Hi, everyone. Phil has mentioned loads of forum members who were in Arillas the same time as him and Jen. I was just wondering that, how much financially forum members would contribute as a total to the Arillas economy.
Anyone like to take a guess.
Best Wishes Paul D
I would like to think we do a lot Paul... lets hope we can do the same next year!
Paul, it is why we book our accommodation direct. We can't bear the idea that our money adds to the corporate profits of the Tour Operators instead of the pockets of our Greek hosts. We all want to afford the time out there, but if it's the same price or less than the package, the locals benefit and you lose nothing.
This year was as predicted. A few were doing well, but the money spent in the venues was a fraction. To quote Angela, this year was S**t. Even the two remaining bars were struggling. As an individual you can't alter it, but you will see the demise of our favourite place unless you make your contribution. Jen and me did our bit, as you have read.
Let us all hope 2009 will be successful
Phil
Hi Paul
Interesting question that ! - I'll take a stab at the answer.
1. The forum has 1860 members, of which, I would say 20% is "deadwood".
2. Based on 2007 figures, I think, about 15% of members visited with their families.
So, this year, using the same figures I calculate around 240 members + families who visit between May and Oct. - Possibly 360 people including children.
Split over a 6 month season we have 15 members/family per week. I would think Arillas needs about 500 bodies here each week to keep the economy healthy and Tavernas/Hotels/Bars etc operating profitably. So we end up with the figure of 3.00%.
( I'm prepared to be shot down in flames on these calculations! )
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Anyway , Arillas has had yet another fine day of sun and with a warm sun and cool breeze I consider it good "tanning weather" without being overheated.
We're sitting here on 22 deg in the shade , at 6:30 pm, at the mo and a nice 21 deg in the house, without heating on!
A very quiet Arillas, but it is the 11th Oct. Using the above figure of 3% and, taking into account that i know 8 forum plus family here now, this means that Arillas has an approx visitor turnout of 240 people. - Does sound a bit low though.
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On a lighter note, and taking into consideration that all these "workings out" have given me a headache, I have to say -
"Phil - your posting was a breath of fresh air to read."
I bumped into white van man today, parked in a layby, bawling his eyes out.
" I have nothing of interest to tell people now " - he said
" How do I get through the winter?"
( I then noticed a large piece of red meat spying on me from behind an olive tree so left very quickly ) - Hmmmmm!
From a winding down Arillas I bid you all -
Kalenichta! - (Ta Ta for non greek speakers)
Negg
I agree Phil ideally it is better to go independant as I did in May it was probably a little more expensive than a package, that wasn't the accomodation, it was the flight. In September the only reason why we came packaged was because for the dates I wanted the only flight I could get and they wanted a wapping £700. I had tried with XL, thankfully now they had nothing. It was exciting anyway doing it independant ,ringing around then organising the flight and taxi and would like to do that again, but unfortunately and I hate to say this if a package turns out to be much cheaper then that's what I would have to do
Take Care
Mary
Thanks both Eggy and Mary
that was my point - like ecofriendly, you don't always have to follow the sheep. But when the last minute package is cheaper than the flight only, you don't have a choice. We did that last October.
As for the calculations Eggy, Gollum would have agreed with you "my precious." Like all of us, the white van man will recover. WE WILL BE BACK!
love to both
Phil
Some good points Phil..
but don`t forget that the owners of the Hotels that are tied to the tour operators also have to make a living... so a good mix of independent & private is what is needed...I think Arillas would struggle to survive in its present stae if all the tour ops pulled out....so don`t matter how we get there so long as we do...
Phil, I just loved your post.
When we were at the Akti, we met 3/4 couples that were staying there, one that were staying somewhere else, that had booked with XL(via travel agents) to go to other places, in the middle of sept. They had to rebook with travel agents and they had all ended up in Arillas. They all loved it and were really pleased they came here and will come back again. So there are advantages and disadvantages as with everything, no matter how we get there, as long as we are there, in Arillas in the tavernas and places to stay.
Billys brother is in Corfu this week, staying just outside of Sidari. He has rung 3 times this week and each time he was in Arillas. They love it, he has gone there with his wife, mother in law, and son, (2).
Sharon x
hi kes and sharon
Jen and me want Arillas to stay the same forver. We know that is impossible, but we aren't alone. Dimitris and his new family are doing their best to make the village wake up to that need. So many thanks to him.
We know that the mix of tour operators and independent is the key. Some owners couldn't survive without them. I will never change my view though - some of them cease trading, never pay the locals at all and they end up in liturgation. We know of one case right now.
Heaven can be quite a hard place to be...
