What our travelers say
Ask any group leader who's stayed at the Royal Olympic and the conversation turns almost immediately to breakfast on the seventh floor — panoramic views of the Acropolis and the Temple of Zeus, sunrise over the hill on a clear morning, and enough variety that even a picky group of teenagers finds something to eat. It comes up again and again across programs, from spring school trips to summer tours, and it's clearly the emotional high point of the stay for a lot of groups. The grand lobby with its statues and gathering spaces gets similar praise, and tour directors consistently mention the location as a genuine asset — walkable to the Plaka and Acropolis Hill, close to transit, and convenient for the kind of large congress and group traffic this hotel is built to handle.
A few practical notes are worth flagging so leaders know what to expect. Rooms are described as clean and decent-sized, sometimes even spacious, but several evaluators mention limited electrical outlets — enough of an issue that students have had to unplug lamps to charge phones, so it's worth prepping groups to bring a splitter or power strip. Temperature control in rooms has come up as inconsistent, with some finding things a bit warm. There have been small logistics hiccups around early-departure breakfast boxes — one group's boxes were briefly overlooked, another received picnic breakfasts a day earlier than planned — minor mix-ups that got sorted out but are worth confirming ahead of very early wake-up calls. The rooftop terrace, distinct from the breakfast room, apparently requires a purchase to access, and one leader noted that the street crossing just outside the hotel can be busy, suggesting a side exit for student groups. On the plus side, laundry service has been called out as genuinely useful for groups managing tight luggage limits.
Overall this reads as a strong fit for the kind of large, logistics-heavy school and tour groups Passports typically moves through Athens — the size and services (spacious common areas, group-friendly breakfast operation, laundry, central location) suit crowds needing efficient check-in and a home base near major sights. Leaders managing younger groups should just plan ahead for outlet access and early-morning breakfast coordination, but by every account the location, staff attentiveness, and that unbeatable breakfast view make this one groups remember fondly.
