Author Topic: Greece Master Thread (Read 226856 times)

raccah · « **Reply #420 on:** August 24, 2015, 11:58:04 PM »

Thanks guys - I saw the list, the A hotel looks like the best compromise between price and quality. I was hoping for folks with experience in these places. Cecil is not my cup of tea, there are clearly super expensive ones, like Grand Britain - but that is NOT the point of this forum :-)

So, if there are no other ideas around hotels close to Chabad, maybe we skip Athens for Shabbos and go with Thessalonika for Shabbat - @jm1428 you spent shabbos in Thessalonika - did u like it more than Athens for Shabbos??

Jm1248 · « **Reply #421 on:** August 25, 2015, 12:10:19 AM »

Quote from: raccah on August 24, 2015, 11:58:04 PM

Thanks guys - I saw the list, the A hotel looks like the best compromise between price and quality. I was hoping for folks with experience in these places. Cecil is not my cup of tea, there are clearly super expensive ones, like Grand Britain - but that is NOT the point of this forum :-)

So, if there are no other ideas around hotels close to Chabad, maybe we skip Athens for Shabbos and go with Thessalonika for Shabbat - @jm1428 you spent shabbos in Thessalonika - did u like it more than Athens for Shabbos??

I spent shabos in both. I enjoyed both very much. I stayed in the met hotel in Thessalonika. Very new modern hotel about 20 min frm chabad

Jm1248 · « **Reply #422 on:** August 25, 2015, 12:12:16 AM »

The King George in Athens is a nice place for shabos but it will run you 25k Spg iirc

raccah · « **Reply #423 on:** August 25, 2015, 12:34:59 AM »

Quote from: Jm1248 on August 25, 2015, 12:12:16 AM

The King George in Athens is a nice place for shabos but it will run you 25k Spg iirc

Thanks but the King George does not look close to Chabad. Hoping to use Hyaat for the rest of the days or ritz/Marriot - when not for shabbos. Really right now looking for the best hotel, with points or reasonable price for quality for a hotel close to chabad at either Thessalonika or Athens. TIA

Jm1248 · « **Reply #424 on:** August 25, 2015, 12:53:31 AM »

Quote from: raccah on August 25, 2015, 12:34:59 AM

Thanks but the King George does not look close to Chabad. Hoping to use Hyaat for the rest of the days or ritz/Marriot - when not for shabbos. Really right now looking for the best hotel, with points or reasonable price for quality for a hotel close to chabad at either Thessalonika or Athens. TIA

The King George is really not too far. About 15-20 min and very easy directions. Don't recall exactly which ones but Thessalonika has a bunch of decent hotels right near Chabad. Also Thessalonika Chabad has very nice walking areas along the water near Chabad which is good for shabos (as opposed to Athens where the closest things are changing of the guards and monistiraki sq, neither of which are very Shabbos'dik)

Emkay · « **Reply #425 on:** August 25, 2015, 04:48:21 AM »

Quote from: raccah on August 24, 2015, 11:58:04 PM

Thanks guys - I saw the list, the A hotel looks like the best compromise between price and quality. I was hoping for folks with experience in these places. Cecil is not my cup of tea, there are clearly super expensive ones, like Grand Britain - but that is NOT the point of this forum :-)

So, if there are no other ideas around hotels close to Chabad, maybe we skip Athens for Shabbos and go with Thessalonika for Shabbat - @jm1428 you spent shabbos in Thessalonika - did u like it more than Athens for Shabbos??

I have been to Thessaloniki and Athens. Athens was in my top 5 shabbos experiences anywhere. Not worth it to miss it over a 15 minute walk to a beautiful hotel. Its not a bad walk. I personally made a mistake of booking a Hilton around 35 minute walk away. Wasn't ideal but still loved it

SPLP · « **Reply #426 on:** August 25, 2015, 11:10:20 AM »

Quote from: raccah on August 24, 2015, 04:20:55 PM

Hello All,

I am going to Greece for 6 days. I was thinking of Shabbos in Athens and was wondering which hotel is the best one that is nice and close to chabad? The close ones do not seem to be part of a chain brand (Hilton/Hyaat/SPG/etc).

Monday - see athens
Monday night - boat to santorini or flight (monday night sleep on boat or hotel)
Tuesday - Santorini
Wednesday - fly to rhodes two days
friday fly to athens
maybe Thessalonika for Sunday
fly to barcelona on Monday

In Santorini I was thinking about SPG Vedema. For Rhodes - any suggestions? For Thessalonika - there is the SPG there. Would love to do Hyaat or Hilton or Whyndam or UR hotels as well. I will need to use the Hyaat before they die in either Athens or Barcelona/Spain.

Also, can I get food for the week from the kosher store? Maybe a quick stop for dinner and then pick up food and on to the boat/airport for the islands?

TIA!

SPG G.B IS THE BEST HOTEL IN GREECE AND 15 MINUTE WALK TO C-- HAVE NOT STAYED BUT SINCE I LIVE IN ATHENS - GO REGULARLY FOR A DRINK OR AFTERNOON NOON TEA

SPG Vedema ALSO GREAT -- STAYED 10 DAY AND LOVED IT

CAN NOT USE HYATT IN ATHENS -- ONLY ONE HYATT HOTEL IN GREECE AND HEARD IT IS VERY NICE

Emkay · « **Reply #427 on:** August 25, 2015, 11:16:18 AM »

Quote from: SPLP on August 25, 2015, 11:10:20 AM

SPG G.B IS THE BEST HOTEL IN GREECE AND 15 MINUTE WALK TO C-- HAVE NOT STAYED BUT SINCE I LIVE IN ATHENS - GO REGULARLY FOR A DRINK OR AFTERNOON NOON TEA

SPG Vedema ALSO GREAT -- STAYED 10 DAY AND LOVED IT

CAN NOT USE HYATT IN ATHENS -- ONLY ONE HYATT HOTEL IN GREECE AND HEARD IT IS VERY NICE

SPLP · « **Reply #428 on:** August 25, 2015, 11:20:16 AM »

Quote from: Emkay on August 25, 2015, 11:16:18 AM

The police caught me

raccah · « **Reply #429 on:** August 25, 2015, 03:25:24 PM »

Thanks guys!!! Really appreciate the help. Booked the GB (Hotel Grande Bretagne) - ONLY 12K a night - CRAZY! The KG is also only 12K a night - for a level 5! The GB is far better according to all the posts on TA. Finally, very interesting fact that UR hotels are a TOTAL dud in Greece and Spain - other than the Hyaat in Thessalonika.

