Melia Athens Hotel in Athens

Very disappointing stay for a business trip

I stayed at Melia Athens for five nights (Sunday to Friday) during a business trip. I paid €640 for a room without breakfast, and unfortunately the experience was far below expectations.

I arrived very late on Sunday night, around 1:30 AM, exhausted and just wanting to check in before early meetings the next morning. Instead, the reception insisted that I pay the full €640 upfront and that an additional €200 be blocked on my credit card for “potential consumptions or damages.” This created an unnecessarily stressful and unwelcoming start to the stay.

The first room I was given was extremely loud due to poor window insulation, making it almost impossible to sleep, even with the earplugs that I wore. After changing rooms, the second one—while quieter—was very cold and had a strong smell of mold.

Cleanliness was also a major issue: I found several long black hairs in the bathroom and even in the bed. The carpet was worn and visibly dirty, and the bathroom tiles looked old and tired. Overall, the hotel gives the impression that it has not been refurbished in decades.

I have stayed in many Melia hotels, especially in Luxembourg and Spain, and this property does not come close to the standard one would normally expect from the brand. Unfortunately, based on my experience, I cannot recommend Melia Athens.