Matt's Olympic Accommodations Page

Every day I get requests for information on accommodations for the 2004 Olympics in Athens. The most common question is "Where can I find a decent hotel close to the Olympic venues for between 50 and 100 Euro a night?" There is a simple answer: You can't. Athens has been waiting 108 years for these Olympics and right now the going rate for a C-category hotel anywhere in Athens is between 200 to 350 euros a night per person! That's a C-category. Imagine what the Luxury hotels will go for.

First of all the Olympic Committee bought up most of the available rooms. Then sports entrepreneurs bought up the remaining rooms leaving a few scattered in and around the city. Anyone with a hotel knew that rooms would be in short supply and the demand would set the price. So finding a room at a 'good price' for the Olympics is not going to be easy and if you find something that you think is affordable you should probably book it if you don't want to risk losing it. If the amount of e-mail I get is any indication, the Athens 2004 Olympics are going to be a hot ticket. Not that I plan on being there. I will probably watch it on TV from a Greek island somewhere and maybe come in for the baseball finals should Greece pull off the miracle of the century and be in it. (I actually have a room just in case this happens.)

So if you plan on coming for the Olympics what are your options?

George Gerassimides of Fantasy Travel has spent this past summer going around looking for reasonably priced rooms for the Olympics. He has found a few in Athens and around the city as well as in some of the nearby islands which will be within commuting distance from Athens. There are a limited number and as time goes by even if he finds more they will be more expensive. That means if you are serious about going to these Olympics and the price looks reasonable then book it. He also has some rooms in one of the cruise ships. You can request information on what is available and the price by using this form

Among the hotels George has found is the Alexander Beach Resort which should be relatively convenient and affordable and as you may be able to tell by the name it is on the beach. You can see the hotel at www.hotelsofgreece.com/athens/alexanderbeach

There will also be apartments and houses available in and around Athens. The closer to the venues the more expensive they will be but if you are a group of people, renting a house or apartment is a good option. You can get information on this by using this form

NEW LAST  MINUTE DEALS: Some hotels have dropped their prices including aq couple in Aegina which will be very easy to get to the Olympic venues only instead of taking a bus into Athens you take a boat. Ana Kamais has excellent rates at 2 hotels in Agia Marina (100 euros a night!). Contact her by using this form and ask about the Hotels in Aegina under comments.

There are numerous campgrounds around Athens that are normally quite reasonably priced. However because this is the Olympics various companies have rented entire campgrounds to rent out. It looks to me that the going rate will be about 40 euro a person but compared to hotels this is a bargain even if you have to sleep in a tent. You can get more info on campsites by using this form.

With hotel rates doubling, tripling, quadrupling and more, there is another option: Charter a sailboat. From what I have heard the rates for sailboat charters is only going up around 30% during the Olympic Period. So charter a boat and a skipper and go to the events you want to see and in your spare time go sailing. Make sure you get one with a TV. See www.charterayachtingreece.com

Going to Greece for the Olympics and need to find someone to share a room? Want to hire George the Famous Taxi Driver and need people to share the cost? Need a traveling partner to defray the cost?  Send an e-mail to greecetravel1@aol.com and I will post it on the new Greece Travel Messages Page.

What about those people who could care less about the Olympics but want to visit Greece next summer? I suggest booking early. If you can get a flight to Athens there is a possibility that you will be able to bypass the city and head straight for the islands. My advice is to try to do this through a Greek travel agency. At least this way if you miss your boat or flight to the island maybe you can crash on their couch, because there won't be any hotels to stay in. Islands like Lesvos and those furthest from Athens should be relatively unaffected by the Olympics.

Be sure to see my Guide to the 2004 Olympics