Now that we have been to Arillas and are truly hooked we are thinking of booking direct(gulp) having never arranged all my travelling needs before i wondered if any of you wise people could advise possibly. i.e is it advisable to phone your booking,will they arrange your airport pick up? when do you pay for your apartment?If your flight is late leaving will they keep your apartment until you leave?
many thanks in advance stacey (male)lol.
With the price of packages this year you are probably wise booking direct. We have done it loads of times and never had a problem. Most of the property owners are on email and someone on the forum will know phone numbers etc. Most of them will arrange to send a taxi for you (cheaper than finding one at the airport) and they will tell the driver which room/apartment you are in. They will usually let you stay in the room till you need to go instead of chucking you out at midday. Go for it....and good luck.
Jen and me always try to book our own, and over last five years have booked direct 18 different holidays.
As far as Corfu is concerned, you can easily contact the accommodation owners direct or get help through us "Arillas Addicts" on the forum. The flights are a case of persevering with the internet, and JOY! get your baggage off the carousel, and dive in a taxi from the airport direct to your accommodation. No coaches and drop-offs.
Usually you'll save money.
Our only Arillas package was last October because the flight would have been more than the package. Don't you just hate marketing????
phil
Rugbymad
I have booked twice a year independantly since 2001 before then used a tour op, living just 75mins from Gatwick who offer reasonable flight prices i got to thinking that i would rather the locals have my money than pay the tour op prices.
I can remember how worried i was the first time i booked direct with the main worry being what if anything goes wrong i wont have a rep to help me! i shouldn't have worried as the locals will do their upmost to ensure you are ok so long as you do have your travel insurance there really is no need for a rep.
I book through Doritta and Aris (husband) and they ensure i have a taxi waiting for me (you will need to ring a give your flight details, as you clear the baggage collection hall a taxi driver will have a board with Aris-Arillas on it) just 50-60 mins later you arrive in Arillas (much better than a coach ride that has been known in the past to take 4hrs!!!!) They will also book your return taxi.
Not sure how Doritta will want you to pay, this is the first year they have gone independant, as i have been going so long now i pay in cash English money when i arrive, as for keeping the room on for late flights im sure they will do their best should the Hotel not be full but if it is a room will be made available to freshen up before you travel.
Good luck Stacey & family
Yvonne x
Having only ever doing Package Deals with Thomson to Kaloudis. I am starting to realise going independant could be a better option. Its a pity the Kaloudis are not independent.
Riggers..
Riggers - we adored Kaloudis in October - only way we could do it again was with Thomas Cook for much much more than we have paid. Then it was less than the cheapest flight on its own.
We have always tried to avoid packages and have saved a fortune.
Actually the package is flight/transfer/accommodation/rep. You can do all of them except the rep on your own. Most resorts have rep for one day a week. I echo Yvonne - the people of Arillas are far more useful than any rep!
When you know the place you're going to why add to the tour operator's profits?
phil
Hi PhilandJen.
Must agree with you about a Rep, Never go and see them anyway.Only want your money.
Shame the Holidays for 2008 are already booked.
Maybe in 2009 i will spread my wings and try different Hotels.
Riggers..
I have booked directly, for 2008, with Marino at the Horizon Hotel and this was due to Libra Holidays pulling out of Arillas. I like the flexibility of booking my own flights and also, as Yvonne suggested, I like to think that my money is by passing tour operators and going straight into the local economy.
Helen gets a bit worried that a rep is not available if something should go wrong, but being a member of this forum does give a certain amount of security, plus the people of Arillas are very helpful in every way.
I always booked to go to Kefalonia independantly and once to Tobago. The Tobago was very eventful and helped our confidence with coping with problems on holiday ( I will post a few stories of that holiday one day).
A big benefit, as Phil and Jen stated, is that it much better to make your own way to and from the airport, and I love the moment when you emerge from arrivals, at the airport, and look for your name on one of the many boards that are displayed. I have always driven myself and I find that it adds to the excitement of the holiday.
I must say though that Catherine, the Libra rep from last year, was a lovely helpful person, and I hope we bump into her in July ( not in the car though as we drive through Dafni).
Hi All!
I have just 'grasped the nettle' and booked independently with Dorrita at the Bardis Sun Hotel. This is a first for me, and I will be traveling alone. I have every confidence that the taxi Dorrita will send will meet me at 45 euros is a fair price, and better than the dreary journey on the dedicated tour operators coach. Last time I did the journey it was 2 and a half hours!
The Bardis Sun Hotel is a great center for a holiday in Arillas. Large comfortable rooms, a great pool and peace and quiet in beautiful surroundings for £50 a week in May! Beat that!
I have every confidence in the people of Arillas, cant wait to get there! See my post 'The Bardis Sun Hotel... has gone independant.' for booking details.
Yammas,
Martin.
I don't think that any independant traveller need worry about the asence of a rep. All of the property owners are very helpful, and would always be there to help.
We booked direct for the first time in 2007 with Eline at Irene Villas .The holiday arrangements went like clockwork. The taxi was waiting at the airport when we arrived and the same driver took us back at the end. We most certainly didn't miss having a rep.Most information about the area,car hire,best places to eat etc. can be gleaned from fellow holiday makers,or from Arillas.com. The locals are also very helpfull. We have now booked independently for this year, and are counting the months.
Paul.
If you go to the Mathraki Apts they are including airport transfers in their prices. They look much cheaper than everybody else when you take this into consideration.
We have only done a direct booking once and that was to Crete. We booked a flight in Jan. to stay with friends, but that couldnt happen so 6 weeks before I scouted for accommodation found a lovely place for only 12 euros a night for the two of us (4 years ago but it is still cheap as chips now). It was brand new, tv, air con and pool just outside the studio. So what we saved on the accomodation we hired a car for two weeks. They met us at the airport with the car and even drove us back to the airport. It was great fun looking for private accomdation and doing it diy. I would like to do it again this year for Corfu now we have been there a few times and feel a bit more confident knowing the place and as you say this forum helps such a lot. You feel as if you know the place before you get there.
I was wondering if the Tour Operators might feel the competition now with Easyjet and start lowering their prices, they are so high. Doing it DIY is so much cheaper.