King George, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Athens

Having stayed at the Hotel Grande Bretagne, the sister property next door, a few years ago, we had high expectations for our stay at King George. The Grande Bretagne is a Luxury Collection property in every sense of the word. Sadly, our experience at the King George did not compare and fell well short of our expectations. As a Marriott Ambassador Elite member with 2,500+ nights and extensive experience staying at Luxury Collection properties around the world, we feel well qualified to comment on the experience offered. After learning that we had been upgraded to a “Deluxe Suite,” we were very much looking forward to a wonderful five-night stay. The check-in process was relatively smooth. We were disappointed, however, to learn that the gyms at both properties were closed for renovation. The substitute facility consisted essentially of two rooms at the Grande Bretagne with a collection of cardio equipment and a handful of dumbbells. We had read that guests were being offered access to an independent off-site gym, but this was not mentioned when we initially asked about fitness facilities. Only after specifically requesting it were we offered access. Our “Deluxe Suite” was anything but deluxe. The floor plan was incredibly dysfunctional, with furniture placed in spaces that simply did not accommodate it. We had to move the end tables and even the bed in order to access the only closets in the room. There was extremely limited space on either side of the bed, which would present a significant safety concern for anyone with limited mobility. The bathroom was equally disappointing. With only a single sink and very limited counter space, we were forced to store half of our toiletries along the bathtub wall. Our initial reaction, before unpacking, was that we could make the room work. In hindsight, we should have simply requested the room category we had originally booked. That was very disappointing, particularly given the expectations associated with a “Deluxe Suite.” The internet experience was another major issue. The login protocol would not bring up the required authentication page, so although our devices showed a connection to the hotel's network, there was no actual connectivity. We logged 150 nights with Marriott last year and have rarely experienced problems with internet access. We attempted to troubleshoot the issue over the phone without success. Eventually, a gentleman was sent to our room to assist, but his response was essentially that the problem must be with my laptop. His approach was not particularly helpful, and customer service and technical support clearly did not appear to be his areas of expertise. I subsequently requested an opportunity to speak with the General Manager. Hom Parviz, who oversees both properties, was kind enough to reach out to me the following day. I appreciated that he listened intently as I shared our frustrations. Unfortunately, given that we were in the middle of a six-week trip and had already unpacked, we had no desire to change rooms, and there did not appear to be any practical options available to resolve the issues. When we returned to our room after spending the day exploring Athens, we found a handwritten note apologizing for the experience along with a book on the history of the Grande Bretagne. It was a thoughtful gesture, although, at a weight of approximately 20 pounds, it ultimately did not leave the room with us when we departed due to traveling for another four weeks. Perhaps the biggest takeaway from this stay is that it reinforced my growing feeling that Marriott Ambassador status is simply not worth pursuing. I would discourage anyone from making it a goal based on the assumption that the benefits will meaningfully improve the hotel experience. Having reached Titanium Elite status years ago, I decided this year to spread our stays among non-Marriott properties, including Intercontinental and Four Seasons. After this experience, that decision feels even more justified. In my experience, many of the benefits associated with Ambassador status have little practical value. Confirmed early check-in is rarely available when we need it, and room upgrades can be similarly underwhelming—as this stay demonstrated. I only wish we had chosen another property for this particular stay. Given our experience at the Grande Bretagne and our expectations for a Luxury Collection property, the King George was a significant disappointment.

My family had 3 rooms on the first floor at King George Hotel for 4 nights. The rooms were comfortable however there was construction going on during our stay. During the day, we would hear loud drilling in our rooms. It was fine at night, but uncomfortable during the day. The location was great and we were only a short walk to the Plaka area. We did have breakfast in the hotel which was good. Overall the service at the hotel was excellent and I would choose this hotel again.

Overall a lovely stay! The staff goes above and beyond to accommodate anything you need. My only complaint is not being able to use the pool next door at the GB (even though it is advertised as such on the welcome paper). Room is very well kept and cleaned promptly. Very close to everything and you can walk to just about anywhere.

This is an updated review. Two weeks ago, while staying at the King George Luxury Hotel in Athens, I mistakenly believed that the housekeeper had taken some items from my room. Instead of reaching out to the hotel to confirm, I unfortunately posted a negative review. The manager contacted me immediately and kindly provided photos showing that the items had been left behind in the room. I realized then that the mistake was entirely mine. The manager assisted me in having the item shipped back, and I have now received it. I want to sincerely apologize to the hotel and staff. No wrongdoing occurred, and the housekeeper did not take anything. This was completely my oversight, and I regret any inconvenience my misunderstanding may have caused.

We had an incredible stay at the King George Hotel during our short two-day visit to Athens. The hotel itself was everything I would expect from a Luxury Collection property, but what really made our stay memorable were the people. Ioanna at the lobby bar was absolutely wonderful. She was so warm, hospitable, and genuinely kind. She made great recommendations, took the time to get to know us, and made every interaction feel personal. By the end, it honestly felt like we had made a friend. She is just a genuinely great human being and someone who made our time in Athens even more special. Malfenia was working alongside Ioanna at the lobby bar that day and brought the same warmth and energy. She genuinely wanted us to be happy, joined in on our conversations, and made us feel so welcome. It never felt like they were simply doing their jobs. They both seemed to genuinely care about making sure we were enjoying ourselves. Dorothea at the front desk was also fantastic. She went out of her way to make sure our stay was nothing short of amazing and that we were well taken care of throughout our visit. Overall, King George was exactly what I would expect from a Luxury Collection property: beautiful, luxurious, and backed by exceptional hospitality. Choosing to stay here was easily one of the best decisions we made during our short two-day visit to Athens. The location and property are fantastic, but it was Ioanna, Malfenia, Dorothea, and the rest of the team who made the experience truly memorable. We would absolutely stay here again on our next visit to Athens.