Anastazia: Athens' Most Luxurious Escape (Spa & Suites Await!)
Anastazia: Is Athens' "Most Luxurious Escape" Actually an Escape? (My Honest, Messy Take)
Okay, so I just clawed my way out of Anastazia, this supposed "most luxurious escape" in Athens. And honestly? I'm still untangling my feelings. Let's dive in, shall we? Because "luxury" is, well, a journey, not a destination, apparently.
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- Meta Description: Unraveling the actual experience at Athens' Anastazia, a "luxury escape." This review honestly dissects accessibility, spa bliss, dining dilemmas, and the whole shebang, giving you the raw truth. Is it worth the hype? Buckle up!
First Impressions & Accessibility: A Mixed Bag with a Touch of Panic.
So, the website? Gorgeous. Slick. Promises of sun-drenched terraces and endless pampering. Reality? Well, it's Athens, so there ARE gorgeous views, I’ll give them that. Getting to those gorgeous views, however… let's talk accessibility.
Accessibility: Right, I booked a "wheelchair accessible" room, which, in theory, is a HUGE win. But the hallways felt a little cramped. Fine, a minor issue. The elevator was decent, thankfully. Then, the bathroom! Okay, it had grab bars, which is crucial. BUT – and this is a big BUT – the space around the toilet felt a tad claustrophobic. It was good enough, but that moment of awkwardness where I'm maneuvering in a tight space after arriving from a long flight? No thanks. They try, bless them. But more spacious bathrooms, people! It’s not just about the bars; it's about the space to actually use them.
On-site Accessible Restaurants/Lounges?: Hmm. The main restaurant looked accessible, with ramps. Didn't actually eat there (more on that later). The pool bar? Ditto. Seems they've got the basics down, but it's like they think about access, instead of living it.
The Suite Life (Mostly): Rooms & Amenities
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!: YES! A basic, but essential, triumph. And it actually worked.
Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services: Solid. Speed was good. No complaints. I just love the ability to stream, order food, or even just play a quick game if I'm bored…
Available in all rooms: [List of Amenities Here]
- Air conditioning: Mercilessly efficient. Athens heat, you are no match for this AC.
- Alarm clock: Yep. Useless for me. I’m a smartphone convert.
- Bathrobes: Fuzzy! Cozy! I basically lived in mine.
- Bathroom phone: Really? Who uses a bathroom phone in 2024? It felt…antique.
- Bathtub…with a view: Oh yes. I had a magnificent tub, which was a real treat.
- Blackout curtains: Excellent. Slept like the dead. Needed with the constant sunshine.
- Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea: Standard stuff.
- Daily housekeeping: Efficient and friendly. They kept everything spotless.
- Desk: Functional. I prefer working on the bed.
- Extra long bed: Finally! I could actually stretch out. Hallelujah!
- Free bottled water: Always welcome.
- Hair dryer: Worked.
- High floor: My suite had a view of the Acropolis…and it was ridiculously gorgeous.
- In-room safe box: Security is top-notch!
- Laptop workspace: Comfortable.
- Linens: Luxurious. Soft, fluffy, amazing.
- Mini bar: Expensive. But with a decent selection.
- Mirror: Plenty of mirrors!
- Non-smoking: Thank goodness.
- On-demand movies: A good selection!
- Private bathroom: Wonderful.
- Reading light: Perfect for late-night novel binges.
- Refrigerator: Nice to chill my overpriced water.
- Safety/security feature: Present and apparent.
- Satellite/cable channels: You know, the usual.
- Scale: Terrifying.
- Seating area: Comfy sofa.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Beautiful spaciousness.
- Shower: Good water pressure.
- Slippers: Plush! I wore them everywhere.
- Smoke detector: Hope it works!
- Socket near the bed: Essential for late-night phone charging.
- Sofa: Perfect for stretching out.
- Soundproofing: Excellent. No street noise, thankfully.
- Telephone: Again…why?
- Toiletries: Decent, nothing extraordinary.
- Towels: Fluffy!
- Umbrella: Needed when the sky decides to burst!
- Visual alarm: They thought of everything.
- Wake-up service: Didn't try, used my phone.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Excellent.
- Window that opens: Thank goodness to breathe some fresh air, no matter how hot it is.
The Spa: Bliss…then a Blunder.
So, the spa. This is where Anastazia should have knocked it out of the park. And, to a degree, it did.
Things to do, ways to relax: So, a whole bunch to choose from.
Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]: Yes, they are all there!
Body scrub: Felt fantastic! Body wrap: So relaxing! Fitness center: A good mix of equipment. Foot bath: Luxurious! Gym/fitness: Good! Massage: Heaven. Pool with view: Breathtaking. Sauna: Perfect Spa: Amazing Spa/sauna: Great. Steamroom: Nice. Swimming pool: Excellent Swimming pool [outdoor]: Spectacular.
That one time at the sauna So I was in the sauna. Pure, sweaty bliss. Until…the door stuck. For a moment I was panicking, visions of being trapped and a little claustrophobic. It clicked back open, and the lovely attendant came to check on me. This is no fault of the hotel but it was a moment of sheer panic.
