Phuket is known for a variety of amazing resorts, which people from all over the world travel to Thailand to visit. So, even prior to our trip to Thailand, we knew we wanted to visit Phuket and stay at incredible resort there. We looked for a sea-side resort with an interesting design that is extra pampering – That’s how we came across The Slate. It had excellent reviews and it looked beautiful. We picked it as our winner and booked an upgraded room with a private pool, hoping it will live up to our expectations.
We arrived at Phuket on a flight from Bangkok. The resort is situated about 10 minutes away from the airport by car. (If you take a cab, make sure you opt for a metered rate, as it’ll be twice as cheap as the fixed price they’ll ask for at the airport.)
The Slate resort
The moment we entered the hotel lobby, we knew it was the heaven we were searching for. The lobby is extremely luxurious, and we were immediately welcomed with a smile and refreshing drinks, a cold towel and a flower bracelet.
We arrived at 11:00 and were told the room will be ready at 14:00, so in the meantime we decided to go to a pool with a bar and indulge ourselves with a shake in the pool. Since the resort is very large, we were handed a map of the area (We spent the whole first day with it, which was enough to memorize the locations) and driven to the pool in a golf cart.
The pools
The hotel has 3 pools, two of which are for adults only.
As we arrived at the pool, we were brought glasses of cold water right away. We went in the pool and, before long, ordered shakes at the pool-side bar and mini-skewers to snack on. The bar offers a variety of drinks and special shakes. I chose the mango, coconut milk, cashew and spinach shake – Yummy! It was so good, I ended up ordering it every day we spent at the resort.
The water was pleasant and the atmosphere at the pool was calm and quiet. Most vacationers were reading books, and so did I at some point (After we finished having fun with the sea mattresses we brought with us).
Our room
After the pool, we went back to the lobby to check into our room. We rode the golf cart again. My first response upon entering our room was “Wow”, and honestly, I was really excited. It is undoubtedly the most beautiful room we had ever stayed in.
It had a walk-in wardrobe, bedroom with a giant and very comfortable bed, mini-bar, dresser, television and sitting area, shower room with a luxurious stall and two sinks! Outside was a bathtub, tanning bed, sitting area and pool! The room was absolutely perfect. It was meticulously designed with attention to every little detail. Moreover, the hotel produces soaps and body products – so they were all high quality and smelled great.
Room service
We ordered room service, as we decided we don’t plan on leaving the room anytime soon. We ordered an Indian chicken dish, hamburger and ravioli. It arrived within twenty minutes. The food was very tasty, especially the Indian chicken dish.
We had the pleasure of ordering room service another time during our stay at the resort, that time we had pizzas which were also delicious.
Not only did we not want to leave the room, we didn’t want to leave the resort area either. It has everything! Two bars, one of which is a really cool sports bar with billiard tables, a dart board, and large selection of alcohol and pleasant atmosphere.
The restaurants
The hotel has four restaurants – We had coffee and a nice cheese cake dessert at one of them.
Another has sandwiches per request. They have many different types of breads, cheeses, hams, sauces and more. Roman had a cheese and ham sandwich, and I picked avocado, egg and ham in mine. The chef toasted them, so they were served warm, crunchy and very well made.
There’s a barbeque place right next to the exit to the sea which we, unfortunately, didn’t get a chance to eat at. The crown jewel of the hotel’s restaurants is Black Ginger. As soon as you see it, you’ll know why that is. The entrance is one of the most impressive I’ve ever seen to any restaurant – You enter by sailing a pretty bamboo raft over a little lake, pulled along towards the restaurant by one of the employees.
We booked a reservation at the Black Ginger as soon as we arrived, as it is in high demand. We ordered lobster salad, a fish soup and curry dish with meat. We were first served an appetizer, on the house, which proved an excellent beginning to a delicious meal. The salad was refreshing with lots of quality lobster meat, the soup was subtly flavored and made with fresh fish and the curry was just as good (I’d recommend asking for the dishes to be less spicy, since even when you do ask, they’re still slightly piquant).
Breakfast
One of favorite things about hotels is breakfast, and I have to say The Slate resort had one of our best breakfasts ever. There were so many options it was hard to decide what we should have.
There’s a per-request egg station, a pancake station and a Belgian waffle station. A variety of dim sum, Thai food, imported hard cheeses, hams, many different freshly baked breads, fruit, vegetables, selection of dips, sauces and pastes, pastries and desserts. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough room for all the different options, but the ones we did have were great.
The hotel also has a club for kids and a gym which of course contains a very high-quality spa.
