TripAdvisor travelers worldwide have placed two Greek hotels on the list of the world’s 25 top hotels for 2016, according to the latest Travelers’ Choice awards announced by the travel site on Wednesday. The Achtis Hotel located in Afitos, Kassandra, made the top 10 and ranked fifth on the list and the Canaves Oia Hotel in Oia on Santorini ranked 12th.

But that’s not all. Travellers have placed several Greek hotels on TripAdvisor’s 2016 lists for top accommodations in the world and Europe including Bargains, B&Bs and Inns, Luxury, Service and Small Hotels.

Travelers’ Choice award winners were determined based on the millions of reviews and opinions collected in a single year from TripAdvisor travelers worldwide. Now in its 14th year, the Travelers’ Choice awards have recognized more than 7,000 properties around the world, with lists covering 97 countries and eight regions worldwide.

Top 25 Hotels in World: Achtis Hotel, Afitos (5th place), Canaves Oia Hotel, Santorini (12th place)

Top 25 Small Hotels: Spirit of the Knights Boutique Hotel, Rhodes (9th place), Enigma Apartments & Suites, Fira (14th place)

Top 25 Bargain Hotels: Lithos by Spyros and Flora, Agios Ioannis Diakoftis (5th place), Chez Sophie Rooms and Suites, Kamari (11th place)

Top 25 Luxury Hotels: Lindos Blu, Lindos (19th place)

Top 25 Hotels for Best Service: Astra Suites, Imerovigli (9th place), Anastasis Apartments, Imerovigli (24th place)

Top 25 Bed & Breakfast and Inns: Aenaon Villas, Imerovigli (4th place)

To see the list in full, and to read the rest of this article, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

Greeks aren't known for their love of breakfast, but with so many great spots opening up all over the city, the brunch craze has hit Athens for the past few years! Here is a terrific list of excellent brunch and late breakfast spots that will satisfy even the most discerning guests!


 

New York Sandwiches


@newyorksandwiches_

New York is not only relevant when it comes to the aesthetic of this place, but also its mouthwatering dishes. Famous for its rich weekend brunch menu, New York sandwiches serves a variety of American classics, including grilled bread with miniature tomatoes and mushrooms, French toast, eggs Benedict, American pancakes, bagels with various fillings, burgers, salads, and, of course, New York cheesecake or praline pancake for dessert. If you're thirsty, try a cup of filter coffee, a glass of fresh juice, or a Bloody Mary. 

Address: Sinopis 3, Ampelokipoi
Telephone: 21 0777 8475

Established by a group of cycling enthusiasts, the Handlebar is the first cycling cafe in Greece. Located in the heart of Athens, in the scenic neighborhood of Psirri, this cafe has a European beauty to it, and its unique design incorporates retro, street, and pop elements. While you wait for your bike to be repaired you may enjoy some delicious London breakfast at exceptionally affordable pricing. In addition to serving wonderful breakfast and nice meals, it also provides a variety of cultural activities

Address: 8 Melanthiou street, Psirri
Telephone: 21 1409 3002

This corner snack bar in Koukaki serves a sumptuous Sunday brunch with comfort food options, such as the Croque Madame with smoked ham, tomato, and Swiss cheese, wonderful pancakes, vegetable tart, French onion soup, freshly cut salads, as well as delicious juices and outstanding drinks, in keeping with the latest food trends. The modern ambiance and delicious, yet healthy, flavors will make you want to visit again and again. 

Address: 88 Falirou & G. Georgiou street, Koukaki
Telephone: 21 3032 6450

Odori


@odori_vermuteria

With its nice outdoor quiet area, this place serves the best authentic Italian pizza in the city! Brunch options are plenty on the menu. Anything with eggs is fantastic, especially pizza and traditional peinirli which are both great choices for brunch!

Address: 2 Skouleniou, Athens
Telephone: 21 0331 4674


@kitchenlab_official

If you're in the mood for a beach stroll, a visit to this place is a fantastic option. The delicious dishes all have chef Akis Petretzikis' signature. Go for the eggs Benedict with turkey. Simple and tasty. Protein shakes are also a great alternative for those of you looking to maintain your fitness. The granola yogurt (for the health-conscious) and, of course, the burgers (for the more adventurous) are both delicious.

Address: 26 Lazaraki, Glyfada
Telephone: 21 0968 1126

Whether it's on a weekday or during the weekend, anytime is the perfect chance for parents and children to spend some quality time together. Nothing compares to a family lunch outing at a taverna in Athens, where the kids can play while you enjoy your meal.

