Skylark, Aluma Hotel & Resort

The hotel offers a chic and contemporary urban experience, with its rooftop pool and bar serving as a signature feature, providing stunning views, including glimpses of the Acropolis. This makes it an excellent choice for city break travelers and sightseers eager to explore the city's attractions. Guests consistently highlight the exceptional breakfast, the central location with direct metro access, and the friendly and attentive staff as key strengths. While the room design is often described as stylish, it can be dark and compact. For an enhanced stay, guests are advised to arrive early at the rooftop pool to secure a sunbed, consider bringing earplugs due to potential street noise, and be aware of the immediate surroundings when venturing out, though the hotel itself maintains a secure environment. This hotel is particularly well-suited for couples and solo travelers seeking a vibrant base for their Athenian adventures.

Facilities & Amenities
The hotel features a popular rooftop pool and bar area, which is frequently praised for its impressive city views, including the Acropolis, and its relaxing atmosphere. However, guests often note that the pool is quite small and shallow, more suitable for dipping than swimming, and can become crowded quickly, with sunbeds being reserved early in the day. Some reviews also mention the pool being unheated. A compact fitness center is available, offering essential equipment for a workout. The elevators are a recurring point of concern, with guests reporting them to be slow and occasionally problematic. Many rooms include balconies, though their utility can vary due to external lighting that remains on until late and inconsistent views. A hot tub or jacuzzi is also present on the rooftop, adding to the relaxation options. Luggage storage is provided for guest convenience.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Guest feedback on cleanliness is generally positive, with many describing rooms as very clean and well-maintained, though some isolated reports mention specific cleaning oversights. A consistent theme across reviews is the room size, which is frequently described as small, tiny, or compact, often leading to limited space for luggage and clothing storage. Despite the size, the bed comfort receives widespread praise, ensuring a restful night's sleep for most guests. However, noise levels are a significant concern for many, stemming from heavy street traffic, the nearby roundabout, and thin walls that allow sound from neighboring rooms and hallways to penetrate. The room design is distinctive, characterized by dark colors and dim lighting, which some find chic but others perceive as impractical or even "creepy." Bathrooms are similarly dark and often criticized for poor design, leading to water splashing outside the shower area and occasional reports of unpleasant odors. In-room amenities include a coffee maker and complimentary water, though AC functionality has been inconsistent for some.

Dining & Food Quality
The breakfast at the hotel consistently receives overwhelmingly positive reviews, with guests frequently describing it as exceptional, superb, and one of the best they have experienced. The breakfast buffet offers an extensive and diverse selection of food and drink options, including fresh produce, a wide array of local dishes, and even sparkling wine, providing excellent value for money. Guests appreciate the sheer variety and high quality of the offerings, ensuring a satisfying and delicious start to the day. Beyond breakfast, the hotel's main restaurant and bar areas are generally considered to be good, offering a pleasant atmosphere for dining and drinks. While the overall food quality is well-regarded, some specific comments noted that the food served at the rooftop bar was not always up to par, suggesting a slight inconsistency in culinary offerings across different venues within the hotel.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel's central location is a significant advantage, placing guests within easy walking distance of many popular attractions, shopping areas, and entertainment venues. Its proximity to a metro station directly in front of the hotel, along with a hop-on/off bus stop nearby, provides excellent accessibility to explore Athens efficiently and affordably. However, the surrounding area around the hotel elicits mixed feedback. While its central position is convenient, many guests describe the immediate neighborhood as somewhat sketchy, with reports of undesirable individuals and a general feeling of unease, particularly at night. Despite these concerns, the hotel itself is perceived as safe and secure, often with a visible security presence at the entrance, reassuring guests who choose to stay in this vibrant but sometimes challenging urban environment.

Staff & Service
The staff at the hotel consistently receive high praise from guests, with their friendliness and helpfulness being a standout feature. Many reviews highlight the attentive service provided by the reception team, who are often described as welcoming, accommodating, and eager to assist with inquiries and requests. The check-in process is generally reported as quick and efficient. While the overall sentiment towards housekeeping is positive regarding general cleanliness, some guests noted inconsistencies, such as missed refills of in-room amenities or occasional oversights in daily cleaning. Feedback on problem resolution is mixed; some guests experienced prompt and satisfactory responses to issues, while others felt their concerns, particularly regarding room readiness or significant issues like infestations, were met with indifference or inadequate solutions. Overall, the dedication of the staff to providing a positive guest experience is a recurring theme.

Additional Information
A significant concern raised by multiple guests is the presence of bed bug infestations in some rooms, leading to highly negative experiences and dissatisfaction with the hotel's response to these serious issues. Guests reported inadequate solutions and a lack of empathy from management when addressing these incidents. Another recurring point of feedback is the occurrence of frequent fire alarms, which have caused disturbances, often in the middle of the night, without clear communication from staff regarding their cause. Rooms with balconies feature external lighting that automatically activates in the evening and cannot be turned off by guests until late at night, potentially causing unwanted light in the room. The hotel maintains a visible security presence, including a policeman or guard, at the entrance, which contributes to a sense of safety despite concerns about the immediate surrounding area. Guests also appreciate the provision of complimentary water bottles in rooms, replenished daily.