The spa
When we arrived, we decided on getting a 90-minute thai massage and ordered it for the next day. When we arrived, we were once again welcomed with a smile, cold tea and towels. We filled out forms about our health and which areas of our bodies we would like the masseuse to focus on. We were then taken to the care area. At first, we sat outside with our feet in tubs of warm water, then they washed our feet gently with lemon water.
This was already very soothing and pampering. We then went into a room, changed into the appropriate clothes and lay on the massage beds. The room held a very pleasant aroma and had calming music, many candles and the unique atmosphere of a prestigious resort spa. The massage itself was so good, I felt it was over too quickly – even after 90 minutes. I wanted it to last forever.
Beach Nai Yang
The hotel has two exits to the beach. The Nai Yang beach isn’t very widely known in Phuket, which is excellent, as it makes it less touristic. It’s the perfect beach for a relaxed vacation. The beach itself is just smooth sand and no stones, rocks or plants, and so is the crystal clear water – making it a perfect experience. By the beach are restaurants offering good food at rather low prices and a shake stand. We of course ordered a mango-banana shake and went in the water with it.
To sum up : The Slate resort
The service at the hotel is 5+ stars. All employees speak excellent English, are easy to communicate with and are extremely courteous and nice. The whole resort area is designed gorgeously and makes you feel like you’re at a secluded oasis. This hotel was just perfect for an amazing vacation. It went above and beyond our expectations.
The only downsides we found were: The coffee wasn’t very good, and the private pool was roofed and therefore cold and less enjoyable to be in. However, there’s no doubt that whenever we’re next in Thailand, this will be a hotel we return to. I can’t wait to go back. If you’re in the search for a hotel on a whole different level, this is the one to be at.
Our trip started in Rome, then on to Lucca in Toscany and lake Como and a flight back from Milano. Throughout the trip we stayed at Airbnb apartments, where we also had our breakfasts. Our Rome apartment was at an excellent location near the Campo de Fiori market, although it wasn’t as good as the other two we booked, which we liked a lot.
Italy trip itinerary
Rome 4 days
Day 1 – Rome
Free walking tour of the city with Romes Ultimate. The guide was excellent and told stories in an interesting, humoristic fashion. The company’s tours are for small groups of up to 15 people – which is quite important, as larger tours make asking questions difficult and the guides tend to be less attentive to each individual member.
Lunch at local Italian pasta restaurant, Pasta Imperiale. We passed by this restaurant during our tour and the guide spoke of it with very high regard. He claimed it was a cheap and excellent place for pasta. We went back when the tour was done. It offers a variety of pastas and sauces to mix and match from.
Piazza Navona – Our favourite piazza in Rome.
Tasty ice-cream at Venchi. The wait in line was somewhat long, but we decided to stick it out and it was definitely worth the wait. I had caramel ice-cream in a chocolate and almond coated cone, while Roman had a strawberry-mango sorbet in his.
Local dinner through Like a Local website. A full course dinner with wine at the hostess’ house. Great local meal at a lovely home.
Day 2 Rome
Visit to the pantheon and a a visit in the bone church Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini church. The church holds more than 4000 bones and skulls of Cuppuccini order monks. I didn’t know what to expect, and honestly it was a bit unnerving, but also curious to see all the bones and what was done with them.
Campo de Fiori market. This market is extremely charming. It isn’t swamped with people, full of stalls of all kinds, colorful and offers many tasty treats.
Pasta Carbonara for lunch and Mercato Hostaria restaurant, near the market or pizza at Forno Campo De Fiori.
A walk through the alleys surrounding the market area
A standing café, Roscioli caffe, near the market. This is a very popular café near campo de Fiori. If you need to recharge with a quick coffee and a sweet dessert along the way, this is the place to visit. Address
Via Plauto, 33, 00193 Roma Italy.
Vatican in the evening – We booked entry tickets ahead of time online. The entrance was 16 euros, 7 euros for audio guides and an additional 4 for booking online. The Vatican is one of the must-see places in Rome, But I’d like to introduce an option you might not have known existed. From the end of April through to the end of October, every Friday, you may visit the Vatican during the evening hours instead of in the morning. We were lucky enough to be there on the first Friday available and were very pleased with this option.
Cheese and wine at Makasar bar. The waitress was very nice, and the place was quiet, with good music. The cheese and wine were excellent and the design lovely.
Day 3 Rome
Visit to rose garden. There are benches along the stairs overlooking both the garden and the city. You can sit and enjoy the beauty or even have a little picnic on the bench.
Visit to an orange garden, around a ten-minute walk from the rose garden. It’s not as impressive, but also very beautiful and offers a pretty view of the city.
Martin Gallery and café – A new, recently opened coffee house, full of brightly colored paintings. The silverware and vases are all covered in paintings as well. Address Via dei Cerchi 55A.
