Has anyone looked at booking from Manchester to Arillas with Manos/Thomas Cook for 2009?
Firstly the flights that are on offer with the holidays are either on a Monday, depart Manchester at 22.20 and depart Corfu at 04.50. Or on a Friday, depart Manchester at 21.30 and depart Corfu at 03.55.
Our usual flights were depart Man, 08.35, depart Corfu 13.10ish. Except this year a bit earlier so no problems, but these times for 2009 are no good to man or beast only to rip off merchants.
Also the only apartments/hotels on show to book are, Manos - Kokinos and Leonidas, Thomas Cook - Marvel Hotel, Mirage and Christos Apts on Mondays, on Fridays there is no Christos Apts, just the others.
I just hope it's me thats wrong but if i'm not, what the heck is going to happen to Arillas and the rest of the accommodation owners and other businesses because not everyone will be able to come independant.
I have tried to find my own favourite (Tria Adelphia), not a chance, neither can the local travel agent (Thompsons) they can only find the same as me, so they are waiting for the Manos brochure to come out.
I have checked the flights from most of the airports at home that TC/Manos say they are using and the majority are similar night flights, Newcastle and I think Gatwick have early morning flights.
Can someone confirm whether or not they have found the same or different?
I really want to book for next year but am reluctant to do so and am thinking of going independant if I can get a decent daytime flight.
Mick.
I hope Thomson don't change there times for 2009 from Manchester. I dont exactly know without looking, but i think about 0725 ish depart. This year has been terrible for us, all late arrive to Arillas. Also states changed from Tuesday to Monday from next year. Looking forward to an early kick off for a change. :)
riggers...
Hi Mick i have booked for next sept flying from east mids at 10.30 am then departing at 16.40 arrive back in uk at 17.50. I have got young children and i think these flights are good times. Had to pay for extra luggage though and flight supp is 45 per person. Let me no what you think. JILL
flights are on a monday
Just tried to book myself for next year staying at Dionysus 11 but no joy on either Manos or Thomas cook.Gutted we are going this Sep there again but dont know what we will do about next year, looks like Arillas is going to be losing out on a lot of regular customers. Even the flights have changed as you said to evening flights instead of the early morning. What can we do?
I seem to remember someone saying something about this and Dionyssos is now just under one section, not 1 and 2. Whatever, we need to let our individual "hosts" know that they are not in the brochures for next year because I am sure the Rainbow complex intend to be. It would be awful if people booked elsewhere because they thought their favourite accommodation wasn't available next year.
I agree with you Sandy have double checked all the accomodation on both Manos and Thomas Cook and none of the apartments on the Rainbow complex are listed. I will be talking to Jimmy and Spiros when I go I'm totally gutted as I said before.
Don't worry Sheila....I'm sure those Rainbow boys will be in the brochure. I will pm Eggy and get him to call in on them so they can check things out at their end.
Thanks for that Sandy, hope it gets sorted soon.
I've just phoned the Rainbow and spoken to Spiros. They WILL be there next year (did we doubt them?) and he is going to look into things at that end with the tour operator. So don't book anywhere else Sheila!
It was me who posted about Dionyssos I and II being marketed as one unit for 2009. We found this out while we were at the Rainbow this June because we pointed out to Jimmy & Spiro that Dionyssos II was coming up as "not available" for 2009. They investigated (as did some other regular guests) and that is what they found out.
I've checked the Manos site since 7 July when we got back and Dionyssos was available for next year.
I've just checked again and you are quite right in that both Thomas Cook and Manos sites show little or no accommodation in Arillas for next year. A website glitch perhaps?
If it is of any help, both Dionyssos and Nafsika are in Manos first edition 2009 brochure on pages 21 and 22.
Steve
Mick, as far as I know, Tria Adelphia should be in the brochure for next year. Philip said that they are giving them some of the new apartments too. (I don't know how many tho.)
thanks for that everyone, will be able to sleep soundly now knowing nothing has changed and can still get to Arillas next year.
Maggie, I phoned Philip and he said he has signed his contract with Manos for next year but he will be asking why he's not on the internet.
