Morning
After reading the horrors of Sea Breeze last night I didnt sleep a wink. My family and I are staying there in the next couple of weeks! We have been to Arillas a number of times and never had any problems (we have also stayed at the Sea Breeze in the past) so you can imagine the shock of reading about the incident.
I have rang the tour operator this morning sharing my concerns. She rang the resort. She explained to me that one family were moved due to the behaviour of a drunken guest who was staying at the resort. He was trying to get into the appartments thinking that it was his appartment. She assured me that this was a one off incident. I hope this puts peoples mind at rest.
Joanne,
i think what TC have told you sums up the tour company.good luck on your holiday and i do hope you have a good one.
From reading the reports I think that guest must have been drunk more than one night as he was trying to get in more than once.
Just what I was going to say Blondegirl.....
People on their hols do get drunk more than one night!
Lets hope that this is a one off because if TC are lying to me then let me assure you there will be trouble! I will let you know all about it when I get back.
Here hoping I have a fab time like all the other times I have had at Arillas.
joanne, make sure you get the names of the people you speak to at tc, and i'm sure they record their phone calls, so you can prove they said it would be okay
ger x
Hello Joanne,
We're staying at AB from 28th July for a week and, like you, are upset by the reports received back.
I have contacted our agents this morning and they are supposd to be talking to TC about getting us moved to other accommodation, whether they are successful remains to be seen! I guess it may be difficult at this sort notice.
Whether we get moved or not we'll still be going to Arillas as the resort sounds amazing and if there are any problems at AB during the stay we will make sure the TC rep does something about it!!!!
John
Even though this behaviour is in NO way acceptable (ie: trying to break into apts) I did think that the intruder must have been completely thick to keep trying the same apts, especially with people actually being there at the same time. the worrying thing though is that Mango actually had stuff stolen so its not just the case of a nuisance drunk is it? Obviously TC are not telling the whole truth. I would demand to be moved if it was me.
Dear John
Could you let me know what TC said to you. I have the name of the person I spoke to - I feel very confused and not sure what to do at the moment. I was looking forward to this holiday, I now feel sick.
My advice to you Joanne, is try to stop worrying.
Arillas is still a great place.
It seems to me that the problems are largely down to one person not being able to hold his drink, combined with an appalling attitude from TC. I would hope that the situation will have been rectified by the time you get there and if it hasn't, demand that TC find you alternative accommodation - at their expense, somewhere else in Arillas.
I'm sure you'll still have a great time - enjoy.
Angie
Cheers,
I am going to go with an open mind, I have been back onto TC and everywhere is fully booked, so I have no choice but to risk it. I will have a full report when i get back!
Watch this space!
Thanks
Joanne
Joanne,
If TC won't help and you need to find different accommodation, go and see Olga (Olgas travel), she acts as 'middle man' for a lot of the independant owners and I'm sure she'll find you something.
Angie
For the record, Thomas Cook are lying 100% I will stand up in open court on that and the records and former guests at the Akti Arilla will back that up as they got empty rooms filled twice for 7 and 8 nights. Can't dispute that TC, put that in you pipe Thomas Crook and smoke it.
On Sunday 6th July the couple next to us in the B Block at the Arillas Bay were moved to the Akti Arilla and on Monday 7th July we were also moved. Another couple were moved later that week. They can brush it under the carpet all they like but I am going to fight them on this.
Drunk guest trying and getting the wrong room? Then when disturbed and chased why did he return once one night and twice two nights later. Thomas Cook demanded his removal (he was a long term tenant, not a guest at the AB had a lease on the cottage all summer, paid up front to the AB)
The ABs failure to remove then had TCs top guy from Sidari visit them, but from what I gather that was a toothless exercise also.
My god its going from bad to worse!! does anyone have any nice things to say to cheer me up!
At least the weather and food will be good!! (sorry to be flippant!)
They were supposidly cleaning the place up as we left, how much I dont know. If they get rid or have got rid now of HIM then you have a basic place to put your heads and no major worries. Dont eat or drink there as there is no need, so many other wonderful places to eat and drink. Use the deposit boxes at either the Marina or the Akti, marina is 10 euros a week and is open from about 8am till 11 pm. Jayne the TC rep at the AB is good and lives in the resort.