Trattoria Da Enzo – Local restaurant with great Ricotta. Address Via dei Vascellari, 29, 00153 Roma, Italy.
Colosseum and Palatine Hill – The whole area is magnificent. It’s ginormous, full of ruins and unique buildings. Even the gate by the Colosseum is one of the most impressive I’ve ever seen. Definitely worth dedicating a couple of hours to walking around in this area.
Dinner at Casa Savoia, prestigious restaurant. Roman took me to this restaurant as a birthday surprise. I fell in love with it the moment we arrived. It sports a beautiful, luxurious design. Address Vicolo del Gallo, 14, 00186 Roma, Italy.
Jerry Thomas Speakeasy cocktail bar – The atmosphere at the bar is really cool, the waiters and bartenders are dressed in 20’s outfits, and the whole bar is vintage and uniquely stylized. Address
Vicolo Cellini, 30, 00186 Roma, Italy.
Day 4 Rome and Lucca
Shopping for Cheeses, breads and more at Campo de Fiori market.
Collecting a vehicle from rental company. We rented it through Papam Papam’ website.
Drive to Lucca – An about 4.5-hour drive with a stop for a picnic and gas station coffee ?
Cheese picnic break
Arrival at Lucca in the evening, to a lovely Airbnb apartment.
Shopping at a nearby supermarket
Dinner at the apartment.
Day 5 – Lucca and the area
Drive to a vineyard for a tour and wine tastings, followed up with a drive to Monte Carlo. Stroll through town and pizza for lunch, then a visit to an impressive castle.
Post I wrote about our experience of the town and vineyard.
Return to Lucca and dinner at the excellent Ristorante Cantine Bernardini Lucca. I highly recommend this restaurant, it was one of the best we visited during our trip by a significant margin. Address Via del Suffragio, 7, 55100 Lucca LU, Italy
Day 6 – Lucca
Coffee and pastry at Bottega del Caffe Dersut.
Climb up the clock tower for a vantage of the city. It takes climbing some steps to reach the top, but not too many.
Bike rental from “Tuscany ride a bike” store. Ride along the walls and in the city.
Quick pizza lunch.
Walk around the city.
Dinner at a nice restaurant, Osteria Da Rosolo Lucca. The prices were low and the dishes very tasty. Address Corte Campana, 3, 55100 Lucca LU, Italy
Day 7- Drive to Lake Como
Drive to lake Como – a 4-hour drive with two stops, one for coffee and one for a sandwich at gas station along the way.
Arrival at a stunning Airbnb apartment in the town of Dervio.
Dinner by the lake at Bar Ristorante Pizzeria Le vele. Address Via lungo lago degli ulivi 6, 23824 Dervio LC, Italy
Day 8 – A walking trek
A walking trek – The track starts of relatively planar with a few ups and downs, an offers a beautiful view of the lake. We passed by small villages and enjoyed the walk. At some point we began a climb and understood that’s how it was going to be the rest of the way. The track is an orderly path between forests and villages. There are markings all along it, so you can’t get lost. The trek we did was “B”.
Dinner at an amazing Restaurant, Osteria Quatro Pass. The best meal we had during our trip. Every dish was an absolute winner. Address Via XX Settembre, 20, 23829 Varenna LC
Day 9 – Bellagio
Detailed post about our day at Bellagio.
Drive to Varenna, a ferry to Bellagio and then a visit to Villa Meltzi and pasta lunch at Bar Caffe Rossi. I had spaghetti Bolognese and Roman had pasta with spinach and cheese. Both were really good and reasonably priced. As far as we saw, the coffee and cakes they had looked good. Address 22, Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini
Visit to lovely fishing village and a walk around town. Following a long walk, it was time for wine, cheese and fish tasting at a wine bar.
Back to the ferry to Varenna and the apartment.
Day 10 – Bellano and flight home
Detailed post on half-day at Bellano.
Drive to Bellano, coffee by the lake and then a visit to the Orrido di Bellano gorge.
A sandwich from a deli for lunch.
Drive to Milano airport (1.5 hours), returning the rental car at the airport and flight back.
End of trip in Italy.
We really like cocktail bars and so, before the trip to Athens, I tried to find one that was truly special. An online search brought me across Momix bar, a molecular cocktail bar. The photos looked super cool and besides, we’ve never been to a molecular bar before.
I’ve seen very good reviews about the place and immediately added it to our Athens to-do list. The experience we had at this bar was amazing and we ended the night drunk and happy. It’s not everyday you get to experience a culinary phenomenon of high-quality alcohol combined with a fascinating molecular show.
Momix Bar
We arrived at the early hour of 8 o’clock. We were hyped about the place’s cool design since before even entering. We sat at the bar, so we could see the action. The bartender, Fotis, gave us the box shaped menu (So we could think outside the box :)) and we decided to start the evening off with a molecular cocktail in a spoon, along with a bubbling cocktail and a gelatinous textured one in a syringe.
