We took a tour of the hotel’s grounds, which was plentiful with outstanding facilities, such as a full-to-the-brim bar in the foyer, an outstanding rooftop restaurant and swimming pool, as well as gym and spa facilities, while their other amenities include butler services, 24 hour concierge services, children’s amenities, in-room dining, internet access and a gift shop – the perfect venue for couples, lone travellers, families and businessmen and women alike. Right in the heart of the hotel, the GB Spa offers guests a fresh, innovative approach to total wellbeing, with various different therapies from ancient holistic rituals to the finest modern skin care, promising to soothe and transform even the most discerning of visitors.
Although it wasn’t actually the room I slept in during my overnight stay, we were shown the hotel’s highest-ranked suite, which was what can only be described as unreal. Larger than most people’s houses, this suite was the host of just about everything you could imagine – fit for a royal and nothing less. With a bed bigger than my living room and its own personal gym, you wouldn’t even need to leave your room to experience a truly lavish Greek lifestyle – it’s all within those four walls. The suite also hosts its own dining room, kitchen, separate bedroom, sauna and steam room, all while overlooking the beauty that is the Greek coast.
My own suite though, was almost as fabulous and was the perfect setting to start my Greek adventure. Spending the next week sleeping on a boat – although exciting – caused somewhat of a concern surrounding the possibility of sleepless nights, but I could rest assure that I would have a sound night in the comfort of my hotel suite. Overlooking the Cinema Square, my room was quite exquisite, although as the most elite hotel in Athens, I didn’t expect anything less.
I also had the opportunity to experience Greece’s fine dining in the hotel’s rooftop restaurant. I was seated in the corner of the venue, with a perfect view of the Acropolis, one of the country’s most famous ancient buildings, which was quite spectacular to witness. The lighting was intimate and set an ideal mood for late night dining. I was presented with a fantastic bottle of wine, recommended by the restaurant staff, which perfectly complemented the delights I was about to devour. For my starting course, I opted for the grilled calamari, served with roasted new potatoes, olive oil and fleur de del, cherry tomatoes, caper, olives and basil. Although calamari is a frequent selection for me, this particular dish went above and beyond what I expected or had ever eaten before. This left me with high standards for my main course, which also didn’t disappoint. Although already satisfied, I was presented with my medium Rib-Eye steak, which was steaming from the centre and accompanied by fine steamed vegetables with extra virgin olive oil. The steak was of an outstanding cut, was cooked to absolute perfection and I left the hotel’s rooftop restaurant without a single complaint.
The hotel’s team of staff were just as delightful as everything else I encountered during my overnight stay. Knowing I was in very capable hands with the friendly and informative staff in the foyer who were available to cater to my every need, as well as the pleasant and knowledgeable waiting staff, made the whole experience a lot more relaxing and gave me time to unwind before setting sail around the surrounding islands. If anything, I was disappointed that I hadn’t flown out earlier and didn’t have the chance to use the hotel to its full potential.
Until next time, Hotel Grande Bretagne, because I’ll definitely be back soon!
