Hello all
I love Corfu especially Arillas and have booked up again for 2008, can you recommend any other Greek Islands, I've been to Pefkos in Rhodes and enjoyed that, not as green as Corfu though. Please reveal your idyllic spots.
Hi JerseySteve
Ive been to Chania in Crete. Although the place was nice, it was much more busy than Arillas. Down at the harbour there is loads of tavernas and a large shopping centre. Crete is also an arid island, not much greenery at all.
Amanda
Hi Jerseysteve.
I'm sorry but i haven't found anywhere more ideal than Arillas. Iv'e been to Zante and Crete in greece, but they was not for me.....riggers....
Leros is a small interesting island.Bit more difficult to get to than Corfu as there are no direct flights.We flew to Kos then got the ferry.Olympic do flights via Athens from London but bit off putting as we live in Scotland and means another flight down from here to London.
Thank You.
So far then we haven't come up with a paradise other than Arillas? Please try harder.
Steve
xxxx
I think PJ know's a nice place' i'll let him tell you......riggers....
Come on, lets not have secrets.
Other than Arillas we love, the Whitsundays(Oz), Krabi (Thailand), Kalami(Corfu) and Maui (Hawaii)
Your turn?
Regards Steve
Hi Everyone
While I'd put Arillas at the top of my favourite place list, I'd put Tingaki in Kos in second place.
Paid our second visit to Kos this year and stayed at the Mythos Apartments in Tingaki (Thomas Cook). Its not much bigger than Arillas, though its flat, but there are mountains behind. A one mile walk to the dunes near the salt lake give maximum sun bathing oportunities. The sea is warm and shallow at Tingaki, unlike elsewhere on the island.
Could wax lyrical for ages. Am just trying to decide whether to return to Tingaki next Autumn (having visited Arillas next May).
Best wishes & Happy Holidays
PJ
Alikes in Zante is very nice, like Arillas not very big.
Went to Alakinas (i think that's right) in Zante, seemed forever to walk to the beach. Terrible airport, horrible apt's and glad to get home....riggers....
Until this year we had always gone to Skala, Kafalonia and just loved the place. We just wanted a change and looked for somewhere like Skala and found Arillas, and now we just love Arillas.
Out of 100 I think Arillas would have 98% and Skala 97% so very close. Mounda Bay near Skala has a better beach than Arillas, but Arillas has a very special atmosphere that would be difficult to beat anywhere. The restaurants are very similar with very friendly people but Skala is being spoilt by big Hotel complexes, which is something that I hope never happens to Arillas.
TerryW
Iv'e alway's wanted to go Kefalonia Terry. If i ever get the chance i will take your advice and try Skala. It sounds really nice......riggers.....
We did'nt like Kefalonia,the 3 of us went there about 12yr ago,stayed in not bad accomodation, but there must have been something that didnt inspire us enough to return.
Ang
At risk of being controversial, jen and me went to Rhodes in 2004, staying in Afandou - a quite isolated town facing away from the sea. But we adored the uncommercialised end of Faliraki, further north, and spent most of our 2 weeks there rather than in Afandou.
As we reached the beach in Faliraki, and looked to the north, there were 5000+ sunbeds, nightclubs and even worse.... This is the subject matter of "Greece Uncovered" the notorious television series about Club 18 - 30.
But we spent our time on a well established naturist beach in Faliraki, with several local tavernas, eating taramas for breakfast, sunbathing and swimming, and generally passing the time with people who were not into all that stuff.
The next year we went to the notorious San Antonio - the subject of "Ibiza Uncovered" and found more blue rinse than blue film. Most of the people we met were much older than us (remember I reached 55 this year.)
Just goes to show that there is good in all of these places, but you like what you like, and need what you need, and can find it in most of them.
But after many many holidays in the last few years, nothing touches Arillas as far as philandjen are concerned. Corfu is our Greek Island - nothing compares.
Nothing wrong with being 55....
I agree. If i get there i will let you know!!.....riggers....
No need to be cruel riggers....
55 going on 17. Ask Costas about me dancing in the Coconut last October! And this is the start of a new chapter in our lives. I'm a recycled teenager!
with much love
Better not....he may remember me dancing in there in the early hours last summer. Have to say I am not a recycled teenager.....never had an adolescence....long story....but have made up for it since and am doing it now the first time round!! My daughter despairs of me...lol..
Sandy, our twin boys call us Patsy and Edina. I'm just not sure which one I want to be....