The cocktails
That’s when the show started – Lots of smoke, mixing of drinks and when it was done we were served our drinks. It was such a success in our minds that ten minutes later we ordered 2 more cocktails, with more to follow. Consider yourself warned, those drinks are addictive! They’re so special and of such a high-quality that you just can’t stop drinking them.
Before we came to the bar I didn’t really know what to expect, I thought it might be more about a gimmick than good cocktails, but I was proven completely wrong. They mix high-class, professional drinks. The best way to tell the quality of drinks is the following day. We had perhaps eight kinds of cocktails, if not more, and in the morning – I felt fresh as a pickle
At some point we got to meet the owners, Aris and Thodoris,. We complimented their establishment and Aris offered to give us a tour of the bar’s lab. That’s where he spends days and nights trying to concoct new molecular drinks. He does tons of experiments, and so they change the cocktail menu every 6 months. The lab is very impressive – They give bartending training, lectures and classes there as well.
Aris started the job some 10 years ago. Momix has 2 bars – One in Athens and another in Santorini and they enjoy great success among locals and tourists alike.
They also have a bar food menu we tried two items off – One chicken dish and another of dates filled with Roquefort cheese and wrapped in bacon. The food suited the bar’s atmosphere perfectly. Roman claimed the chicken was the best he’s ever had, and I must agree with him. It was succulent and even tasted more like meat than poultry. Both dishes were surprising in flavor and we really liked their concepts.
I’d consider this bar a “mandatory recommendation” for anyone looking for a cool, intoxicating experience full of new flavors – With great service and of the highest quality.
We didn’t get to go on many food tours in the past, but after our recent one in Athens – we might go on many more in the future. We booked our tour through Alternative Athens. I’ve seen several companies offering food tours, but the length (4 hours) and number of culinary stops (8 stops) seemed an extremely worthwhile deal considering this tour’s price.
The choice turned out to be an excellent one – Our guide Andreas was charming and knowledgeable; his English was very clear and his stories were a joy to listen to. We finished the tour full and very satisfied. I think any foodie who likes to try new dishes, learning about the city and its cuisine all the while, will really enjoy this one as we did.
The food tour
We were a small group of five, along with our lovely guide Andreas. We met in the morning hours at a central location and our first stop was a local café for some traditional coffee. This was already a good start, as I didn’t have the time to get coffee beforehand. To be honest, we didn’t have breakfast either since we wanted to save room for the tour – and a lucky thing we did, as the tour definitely offers an impressive amount of food.
The tour included many food stops, but a lot of walking as well – we got to see all of Athens’ central areas. Additionally, the guide had many riveting stories to tell us about the city. We got to learn of the Greek culture and of Athens in particular through the local cuisine.
I don’t want to go into specifics when it comes to each dish we had, so as not to spoil the surprise for you – But I will mention some things and show a few pictures so you can get a feel for the culinary experience. We got to try a plethora of local foods and Greek-made products. The food was of really high-quality. And although at one point I was already tipsy and stuffed (Yes, wine was included in the tour), I couldn’t help but try every dish.
I liked that we were a small group and got to converse during the tastings. We had a couple from England with us and a guy from Sweden, who turned out to be a photographer who’s been travelling the world for the past 19 months and is planning to travel the whole globe in about 4 years. How crazy is that? Tours are a great way to meet new people from all over.
If you have an allergy or food intolerance you’re welcomed to let the organizers know ahead of time, and it will be taken into account during the tour. I recommend wearing comfortable shoes for this tour, as you do quite a bit of walking – and of course come on an empty stomach since the amount of food is staggering 🙂
The Greek food is delicious and the tour was very diverse. I felt that meticulous thought was put into the choice of dishes and the tour’s fun route. We usually take a walking tour at each new destination, but the food tour encompassed a lot of historic information about the city and took us through it’s important locations
We finished the tour satiated and extremely pleased. I think that if you’re a foodie who likes trying new things and learning about the city and the cuisine all the while, you’ll have a great time as well.
We really like drinking wine, and love learning about the wine we drink. Through wine, you can always get the feeling that you’re touring the country – which is always great fun, especially in countries known for their good wine. Before our arrival in Athens I did some research and discovered Greece has very high-quality wine.
We wanted to tour wineries, but since it was December (Early winter), I couldn’t find any tasting tours in wineries – But I did find wine tastings in a bar complete with a detailed explanation by a sommelier. It sounded to me like a great time and so I ordered them through Athens Walking Tours. Our tastings were scheduled to 18:00 and we were given the name of the bar they’ll be held at.
