Hello all.
We've just returned home today (13th October) and its time to share my holiday in Arillas with you all. First of all I want to thank all of you for your input before we went as we were Arillas newbies and much information which proved invaluable to us was gleaned from the pages of this fantastic web site. I must thank Dimitri at this point for taking the time and trouble to run this site , and to say how impressed we all were with his taverna the brouklis. We only ate there once as we were a group of six and had to cater for everyones needs but the food was nothing short of superb, and meeting Dimitri himself was wonderfull. What a well mannered, articulate, and friendly guy he is. I can wholeheartedly recomend the brouklis as a must for anyone who has not been.OK onward, The Kaloudis village was a real suprise after the coments we had seen here. To be honest I was expecting the worst ,but we could not have been more suprised. Firstly the studio accomodation we were given was lovely, Although it was a one room job there was plenty of room for two adults, the cooking facilities which consisted of a small worktop oven/grill with one small and one large electric hob was a little outdated and cooking a breakfast of bacon eggs and beans took ages, however we weren't paying for the Ritz so I feel that was fine, in fact it was fun. At one point we cooked a breakfast for six which consisted of bacon, eggs, omelletes, eggy toast, sausages, potatoe cakes, toast, and beans, I cant imagine what the other guests thought as we ran from one studio to another with various bits of the brekkie which was ultimatley served on our balcony, accompanied as it was by the fire alarms in all three apartments going off at various times throughout the proceedings .These alarms are always going off by the way I set mine off at 5.30 am on our first morning making toast, Howdy neighbors!
The beds were interesting as they are very very firm, but the funny thing is everyone in our group slept better on them than they did at home so full marks there.
The shower curtain was prone to caress you in its clammy grasp every shower time and didnt stem the flow of water onto the bathroom floor, but there is a drain in the floor anyway so its not a problem. The only gripe I have , and its one you need to know about, is that you get one toilet roll when you arrive and thats it, the rest you have to buy, also you have to provide your own soap as well , its only 2 euros for six rolls but isnt that odd?. Anyway I mentioned it to the rep and she had a word but to no avail. The thing is theres a sign in every room telling you that kaloudis must provide you with soap and loo rolls, Oh well I guess thats the Greek way.
The maid service is OK but they dont work sundays and we only got the bedding changed twice a week but to be fair that was ok for us but maybe not for everyone.They worked their way through the studios from about 9.00am till about 6.00pm so its pot luck what time they arrive but they never disturbed us before noon so no prpblems there.
The supermarket on site is very well stockd even though it was end of season, the prices were about the same as elsewhere in Arillas so we did most of our shopping there. Its run by the owners of the studios Christoph and his wife Roula, hes very quiet to the point of ignoring your thank yous, but Roula is lovely, she really makes you feel at home, and will do anything for you. For example on the third day I bought some provisions and realised my money was in the apartment, I told her I would leave the goods and go for the money but she wouldn't hear of it even though it was for about 20 euros, she insisted I take them and pay whenever I was passing. How nice was that?
Now things get a little strange because we come to the facilities, The first thing you want to do after settling in and buying a few groceries is visit the pool and its bar, Ok the pool and bar do not belong to Christoph and Roula, they belong to Christoph's brother BILLY notice I type his name in capitals, you'll learn why later, now it appears that BILLY(THE GREEK) as he likes to be known has semi retired and now rents the pool and bar and surrounding gardens to wait for it Billy(the kid) and his lovely wife Pipina, who are the most friendly couple of people its been my pleasure to meet. Even though they operate the bar from 8.00 am till the early hours seven days a week they always give 110%. Billy the kid has a full time job as well so his brother Jimmy fills in when he cant be there, and between them and a lady who helps in the kitchen they somehow manage to provide a really first class service, both on food and drink.I would just like to say at this point that contrary to what I have read on this site the prices are not expensive. We were paying 2.50 euros for an ouzo with mixer, and the same for a large beer, the cheapest we found for the same drinks in Arillas was 2 euros in the Malibu bar but the ouzo was only half the size, in fact I was charged 7 euros for an ouzo and coke in one of the tavernas on the sea front so work it out for yourself. Anyway back to Billy the kids bar The pool is free to everyone as are the loungers and there is a massive selection food wise including Greek food as well as the usual fare, plus entertainment every night usually provided by BILLY THE GREEK Now we come to the reason why I type his name in capitals, its because hes very vocal, you can hear him in San Stefanos, but what a guy, hes so funny. I guarantee he will have you in stitches wether hes talking to you or someone else a mile away. Im going to sign off now but I will continue with part two as soon as I am able, if anyone is interested that is, so do let me know if you want to hear more, so till later then
adio
Smifco
i am at kaloudis at the moment, this looks a mammoth fofum.will have to read when iget home.