Absolutely Arillas!
lol
I agree with Sandy nothing wrong with 55 (I remember it well) just determined to grow old disgracefully. Any way back to the topic, has anyone been to Aegina. We loved it there but the travelling is a nightmare, ferry etc.Took us nearly 24 hours to get home, the tour operators don't tell you that bit. Been to several other Greek islands but Arillas is by far our favourite resort.
Paul
All this talk of favorite places in the greek islands has just given me a reality check...Its our silver wedding aniversary next year, and last year we had decided to go back to where we spent our honeymoon,(I seem to have lost a year) I better get on to it..Cape Sounion mainland Greece,just the one hotel on a beach over looked by posidons temple,better do a google to see if its still there.
Ang
Our first Greek holiday was nr Laganas - Zante.... Laganas was pretty awful but as we stayed about 10 mins walk away and it was our first holiday we enjoyed ourselves. We had nothing to compare it with.
Then for about 6 years after that we always went to Crete for our main holiday, met some friends that I still keep in touch with regularly even meet up with when they visit the UK. We took our daughters and have also been on our own and have made some fabulous memories. Our friends live in Aghia Marina nr Chania.. We like that end of the island as it is near some fantastic beaches like the pink sandy beach of Elafonisos (you cant get me off the beach and the lagoon is beautiful), Falasarna is brilliant too. I would go back there anytime! The other end of the Island Elounda is nice but horrible to get to from the Airport.
We have been to Samos as well which was very nice and very green but dont think I would go back.
We finally found the courage to go somewhere else and found Corfu, three years ago. We had our FIRST most relaxing holiday in Agios Gordios. A small bungalow literally 2 mins on the beach, you could roll off the verandah and you were there, like having your own private beach., we had to walk along the boards on the beach to get to the restaurants which were brilliant and the walks in the area were amazing.
Then by accident because we couldn't find the same accommodation in Ag. Gordios we found by accident Arillas and we were so glad we did. We have only been there twice but we love it. So all in all our most relaxing holidays have been in Corfu as we dont feel we need to rush about visiting places by car and dont have the great need to shop and Arillas fits the bill for that.
We dont know what we are doing next year so shall try some late holidays if we can, at least we know what we are getting and wont be disappointed.
We have been to quite a lot of the islands but no where compares to Arillas. We have been to Kefalonia and loved it but we found it more commercialised than we normally like where we were staying. We did enjoy Alikes in Zante and Myrtos in Crete, we have been to Lesbos and we loved Stegna in Rhodes which was close to Arillas but not the same! No matter where we go, we always say it's nice, but it's not Arillas. So now we just don't bother going anywhere else, why bother when you have found your perfect place. W & S : o )
Cape sounion,for or 25th is going to be expensive,however if any of you look at the site you will see how Arillas became a special place for us.
Ang
Ang, well worth it, I`m sure, and make sure you have a Happy Anniversary. xx
Wendy, you've hit the nail on its head. Whenever we've got enough money to go away we look around and end up coming to Arillas. The pyramids, Knossos, Sydney, China.... they're history. Sadly we'll never go to any of them. Sad, never say never etc - but we know that's how it is.
Maybe when we live there we'll have to work out just what a "holiday" is!
i enjoy rhodes town in rhodes
thassos town in thassos and skiathos town in skiathos
Hi
We went to Skiathos a few years ago and really enjoyed it - we stayed in a smaller resort outside Skiathos town and then got the hair raising bus ride into the main town!
Another place we really enoyed and have been a couple of times (although it is not an island!) is Parga on the mainland.
Have been to Kos but didn't really enjoy it as much as other places we have been (bit windy for us).
I would really like to try Santorini - has anybody been?
Sharon x
I've been to Kefalonia- Lassi and Katelios, Crete- Stalis, Mykonos- Mykonos Town, Lesbos- Anaxos, Skala Kalloni, Zante- Alikes, Kalamaki, Skiathos- Aghia paraveski. I would say Arillas was better than all these and the only resort I have ever returned to. Last sept went to Dalyan in Turkey and will revisit there next september as the weather is more dependable than Corfu and had a really good holiday- would recommend. Am back in Arillas in May though.
Our first holiday abroad was to the Paros. It was a lovely island but a nightmare to get to. Flying into Mykinos and then a ferry across. I would love to go back but i am sure its changed in 20 years.
have been to Zante twice. Stayed in Lagana 19 years ago and then stayed in Tsilivi about 7 years ago. We visited Lagana whilst we were there and did not recognise a single thing there apart from the beach!! It was heaving. Tsilivi was lovely, our hotel was right on the beach it was goregous.
