Right all you May holiday makers, I would like some lovely rambling reports of our gorgeous Arillas in 2007, what has changed, what isn't open, new shops and what they are selling. No detail is too much. I need my fix!
Fear not, i will waffle on and on when i get back, you'll end up telling me to put a sock in it haha!!
I knew that I would be able to depend on you Smiffy!
Likewise for you when you get back, because i will be having baaaad withdrawal symptoms by then!
Hi Jo,
Myself and Harold have been posting a couple of updates but they are on different threads, basically the pizza place may not be opening, Arilla Inn may not open, Wok House is now a shop, next door to that is now Olga's travel. There's a new gift shop next to the Ceyshelles place.
When I arrived on Friday lunchtime, the bridge was on the beach and the brook was being diverted under the road, it was a right mess. (but was fixed the next day) also the stream is rather pongy as the olive press has been working hard and the residue has been pumped into the river. Maybe this is why the green mud is good for the skin, its olive residue. The Frogs are coming back and the toads are out and about at night.
Oh and something I think really funny Horizon now has a sensor when you go to the loo, so you can be really lazy and not even bother to switch them on. Cool automatic lights.
Hels Bels,
Did we meet? I arrived on the same Friday lunchtime. Did you go to the Horizon opening party?
Nick
If someone could have a look at Helios Court Villa i would very much appreciate some honest feedback. It is up by the church/chapel and has recently been built and we are arriving on the 3rd September. Thank you!
Hi HelsBels
What and where is Ceyshelles place. I haven't heard of that before. It sounds exotic!
Hi Nick,
We didn't go to the opening evening at Horizon, we nipped there at about 4pm, I suppose it was the pre-opening. We were at Brouklis the first night, a bit subdued as we were tired (been up since 1am) so had an earlyish night.
The Ceyshelles is a little shop with handwritten sign next to the car hire place. They have some nice jewellery & sandals in there.
Yes i remember now you've said next to the car hire. Did it open last year? as im sure it wasn't there the year before.
Yes, last year was her first year
Hels Bels,
I was in the Brouklis on the first night too. I went in with Marinos and Andy from the Horizon. We were quite late though.
Nick
Another little shop has opened next to the cash machine(it does work)This shop looks very nice and is owned by the girl who used to be a manos rep about 10 years ago,she wears glasses,so some of you might remember her as she worked in Akrotiri travel.
Cash machine was paying out at the rate of 1.466 to the pound,which was higher than the rates elsewhere also NO charges(with Nationwide)
Thanks for the info on the cash machine, Harold. That's helpful to know when we run out of the stuff! (Safer than carrying too much out there)
JUst had the most amazing holiday in Arillas. We stayed at Perry and Jimmy's, and spent alot of time and most of our money in the Rainbow Bar, hired a car and shopped for England.
Can't wait to go back next year to pick up where we left off.
Harold, I think you just sold Nationwide to me!! Thanks.
with regards to the cash machine, does anyone know if there are charges for the Halifax? If so it might be worth me transfering to the Nationwide for the Summer.
I am Halifax as well, so I am most interested to hear about this too.
HSBC charge, if thats any help
Janine + John
sorry, no!
I believe the nationwide is the only bank to offer no fee, as the advert implies, we took it out for that reason but have yet to use it and as yet cannot confirm! Gosh it sounds like the place is really changing, hopefully not too much!
OOh I wonder if Abbey charge - if they do I'd open a Nationwide account just for my holiday money :)
I had a Halifax account and could get cash without charge from any of their machines, but I'm sure they charge for other machines. As far as i'm aware, the nationwide is the only one where you can use any machine worldwide. Also, they do the business exchange rate for card withdrawals, so you get a better rate than most tourists. I know all this cos I went in to ask today...
I Bank with the Halifax to, taken straight from their website (http://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/understandingcharges.asp):
Charges for using your card abroad
If you use your card abroad, the amount of the transaction will be changed to pounds sterling on the date we take it out of your account. This may not be the same date that the transaction is carried out. We'll choose the exchange rate that applies and we'll include a conversion fee of 2.75% of the amount of the transaction. We will also deduct a service charge of £1.50 from your account immediately for each transaction.
wow Joe you would think the money belonged to the Halifax and not its members,but i suppose thats the price you pay when you vote to change from a building society to a bank,they have to get the money back off you somehow
I think its more that nationwide are the exception to the rule, offering a product that differs to the norm. The Halifax account pulls back some credit though by giving me an interest rate of over 6% on my current account compared to 0.1% on my #@%$ RBS account, that's a higher level than my ISA.
If say you use the card one or twice on your hols for medium amounts, say €100 then the charges are tolerable its just means you have to be very restrictive on when you use it. As a company employee I get an exchange rate of 1.54 on my Euro with no commission but obviously at that rate there is a limit to what I can change.
::)
Thanks for the info Maggie :D