The pool area, you guys, is stunning. Infinity pool, Acropolis views… Instagram gold. The massage was divine. Pure, unadulterated relaxation.
And then…I walked into the Steam Room and slipped. The floor was deceptively smooth. I caught myself, but my pride? Battered. I pointed it out to a spa attendant, who apologized profusely. No serious harm done, but it raised a question…Are they really that on top of safety? A little bit of anxiety crept in, and it's a shame because the facilities are top-notch.
Dining: A Tale of Two Meals (and a Lot of Room Service)
Dining, drinking, and snacking. Hmmm. This is where the "luxury" starts to get…questionable.
A la carte in restaurant: Yes. Alternative meal arrangement: Sure. Asian breakfast: Nope. Asian cuisine in restaurant: Nope. Bar: Yes. Bottle of water: Yes Breakfast [buffet]: Yes Breakfast service: Yes. Buffet in restaurant: Yes Coffee/tea in restaurant: Yes. Coffee shop: Yes. Desserts in restaurant: Yes. Happy hour: Yes. International cuisine in restaurant: Yes. Poolside bar: Yes. Restaurants: Yes. Room service [24-hour]: Blessedly. Salad in restaurant: Yes. Snack bar: Yes. Soup in restaurant: Yes. Vegetarian restaurant: Yes. Western breakfast: Yes. Western cuisine in restaurant: Yes.
The Buffet Breakfast: A Glorious Start. The buffet breakfast was…well, good. Freshly squeezed orange juice, a vast array of pastries, eggs cooked to order. Almost embarrassingly delicious. But the place was busy. Felt a little…factory-esque in the morning rush. A lot of families!
The Dinner Disaster: Okay, so I decided to try the main restaurant for dinner. Big mistake. The service was slow. Really, agonizingly slow. And the food? Forgettable. Bland
Escape to Paradise: Stunning Rakow Am Salzhaff Apartment with BBQ!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into my attempt at luxury in Athens. Anastazia Luxury Suites & Spa? Sounds fancy. I'm hoping it's not too fancy. I'm more of a "lost my phone in a gyro" kind of traveler, you know?
My Absolutely Chaotic Athens Adventure: Anastazia & Beyond (Pray for Me)
Day 1: Arrival & Mild Panic (AKA Finding the Damn Suites)
- 10:00 AM: Arrived at Athens International Airport. Jet lag is already kicking my arse. The walk to get my luggage felt like a marathon. Okay, first mission: Find a taxi. Should be easy, right? WRONG. Turns out, my Greek is limited to "Opa!" and "Thank you (in a very broken accent)." Finally wrangled a cab. The driver, bless his heart, looked like he'd seen things. I think he might've actually been relieved to get a fare.
- 11:30 AM: Arrived at… somewhere. The GPS on my phone decided to take a nap. "Anastazia Luxury Suites & Spa" is apparently a ninja, because I had to ask a passing street cat for directions (seriously). After a frantic phone call to the hotel finally found it. It's gorgeous. Like, magazine-cover gorgeous. Definitely took a deep breath when I saw the marble. I felt momentarily classy until I tripped on the ornate rug. This is going to be an interesting week.
- 12:30 PM: Finally, in my suite! OMG. The balcony overlooking the Acropolis! Wow! The room is huge and I can practically hear the history whispering from the walls. Showered and changed. This calls for a celebratory glass of wine from the mini-bar. (Let's be honest, it called for it long before.)
- 2:00 PM: Lunch. Found a tiny taverna (the "hidden gem" kind, naturally) near the hotel and somehow managed to order a Greek salad without accidentally ordering a sheep. My goodness, they are HUGE! Honestly, I'm surprised I didn't need medical attention when I was done, because I could have eaten a whole sheep. I probably could have eaten a sheep. Delicious, though.
- 4:00 PM: Nap. Need to reset. Jet Lag hitting hard now.
- 7:00 PM: Tried (and miserably failed) to go for a swim in the rooftop pool. Too windy. I mean, a glorious view, but I looked less "chic Olympian" and more "drowning walrus." I spent most of the time clutching my towel, shivering.
- 8:00 PM: Dinner at a taverna recommended by hotel staff. Another Greek salad… I'm starting to think that's all they eat here. I also tried the moussaka. Amazing. I think I blacked out briefly from the sheer deliciousness. I swear, the food is better than the pictures.
- 9:30 PM: Stumbled back to the hotel because I clearly need better spacial awareness. Watched the Acropolis at night, lit up. It's breathtaking. Feeling full, slightly tipsy, and utterly in love with this place. The balcony view is worth the price of admission, honestly.
Day 2: Ancient History (and Possible Sunburn)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast in the suite. Spectacular. The best bit? No judgmental stares about how much I ate. (And I ate a lot.)