You will enjoy, despite the AB our first week was still great.
It will finish me off if it rains! and ]I wont have any money to buy any food after i have been robbed!
Hopefully he will be gone by the time we get there!
No word yet from the agents, but I haven't given up yet!
Stick with it Joanne, you won't be the only ones in the AB and if there is any trouble then we'll all cause a sitr and demand a move.
I'm not sure whether we'll be there when you're there or not, we're out there from 28th July 2008.
The main thing is that despite these issues everyone raves about Arillas and recommends that you go, and there'll be options out there to put things right if there is any hassle.
So please stop worrying about it and just look forward to a great holiday! That's our plan!!
John
Thanks for that
We go Monday!!! so if you dont see us then we have been moved!
I am going down to the agents from work to see if I can find out anything else. Will keep you posted.
Arillas is a lovely place we cannot let a couple of people spoil it for us.
will keep you informed
Joanne
Good words John.
Im about to kick up a stink with TC now and after the reviews Ive left Im sure they will be keeping a close eye on the place. To be honest after all I have written, I was simply informing people of my stay as it was, given the choice of work now in the cold of the UK or back at the AB this minute, Id take the AB every time. Arillas is that good, trust me.
Joanne, do not just take the name of the person you are dealing with as although the calls are recorded they don't bother if the informatiion you are given is incorrect as I have learnt in previous dealings with them (they are a law unto themselves). I think you would be best to e-mail their customer help desk and then you will have proof of your own of their replies. Can you not do a search on the TC website and check what the availability is at other properties so you know for yourself if they are telling you lies. Also maybe the Albanian man in question has finally been given his marching orders . I am sure you will have a good time and if you are not happy just insist that the Rep moves you and don't give them any peace until they do. Hope it all works out well for you.
Thanks for that. I am just going to go and find out for myself. If there is the slightest hint of bother from him then I will kick off never mind him! I am going to speak to the rep as soon as I get there and find out whats going on.
I love Arillas and I am not going to let him spoil it for me. It would be in their best interests to move him on as its the start of the peak season.
I will let you all know what happens when I get back.
Well I've got nowhere with our agents (yourholidays.com), all self-catering accommodation in Arillas is fully booked and they are not aware of any issues with AB.
Even less interest from TC when I spoke to them, understandable to a point as we hadn't booked directly with them, but again they were totally unaware of any issues with the AB. I told them everything I'd heard and even showed them a print out of the negative reports from this forum. It was a case of 'we haven't been told, so it can't have happened'.
So it would seem that we'll have to see what goes when we get out to the AB and then take things from there.
Not the best way to start a holiday, but there seems little option.
John
i know that aris from the gratsela taverna (next door to sea breeze) has some apartments behind his taverna, you can actually see them from the apt we stayed in in the arillas bay! (we were going to stay in them this year but couldnt get flights) they are really nice and reasonable and he doesnt advertise anywhere, i know its not ideal as you have already paid for the holiday, but if the worst happens, you could always see if they are free, its a block of about 6 if i remember rightly. anyway, good luck
ger x
In my experience, you can always find somewhere to stay.
There is a lot of accomodation not on any of the travel companies' books so don't take any notice when they say that everywhere is full!
See the adverts on this website, or ask at the 'travel' shops in Arillas - Olgas travel, Arillas Travel etc.
Anne
Thanks for the info Ger, much appreciated!
We'll see how it goes the first night and take it from there, after all it's down to TC to sort something out if the AB isn't up to scratch for whatever reason. If we're not happy then they can cover the cost of moving us elsewhere.
Will be interested to hear how Joanne gets on next week.
Whatever happens, we're still looking forward to our first holiday in Arillas and meeting other forum members out there. Tuesday night at the Coconut isn't it???
John
Hi John
Glad you are going to go because Arillas is lovely and you will have a great holiday. We go tomorow so might see you the week after.