Here are some of the top tavernas in Athens, ideal for families with young children!

O Tasos

One of the most popular family restaurants in Athens, O Tasos is famous for its ribs, a traditional Greek meat dish called 'kokoretsi', and oven cooked goat in a traditional ceramic pot. The restaurant offers excellent and fast service, an outdoor playground where children can pleasantly pass their time, and if you decide to visit the tavern on a Sunday, a clown is there to entertain the kids. The taverna also has plenty of parking so no need to worry about your car.

To Vrasto

With 40 years of presence in the field of gastronomy, Vrasto intends to bring to mind memories and smells of your childhood. The specialty of Vrasto is boiled meat soup, which is from where the restaurant received its name. Recently renovated, it has four different rooms and on sunny days, you can enjoy your meal in the green courtyard with a fountain. Other feaures of the restaurant are the child seats for toddlers, changing tables for babies, and a play area for children. Smoking is not allowed indoors.

Decorated as an old mansion, Gallery tou Meze makes you feel warm and cozy as you enter the restaurant. Οne of the unique characteristics of this restaurant is its love for homemade food, including sauces, mayonnaise, sausages, and sweets. Do not hesitate to try the special dish of the day. Smoking is not allowed inside there is, however, a smoking section outside. There is live music on Saturdays and a pedestrian zone where children can play.

 

---

1. Funmily - Marousi

Who doesn't enjoy the idea of having their coffee next to a fire place? At Funmily parents have the chance to start off with a hot drink and continue with delicious snacks. Meanwhile, children are busy playing indoors in areas speacially designed for them, together with the specially trained staff of the restaurant. In short, at "Funmily" you have child safety, ease and comfort while sitting at your own table.

Address: Pentelis 114, Marousi
Telephone: 210 810 5300

Address: Ilion 131 22
Website (in Greek)

Originally published in Greek on: Mama365

Translated by XpatAthens

Greek coffee is a strongly brewed coffee that can be found all over Greece, a staple of the Greek diet, and an integral part of the country's culture. According to studies, Greek coffee has major health benefits, going as far as to say that drinking a cup of Elliniko kafe a day can increase your lifespan!

To make Greek coffee, you'll need a briki, a metal (copper is best) pot with a long handle. Brikis come in many different sizes–anything between 2 and 6 cups is acceptable. However, keep in mind that if you're serving more than 6 cups at a time, you'll need to do it in stages.

1. Greek Coffee 
2. A briki
3. Water
4. Sugar
5. Demitasse cups

How To Make It

Step1: Take however many demitasse cups are needed and fill each with water. Then, pour the water from each cup into the briki. Add 1 heaping teaspoon of Greek coffee into the briki for each demitasse cup.

 

In the midst of renewed (never-ending?) talk of crises and new economic measures, blockades and taxes, refugees and borders, somehow this week we hit the weather jackpot. This is more like it - early February and 17 degrees! I heard it once said that climate is 80% of life. Maybe this is what explains the fact that Athens hasn't totally buckled under the pressure. We are coming frighteningly close - no argument there - but the shining sun manages to play some very welcome tricks on the soul...
 


And when the weather turns warm, the feet feel like wandering - getting out of the house is top of the to-do list. 
 
This week I popped out to a couple great places - neither really 'new', and neither really cheap, but worth adding to your list...
 


Living in Thiseio, everyone knows the old Stavlos bar. This is the historic building at the top of Herakleidon St., the (actual) horse stables of King Othon during the mid-19th century. The building has gone through various incarnations, most recently as 'Root Artspace '. That business has now been re-opened as The Sowl, and has undergone a considerable makeover the process. The beautifully restored space has been given a warm 'southwest' feel in both the decor and the menu. Think 'tex-mex' meets 'bohemian', and throw in a colourful water fountain. Almost deliberately over-the-top... They serve up delicious food, including a Mexican fusion-style menu and modern Greek selections. And there is a surprisingly interesting wine list with some nice international choices. All this means that your night out will cost you more than your local taverna - but it's 17 degrees outside after all ;)
 


Ths Sowl is still functioning as an art and events space, with a event room and an upstairs gallery. I actually went by on Saturday for a morning yoga class run by Lynn Roulo, and stayed afterwards for brunch with the group.
 