Phil
Quote from: justphil on October 11, 2008, 09:57:45 PMHeaven can be quite a hard place to be...
We have to remember that this is only the heaven on earth run by us mere mortals *sigh* :)
To stick my verbal oar in the conversation; I favour the independent way every time because it is convenient for me, and secondly the cash I spend around the village with accommondation, food and drink goes directly to the person who's hand I place it in, as it should.
This year our (just the 2 of us)total spend for 1 week in Arillas was £1100,okay this did include the extra £250 we paid for our choice of moving accomodation,the money was spent in the main in Arillas,the taxis were booked via Olga's Travel,the Quad via Olga and the rest was distributed between several bars , eateries and a few local supermarkets, for us thats the norm and we like to think we have contributed to the local ecconomy.
Ang
Even when you go package, it is true you contribute to the local economy, we too spent most of our money in Arillas, the bars, resteraunts hire care and gifts to bring home and the gorgeous dress and tops I bought from Yiotas shop. I plan to also come back in May, hopefully independant, but living in the North East, Newcastle airport doesn't have the choice of flight to Corfu the likes of Gatwick and Heathrow do. So although I may have to only do package I like to think I am helping local businesses
Love
Mary
Mary like you we live in Newcastle and the flights aren't the best especially now XL has gone bust. We always go independent but this year got a package deal, it was so cheap we couldn't turn it down. Glad we did as even though we have been going to Arillas for years we had never gone into Rainbow previously, our grandson now says he doesn't want to stay any where else but that could be down to the chocolate spread sandwiches they were feeding him. We spend an average of £1000 during the week and that is all spent in the village, very seldom have we gone into Corfu Town.
Phil bet you and Jen kept Arillas thriving during your 4 weeks stay ha ha ha, can just see you now doing the circuit.
Jill
Hi All!
I would agree with the comments made so far. Last May I travelled 'independant' and ok it cost more but it also gave me a lot more flexability. Choice of the local airport, Cardiff CWL, which I think is under used and has good facilities, it also saves a five hour journey to 'London' airports and the cost of travel to them, which if you add to the cost of a 'cheap' flight, there is not a lot of difference. My meal on the plane was included and the baggage allowance was a generous 23kg.
I too used the local taxi, booked by Dorita and I had a good transfer both to and from the Bardis Sun Hotel and the airport. I paid for my 'keep' in pounds stirling so Dorita could get the best exchange rate. That was all for her and none to a tour operator!
I had several conversations with Dimitris about the state of the economy in Arillas. He brought up an interesting point. Its great to have the old regulars like me (60 this year on the 7th. October) but we need more younger guests to 'continue the flow' for the future. I spent all my dosh in Arillas and had a very enjoyable time 'helping the economy'.
There does also seem to exist an attitude that Corfu is no longer 'the place to go' at travel agents, as they attempt to sell more lucrative venues in more 'exotic' locations. Flights are also less frequent and less choice than they used to be.
I have shown my photos to lots of people, who in general, are very impressed with Arillas and all my relatives have a copy of 'My Arillas 2008 slide show' as featured on this website and youtube! I try to do my best to advertise to others what they are missing.
I am already planning my next trip to my favorite resort. Flight from Cardiff with Thomsonfly in May 2009 is around £345, up £100 compared to this year. I will ring Dorita and book direct with her again and also the taxi as before. Maybe this year I will find someone to 'taxi share'. Some of my relatives have suggested they would like to come with me and make up the numbers with me as their guide, that would be great!
I think that Arillas is my ideal holiday location. I wouls hate to see it alter and become commercial. Its such a friendly, beautiful and relaxing place. As members of the website 'club' we can all do out bit to encourage others to 'check it out'. Hopefully, they will also become regulars.
Yammas,
Martin.
I feel the same Martin... our holiday this year was probably the cheapest by far booking independently and with Dorita.. the taxi fares are a bit of an extra but to us it is a bit of "luxury" as we dont smoke and we dont drink a lot (although we do eat a fair bit!!) but I think it is still cheaper.. (we dont buy much either as it is the same in all the shops, although Mike does buy his belts and I have to get something from the jewellery shop and some prezzies too)....we actually came home with money this year something we rarely do.
So we hope to do as this year, book with EJ and Dorita, she books the taxi and hey presto its all done and dusted and we are almost there, well we can dream..
Hi,everyone. Next year, we`ve gone for a package deal with Thomson. Cost of holiday is £635 for the both of us. Admittedly we are flying from Gatwick- only because our preferred choices of Cardiff or Bristol were too expensive. To go from Bristol, Thomson required an additional £200 EACH.