Annie
Hi Annie,
We can't wait to get out there, despite all the AB issues we're looking forward to experiencing Arillas, if it's half as good as everyone says then it'll be fantastic!!
Hopefully we'll bump into you in the bar on the Tuesday evening (29th), I haven't forgotten that I owe you a drink!!!
You'll recognise us, I'll be looking uncomfortable in my sandals (as I normally don't wear them!!) and Claire will just be buzzing as it's her first ever holiday abroad.
John
try to nip into the malibu and use the internet there to get onto the forum, we'll all be wanting to know how you're getting on!
ger x
I think what they mean when they say all the accommodation is full is that all the TC places are booked. You will doubtless find an alternative in Arillas somewhere but I guess you will have to pay for it if it's not TC.....not good when you have already paid for your holiday.
Joanne all i can say is you know the problems,just put them to the back of your mind(but be aware of them) enjoy your holiday Arillas is a wonderful place full of great people.
Quack John
TC are not telling the truth,i wrote to them middle of May over our problems they did not acknowledge within the 7 days that they promise to do,so i wrote again giving them hell they did reply to that letter saying they need to investigate further which can take another 28 days,that was about 21 days ago now.So they do know of issues at the AB.
Quack John,
have sent you copies of my corrispondance so far with TC
Harold,
I don't doubt for a second that what you've said is absolutely true, and being someone who'll be going to the AB soon I'm taking it very seriously.
I for one am grateful to all the people that have posted honest reviews, good or bad, on this forum. To an Arillas virgin like me it's invaluable.
I very much doubt that TC will have done anything about the AB though, as they seem to be in denial !! All we can do is keep at them, and sooner or later (with a growing number of dis-satisfied customers behind it) they will have to act.
We'll certainly be posting our thoughts / findings when we return on the 5th August (and maybe during the week if we can get online).
In the meantime, Claire and I are looking forward to a bloody good holiday!!
John
We stayed at the sea breeze last year. The apartments were basic but okay. The appartments weren't spotless but they were habitable. I used to give the bar a wide birth as is was dirty and smelled of cat pee. My daughter came home with a nasty ear infection. I can't say it was from the pool as she's gone into other pools as well. The owner was miserable chap and he shouted at me one day because the wind had blown the door causing it to slam. I enjoyed our holiday but tended to spend our days either on the beach or at Mirage who have the best pool. They're quite happy for you to use the facilities as long as you buy some drinks or meals and it's only a couple of minute walk from sea breeze. I know that you shouldn't have to go elsewhere when you've paid your hard earned money. Having said that we had a lovely time and are due to fly ouot to arrilas 4th August for two weeks.
Of course TC will have no idea of this forum so it won't occur to them that holiday makers from one week to the next will be in contact with each other to share experiences. I reckon on this basis they think they can get away with it and remain "in denial".
Both the Akti Arilla and the Marina have new pools fro this summer, both free to the public. The Akti has great service and cheap snacks with a large bottle of Royal Ionian beer at 2.5 euros in a frosted glass. The Marina has a pool with sun loungers in the water round the edge with just the tops sticking out the water and has a bar in the pool with stools sticking out the water. Both very nice places and very nice people.
As far as I know, all of the pools are free! That is, you can use any that take your fancy, the owners just like you to buy some drinks or snacks while you are there.
Well that's solved one problem, for the times we want to spend by a pool we'll avoid the one at AB and use one of the others.
Thanks guys, top advice and much appreciated.
John
Just a two nano second walk round the corner is the Bardis Sun Studios and Hotel and the pool there is very good. Bobby runs the bar at the studios... very nice young man and is very helpful. As has been said before you can basically use any pool but a drink or ice cream always helps.
Just to say that I think it's only right that you do buy a little something when using their pool and sunbeds for nothing.
Sue, Bobby is now working in hmmm Sardari for this season at a big bar. I believe Poppy and Spiro are working the bar between them during the day and Bobby and George are joining them when they get home. Viv
Thanks Viv.. good for Bobby trying somewhere else. He told me last year he would like to work in Corfu Town, so I suppose Sidari is a step nearer, and helping his mum and dad out in the evenings... I shall pop in then and say Hi.