Any Athen airport ideas?

[bonniejoy03]

We will have a 5.5 hour layover at Athens airport. I see there is a Sofitel. Anyone use it? I sent them an email to see if they have a day pass for their pool, etc. Anyone else familiar with the airport?

[omegaet]

We will have a 5.5 hour layover at Athens airport. I see there is a Sofitel. Anyone use it? I sent them an email to see if they have a day pass for their pool, etc. Anyone else familiar with the airport?

This seems like a simple decision after making a trans-Atlantic flight and facing a 5.5 hour layover for a connection! Hello Hotel Sofitel Athens Airport Spa:

• Fitness centre
• Indoor heated pool
• Massage
• Sauna

Whatever their pricing structure.....buy a spa service (think fabulous massage) and enjoy a swim, a sauna and a couple of hours of recharge!

[kyshel]

Look at accorhotels.com for specials and sign up for Le Club. We use Sofitel and Novotel properties all over Europe for crew layovers. I have not been to this one, just saw it at the airport a few months ago.
Are your bags checked thru at ATH?
You can find the Concierge or Gen Mgr email on he hotel's web page. Correspond directly. Very responsive company! (I do it often)

[bonniejoy03]

Just heard back from the manager at the Sofitel at Athens airport. Nice note! If you have a spa treatment, you can use the pool,etc. What a great idea!!! He sent the list of services.

[omegaet]

bonniejoy03....glad you heard from the Sofitel in Athens. We first started exploring options like this when we had a five hour layover between flight in Chile (Calama-Santiago-Puerto Montt),

We contacted the Holiday Inn Santiago Airport and inquired if we could pay a day rate for the use of their enclosed swimming pool and sauna (no actual spa services offered). It was great to take a break away from the terminal (the hotel connects by a bridge)....used the sauna, had a nice swim in the heated pool and then enjoyed lunch in their bistro.

[bonniejoy03]

O....that is fantastic! On our January / February 2012 trip to Chile/Argentina , we only had 1.5 hour layover so we didn't want to leave the airport. We are now planning the next trip late 21012 or early 2013. I will keep that in mind. Thank you!

[kapper]

Just heard back from the manager at the Sofitel at Athens airport. Nice note! If you have a spa treatment, you can use the pool,etc. What a great idea!!! He sent the list of services.

The spa layover sounds like a good idea to me. Wonder if there is an additional cost, since you will not be day rate or overnight hotel guests?

[bonniejoy03]

No. The only cost is for the treatment!

[omegaet]

No. The only cost is for the treatment!

So, are you saying you have only 1.5 hours layover and you will not be taking advantage of the spa offer?

[kyshel]

I understood her 1.5 hours was for Santiago layover. I think she still has 5 hours in ATH. She has another trip --this could become a habit!! haha
I think this is such a brilliant idea. We did something similar in Bangkok. We had hours to "kill" before going to the airport and no hotel (returning from Hua Hin) so we had our driver drop us at a spa and it was divine!! Never boarded a plane so relaxed--we had 4 hours of treatments (a mere $100 for two). The spa even got us a taxi and had our bags in it when we finished--talk about pampering!
Enjoy, B03!