theoretically “non-smoking” room (513). I realize that, in a room with a rug and cloth curtains, it’s hard to get rid of the smell, but one expects a four-star hotel to have done so. I dealt with the problem by keeping the window open all the time, even during chilly nights. Another issue: One morning there was no hot water. I complained and was told the problem would be fixed. It was, but still. And, while I wouldn’t ordinarily mention the stains on the rug at all, they certainly added to the sense that the hotel’s not quite what it would like to be. But I repeat: I had a pleasant stay.

Save you money and safety by not staying here

4.0

Don't be fooled by the fancy photos and central location, this hotel's in the middle of a ghetto, gritty by day and just plain dangerous at night. Our room was quite shabby and dusty- more cheap motel than a so called 4 star Novatel. Everything just seemed either broken or tatty, with bed sheets and towels full of holes, not even a decent cup in the room just a paper one. I've stayed in a few Novatels for work and found them to be wonderful but this place just didn't live upto expectations, very poor I suggest finding another hotel.

Overall terrible experience

2.0

I was scammed by the hotel. Because I arrived for the first night after midnight (after having called and sent an e-mail do the hotel they put that night as a noshow to avoid claim of points and status nights under AccorHotels membership programe. It was not a no show and they even tried to charge me the breakfast for the first night (which was already paid). It is ridiculous that the hotel didn't tell me to make the booking in any different way when I called and sent an e-mail but they completely ignored the first night. Apparently you are required to go to bed soon or you loose your PREPAID reservation. Also reception was terrible, always full of people, gym is in bad condition and staff is mostly rude. Housekeeping was extraordinary and breakfast was quite good, which is all that can be said on a good note about this Novotel. Overall a terrible experience and I don't recommend it to anyone.