Arillas Forum

Hi everyone,

Weve just got back yesterday from an excellent 2 weeks in Arillas.
It was our first time there and lived up to our expectatations !!!
The only disapointment was the Airport.... WHAT A NIGHTMARE !!!!!

Many thanks to Nikos and Angela at the Mirage for making our stay so brilliant and providing the Mythos !, and to George at the Malibu for all the fuss he made of our daughter.

Thanks to Dee for giving me the Magic potion for my 'mossie bites' !!
Good luck to you and Mark with your business's out there .

Brilliant time and hope to be back soon.

Sorry Eggy, didnt get to meet you. Maybe next time ??   

Yamas

Hi Mark & Jade,

Really pleased to hear about your great holiday - two weeks eh? You lucky things!
Do tell us though? What happened at the Airport?
Why was it such a nightmare?

Hi Mark & Jade,

I second what Becky says and what is Dee's magic potion? We need to know.

Cheers, Jen.

Hi BeckyB & Jen,

We met Mark and Dee by chance in the Mirage bar and just happened to say how the the mossies had had a field day on my legs and that the itching was keeping me awake all night ! Dee said that she would bring a potion to rub on them the next day, which she duly did, I dont know what was in it but it worked, the itching and swelling disappeared !!

When we landed we had to wait for a bus to take us 50 yards to the terminal, waited a good 45 mins for our luggage, then got told the wrong bus number for the transfer but we found the right one in the end and it set off !!  Only for the driver to get a call to return to the airport. On returning back the rep did a head count and we waited another 20 mins, then we left with the same people on board and no rep!

We eventually landed at our destination after the coach driver had to stop 5 times to ask for directions and 2 and half hours later !!!

Coming back with the same driver, we went 3 times around Sidari, queued up for an hour outside while the reps let 10 people in at a time and the info board didnt bare any resemblance to what the announcer was saying !!!

My advice to anyone is get a taxi !!!!

We arent bothered though, it really was a fantastic holiday.         

Hi Mark n Jade,

Phew! I can see why you found the whole Airport experience a tad frustrating - it requires a lot of self restraint to keep your temper in check when you've got things like that happening doesn't it?

We were over in Arillas in May & booked independently this time - so we booked a taxi to pick us up & return us to the Airport.
Gotta say, money WELL spent!!
After queueing & hanging about for coaches & waiting for other passengers, it can all get a little tiring & even if we went down the package route again, I think we would always book a taxi as it instantly removes the stresses & the strains!

Main thing is that you both had a fantastic holiday & that's what it's all about isn't it?

Very intrigued to hear what was in the Mozzie lotion that you were given? My boyfriend usually gets bitten within an inch of his life so anything that might prevent that is always useful to hear about!

Thanks for sharing what happened at the Airport with everyone though!

BeckyB :-)

Hi Mark n Jade,

Really pleased you had a brilliant holiday.  Give us more details!  Where did you stay? eat, drink, what did you do!  Come on we're a nosy crowd in here, lol. xx

Only had to wait 45 minutes for your luggage? That's good.....I can remember a time in August years ago when we had to wait 3 hours for luggage....with no air conditioning!!!

Mark n Jade

Sorry I missed you & never got a chance to say hello but glad you all had a good time.

I took the liberty of giving George, at the Malibu, a copy of your post as he doesn't get much time, in the summer, to view the Forum.

He says he remembers you and will pass on your thanks to all at the Mirage.

Cheers
Neill

Neil,
Many thanks for that, he wont remember me as Mark... They called me Mr Mythos !!

I really dont know why !!!!!!

Must remember to send Nikos's boys Spiro and Vasilias ( I think thats how you spell them ) some football gear .. All Liverpool of course !!!! Panathiaikos I understand, but Chelsea and Arsenal !!!! ( OOps ! )

Yamas 

Great news Mark n Jade (or is it Mr and Mrs Mythos lol...)

Sometimes worry that the forum and Arillas Addicts will create such high expectations
then lead to a dsastrous time. But it so rarely happens. We can't all be wrong can we?
I think you agree with us that it is a very special place quite unlike any other.

Agree totally about the airport but Sandy is right - 45 mins is a fairly good result! As for transfer we always get a taxi as we get to the front of the airport. Some of those coach transfers border on war crimes.

Phil

Quote from: MarknJade on June 17, 2008, 10:58:15 AM
Weve just got back yesterday from an excellent 2 weeks in Arillas.
Many thanks to Nikos and Angela at the Mirage for making our stay so brilliant and providing the Mythos

Hi, I have also just got back on the very early morning of the 18th!!  Spent a week in arillas, mostly at the Mirage during the day so no doubt bumped into you at some point.  I was there with 2 other lads.