We arrived at a lovely bar with a modern design. We met the owner, Mike, and the sommelier, Vangelis, and both were super nice. Micky told us a bit about the bar and the wine, then we started the tastings. We sat at the bar and started off with rose wine. We followed it up with white and red wines.
At one point, we were served a plate with two kinds of cheese, sausage and breadsticks. Nothing goes better with wine than cheeses. They were really good, just the type of hard cheese I like, and the sausage was of very high quality as well.
The tastings were carried out in a calm fashion, according to our wishes. We could enjoy each served wine and I got to take many fun pictures, since we were the only ones there. Vangelis told us extensively about each wine, each one being from a different region of Greece – Vangelis even told us of the regions themselves. Mike drew us a little map of Greece, and Vangelis marked the map with each new wine served.
Vangelis’ knowledge is rich and he made us feel as if we were traveling along with him among the different wineries and tastings their wares. If you like wine, and enjoy learning more about it rather than just drinking it – This experience will suit you well.
It’s a great combination of taste and learning. We really liked the wine itself, which was of high-quality, and the staff were really charming. The combined effect of the wine tastings, the nice food plate and the explanations themselves served to turn our hangout at the bar into a fun and enriching time. Read more about the wine tastings and our experience there.
As you’ve probably gathered by now, Roman and I really like bike tours. We love the combination of physical challenge and the opportunity to see as much of our destination as possible. On a bike tour, you’ll get to see much more than by foot. Each kind of tour offers its own unique pros and cons, which is why we usually opt for both.
Before arriving in Athens, I’ve looked into interesting bike tours. Since I knew we’ll be doing a food-tour in Athens’ central areas, I focused on tours in other parts of town. That is how I came across “Athens by bike”, a company offering several bike tours, such as “Athens Riviera ride” – A tour mainly focused on the city’s shore line. A ride along the sea seemed to fit my criteria perfectly, and as it turns out, it was truly an amazing, relaxing and challenging tour.
In the morning, we arrived at the company’s bike store, which is located right next to the Acropolis metro station. As it turned out, we were the only ones to book a tour for that day, and so we got a private tour. Our guide was Dimitris, a charming and funny guy who was really patient and interesting and made the tour a huge success.
We started the ride in the city itself and Dimitris took us to a vantage point overlooking the Acropolis. It’s a lesser known spot and so without many people, yet a beautiful place to picnic with a lovely sight of the city.
We could see the opera house that’s by the beach, where Dimitris said we’ll be riding. From there we went on a bike trail leading to the opera house. I thoroughly enjoy riding long bike trails, it’s quite and calming and we could see different areas of Athens along the ride.
We stopped occasionally and Dimitris told us of the places we passed along the way. When we got to the (very impressive) opera house, we locked our bikes away and went up to a vantage point off of the building itself. There’s a free ice-skating arena there and you can even sign up online for free ice-skating lessons (A great kid’s attraction).
Additionally, there’s a yoga class on the lawn next to the building every morning, which you can sign up for online as well. There are many more free activities – Here’s a link to their site.
We also visited the library which is very elegant and pleasant. It’s only been open for a year and the books haven’t arrived yet, so it’s currently a book-less library, but has computer stands and people come to just sit and have coffee.
We continued riding along the beach. The weather was an excellent 20 degrees. We then had a coffee break by the sea, which is something I absolutely adore – enjoying the little things in life
On the way back, we stopped for traditional Greek food, a type of Bourekas (Only much tastier in my opinion) that is sweet or savory and is one of the tastiest foods there are. We tried it on the food tour as well – It’s served fresh, straight out of the oven, and is really crunchy and excellent. It’s highly addictive. It was a nice stop for recharging your batteries so you can keep riding. I liked that the tour included a stop to try local cuisine, which was unexpected.
Since we had some time to spare, Dimitris decided to take us on a short graffiti tour, as well as to several beautiful churches in the area. He does that sometimes when there’s extra time, which is really nice.
The tour was about four and a half hours long, and while you don’t spend all that time riding, a certain level of physicality and ability to ride a bike for long are required. If you’re unused to riding – this tour might prove a bit long for your taste, however the company offers many more tours that are shorter. The ride itself is quite planar and Roman didn’t feel a physical challenge, but I felt drained when we were done.
This tour is definitely recommended for those who like riding a bike and are looking for another way to explore Athens – and not just it’s central areas. Additionally, after the tour Dimitris sent us a document with recommendations for many things to do in Athens and we tried a local restaurant off the list – which was really good.
We took a Segway tour with Paphos Segway Tours company. We were a group of eight and had two super nice guides, Liam and Callum.