Have been to Rhodes and stayed in Tholos. There was absolutely nothing to do there. We did like Rhodes town though.
Have lost count of the times we have been to Corfu. Started off staying in Sidari years ago and have been back 4 times. Then we stayed in Arillas twice in one year. Then Acharavi and San Stefanos.
Our favourites are definately Arillas and i also like San Stefanos.
have been to rhodes zante (we stayed in alikanes and loved it) crete kefalonia but my favourite of all was santorini, it is volcanic so the sand was black very strange sunbathing on black sand!! the sunset from the capital thira was amazing it was just a magical place to be, have been there 3 times!! but that was before i found arillas, this june will be the 3rd visit but difinately not the last!!
We're going to Santorini this year for a change.Theres just the two of us going,we're leaving all the kids at home.We've been looking at pictures on the web and because of the volcano the sand is black.does anybody know if you get dirty off it?? please dont think im stupid. cx
When we went to Tenerife a few years ago, one of the beaches there was black sand and no, you dont get dirty from it, well we didnt anyway.
Of the islands I have been to Corfu (all over), Crete (Malia), Kos (Kefalos) and Thassos(Limenaria). Corfu was my first love and none of the other islands come even close. Well, maybe Thassos is a good second :)
On the mainland I have travelled quite extensively from Alexandropoulis and Komotini in the east to Kastoria up north and all the way down to South to Patras and Athens whilst I lived in Thessaloniki. Greece is just amazingly beautiful country!
we have been to zante laganas, rhodes, kos loved them all but nothing beats arillas
we go back year after year
but missed it last year
so i have to go sometime this year
Our first Greek experience was Sidari, donkey's years ago with a pleasant apartment on the beach. The kids loved it (married now) and the whole place had a lovely feel about it. Nowadays I would rather poke myself in the eye with a sharp stick than stay in that resort!!
Paxos is a wonderful island by ferry from Corfu and Skopelos is an island we hope to return to sometime.
Pefkos in Rhodes has a loyal following not unlike Arillas, where again visitors don't seem to require sports shirts with their own names emblazoned on the back to remember who they are and from which cave they belong to.
We're fairly well travelled and have even been to Gateshead, but there's a lot to be said for returning to a familiar place to find it hasn't changed much and it ticks all the boxes.
John & Frances
We love the Greek Islands especially after we tried Lanzarote (black sand and I am sorry to say I hated it). I think most of the greek islands must be much of a muchness as the saying goes but we do love Western Crete and have now fallen in love with Corfu which is much greener I think.
Agree with you blondegirl that Greek Islands have a certain similarity. However each one seems to have a character of its own.
Thought that Crete was very interesting. We stayed at Elounda and the beaches round there were not much to write home about. However we found the beach at Malia absolutely wonderful - several miles of golden sand and warm sea. (Pity about all the quad bikes in that area though.
Mentioned on the first page of this thread that we were thinking of following our May holiday in Arillas with an autumn holiday back in Kos.
We've now booked two weeks in Tingaki in September back at the Mythos apartments which we found so good last year. We are looking forward to the splendid beach and the oportunity to sunbathe (as nature intended) down near the salt lake.
All the best
PJ
We have stayed in Plaka opposite Spinalonga island nr. Elounda. We had a lovely holiday but the beach in Plaka has large pebbles and Elounda had a small beach, nice harbour though. My favourite beach which I have mentioned before was Elafonisos..Pink sand in a lagoon, about 1.5 hrs from Chania. Its worth the drive as it goes through a gorge and has wonderful bendy hair raising roads and fantastic scenery. Also Falasarna which has about 3 beaches, all almost white sand and great place to swim. I wouldnt say its ideal for kids though as it can get very windy and the sea shelves quite quickly so you can get out of your depth. Apart from Arillas these are the nicest beaches we usually go back to if we can.
We have been to most of the Canary islands - and didn't rate any of them. Have been to Majorca and Ibiza and liked certain parts of the islands. I dont think you can beat Greece though. The hospitality of the Greeks is so different to the Spanish. Also there the food....... unlike Spain - spanish food consist of paella!
We are off to Sorrento this year in September and am really looking forward to it. I still hope we manage to get to Arillas in June though!!
how about gavdos the forgotten islandhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7205519.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7205519.stm)
Reading the link was really interesting.. thanks for that!
