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One of my favorite Hyatt partnerships is with Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH). This portfolio of boutique hotels has significantly expanded Hyatt’s presence in Europe (especially in smaller cities). The hotels are generally quite luxurious and because they are all unique, I found them charming.
Anthony’s review: The hotel is perfectly located for exploring the city. After several days at the Hyatt Regency (review here), we came here for easier access to many sites we wanted to explore. The suite I booked was spacious and comfortable. There was a small private patio and a comfortable bed. As a globalist, I received free WiFi, early check-in, late check-out, and free breakfast. SLH hotels booked through Hyatt.com offer these perks to every guest, which is definitely an incentive to choose them if you don’t have status or are on a lower tier that doesn’t include breakfast. The Excelsior is a lovely hotel and I would stay there again if I was back in Thessaloniki.
Reservation
I booked directly through Hyatt.com on a standard rate. I chose to book the Penthouse suite as I wanted to guarantee I would get this suite rather than trying to upgrade (especially in high season). The hotel has just 36 rooms and suites (only two are Penthouse suites). The Excelsior was fully booked when we visited and rates were as expected for August in Greece. The price was the same as booking through Slh.com (pictured above) and I earned points for booking through Hyatt. This hotel is a bargain if you are redeeming points as it is a category 3 property. This means that a standard room will cost between 9,000 and 15,000 points.
Transportation to/from hotel
We went from the Hyatt Regency to the hotel. It took about 30 minutes to cover about 17 kilometers with light traffic. When we left the hotel, we went to the airport, which took about the same time to arrive.
Location
The hotel is well located for exploring the city with easy walks to the White Tower and the waterfront. Lots of things you’ll want to see are nearby (see my Top 5 picks for the city).
Registration
We arrived around 4:00 p.m. The agent had everything ready for our arrival. We got our keys and she explained that breakfast was upstairs in the restaurant. She also confirmed my late check out request at 1pm. The process only took a few minutes and we were on our way. The elevator is slow and we found ourselves taking it, but going down the stairs when leaving.
Penthouse Suite (51)
There are 36 rooms and suites at the hotel.
The suite opens onto a closet on the left and the balcony straight ahead. The living room consists of a meridian and a piece of furniture with TV.
The doors led to the bedroom and could be closed to divide the rooms.
The French balcony had a small table and chairs (and it was overrun with pigeons looking for a meal while we were there).
Pigeons hoping for a snack.
The bedroom was small and had a comfortable queen bed.
A Tivoli radio was on the nightstand.
There was also a small table and chair.
And, a second TV was found in the bedroom.
The bathroom was split into two parts with the tub and sinks on one side.
The shower, toilet and another sink were on the other side.
Toiletries were Olive Era brand. I liked that they were all natural and from Greece.
A welcome amenity of wine, water, macaroons and fruit awaited in the suite.
The suite also included a refrigerator and a Nespresso machine.
Breakfast
As mentioned, we had breakfast at the hotel restaurant, Charlie D. Brasserie, during our stay. A buffet of cold dishes lines the walls. Coffee and hot food was also included. These were ordered directly from the server. Everything was fresh and prepared with high quality ingredients. The service was impeccable. The restaurant was half full during breakfast (even though the hotel was full) and we enjoyed our meals.
Cold dishes were distributed in the dining room.
More cold items including breads, fruits, vegetables, pastries, etc.
I ordered a cappuccino and loved the art on top.
The menu had several hot items to choose from (all included with the free breakfast). We tried several egg dishes and pancakes during our two breakfasts here.
Approvals
The hotel does not have many amenities. It has self-parking available for a fee at a nearby garage, but no spa, fitness center, or other common areas.
General impression:
You cannot beat the location of Hotel Excelsior when visiting Thessaloniki. The suites are chic and comfortable. The breakfast is of good quality and the service is excellent. It is a beautiful hotel and I hope to return.
Choice of Anthony’s credit card: When I stay at a Hyatt hotel, I want to maximize my points earned. My favorite card is World of Hyatt credit card. With this, I earn four points for every dollar spent at Hyatt hotels (in addition to the base five points earned by regular World of Hyatt members). It also includes a free night at any Hyatt Category 1-4 hotel each year after your first birthday and the chance to earn more free nights after spending $15,000 on the card (another free night reward in a Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel is won). Plus, it helps me maintain my World of Hyatt status with five qualifying night credits for having the card and the chance to earn two additional qualifying nights for every $5,000 I spend with the card. Conditions apply. Learn more.
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