sorry about some of the spelling.
Hey Riggers tell Billy the kid and Pipina in the bar that neil sends his regards, and tell him you can have that free drink that he owes me (lol) When did you arrive we left on Friday tea time
regards
Smifco
Hi Everyone especially Smifco
Thanks for the review - part I. Am looking forward to the next installment. My wife and I are booked in for May 2008, so all information and tips are welcome.
You seem to have enjoyed your holiday and its good to have the impressions of a first time Arilas visitor.
Keep up the good work
Regards
PJ
we arrived at 9.30 pm. having a great time so far.
Smifco
That's a great reveiw and a pleasure to read. - Do another and I'll be one of the many reading about it.
Negg
Thanks for the interest in my review guys, especially Eggy whom I regard as a sort of elder statesman of Arillas (the elder bit goes with statesman not Eggy)
To PatrickJohn, You wont be dissapointed in May I'll reveal more soon , possibly today if I can, and it will help you to get the most from your holiday. We need people to review their hols on here as information soon becomes outdated, I know that a lot of things had changed at Kaloudis since I researched it on here.Perhaps we could build up an up to date data base on accomodation in Arillas?. I know we have this category on this site but if I wanted to go to say The marina to update any info there is no single category for it. I would have to fnd a post and add to it but it may have been written 12 months ago so no one would see it. Any thoughts Dimitri?.
Anyway it simply remains for me to say Adio till later, missing Arillas like hell, but such is life eh
Neil (smifco)
Hi Smifco,having stayed at Kaloudis approx 4 times your review was spot on with the accomodation and to be honest the Kaloudis has not changed much over a period of 12yrs with the exception of BILLY THE GREEK going in to semi retirement.I did like your bit about cooking breakfast as that brought back fond memories of when we used to stay there when my daughter was younger,I always made a breakfast/brunch for the 3 of us a few times over a 2 week holiday and it some how tasted so much better.
Always had to provide your own toilet paper and yes I remember the clingon shower curtain very well.
Im glad you enjoyed Kaloudis and more so Arillas lets hope you return many more times and become one of the Arillas addicts like the rest of us on this forum.
Keep posting
Ang
Yes Ang I am hooked on Arillas but unfortunatly Weve already booked two hols for next year as we didnt expect Arillas to be so good so unless we win the lottery it looks like we'll have to wait till 2009, but I want to keep up with things so I will be visiting this site regularly from now on. Guess youve got another Arillas addict to contend with.
Just one little thing while Im here, I got bitten by the mossies on both legs,and this caused my lower legs and ankles to swell, then I cut my toe getting into a boat from the sea. The swelling has almost gone on my left leg but its getting worse on my right which is the one with the cut, and the toe is a bit blue and painfull, although the cut has healed. I will be seeing my doctor next week but I just wondered if anyone else has suffered anything similar, perhaps someone might have a bit of advice for me?. Oh by the way the swelling goes down at night and builds up during the day.
Thanks to all
Smifco
Great review, smifco. All apartments are the same as regards toilet roll. (also the shower curtains). All part of the fun tho!!!
Lovely reports. Next time I`m there, I`m going on G&T. Quinine is sposed to help!
smiffco glad you had a good time,the greek way is weird but wonderful, we prefer to buy our own t/paper as the sand paper gets you after a few days ,glad to hear you like a ouzo or two ,join the club ...yammas
Excellent review smifco,i can relate to all of it especially the shower curtains that want to love you (lol).Given the chance i would be back there in a blink of an eye,we loved it there.
