Rick Steves' Athens and the Peloponnese

Hotel Pelops is Olympia's top option, with 18 comfortable rooms- try this place first. Run by the Spiliopoulos clan- father Theodoros, Aussie mom Susanna, and children Alkis, Kris, and Sally-the hotel  oozes hospitality. They're generous with travel advice and include free tea and coffee in each room. On the wall of the breakfast room, look for the three Olympic torches that family members have carried  in the official relay: Tokyo 1964, Mexico City 1968, and Athens 2004.

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Lonely Planet Review

Among the town's best contenders, with light, spacious and comfortable rooms, opposite the church. Gasp! - there are even nonsmoking rooms. The friendly Greek-Australian owners have a wealth of  knowledge about the area. The buffet breakfast is fit for an athlete. On offer each night is the Pelops Platt a massive dish of gourmet mezedhes.

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Frommer's

For years, Frommer's has given high marks to Olympia's Hotel Pelops and its tirelessly energetic and hospitable owners, Theodore and Suzanna Spiliopoulos. Now, Suzanna has organized three courses for  visitors to Olympia: cooking, creative writing, and art. Participants will stay at the completely  redecorated Hotel Pelops during their three to five day courses. Suzanna, who catered several dinners for athletes and dignitaries in Olympia during the 2004 Olympics, will teach the cooking classes. Creative writing classes will be led by Gillian Bouras, an Australian freelance writer who lives in the Peloponnese. Greek artist Nikos Toumazatos, who studied in England, will lead the painting and drawing classes. For more information on the three courses and the excellent room rates at the hotel, which is open year-round, check out www.hotelpelops.gr.