Oasis Hotel Apartments

The orange and tan tones of the Oasis Hotel Apartments' facade are bright and beachy, in contrast to the sleek and dark lobby, with its black tile floors and low ceilings. Italian-style black leather chairs and couches form triangular seating areas that create a lounge on one side of the space, while tables and stylized plastic-and-metal chairs extend out from the small lobby bar for business travelers who want to work over a cocktail. The reception desk, a mix of white and wood paneling, feels a little retro (as many things do at the Oasis), an aesthetic only enhanced by the overhead lighting in the crown moldings. What little artwork there is channels a Greek Cycladic aesthetic. The restaurant continues a similar look, with the same black tile floors and overhead lighting, but the columns and upholstered wooden chairs and white-tableclothed tables have a subtle Deco feel to them.The hotel's most popular common space is the expansive pool patio. Encircled by trees and greenery, the pool is large and lined with plenty of chairs and loungers. In the summer, the poolside cafe and bar attracts a livelier crowd of guests, as does the kids' pool.

The Oasis Hotel Apartments are not in Athens proper, but rather in Glyfada, a pleasant seaside suburb about halfway between Athens' city center and some of the popular beaches outside the city. Glyfada has its own town center with shops and restaurants, which are about 10 minutes away from the hotel. It's also very close to the beach, but crossing the highway to get there can be treacherous. To get to downtown Athens and historic sites such as the Acropolis or the Parthenon, it is best to have a car; the city center is a 20- to 25-minute drive. Public transport is also available, but it can take up to an hour. The hotel offers free parking.

The rooms at the Oasis Hotel Apartments are large -- all are either suites or apartments -- but are poorly laid-out and in need of updating. All have separate bedrooms and living rooms, while some of the apartment-style rooms also have kitchenettes. The decor varies between rooms, but all have 1970s- and '80s-style wooden furniture with striped and other patterned upholstery; all the bedding and decor feel cheap and old. While actually quite spacious, the narrow layout of the living rooms can make them feel smaller than they actually are. The bedrooms -- which come with a double bed or two twins -- feel more airy and have a lot of closet space. Carpets show stains and there's a sense of disrepair -- and when it comes to apartment kitchenettes, actual disrepair. Some guests have complained about broken appliances and lack of utensils. Bathrooms are cramped, poorly lit, and feel right out of the '70s, with flowered tiling. All rooms come with balconies, free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, and old tube TVs.

The Oasis has a large restaurant, El Panama, which is fairly well-priced and serves a mix of international and local cuisine. A free daily breakfast is served here, too. In addition to the lobby bar, there is also a seasonal poolside bar, which complements the large outdoor pool patio where guests gather to relax and enjoy the sun. The pool deck also has a kids' pool and a hot tub. Though generally geared toward leisure travelers, the hotel has a meeting room and a business center. Babysitting can be arranged upon request, cars can be rented through the concierge, and there's free Wi-Fi throughout.