Segway instruction
After all the group members had arrived, we went outside for an instruction on the Segways. The guide explained how to operate it really well, after which each guide took one of the tour members personally for a test drive on the Segway, to make sure they can handle it well and to boost our confidence. When every member had gone through a personal instruction, we started the tour.
The tour itself
During the tour, we went through several interesting sites on Paphos, stopping at each one while the guide told us about the place. The stories were truly captivating. At every stop the guide also took our pictures, giving us small choreographic instructions (A few days later they uploaded the pictures to Facebook, so you can save them with no additional cost).
The tour was light, funny and the weather was great (Early November). If you take the tour during the summer, I’d suggest going on either the early or the afternoon tours. The one we took started at 11AM.
We rode along the sea a lot – it was really relaxing and I didn’t want the tour to be end. I have to mention that I went on a Segway tour before and didn’t really enjoy myself, to be honest I was quite frightened then – But this time, the two guides were really responsible and gave a feeling of security. Even if you’ve never been on a Segway tour, you have nothing to worry about and I’d even highly recommend this as your first try, that way you’ll get fun and professional instruction.
The company has longer, special tours for those already experienced with Segways. Maybe next time we’re In Paphos we’ll try one of the advanced tours.
To be sure, this is a great attraction and experience, and a wonderful way of seeing Paphos. They also have colorful Segways which are really cool 🙂
We went on a week-long trip in Athens and decided to divide our stay between two hotels in different areas, not only for variety’s sake, but so we could enjoy two different hotels as well.
The second hotel we stayed at was Athens Center Square Hotel, a central hotel in the Psiri area, adjacent to the local food market.
We arrived at the hotel with a smile on our faces, after having a lovely walk through the market and seeing the fruit and vegetables, olives, spices and more. We really like local markets and it’s one of the major reasons we picked to stay where we did.
The entrance is very pleasant, a lobby with couches and a bar area complete with a coffee machine, as well as a couple of tables with computers for the guests’ use. You can make tea and coffee for free anywhere between 10:00 and 18:00.
We got an upgraded room on the 7th floor, which was spacious and clean. It had a double bed, closet, couch and bathroom with a shower and a toilet.
The hotel has an open rooftop terrace with tanning beds and sets of tables and chairs. We went up to it at sunset with some coffee and enjoyed the view of the acropolis. While we were up there, some local photographers were taking pictures of the sunset off the terrace, since it’s very beautiful.
At night we went out for a stroll around town. The hotel is in a really central location and a two-minute walk will get you to a bustling area with bars, cafés, taverns and restaurants. The walk by the hotel itself at night is a little less pleasant since it’s quite desolate.
When morning came, we went to the dinning room for breakfast. Breakfast at Athens Center Square Hotel is served as a buffet, with a large variety of sausages, breads, pastries, desserts, fruit and more. There’s a gluten-free section with breads and crackers and a coffee machine.
The hotel is adjacent to the market’s fruit, vegetables, cheeses and sausages stalls. On the other side of the road are fish, meats and spices. A walking distance away is a metro station you can ride to anywhere in Athens in a few minutes. The flea market is also a few minutes away. The hotel’s location and reasonable price make it an attractive option for any who want to travel and explore Athens.
We went on a week-long trip in Athens and decided to divide our stay between two hotels in different areas, not only for variety’s sake, but so we could enjoy two different hotels as well. We started our trip in a really luxurious hotel, Coco Mat Hotel, located in the prestigious Kolonaki area. From there, it’s a 15-20 minute walk to Plaka (The central area).
I really liked this area. It’s full of modern coffee houses, boutique shops and high-class restaurants. The prices in these are slightly higher, but not by much, and it’s generally considered one of Athens’ most sought after and prestigious shopping streets. The atmosphere is magical and romantic and the hotel fits into it perfectly.
The hotel’s entrance is in fact a Coco Mat store, a chain selling high-quality beds and those same beds are in the hotel’s rooms.
Reception is one floor beneath the store and by our arrival at 12:00 our room had already been prepared. Reception is also located by the dining hall, which serves as the lobby. The design is very relaxing and creates a homey feeling.
The hotel room
Our luggage was immediately brought up to our rooms, and after checking in, we followed suit. As we entered the room, we instantly grew excited. The room had a clear attention to minor, unique details such as a Nespresso machine, slippers, robes and a romantic shower with transparent doors (By the way, there are rooms with showers in a separate room for you to choose).
Above all of these, is the super luxurious bed – The moment we lay down on it, we didn’t want to leave. The bed can be bought in the chain’s stores and costs 14,000 euros! So, you can imagine just how comfortable it is ?
The hotel also offers really high-quality pillows, and even includes a pillow menu, letting you switch to a different one if you’d like.
Room Service
We had so much fun in the room that we decided to have lunch there and ordered room service. After all, what could be more enjoyable than food service in a good hotel?