I have emailed Manos and am waiting for a reply, I will let everyone know what they say.
I have found better flights with other companies but will wait to see what Manos have to offer.
Keep happy, Mick.
I have just got a reply from Manos/Thomas Cook to my e-mail.
Subject
2009 holidays
Discussion Thread
Response (Lou) 28/07/2008 12.23 PM
Dear Sir / Madam
Thank you for your email.
Unfortunately I am in the pre travel services department and we are unable to deal with creating bookings but you can contact our reservations team on 0871 664 7658 and they shall assist with creating a new booking for you.
If you require any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us by phone on 0871 664 7940 - Lines are open Monday to Saturday - 8am to 8pm.
We appreciate your time and shall look forward to speaking to you in the near future.
Kind Regards
Lou
MyTravel E-mail Customer Help Desk
Thomas Cook UK and Ireland
Part of the Thomas Cook Group PLC
Customer (Michael ********) 22/07/2008 07.56 PM
(My e-mail)
Can someone please let me know how I am able to book my holiday to Corfu staying at the Tria Adelphia in Arillas. We stay there most years with your company but this year I have been unable to find it anywhere on both your internet site and Thomas Cooks, also my local travel agent has not been able to find anything. I can only find 2 places on your site and 3 on Thomas Cooks, but I really want to stop at the Tria Adelphia if possible.
Thanking you in anticipation, Michael ********.
Telephone 01*********.
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Question Reference No080722-000057
Escalation Level: Incidents outsides of SLA #1
Product Level 1: Manos
Category Level 1: Holidays
Date Created: 22/07/2008 07.56 PM
Last Updated: 28/07/2008 12.23 PM
Status: Solved
Booking reference:
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Lou says she is in the "pre travel services", I thought that would mean she sorted out the holidays before they went on sale, silly me.
They say it's solved, like ek it is. All she has done is give me a telephone number to call that will further enhance their profits at my expence.
I will try another e-mail. Mick.
Credit crunch and raising fuel prices I am afriad to say, much as after 9/11 consolidation is the only way to protect the traditional package holiday.
As with everything else its all going to cost a lot more, flights this time next year could be up to 50% more than they are now, airlines just cannot afford to operate as many flights as before, reducing costs such as this is the only way to keep these holidays affordable.
Ryanair is already feeling it, just check the news today.
have been looking at booking the akti arilla again for next june, and they are not being offered, have checked through the whole of june and july and they don't appear at all?! might have to book independantly if we cant get to our favourite place on a package.
ger x
Ger - this seems to be happening with a lot of the Thomas Cook properties. The Rainbow accommodation does not appear online, nor does Tria Adelphia and I am sure they will be available. Don't know what the problem is.
i'll keep looking then, and hassle the travel agents!!
ger x
Had another meeting today, we will be operating at a reduced capacity in 2009, less flights so naturally less properties to offer.
As I mentioned before the main contributing factor will be fuel cost but inflation and the chances of an even stronger Euro will hit us hard.
The upshot is that if bookings exceed expectaions then we can always add capacity so don't take what you see know as the be all and end all.
This is all very worrying for the property owners in Arillas....and of course elsewhere. Normally, to book an apartment at the Rainbow complex for example during school holidays you need to have booked by May for the following year. It seems strange that by the end of July people cannot even find their property listed....
Just checked here on the internal machines and all legacy TCX properties (Mirage, Marvellous and Atki) are showing as available for 2009, maybe more issues with the bookings systems or websites but they are there.
No idea about the Manos properties.
I booked our flights for next year with Avro, going from 29th June to 13th July from Birmingham, and the total cost is £514.00. This includes pre-booked seats and meals.
The total this year was was £412, so the flights are about £50 more per seat.
I did find that I that got a better price by telephoning Avro, rather than by booking online.
Our prices for the Horizion are €5.00 per day extra, for next year, but the price is for half board and not bed and breakfast.
Overall, the basic holiday will cost about £150.00 more than this year, for flight and accommodation.
This information may be useful for some people.