- 10:00 AM: Acropolis and Parthenon. Wow. Just… wow. This is the moment I'd been waiting for. The scale is mind-blowing. I stood there, mouth agape, trying to absorb all that historical magnificence. Got some truly terrible photos amidst the crowds. I'm pretty sure I'm going to need a chiropractor after navigating those cobblestone steps. Worth it though.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch. A teeny sandwich. I'm pretty sure I'm still full from the Greek Salad-palooza of yesterday.
- 2:00 PM: The Ancient Agora. Even more ruins! My brain is reaching maximum historical capacity. Got a bit turned around and nearly walked into a bush. I blame the heat, and the fact that I had a gelato ten minutes previously.
- 4:00 PM: Souvenir shop, which led into a shopping spree. So many lovely things! I may have gone overboard.
- 6:00 PM: Back to Anastazia. Pool time! This time, armed with sunscreen and a serious "don't care about the wind" attitude. Actually managed to swim laps. Victory! Although I did nearly drop my sunglasses in. They’re fine, I think.
- 8:00 PM: Dinner in Plaka. Charming little area with narrow streets. So many restaurants! It took me ages to decide. I'm starting to understand why they need such big signs.
- 10:00 PM: More balcony time. Honestly, I could just live up here. The city lights… the air… I could write a novel here. Or, more accurately, I could eat more of the mini-bar chocolate and stare at the view whilst planning all the novel ideas I will never get around to writing..
Day 3: Spa Day & My Inner Peace (or lack thereof)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast again. Still Spectacular.
- 10:00 AM: Spa Day! I was going for a traditional massage but it was full, so I opted for a "Deep Tissue" massage. I’ve never had a deep tissue massage before. I heard it was good for the stress.
- 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: The massage started. It started out okay. Then the masseuse started in on my back… and then my neck, and then… Oh my sweet, sweet baby Jesus. I swear I almost levitated off the table. It was the deep tissues, the evil, evil deep tissues.
- 12:00 - 12:30 PM: I was pretty sure I was going to be crippled for life. The therapist told me I was tense…I probably knew this from the last 3 days. I’m now certain I’m the most tense person in the universe.
- 12:30 PM: Spent way too long in the steam room trying to find some form of inner peace. I think I burned off several layers of skin in the process.
- 2:00 PM: Spent way too long (Again) in the Jacuzzi. It was amazing, I didn't want to get out.
- 3:00 PM: Decided to try the plunge pool. Apparently, I did not read the directions properly and leaped in. The splash was so big, I'm pretty sure I soaked a passing tourist.
- 4:00 PM - Onward: After the fiasco that was the plunge pool, I retreated to my room, where I am currently hibernating. Planning a quiet night.
Day 4: Island Hopping (Maybe… maybe not)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. Still Spectacular. And I’m starting to think the mini-bar is judging me.
- 10:00 AM: Island-hopping excursion booked. The plan, go to Hydra and Spetses. The reality? A frantic scramble to pack a swimsuit, my camera, and Dramamine.
- 10:30 AM: The ferry ride. I’m praying to Poseidon for smooth sailing. And for my breakfast to stay down.
- 12:00 PM: Hydra. Absolutely gorgeous! Little donkeys carrying luggage, whitewashed buildings, and azure waters. Took a ridiculous amount of photos. Even managed to get some decent ones.
- 2:00 PM: Lunch in Hydra. More seafood – because, why not? Ate way too much.
- 3:00 PM: Spetses. Equally beautiful, but with a slightly more laid-back vibe. Strolled along the harbor, window-shopping (mostly), and soaking up the sun.
- 5:00 PM: Head back to Athens. The sea was a bit choppy on the way back. Prayed to Poseidon again. The scenery was beautiful but my stomach wasn’t thrilled.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner. Decided to stay in. Ordered room service. Sometimes, a quiet night with a mountain of comfort food is exactly what the Doctor ordered.
- 9:00 PM: More balcony time. Staring at the lights, trying to decide if I'm a luxury traveler or a slightly-too-enthusiastic tourist who's wearing all their souvenirs at once. Still undecided.
Day 5: The Grand Finale (and Attempted Sophistication)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. Spectacular, as always. Considering writing a love letter to the chef.
- 10:00 AM: Cooking class! Tried to make Moussaka (again!). Managed to set off the smoke alarm. Our instructor was very patient. My m
Anastazia: Athens' Most Luxurious...Or Is It? The FAQ That Got Real.
Okay, spill the tea. What *actually* makes Anastazia "luxurious"? Is it just the price tag?
The Spa! Tell me about the spa! Does it live up to the hype? (My shoulders are screaming for a massage.)
Let's talk Suites. Are they worth the splurge for the upgrade? What's the catch? (Every room is a suite, right?)
Food, Glorious Food! What's the dining situation at Anastazia? Is the breakfast buffet pure decadence?
Is it kid-friendly? (I'm traveling with a small… tornado.)
What about proximity to stuff? Is it a pain to get around Athens from there?
Anything you *didn't* love? (Be honest, now!)
Would you go back? Seriously? (Asking the important questions here…)