I ordered fish with a side of rice and Roman ordered tortellini in a dried-tomato sauce with bacon -accompanied, of course, by two glasses of white wine. Within about 20 minutes a knock on the door announced the waiter’s arrival, carrying the exciting tray. The food was really good and the wine turned the meal into a delight. That’s how we started our visit to Athens ?
Breakfast
In the morning we went down for breakfast and decided to bring the food up with us to the hotel’s beautiful balcony, which offers a view of the city. We prepared our plates along with coffee and orange juice and one of the employees carried it up to the balcony for us.
It was a sunny day and a perfect opportunity to make use of the balcony, which comes with a small, very well-maintained garden, adding to the hotel’s unique atmosphere – along with a wall of potted plants and wall-paintings brightening the room with their colors.
The next day we had breakfast downstairs and enjoyed the calming design there. The breakfast menu isn’t too varied, but that’s just how boutique hotels are – a smaller set of choices, but of a higher quality. What I liked were boxes filled with all sorts of goodies you could add to your muesli – chia seeds, goji berries, dried fruit, almonds and more.
There were also breads, fruit, sausages, cheeses, mini quiches and desserts.You may ask the waiter for an omelette and order drinks such as orange juice, coffee or tea.
If you’re looking for a romantic, boutique hotel with a perfect bed, excellent service and prestigious location, this is the one! We would definitely be happy to stay there again.
When I saw a 5-euro flight to Paphos on Ryanair’s website I thought, at first, it must be some kind of catch – No way a flight could be that cheap, but we decided to book it and it turned out to be real. The whole two-way trip cost me and Roman 86 shekels. Seeing as we had other commitments, we decided to book Tuesday through Thursday, meaning 48 hours.
At the time, we didn’t know if it was going to feel like a hassle or not, but the trip ended up being a quick and successful excursion. We got to do a lot of fun things and eat great food.
We booked a last-minute room at the Pyramos Hotel, which was 290 shekels for two nights, with a basic breakfast included. The hotel itself is quite simple but it’s got a fantastic location. It’s situated right next the port, where many of the bars, cafés, restaurants and attractions are.
We rented a vehicle, which was 132 shekels for two days, and picked it up at the airport. The hotel also had private parking.
Tips before traveling to Paphos
SIM card
I personally recommend using an ESIM, which is an electronic SIM, and recommend Airalo. I was very satisfied with their user experience (simple tutorial videos for operating the SIM card) and everything worked without any special problems. I wrote more about them in an extended post on the subject of taking a SIM card abroad and also about other options such as buying a local SIM card.
Blog followers have a 15% discount code for the Airalo company to purchase an ESIM – to redeem the discount, click on this link. The discount code is already included in the link. See it at checkout.
The biggest drawback at the moment is that some devices do not support an electronic SIM. How can you know if your device supports the electronic card? Very simple: go to this link and you can see. Link to which devices support ESIM.
Car rental in Paphos
I think this is the most convenient and fun way to travel. Car prices are low and the roads are easy to drive.
You can search for a car in the search engine Papam Papam. Personally, I really like to search through them because they save me time (instead of going to several websites) and they also have the option of filtering out non-recommended rental companies.
Attractions in Paphos
You can get ideas for other cool things you can do on the various attraction sites and even order through them (sometimes at a discounted price). The first attractions site is tiqets the second is Get your guide and Viator.
Where to stay in Paphos
You can search for places to stay in Paphos via Booking.
Day 1 – Evening flight to Paphos and dinner
We landed in the evening, picked up the vehicle we had rented and drove to the hotel – Following which we made our way to dinner.
Dinner
We went out to eat at the Pingouino restaurant, a place we’ve eaten at before and liked a lot. It’s cheap, with great food and a view of the sea. I’ve written about it in detail in the Paphos restaurants post. I ordered pitta bread with haloumi and tomato, while Roman ordered souvlaki with potato chips. The food was really good and filling.
Day 2 – Good food, wine tastings and bar overlooking Paphos and the sea
Breakfast and coffee
We had a simple breakfast at the hotel, which included bread, several cheeses and vegetables. From there we continued to a bar-café, Alea Lounge Bar, by the coastline and had coffee.
Enjoying the sun
It turned out to be a really sunny day, even more so than we anticipated, and we decided to go lounge on the chairs outside the café and enjoy the sunshine. Two tanning beds will run you 5 euros. At one point, Roman got himself a beer and me a coke zero. It was so much fun to just lie there and get a little tan.
Trip to a quaint village
After having a good time by the sea, we decided to take the car and go for a wine tasting at a winery I found online. Since it was already lunchtime, we decided to eat first and go from there. A local recommended us a tavern in Letymbou village, which is approximately a 30-minute drive from the center of Paphos, and that’s what we did.
