A New Concept
In March of 2016 Zed and 2 business partners of his came up with an idea, a dream and turned it into a reality. Their mission was an auspicious one, to start the very first hostel in Thessaloniki, but also in all of northern Greece. And to date, STAY currently offers the biggest capacity for guests in all of Greece. That’s quite a feat for anyone to undertake and produce with as much ease and confidence as they have.
They made this decision at a time when Greece was still in the middle of their economic crisis. A hardship for most Greeks, they believed in the concept, and it came together seamlessly, even beyond their expectations.
In June of 2017 they began construction and marketing of the hostel. And in August of 2017 they officially opened their doors to the public.
Surprisingly enough, the statistics indicate that Greeks are the most common visitors to stay at STAY, even if tourists are frequent. They allow food delivery to your rooms. There’s also a laundry service, and a breakfast area of the hostel. And, in addtion to all of that, they have a rooftop terrace that overlooks the whole city. They offer private and shared rooms, so that if you want some privacy but also want to meet and get to know people you have that opportunity.
With almost 200 beds in the whole hostel and more than 5 floors, the building is ideal for large groups wanting to spend some time in the dynamic city, but not spend a fortune on lodgings in the process.
The Idea and Its Beginnings
How did they come up with this great idea? After years of traveling, staying at hostels abroad, and having friends of his asking when they came to visit Greece why there were no hostels, Zed decided to change that. Before their hostel, there were no standards for hostels regarding Greek law. The year they started, the laws changed, and that was when he and his friends made their move on starting up the business.
He and his partners love music, and Zed is a self-proclaimed musician. This is why the entire hostel has a music theme going on. And with each and every room designed with the theme of a band or musical artist, it highlights the team’s love for great sounds.
Something else that’s very interesting to note about the hostel is that Zed is also an engineer and he designed the whole layout and concept behind each of the rooms, common areas and themes. Want to know why they chose Pulp Fiction as the theme in the lobby area? Well, I figured that riddle out all by myself. Because, as the sexiest man alive said in the film, “Zed’s dead, baby.” I even got a fist-bump when I quoted the famous flick.
Rooms & Suites
Their snazziest room? My room was pretty sweet, and it was in fact a suite. “The Rock Star Suite” to be precise. But the real show stealer is “The Presidential Suite”. With a spacious 150 square meters, not only does it have enough sleeping capacity for 8 people, but it also has a balcony, piano and bar! Drink to your heart’s content, and spend very little on a luxurious room. At only 120 Euros during the week in the low season, if you split the cost between 8 people, it comes to a total of 15 Euro a head. Not too bad when you want to enjoy a high quality room at a super low cost.
But maybe you don’t need such a fancy room. If you’re looking for a better deal, why not stay in a standard private room which will only run you 29 Euro during the week in the low season. And if you want the same room I had, you’re looking at 59 Euro. With everything you could possibly want at the same standard as a hotel, STAY is the right choice. The other really good news is that weekday and weekend prices stay the same throughout the year until high season.
Need another reason for staying at STAY? Safety is a good one. With 24h reception, you won’t feel uncomfortable while lodging here. Their staff is very friendly and helpful, and if you need anything brought to your room like towels or blankets, they’re eager to assist.
I loved staying at STAY and you will too. So what are you waiting for? Book your stay now, and make sure to tell them Lisa sent you!
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