Where to stay?

[Larainerenee]

We leave from Athens at the end of our cruise and we will need to stay overnight to take a very early flight the next day.  We are doing 2 nights in Athens pre-cruise, have already been there and an overnight is included in our cruise. Are we better off staying at a hotel near the airport or in Athens that night?

[CruiserBruce]

What time is your flight?

 

The airport is around 40 minutes away. If you are going non-stop to the US, you have an extra step before you can board,  so arriving at least two hours in advance is needed to be safe.

[marazul]

You have an entire day to spend before your flight next morning. You do not want to spend it at the airport. There isn't even a place to go for a pleasant walk.

You have two possibilities.  

1. you can check into a hotel in Athens, enjoy a day in the city, and have the hotel book you an early taxi.

2. Have a transfer/tour company bring you to the airport hotel after the cruise to drop off your bags. Then, have them take you on a tour to Corinth and Mycenae, or to Delphi. After the tour, they can take you back to the airport Sofitel for the night. 

[CruiserBruce]

25 minutes ago, marazul said:

You have an entire day to spend before your flight next morning. You do not want to spend it at the airport. There isn't even a place to go for a pleasant walk.

You have two possibilities.  

1. you can check into a hotel in Athens, enjoy a day in the city, and have the hotel book you an early taxi.

2. Have a transfer/tour company bring you to the airport hotel after the cruise to drop off your bags. Then, have them take you on a tour to Corinth and Mycenae, or to Delphi. After the tour, they can take you back to the airport Sofitel for the night. 

Or leave the ship late in the day via taxi for the airport hotel you are booked into. What you do ashore prior to that late in the day departure is up to your interests.

[marazul]

22 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

Or leave the ship late in the day via taxi for the airport hotel you are booked into. What you do ashore prior to that late in the day departure is up to your interests.

You normally have to disembark by 9 am. That means a full day in Athens. 

 

[CruiserBruce]

38 minutes ago, marazul said:

You normally have to disembark by 9 am. That means a full day in Athens. 

 

The OP is saying, I think, that the ship spends the night before at dock in Athens, getting off the ship on day 2 in Athens...that is what I based my comments on. If I misread it, then its entirely different story.

[marazul]

25 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

The OP is saying, I think, that the ship spends the night before at dock in Athens, getting off the ship on day 2 in Athens...that is what I based my comments on. If I misread it, then its entirely different story.

Not sure what the story is. 

[Larainerenee]

We have an overnight onboard ship in Athens, then disembark. Our flight is the at 6:30 the following day. I like the idea mentioned above, - drop luggage off at an airport hotel, go see Corinth or Delphi and sleep at the airport hotel.

Thank you for the suggestions!

[marazul]

With a reputable company, such as George's Taxi, you can go straight on to your tour. Your bags will be safe in their van. No need need to go to the hotel first.

[wyocolo]

On 4/11/2023 at 12:14 AM, Larainerenee said:

We leave from Athens at the end of our cruise and we will need to stay overnight to take a very early flight the next day.  We are doing 2 nights in Athens pre-cruise, have already been there and an overnight is included in our cruise. Are we better off staying at a hotel near the airport or in Athens that night?

We are spending tonight before we fly back home in the morning at the Varaba Country House. It is surrounded by Olive and pistachio orchards only 10 minutes from the airport but little an air traffic noise after dark.

We have a garden suite with our own private patio for €105 and added dinner and breakfast for two for an additional €50.
Nikolia prepares everything from scratch with local fresh ingredients even the wine  which is included.

It is very rural so there is no shopping or other restaurants nearby but we prefer the Varaba House over the Hyatt where we stayed before our cruise.

You can view the property and make reservations on Booking.com