Enjoyed your review smifco, look forward to the next instalment!
I think in every appt you need to buy your own toilet roll after the first one has gone, also soap too. Our shower curtain when we stayed at Bardis studios loved us too, all part of the Greek way!
What a great posting smifco. Thanks Viv
Thanks for taking the time to write that great review Smifco. Look forward to the next instalment. Always interesting to read about somewhere that you haven't stayed.
I beg to differ about the loo rolls, have only stayed in one place in Arillas where you had to provide your own. Eleni at Irene Villas supplies a spare pack of six (top quality!) together with a couple of rolls of kitchen paper and I certainly didn't have to buy any when staying at Brouklis!!
Fiona
Hi
On the great loo roll debate I'd like to add my pennyworth. After several Greek island visits we started bringing British loo rolls with us, but have now stopped because more and more apartments provide replacements.
Have just got back from the very good Mythos Apartments in Tingaki, Kos. There were three spare loo rolls, plus one in a holder (another bonus to get a holder eh?). Not only that but the bathroom was fitted out with Ideal Standard stuff. However the usual narrow pipework restriction applied with a little bin in the corner for the used loo paper.
Personally while I prefer good old UK plumbing am prepared for a little 'inconvenience' for the charm and wonder of a great Greek holiday in Arilas.
Best wishes
PJ
Hi Smifco, hows the toe?? have you been to the doc's yet? when I was there in july I got bit on my elbo and my whole arm swelled up had to visit the medical center there in arillas and the doc said that I had an allergic reaction,must say this was not the first time I have had a reaction to a bite but a bit of a worry when your arm baloons up.
Hope you get the legs and toe sorted.
Ang
Well Ang The toes still a funny blue colour but the swellings gone down now HOWEVER and this is true by the way I dont know wether the swelling has gone down on my 21 year old sons bites yet, as he wont tell us but lets just say his bites were in a very very sensitive place and it made us all very giggly when we found out. Anyway glad the first part of the review went down well and part 2 will be posted on Friday or maybe Saturday Ah well thats the Greek way , See you all then
Smifco
Hi all,
We stayed at the Kaloudis this year, and had the most wonderful time. Although this was our 2nd time in Arillas it was our 1st time at the Kaloudis. We thought the complex was absolutely wonderful. Everything was kept wonderfully clean, the gardens are immaculate, and the cleaners work non-stop and are always so cheerful. Unfortunately we had already booked our 2008 holiday before we went to the Kaloudis, but will definitely be going back in 2009. Arillas has a charm all of its own no matter where you stay.
loved reading your reveiw it was great
We read your post with a great deal of understanding. In 2003, Jen had 17 mossie bites lanced and still has the scars. It was our second visit, and we didn't go back until this year, four years later. We realised that night time nets were not the answer - she was getting bitten early evening whilst sat eating in tavernas.
This year we experimented and with great success. She wore pop-sox from early evening (under very feminine floaty trousers) and smothered her legs in "jungle strength" repellant (from Boots on the High Street) and didn't take a single bite the whole week. Others were covered in bites.
We went back in October, and she used arm band repellants instead of the jungle juice, but still covering her feet and ankles with pop-sox. Same result - no bites at all.
We are Arillas addicts, and are now planning to move there, since we now know we have overcome this problem. It is our favourite place in the world, and we have made some wonderful friends. It is the people who make it what it is. Enjoy!
Phil
I had to resort to fly spray!
Had to take aerosols upon aerosols of jungle formula, but the little b..............s still managed to give me the odd nibble....riggers
PJ, there`s places to buy toilet paper. The bin in the corner is a good enough repository.
Hi Smifco
I was very please to read about your stay at the Kaloudis. We have been staying there for years, the first time was in 1987 and we have never in all those years had need to complain. The place is absolutely immaculate. We will be back in 2008, no doubt about it.
Mango