SPLP · « **Reply #430 on:** August 25, 2015, 03:57:01 PM »

Quote from: raccah on August 25, 2015, 03:25:24 PM

Thanks guys!!! Really appreciate the help. Booked the GB (Hotel Grande Bretagne) - ONLY 12K a night - CRAZY! The KG is also only 12K a night - for a level 5! The GB is far better according to all the posts on TA. Finally, very interesting fact that UR hotels are a TOTAL dud in Greece and Spain - other than the Hyaat in Thessalonika.

GB at 12K - great deal

do not understand why you say UR hotels are a dude in Greece? - UR points are like paying $ for a hotel

raccah · « **Reply #431 on:** August 25, 2015, 04:00:32 PM »

Really? You think UR hotels are all crap because of how they are so heavily devalued (meaning 80K for a night at the Ritz)? Hyatt is not like that - they are as close to SPG as there is actually. And the Ritz Carlton miles + vacation are great too if you got in on two Ritz cards. Anyway, just saying UR totally dropped the ball in Spain and Greece - which SUCKS!

I have two nights of Hyaat which will die unless I find a way to ue them in Europe - and so far I am at a loss, unless I go to Thessalonika.

SPLP · « **Reply #432 on:** August 25, 2015, 04:07:07 PM »

Quote from: raccah on August 25, 2015, 04:00:32 PM

Really? You think UR hotels are all crap because of how they are so heavily devalued (meaning 80K for a night at the Ritz)? Hyatt is not like that - they are as close to SPG as there is actually. And the Ritz Carlton miles + vacation are great too if you got in on two Ritz cards. Anyway, just saying UR totally dropped the ball in Spain and Greece - which SUCKS!

I have two nights of Hyaat which will die unless I find a way to ue them in Europe - and so far I am at a loss, unless I go to Thessalonika.

"You think UR hotels are all crap because of how they are so heavily devalued (meaning 80K for a night at the Ritz)"-- I truly lost you? who said UR points are crap?

--they great ---- "EVEN" FOR HOTELS - maybe not high end 5 star but many times it will take less points to use ur than Hilton, Marriott etc -- depending on time of reservation and cost in dollars for the room

PLEASE share how you got GB 12k? price is 16k

raccah · « **Reply #433 on:** August 25, 2015, 04:30:02 PM »

I think I misunderstood what you said - "do not understand why you say UR hotels are a dude in Greece? - UR points are like paying $ for a hotel" - I thought you meant to say that UR points for a hotel is a waste of points. I guess I misunderstood you.

I have no idea, for me it comes up as 12K points

SPLP · « **Reply #434 on:** August 25, 2015, 04:40:28 PM »

Quote from: raccah on August 25, 2015, 04:30:02 PM

I think I misunderstood what you said - "do not understand why you say UR hotels are a dude in Greece? - UR points are like paying $ for a hotel" - I thought you meant to say that UR points for a hotel is a waste of points. I guess I misunderstood you.

I have no idea, for me it comes up as 12K points

Just be sure u have a confirmation at the hotel you think you have for 12k -this is a 4 1/2 star hotel so 12k or 16k -excellent price

Emkay · « **Reply #435 on:** August 25, 2015, 04:46:53 PM »

Quote from: raccah on August 25, 2015, 04:00:32 PM

I have two nights of Hyaat which will die unless I find a way to ue them in Europe - and so far I am at a loss, unless I go to Thessalonika.

I stayed in the Hyatt in Thessaloniki. Got the biggest suite they had and was one of the greatest Hyatt stays I ever had.

SPLP · « **Reply #436 on:** August 25, 2015, 05:46:51 PM »

I think they still pick up to and from the airport free plus other free transportation around the city

raccah · « **Reply #437 on:** August 25, 2015, 06:29:49 PM »

Quote from: Emkay on August 25, 2015, 04:46:53 PM

I stayed in the Hyatt in Thessaloniki. Got the biggest suite they had and was one of the greatest Hyatt stays I ever had.

@Emkay - did Thessaloniki have kosher food to buy? If I stay at the Hyatt - how far was it to chabad - I think u said 25 min - correct? Maybe go there for shabbos, spend my Hyatt certs, and get kosher food in Thessaloniki - does they have a store? TIA

Jm1248 · « **Reply #438 on:** August 25, 2015, 06:51:08 PM »

Quote from: raccah on August 25, 2015, 06:29:49 PM

@Emkay - did Thessaloniki have kosher food to buy? If I stay at the Hyatt - how far was it to chabad - I think u said 25 min - correct? Maybe go there for shabbos, spend my Hyatt certs, and get kosher food in Thessaloniki - does they have a store? TIA

Chabad of Thessaloniki has a kosher restaurant but it's not really much. You can def stock up on schnitzel or something there though.

raccah · « **Reply #439 on:** August 25, 2015, 07:36:00 PM »

Can you get cold cuts, cheese, challah and wine? That is all I would need for a shabbos?

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Author Topic: Greece Master Thread (Read 226856 times)