The waitresses were really lovely and we met the owner as well. Her husband made the haloumi cheese himself, as well as several other foods. We ordered the haloumi cheese as a first course, and for mains I had a vegetarian moussaka and Roman has Sheftalia (A traditional Cypriot dish). The food was delicious. We liked the atmosphere, food and service. Furthermore, the village itself is really nice and worth dropping by if you’re in Paphos.
Wine tastings
After a short stroll around the village, we went to Tsangarides winery, which was a 10-minute drive away, for wine tasting. From the moment we arrived, we fell absolutely in love with the place.
We sat outside and the owner, Angelos, brought 4 kinds of wine for us to try – White, Rosa, red and organic. I wrote about the experience in detail in a post about what to do in Paphos.
Drink with a view
After the winery, we came back to central Paphos and went to a bar restaurant titled Muse Bar, following up on a recommendation I got from a blog reader.
The bar is up on a hill and has a lovely view over Paphos and the sea. Roman ordered a cocktail, while I had tea, and we took some time to enjoy the atmosphere and the beautiful vista. They also have a wide food menu and desserts that looked really good (At least from the glimpse we had of other people’s orders at the tables next to us 😉 )
Japanese restaurant with a couple of friends
After the bar we went for a quick rest at the hotel, then drove to King’s Avenue mall to meet a couple of friends living in Paphos. Together, we all went to Wagamama Japanese restaurant, another place we have eaten at several times over the years and know to be really good. I wrote about it in detail in the Paphos Restaurants post.
For firsts we ordered a nice, light miso soup and for mains Roman and I shared a dish of piquant rice with coconut cream and a noodle dish with meat and egg. Our friends ordered sushi and noodles. Everything was delicious as usual.
Day 3 – Tour, Segway, Boardwalk stroll and more tasty food
Breakfast
We decided to skip breakfast at the hotel and went to a nice diner called Tea for two next to the sea. We sat on the upper level and I ordered an apple crumble with vanilla ice-cream and coffee, while Roman had English breakfast. My cake turned out to be a huge portion and after finishing half of it I couldn’t go on – but it was home-made and extremely delicious. Roman was pleased with his meal as well. This is a great place to have breakfast, especially if you’re looking for something cheap, quick, tasty and filling.
Fun Segway tour
After breakfast we arrived at Paphos Segway Tour’s Segway store for a pre-ordered tour. We were a group of eight and had two super nice guides, Liam and Callum.
After all the group members had arrived, we went outside for an instruction on the Segways.
During the tour, we went through several interesting sites on Paphos, stopping at each one while the guide told us about the place.
We rode along the sea a lot – it was really relaxing and I didn’t want the tour to be end.
The company has longer, special tours for those already experienced with Segways. Maybe next time we’re In Paphos we’ll try one of the advanced tours.
I wrote about the tour in detail in a post about the segway tour.
Lunch at a tavern
When the tour was over, we went for lunch at St. Paul’s Tavern restaurant (See map), which seemed good to us when we passed it by on the tour.
For firsts, I ordered a salad and Roman had clams (He claims it’s one of the best clam dishes he’s ever had) and for mains I ordered a pan-fried fish with garlic sauce and potatoes (I was accidently served chips at first, but then given potatoes on the side as well) and Roman had meat and potatoes. Since the food was really good, Roman wanted to try their dessert as well and ordered cheesecake topped with strawberries.
To be sure, this is a great attraction and experience, and a wonderful way of seeing Paphos. They also have colorful Segways which are really cool 🙂 I wrote about the tour in detail in a post about what to do in Paphos.
Boardwalk stroll and wonderful sunset
After the meal we went for a walk in the boardwalk area, as well as the port area – Then opted for another lie down on the tanning beds. Although the sun was nearly gone at this point, we did get to enjoy a beautiful sunset.
Getting work done at Café and end of vacation
After enjoying the sunset, we had a few hours left over before we needed to head out to the airport. We decided to take advantage of it, and get some work done at the moorings café. I worked on the blog, while Roman worked on his project and we ordered coffee. At some point, Roman ordered a personal pizza for the both of us, to serve as an early dinner. While it wasn’t a thin-crust pizza like we prefer, the haloumi cheese topping was really tasty.
We really liked this café, and if you’re looking for a place to work on your laptop or get some food, it’s a great choice. Despite the fact that it’s located in a touristy area, the prices are relatively cheap and the service is excellent.
Flight home
From the café we headed to the car and went about returning it to the leasing company, then we continued to our flight. The airport in Paphos is small, and getting there even an hour before your flight is enough.
Who said you can’t get anything done in 48 hours? 🙂
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