Hotel Ideal

If your Greek trip begins or ends with a ferry, a cruise or a day in Athens, this is the sort of address that keeps the logistics from becoming the main event. Hotel Ideal sits in central Piraeus, with a 24-hour reception, lift access and the useful basics that matter when your bags are packed and your timetable is not entirely under your control.

You get air conditioning, free WiFi throughout the hotel, a shared lounge with television and room service during the day and evening. It is a practical base for a short stay, a night before sailing, or a simple city stop where you would rather spend your time out in Piraeus than admiring a lobby.

The address is 142 Notara Street, in the centre of Piraeus, a few minutes' walk from the port. Shops, restaurants and public transport are close enough to be genuinely useful, while Piraeus metro station and the railway station are both about 0.8 miles away on foot. Athens is within easy reach by public transport, with the historic and commercial centre accessible in less than 30 minutes.

You are also close to the local waterfront. Freatida Beach is about 0.7 miles away by road, while Votsalakia Beach is around 1 mile on foot. Kalambaka Beach is about 1.1 miles away by road. For a little history between travel connections, the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus is roughly 950 feet away, and the Ancient Theatre of Zea is about 1,150 feet on foot.

The Acropolis and Ancient Agora are around 5 miles away by road, so the major Athens sights are an outing rather than something you will wander to from the front door. Eleftherios Venizelos Airport is about 24 miles away by road, with a driving journey of around 36 minutes.

The room choice is straightforward: a single room for one, double or twin accommodation for two, and a triple room with two single beds and a sofa bed when three people need to share. The triple is the sensible option for a small group, although the sofa bed is part of the equation; couples or travelling companions will find the twin arrangement more natural if separate beds are useful.

Every room has air conditioning, a refrigerator, a private bathroom with a bath or shower, free toiletries and a hairdryer. That refrigerator earns its keep when you return hot, thirsty and not in the mood to go back out immediately. A wardrobe or cupboard keeps the travelling kit under control, while the flat-screen television and free WiFi cover the low-energy part of the evening.

Daily housekeeping is included, and room service runs from 07:30 to 21:00. Breakfast can also be taken in your room. Non-smoking rooms and a non-smoking hotel keep the room choice clear, with heating available for cooler nights.

Breakfast is a continental buffet, served from 07:00, with vegetarian, vegan, halal and gluten-free choices listed among the options. There is also breakfast to go, which fits the early-ferry crowd rather better than a leisurely second coffee. You can start the day in the hotel without turning the port departure into a sprint.

For the rest of the day, a lounge area, snack bar and coffee house provide places to sit with a drink or something light. The minibar gives you another option when you would rather stay in your room, and room service remains available until 21:00. The setup is geared towards breakfast, drinks and straightforward snacking rather than a formal restaurant evening, so Piraeus's surrounding restaurants are part of the practical appeal.

There is no elaborate leisure programme to organise here, which may be exactly the point when your itinerary already contains ferries, flights and city walking. The shared lounge and TV area gives you somewhere to sit outside the room, and the hotel’s central position puts Piraeus's museum, waterfront and historic sites within reach when you want to stretch your legs.

The tour desk can help turn a spare part of the day into an excursion, while the nearby metro and railway connections open up Athens without requiring you to move hotel. For a quieter evening, air conditioning, WiFi, a television and the minibar allow you to shut the door and call it a day.

Check-in starts at 14:00 and check-out runs until 11:30. The reception stays open around the clock, with express check-in and check-out available, so late arrivals and early departures have a proper point of contact. Luggage storage is available, useful if your ferry or flight leaves well after you have handed back the room.

A tour desk and currency exchange are available at the hotel, alongside daily housekeeping, laundry service and a safe at reception. WiFi is free throughout the property. For families, children of any age are welcome; a cot can be requested for children aged from birth to two years, while extra beds are not available.

Payment is by cash. Pets are not allowed. The airport is about 24 miles away by road, and the hotel is close to Piraeus's public transport network, with the metro and railway stations around 0.8 miles away on foot.