2008 was our 1st and only visit so far to Arillas and we found it a truely magical place. Before our trip we like many had a good few weeks play around with the site even booking a table at our hosts wonderful restaurant. We joked that many people on the site seemed a little 'obsessed' with the place and we could never get like that about a little place in Greece. Anyway many of you may remember we had a few problems on our holiday, but despite this we have heaped praise on the resort in many topic threads since.
However it was not until reading what Dimitris was saying about the beach and that tomorrow the 1st May was when the first package holiday makers would be arriving that I suddenly realised I was (without knowing it until now) one of the 'obsessed'. :-)Me and Caz are gutted that we won't be back in 2009 as we have booked to go to Crete and simply don't have the cash or time for another trip. I never thought I could fall for somewhere quite like I have for little Arillas, but there you go. There is something special about the place which just does not stand out. The place just gets to you and pulls you back. Roll on 2010
Gaz
Hear Hear!!
Phil
Barry and I never go back to the same place twice, but we visited Arillas in May/June 2007 and were hooked! Our youngest daughter got married in 2008 so an expensive year, but we're back again this year! Yippee! 8 days to go....
Lucky you Janis, please leave some postes when you get home and let us know what its like at the start of the 2009 season.
Gary
Hi all!
I feel another video coming! My 'May 2009 slide show'. Only a week to go. Can't wait to see how the place has changed/not changed, and get some new angles. I'm hooked and keep trying to explain why to all my friends and family. Good friends, good food, great scenery and that Arillas hospitality and magic that can't be explained!
Yammas,
Martin.
Janice,
Like you we would never go back to the same place twice, little bit of a lie, we did return to Skiathos 15 years after our first holiday there. Anyway this year will be our 4th year in Arillas, HOOKED you bet. Can't wait for our September Fix.
Paul
GazCaz, I thik that the fact that you are hooked on Arillas after the horrendous problems you had says a great deal about how fabulous Arillas is. It just goes to show that you should always give things a second chance, be it bad meals, bad donut-buying or whatever!! Good on you for keeping an open mind, i'm not so sure that I would have done the same!
I try not to bore y'all by posting twice on same thread, but usually fail. And I have again...
Jo sums it up -
Quotehow fabulous Arillas is.
I would never admit to my obsession before I met Eggy, and believed I was the only one who felt like this. "Died and gone to heaven." Never used to go anywhere twice - there is so much to see in the world, and so little time. Why go back?
But we went back to Arillas the next year, with friends in tow. Jen got ill with mozzie bites and we stayed away for 3 years as a result. MISTAKE. But then she was the one who dragged us back. Like me she was besotted in spite of the problems, now solved.
Gaz says it
QuoteI suddenly realised I was (without knowing it until now) one of the 'obsessed'.
I can't tell you why a tourist developed fishing village in NW Corfu has this effect on so many, but it does. 80 people have signed up as Arillas Addicts on Facebook. There are many more.
I am no longer a closet Arillas Addict.
Phil
Hi, Gaz. We feel the same- can`t put our finger on it, but the place has a magnetic quality to it. I don`t think it`s an age thing either, cos lots of youngsters love the place too. If anyone knows what the magic ingredient is, please let me know.
To quote myself- `Arillas is the perfect antidote to life`s stresses and strains`.
Yammas Paul D
Maybe its like the island in 'Lost'! I for one wouldnt mind being stranded indefinitely :-)
Ooh yes, me too Jo. What a great fantasy! :-)
My wife and I first visited Arillas in May 2007, and we fell madly in love with both each other all over again, and also Arillas...
We're not sure why, it must be something in the air/water/beer/sun/friendship/food/atmosphere...
Once we got home, after our first visit, the very next mornming we booked our next trip, last year, when we bough our 4 yesr old son with us. A different type of holiday, butr just as good as the first visit, if not better.
In 1 month, 1week and a day we'll be boarding the thomas Cook plane for another Arillas holiday... this time we're coming for 2 weeks...
I know that we're going to enjoy the whiole Arillas thing.
See you in June.
Aaaah! That's a really lovely story Tubedude! :-)
Hope you have a great time this year :-)
completely understand how you feel Gaz... we are missing Arillas this year (not by choice) and going to Cornwall (not the same I know) but still check the site out to catch up on the news... next year though by hook or by crook we shall be in Arillas!!!
In the same boat as you Blonde Girl re: Arillas 2009 - not sure if, when we can make it this year due to outside circumstances etc.
It feels so funny - but it may happen & you know me, always the eternal optimist :-)
On another note, although Cornwall is not quite the same, I bet you have a cracking time :-)
BeckyB xx
I must say I love this article. I am also one of the obsessed. I like to travel to different places and to experience new things but Arillas just has something magical about it. I can relate to so many things that other people have posted on here. Last year, my wife and I had one of those holidays when we just fell in love with each other again. I have problems trying to explain to people why is it that I keep returning? People accuse me of being boring especially this year as are coming there twice. I am one of those people that people either love or hate and as a result I can be a little stand offish. I have not made a lot of long lasting friendships and I am not on first name terms with people but that is what makes Arillas so perfect, it's not like a select club where you feel as though you're not part of it. Arillas is so welcoming it is the perfect holiday and I'd move there if I could.
That was really nice Mick... know exactly what you mean! Even if you share it with other people it can still become "your own special place".
Hi All
Weird isnt it myself and Leigh first came to Arrilas in May07 wasnt the best weather and after having a 3 hour journey from the airport we thought we know we booked a cheapy but there is nothing here. We had a week of how can i put it stress free bliss, like most of you we never normally go back to the same place twice. We booked again and went back for another week in September, then took the mother in law in June 08 and the kids and grandkids in September all loved the place and the thunderstorm in September last year was something to see beleive me. But here we are we arrive again for 2 weeks in 2 weeks time and then another 2 weeks in September. So are we all mad or have we all found what we think is heaven on earth?
It is really weird how we all feel the same way is there something in the bottled water, or the meatballs @ Brouklis?
Anyway Im blabbering on now and Ive only got 10 more sleeps before we go ( i sound liek a 4year old and not a 45 year old)
HOOKED you bet
We took a cheap deal in 2007 just to have a break after my transplant
could not wait to book again went in May & July 2008
will be back again in July
Yes took the bait and was well and truly HOOKED
I'm the same. I tell myself I must go somewhere differant but when I sit on my balconey I think why. I look at the brochures and realise that what I'm looking for is everything that Arilas is. When my husband couldn't come with me this year I was gutted and then my daughter said she'd come for a week.
My husband and I are going to Spain later in the year, he's missing the thought of Arilas but will have to wait for it til next year.
June
It's not just the adults who feel this way. We have been to Arillas for the last four years in a row. Originally on our own, but more recently accompanied by the in-laws & also by my sister & her crew.All have loved the place. This year though I thought we ought to consider somewhere else, just for a change. My teenage daughter though had other ideas, informing me that if I made her go anywhere else she would make my holiday a misery! So we are back in July, & I can't wait.
Wetty
Its weird, we went all the way back in 1995 on a cheapie ansd loved it. The next year we returned but somehow felt that something was missing. the following year we went to Halkidiki but spent the whole hol comparing so ended up returning the following year, and every year since( with the exception of the year I had the twins). I really do think that Arillas has a special magic.
Well its good to know we are not the only barn-pots out there :-) This time last year we had 5 weeks to go till our holiday. I would even put up with the problems again simply to have the same feeling when we left. Caz's parents are Arillas bound in a couple of weeks, does anyone know if you can get a six foot bloke in a suitcase?
Only if you chop him up first, Gaz.