So even tho going from Gatwick(at the expense of getting there), we are saving money. That`s even allowing for night in hotel with parking. The spare cash we have will no doubtedly be spent on the locals.
I think this price is pretty good-- but how do they justify so much extra to go from a regional airport?
Paul D
Hi Paul d and blondegirl,
I have also wondered why the excessive surcharge on 'local' airports. I have also found a 'double whammy' as far as I am concerned. A large charge for the local airport and another for a 'single' booking. A lot of tour operators are reluctant to book singles. Their websites come up with nothing available for these dates all through the season! When you find one that will book you, it's usually a few notes short of a package for two. If you ask for a 2 sharing there's always room. Its a total rip off. Thats why initially I started to go independant. Then I realised how much the hotellier got from the package deal and would now like to make sure they get all the cash!
I think the landing charges at local airports are set by the area's local authority. I know that Cardiff is one of the most expensive in the U.K. hence the fees are passed onto the customer. There have been a lot of commings and goings of various companies from Cardiff because of this, perhaps someone in the know can explain how the charges work to the rest of us!
Yammas,
Martin.
Martin/Paul, at last some more peeps who agree that Cardiff is an expensive airport, however we all have to pay that little bit extra for convenience and thats something we dont mind, long car journeys are a no no for us now and have been for a few years.
Dont mind Birmingham airport, if we get an early flight as I do that journey a cpl of days a week and hubby can have a snooze on the way up but as I mentiond in another post we had to cancel our plans for september as the flights from Cardiff were too much and Birmingham didnt have good flight times,that said we have every intention of getiing back again next year anytime from may to july or even aug...got to get our fix,15yrs and we only missed in 2001 and 2002.... oops sorry and 1998
Ang
Hi,everyone. I,too, wouldn`t mind going independent allowing our money to be spent on local hoteliers. But if I save on a package deal, then my contribution to Arillas will higher.
What is important is that we continue to support our `magical` place as much as we can. I for one will urge people who have not been to Arillas, to do so. I`ve managed to convince friends of ours to try it and they will be travelling with us next year. More income for the locals should encourage them to continue trading in Arillas and not go anywhere else.
Best Wishes Paul D
Over the years we have taken 3 of our Daughters and our Grandson. One Daughter feels that Arillas is more home than here now and has stayed and worked at Portofino in a previous season. One Daughter now goes there with her own family and our Grandson won't entertain going any where else for a holiday.
When we were over in September we were talking ot the owner of the Akti, he told us that the tour operator only pays him 6 Euro per night bed and breakfast per tourists, that is shocking!
I am not suprised Jill. Have heard similar stories from others. It is why I always rant on about it. I know that some owners want the added security of a Tour Operator and that is just fine. But 6 euros??? It's a disgrace.
BTW thanks again for the pictures. Have posted them in our month report and lots of good replies about them.
Take care
love
Phil
6 euros is disgraceful... they have to pay all the staff out of that... how can they survive - it's ridiculous when you think of how much they charge for hotels or even self catering in the uk and you dont get the same service (or weather).
I was gobsmacked to say the least. After all that work they have had done makes you wonder how they manage it.
Jill
Hi all!
Dorita at the B.S. Hotel was getting €10 a day from Thomson when they were advertising the hotel in their 'Small and Friendly' brochure and for that she was expected to supply breakfast and maintain the place to a high standard. The crunch came when they told her to get the place 'modernised' to a stupid standard without any financial assistance. The family told Thomson 'where to go'. The have now managed to install air con, new security, fire alarm and sat. tv at their own pace and although it's been hard, they havn't got all the pressure of being the tour operator's 'puppet'.
I think this was a brave move on their part and I will continue to support them as much as I can. The hotel's standard, food, and facilities are great and nothing is too much trouble for Dorita and her family.
Yammas,
Martin.
I cant agree with you more Martin! I would rather she had all the money than go to the TO.
We stayed at the Akti in sept, 6 euros is disgusting, we are going for 10 days next year so we are booking direct with the Akti, am even more glad we are now.
Sharon x
I didn't realise the tour operators paid the accommodation owners so little, how on earth can they dictate the cost? I think it would be a good idea if all the owners of the apartments and hotels could get together and form their own sort of package, where us who love Arillas, could book a sort of package with them, like and independent package. But even people who come on a package, like I will be in my August- Sept , but hope to come in May , independent, as there does seem to be more flights from my local (ish) airport at that time of the season I still buy everything in local shops etc so still contribute.
No wonder the tour operators are loaded. If they want certain places modernising, then it is the tour operators that should pay for the work.