On another warm night I was invited for dinner at Cinco in Kolonaki. Cinco has been on my list to try for a long time - the Iberian/Japanese/Peruvian fusion menu is pretty unique in Athens, and I heard the vibe was very cool... I was not disappointed. Definitely interesting menu (sea bass ceviche with pomegranate-tigers milk and red quinoa…!) and a relaxed trendy vibe, in a lofty industrial space. There is a ceviche bar, there are interesting cocktails, there was retro pop playing that night - a trendy spot by any standard, and easy to imagine that you are far away from Athens... Again, this is not your neighbourhood taverna - think The Sowl and then some. A bit over-priced if I’m being honest, but not the usual Athens kitchen...
 


I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that they both accept credit cards, but even my neighbourhood mini-market has touchless payments these days. A topic for another time...!
 


Go ahead - get out and enjoy this Athenian winter... It's 17 degrees outside after all. 
 


Until next time,
 


Jack


Herakleidon 10, Thiseio

+30 210 345 0003

https://www.facebook.com/The-Sowl-456485757870561 
 
 


Cinco

Skoufa 52, Kolonaki

+30 210 364 3603

German interest in Greek destinations is still keen, with more German travelers including Greece in their holiday plans for 2016, local tourism professionals say. To keep up with the trend, German tour operators are enhancing their Greece packages with additional airline seats and accommodation options.

Greece is facing fierce competition by other neighbouring destinations including Spain, Italy and Turkey, which has – following the recent Russia incident and the resultant embargo – focused much of its tourism drive on the German market.

At the same time, an estimated 20 percent of Germany’s holidaymakers said they would think twice before setting off on their next trip, according to a November survey published after the terror attacks in Paris, in German travel magazine fvw.

The report, however, also found higher figures for people who would not be influenced in their travel plans, led by Spain with 50 percent and Greece at 39 percent.

To read more, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

Greece’s first professional blogger network, Travel Bloggers Greece (TBG), recently gathered at the Thermae Sylla Wellness Hotel in Edipsos, Evia Island, to celebrate its one-year anniversary and hold its first meeting of 2016.

“Our group visit to the Thermae Sylla Wellness Hotel provided a forum for our network’s first meeting of the year to discuss industry trends while giving us a great opportunity to promote Thermae Sylla’s health and spa services which are special to Greece”, said Elena Sergeeva, co-founder of TBG.

At the hotel’s Conference Center, TBG members discussed topics related to blogging in Greece, travel industry trends, improving online content, social media sharing and photography. Thermae Sylla’s therapeutic spa services rounded out the entire travel experience for the first blogger network in Greece.

“Over the past year, we have successfully promoted destinations in Greece and abroad”, said Marissa Tejada, co-founder of TBG. “Our members have a growing number of individual followers, so we are always learning effective ways to share our travel experiences through excellent content and via social media channels,” said Marissa Tejada, co-founder of TBG.”

Each TBG member is based in Greece and blogs about a specific Greece travel related theme.  A membership committee approves candidates based on specific professional criteria.

To read more, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

Athens is a great place for every age and there are so many options on what to do with young children. Here our friends at Family Goes Out explore some of their favourite things to do with children in Athens.

A walk around the historic Plaka and Monastiraki area is not only a favorite excursion for families visiting from abroad. Winter and Summer, any time of the day, Family Goes Out always love to go there. Our favorite stop in Plaka is the Lisikrati Square. The children love playing safely on the grass around the ancient monument (built in 334 – 333 BC!) whilst we adults enjoy a drink or a meal in one of the restaurants around the square

2) The Athens Zoo - Attiko Parko

We have been visiting the Attiko Parko ever since our first child was a baby. We still try to go there at least once every couple of months, although in summer it can get very hot in the park. Our most recent visit was in January 2016 to see the latest addition of the park: the Asian Elephants.

Children under 3 years old do not pay and on the so called ‘Stroller Friday’, every mom or dad who will come with a baby stroller will pay the discounted price of 10 Euro. The zoo also offers various discounted packages for (large) families and special prices for seniors and disabled persons.

The children can get very close to the animals and the zoo is very stroller friendly.

Maybe not a monthly visit but at least a couple of times per year. One of my greatest passions is history and Archeology and my daughter seems to follow me. Sometimes we just discover a specific selection in the permanent exhibition of the museum and on other occasions do a family tour, or one of the special tours for children with a child friendly guide.

The museum organizes a variety of special events on a regular basis. In summer, we love the museum night. Check out the programme on their website. We also enjoy going to the restaurant or the book corner to relax and learn about the history.

For a full list of ideas, please visit: Family Goes Out