Carol
we went to Santorini about 5 years ago, fantastic place, it was very hot (June) and no problem with the black sand, it brushes off just like any other colour. The bus service was very good, no need to hire a car. We will go again.
Mick
This June we are going to a small island called Halki it's north of Rhodes by ferry. We should enjoy it because like Arillas, people keep coming back year after year so it must have something going for it. At the moment we are having to wait until end September to get our Arillas fix unless a late booking turns up.
Mick
M n M... just googled Halki... it looks lovely, very quiet and small... not an easy, straightforward trip to make by the looks of it, but I expect once you have done it a couple of times you know what to expect and it all becomes part of the holiday experience. I read a very good report from a guy who has been there for the last 20 years, very helpful information for the journey I thought. Looks like you will have a really good time on that little Greek Island.
Mick it looks gorgeous you will have to tell us what it's like next time we meet in Arillas xx
Blondegirl
just one big problem now, flights, from this year there is only one early flight from Manchester to Rhodes, we are going from LBA, the flight which was 0700hrs now its 1650hrs depart and the ferry leaves Rhodes at 1600hrs. There are only about 4 or 5 early flights now from the whole of GB now since Thomas Cook took over most of the flights to Rhodes, so a lot of people are not happy. The one saving grace is, if you have over 8hours wait for the ferry you are put up in an hotel for the time and as the next ferry is at 1430 the following day it means after a kip we will be able to have a quick look around, a bite to eat and a few ouzo's and maybe a beer then a nice ferry ride to Halki.
Mick
Sharon
I will send you an email and if I can work out how to send pictures I will
C U Mick
ps, 36 years today and I did not forget her.
Thanks for your replies claire and Mick.We're really looking forward to this holiday,its our first with NO kids.We will miss Arillas but im sure we'll be back a.s.a.p.take care, cx
Mick do you mean it was your Anniversary? Congratulations, wow, 36 years. Give Mary a hug for me and one for you too xx
Congratulations on your 36th. Great stuff. We secretly celebrated our 35th in Arillas last year. Hope you have a great anniversary.
Our 35th was last year too which was made special in Arillas
Sometimes I think we should have got married in the summer time, but when you snuggle up in the cold it can be fun ;-). Things went great and we are looking for somewhere warm for 2 weeks maybe Cyprus or Malta again.
Quote from: carol on January 26, 2008, 11:11:35 PM
We're going to Santorini this year for a change.Theres just the two of us going,we're leaving all the kids at home.We've been looking at pictures on the web and because of the volcano the sand is black.does anybody know if you get dirty off it?? please dont think im stupid. cx
hi carol have just read this, not a silly question at all, no you don't get dirty from the black sand, but it's more like grit and can be quite sharp to walk on, it also gets very hot, so some beach shoes would be handy. hope that helps!
ger
Yes I agree with Ger. You do need beach shoes.and the sand is mostly grit with pebbles. But you dont get dirty!!!!
We went about 8 years ago and loved it. It was our first holiday minus children and is ideal for couples.
A visit to Thira is a must as the views are breathtaking.It can be pricy there as they cater for the cruise ships (especially Americans)cocking there. However you can find places set back which are reasonably priced.
I would also recommend the sunset cruise. It was such a special trip I will never forget it. The views from sea looking back at the twinkling lights of the island were magical(had me in tears )But book it up through tourist info shop and not rep as it much cheaper.
Would love to go back there one day. Pauline x
Well we have booked a week in Tigaki on P.J.s recommendation. We are going on October 15th so will be there for my Birthday and it will seem really stange not to be with Dimitris and family but P.J. makes it sound so nice we thought we would give it a try. Im sure we will be back home in May 2009.lol. Viv
I didnt know where Tigaki was Viv, so Googled it. It looks fabulous with all that white sandy beach. You should have a lovely time.
Love the new photo bg
Thanks... I have tried for ages to find one that will download.
BG you did it, great photo. I had to get Terry to do mine, i'm hopeless, so big thanks to Terry for getting my photo back on x
Hi
Glad you are trying Tingaki, Viv. Weather was great in 2007 for us in October, so let's hope the same goes for 2008.
Beach is great, miles of soft sand, shallowish warm water, and the usual Greek hospitality.
However think Arillas just has the edge on it, and am pleased to say we are there in May and in Tingaki in September - hooray!
Best wishes
PJ