Only 11 months to wait :-(
That's good news for TC but Manos really need to get their act together or they will lose bookings for next year.
Hi all, got a reply from Manos for my latest e-mail.
Subject
2009 holidays
Discussion Thread
Response (Lou) 29/07/2008 11.21 AM
Dear Sir / Madam
Thank you for your email.
As previously advised, I am in the pre travel services department and we are unable to deal with creating bookings but you can contact our reservations team on 0871 664 7658 and they shall assist with creating a new booking for you.
If you require any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us by phone on 0871 664 7940.
Kind Regards
Lou
MyTravel E-mail Customer Help Desk
Thomas Cook UK and Ireland
Part of the Thomas Cook Group PLC
Customer (Michael ********) 28/07/2008 08.56 PM
(My e-mail)
What my querry is about is, do you have more than the "Kokinos" and "Leonidas" to book in Arillas Corfu in 2009. These are the only two accommodations shown on your internet site for Arillas and I have been unable to see a brochure for 2009, I have been to my local travel agency and they are unable to offer any assistance as they can only see the same accommodation as me and have not had a look at a 2009 brochure.
Please let me know either way so that I can book my holiday for next year. M ********.
It looks like I am not going to get the answer to my question, therefore I will have to use another company or companies to get my annual Arillas fix. We have used Manos since 1996 for our visits because that was when the Tria Adelphia started with them, but I refuse to use night flights, book on the overpriced phone numbers and not know how much they are going to charge me untill the end of a long phonecall.
Rant over, see Arillas soon, Mick
We have just got a Manos brochure for 2009. All the usual properties are listed and shown, the prices have gone up a bit and for the Tria Adelphia they are now charging a third person supplement for the studio's (first time ever), there is only one early flight instead of two. So there is still something to cheer about :-) . Mick
I've just done a search on Manos website and The Rainbow properties are now showing. Dionyssos I (which I think includes Dionyssos II) and Nafsika.
As you'd expect, prices are higher than this year's but at least they are available again to book for 2009.
Steve
Hi there, we have just come back from Arillas and I spoke to Jimmy at the Rainbow about booking direct and I think that they themselves are pretty much in the dark about how things wil go for 2009. At the moment I think they are waiting for confirmation from the Tour Operator regarding how many if not all apartments are allocated to them. As we wanted to assure that we got the dates we wanted ASAP we booked the Marina Apartments for next year. The family seem wonderful and so helpful. Any comments on these apartments would be much appreciated. We had a wonderful time as usual but this time we visited Mathraki Island and we loved it so much we went twice. Has anyone else been there?
Karen.
Hi jersey Bean
We have stayed in the Marina (no. 1) apt and sent a relative there as well. This is one of the properties that is situated in front of the new fancy pool. Although the interior was basic they were very spacious and you could not fault the location! What about that view to greet you every morning! Billy and family are lovely, as are Dida etc, you will love it.
Hi Jo,
I kept looking for you in Arillas as you were one of the people I remembered from this website who was over when we were. Have you just got back ? We booked the Marina because the prices were so good .
Karen.
Good news that the Manos properties are now in the brochure....and hopefully online.
Just been into TC in Cleethorpes, collected Manos brochure and all the usual appartments seem to be in it. Asked for a price for Dionysis 2 end Sept 2009. the booking code for 1 & 2 is the same but you can specify at time of booking. came home and checked on line and there does not seem to be the chance to choose which block, Dionysis 1 or 2. Also strange that at the travel agents, only 2 rooms are available already!!! are they playing poker with us?
Could not go without our fix, so going back now to book, price was the same on line but I least I know I can pick D/2 at the shop.
Nothing like being organised you two when you haven't even had this year's holiday yet!! Hope to see you in October but not booked yet....
The marketing ninja's now tell me that all Manos properties should now be available on Thomascook.com, the integration was completed at the start of this month.
im ready to book ,bonus is under the mattress itching to be spent in arillas........yammas
Go for it Kevin.....
im getting itchy feet sandy ,,,,hope you are well ,look foreward to seeing you again ...yammas