If the Athens Olympic Games have pride of place in your 2004 planner, the word is to book early. With initial ticket orders already outstripping those for the 2000 Sydney Games , the accommodation squeeze within the historic city is expected to be tight. There are a number of schemes in the works for housing spectators, including vacated private homes and cruise ships stationed at the nearby port of Pireas . But if you want to combine beaches and sightseeing with Olympic events, there are many accommodation opportunities in neighbouring vacation spots rather than within the city itself.

To begin with, hotels at the Athens seafront are an obvious choice for those wanting to stay near the capital. Glyfada (17 km), Voula (18 km), Vouliagmeni (25 km) and Varkiza (30 km) are municipalities practically viewed as suburbs of the four-million-strong metropolis. As an added bonus, city buses go as far as Varkiza, while clubs and beach bars dot the capital’s south coast.

Moving further away from the capital accommodation options abound:

Cape Sounio, Attica
Long on the itinerary of tourists and romantics, the colonnaded 4th century BC Temple of Poseidon guards Cape Sounio (67 km). The temple is 'graffitied' by Lord Byron and the view is renowned, especially for its spectacular sunsets. The cape marks the spot where Athens’ King Aegeus cast himself into the sea after his son, hero Thesseus, returned from killing the Minotaur in Cretan King Minos’ labyrinth but forgot to change the colour of the ship’s sails, signaling he had survived. The sea bears the bereaved king’s name. Sounio is 38 km from Athens airport. Accommodation suggestions:
· Grecotel Cape Sounio, 67th km Athens-Sounio Road, tel +30210-728 0300, e-mail sales@grecotel.gr. 154 deluxe bungalows with private gardens and pools set amphitheatrically in a pine forest. Opens Fall 2003.
· Cape Sounion Beach Bungalows , tel +3022920-39391, 39394. 188 rooms, outdoor pool.
· For more options check http://www.s-h-systems.co.uk/greece/sounio.html.

Loutraki, Korinthia
On the Gulf of Korinthos, Loutraki (75 km from Athens, pop 12,000) is a summer resort now better known for its world-class casino. A therapeutic hot spring and a number of hotels lining the palm-treed beachfront cater to visitors with health problems and those who love the gambling rush. It takes about 1.5 hours by car from Athens on the national toll road to get to busy Loutraki, making it a good base for trips into the capital as well as surrounding sites like ancient Corinth and Mycenae in the Peloponnese and even the mountainous mainland’s Delphi oracle.

While long-distance bus service between Athens and Loutraki is frequent, a car is recommended for the area’s broader horizons. Lake Vouliagmeni, 16 km from Loutraki, is a pine-shored lagoon that has been mixed with seawater since 1880 and the ancient site of Hereo (sanctuary of Hera), with its little beach and cliff promontory, is two kilometres further up the road.

Long-distance buses to Loutraki leave from Athens’ Kifissou Ave station (phone: +30 210 515 0220) every one to two hours. Buses to Korinthos town are hourly. Some accommodation options:
· Club Hotel Loutraki , 255 rooms/suites with mountain or sea views, swimming pool, casino and spa. ·
Viilla Venetia , Lake Vouliagmeni, Loutraki. Two suites in a country home on the lake.
· More options at: http://www.interdynamic.net/vacsubar.php?subarea=121 Halkida and Eretria, Evia
Greece’s second largest island, 110 km-long Evia , is largely untouched by foreign tourism, despite its fair share of scenery, terrific food, traditional villages and deserted beaches. Evia is also easy to reach from the Athens airport, being off Attica’s east coast and with a road (bridge) connection. While best explored by car, a commuter train takes passengers to isle’s capital Halkida (pop 63,000), 70 km from Athens. A seafront promenade, lined with hotels and fish restaurants overlooking a fast-flowing channel (the tide changes directions) and the medieval fortress on the hill are Halkida’s main attractions. Boats also ply the Evian Gulf to the mainland port of Rafina.

Commuter train to Halkida leaves hourly from the Metro-accessed Larissis Railway Station (phone: +30210-821 3882). It takes about an hour-and-a-half. Also KTEL long-distance buses go to Halkida and other Evian towns (phone: +30210-831 7153). For accommodation, try:

· Lucy Hotel (Best Western) , 90 rooms, wonderful view on Halkida promenade.
· Holidays in Evia Hotel Club , Magoula, Eretria, seaside resort w/ 334 rooms set on eight acres, pool and many services and activities. · More Halkida options http://www.s-h-systems.co.uk/greece/halkida.html and Eretria http://www.s-h-systems.co.uk/greece/eretria.html.