Love
Mary
Hi,everyone. It seems that the independant/ package debate wil rumble on. To me, it doesn`t matter how we get there, as long as we do. Money will still be spent in the local economy hopefully encouraging those people that welcome us year in, year out, to return each year and continue to run their businesses.
It seems we can`t do without them and they can`t do without us.
Best Wishes paul D
I would be interested to know how much the tour companies make on the flights as well. I bet they pay a fraction of the price we pay as individuals.
I have been looking at the flights and no way would I pay the prices they are asking (two flights would come up almost as much as we paid for our whole 2 weeks, flights, accommodation and taxis) so if EJ dont come up with flights next year we might well have to go package which is a shame as we loved it at BS Hotel - but if thats all we can afford thats what is going to have to be. I cant believe the price some have already paid for flights.. unbelievably expensive.
I know Sue
Sadly if the flight prices are still extortionate then a package will have to be the only option for me, or not come at all, which I wouldn't like
Take Care
Mary
A previous post suggested the need to get the next generation of Arillas holiday makers hooked and one oerson mentioned their children and grandchildren loving Arillas. Well Ann and I have been coming for 15 years and many times twice in a year as in 2008. We have also taken our two daughters. Perhaps one incident demonstrates how even the younger set appreciate Arillas. Our eldest daughter got married and went to Jamaica for her honeymoon, Having previously gont to Arillas with us and with her husband, who was then her fiance, many times before. However they were only in Jamaica about three days when they phoned us in Arillas to say they hated Jamaica and were getting the first flight home and could we ask Jimmy at Rainbow if he could find them an apartment somwhere. He promtly did so and got them in at the Arillas Inn apartments opposite Rainbow. They flewe from Jamaica to Gatwick spent 5 hours there and then flew on to Corfu and arrived on the Monday of our second week. Leon from what was then the Arillas Inn put a lovely bouquet of flowers in the appartment along with a starter pack of cereals, milk water beer, and a bottle of champagne. What a welcome!! and they had a great week and still talk about it now. Of course we had to let them have some time to themselves but still saw plenty of them , but were asked not to be on too many photographs with them!!!! I guess they did not want their friends to see muim and dad on honeymoon with them. Our youger daughtere also loves Arillas and is planning to bring her daughter out to arillas for the first time next May when she shall be 17 months old. So one way or anothere we are doing our bit to support all our friends in Arillas and provide the next generations of holiday makers.
John & Ann
Sorry about all the typos on my previous email but I was being rushed at work. Or maybe I am becoming dyslexic in my old age/!!!!
Lovely story JohnJ. Have often seen youngsters and teenies having a whale of a time in Arillas. It's a fallacy they all want Kavos or San Antonio in Ibiza or Negril in Jamaica. I think we all do our bit in our own way, icluding the youngsters.
Phil
Our 13 year old is already talking about '..when we build our villa in Arillas..' and 'will I be allowed to go on my own, with my friends?'.
I think Arillas will survive quite happily long after I'm gone!
There's no getting away from the simple fact that Corfu, like anywhere else, is not cheap anymore.
We ate out less than ever this year and for a good reason: it costs a fortune.
For instance, we ate out at Horizon one night and quite apart from the fact that my meal was dreadful, it cost twice what you'd expect to pay back home in a Harvester. Yes, that's partly the exchange rate but it's also the rising price of eating out and doing just about anything else in Corfu.
Many people are waiting to see what happens before they book for 2009. The global economic slowdown is beginning to bite deep and with the collapse of XL, flights cost more than ever. Flight bookings are down to the lowest level since 2004.
I'd always prefer to go independent but at the moment the companies are holding back with their flight only deals until they have sold more of their packages.
It will be a grim year for tourism next year because things are about to get much, much worse.
Hi rick1883.
You have spelled out what really worries me. I have a vested interest in seeing Arillas survive the slowdown. Next year will see more closures and more angst. I just want to see it all in 2052. Selfish or what? I will be 100 then....
No it is not cheap any more. That said, I would pay the asking price or more to be there because it offers me more value for my euro than cheaper places in Spain ever could.
Have never eaten in Horizon, but just about everywhere else. Have had about two disappointing meals in Arillas out of hundreds. And I mean hundreds. I have the waistline to prove it (they tell me it's a beer gut...) but the food is a feature of Arillas. Try Roula's sofrito at Brouklis...
You have hit a nail on the head with this post - if we want Arillas to survive we have to contribute and SELL it. Jen and me will be back in 2009, hopefully for good. Just persuade your friends at work to come with us.
Phil