We also had a nightmare at the airport but mainly thanks to how useless Easyjet are at getting anywhere on time!!!  And as for blaming it on the french, how come the french didnt seem to cause any trouble for those flying with Thomson??????

This year we rented a car for the duration of the holiday, it was 60e more than a taxi but collected it from and left it at the airport and got us to arillas in about 45mins to an hour!!  So quick and easy!!

Hope you enjoyed your hols as much as we did.  I shall be back there in august for two weeks so the countdown has begun yet again!!  This time staying in San Stafano.

Glad you had a good time Adam

I am a bit worried about your Easyjet encounter (we fly with them in September!)  Was the problem leaving Gatwick or Corfu?

I'm going with Easyjet on Tuesday Blondegirl and will give you a report on my return. I have to say they were late when I went with them to Athens in April....

I have to say that we flew with Easyjet from Gatwick to Corfu on 12/05/08 and back again on 26/05/08 and both flights were a pleasure.  In fact when we got to Gatwick there was no queue what so ever and we must have gone through baggage check in and security through to the departure loung in 5 minutes at the most.  The most amazing thing was the return check in.  Corfu airport almost deserted, again checked in within 5 minutes and both flights took off exactly on time and actually landed a few minutes early.  I do hope this post will not end our lucky run as we return on 29/09/08 for 17 days and hope to have the same experience!!!.  Hope to see many of you then
John

I hope to be over at the beginning of October John so look forwad to seeing you and Ann then. Will you be doing some walking?

Hi Sandy,
            forgot to mention that we also did the climb up to your new house. Fantastic and we hope you are really enjoying it.  As for walking , probably only from bar to bar and also San Stefanos and Affionas, unless you know some walks we haven't found in the previous 15 years!!   Looking forward to seeing you in Sept/October.
John & Ann

hi mark just got back ourselves fly all that way and meet someone from prenton shame you where a red!!! glad you had a good time though!!
see you round or in arillas next year!
mike,claire,katie and charlie.

Hi Mike,

good to meet you out there in arillas, hope you enjoyed the rest of your stay.

probably see you around town or in the Swan before next year !!!

This Fosters aint as good as the Mythos though ... Even if you wouldn't wanna warm beer !!!!

Cheers ( sorry .. yammas ! )

Mark

We also arrived back on the 24/6 from a wonderful 13 nights at Arillas.  We normally fly from EMA but used Easyjet for the first time and cannot fault them at all. On the mozzie issue, I was told to take vitemin B1 tablets a couple of weeks prior to hols and guess what - no bites!!! Anyway, still the same lovely Arillas hols, we will be back in September !!!

Glad you enjoyed Marion and I am convinced those vit b tablets work as I used to get ravaged before I took them.  My only complaint though is that you havent given us a more detailed holiday report!! Us Arillas addicts love these!

hi marknjade

Propped up the bar at the mirage when you left!! Don't forget the BBQ 19th July!!

hi marknjade

Propped up the bar at the mirage when you left!! Don't forget the BBQ 19th July!!
Steve,Sam & K yammath

Hiya Steve ...... Sorry FIREBLADE !!! Relive your youth why dont you !!!!

Glad you kept my speck at the bar warm !!

Hope you had a really good time, BBQ in our diary. Just got a find a baby sitter, dont fancy doin a 400 mile round trip with Tash!!!

Hope you are all well.

Take care

Mark and Jade

Hi Mark and Jade
Was good to meet you, Dee is really pleased that the 'magic potion' worked !!! It was very much a chance meeting, but then again it was at the bar so maybe not so much !!!!!

Mark and Dee

Quote from: MarknJade on June 25, 2008, 01:56:18 PM
Hi Mike,

good to meet you out there in arillas, hope you enjoyed the rest of your stay.

probably see you around town or in the Swan before next year !!!

This Fosters aint as good as the Mythos though ... Even if you wouldn't wanna warm beer !!!!

Cheers ( sorry .. yammas ! )

Mark
what drink in a red pub like the swan!!!!!!!!!!!

Got back from our first visit to Arillas a week ago,( already feels more like 6 weeks ago!)and we absolutley LOVED it!!Actually I've been looking at prices and availability to see if I can go back next month,even if just for a week!
Our coach trip from airport to apartment was awful but seems to be quite common.The bus driver didn't know where he was going and nor did the rep so after 3 hours of turning round and backtracking we finally arrived at Makris at 5am!
The beach is beautiful and never seemed too busy.The sea got warmer by the day and on our last day (typical!) the waves were fab and great fun.Went to Brouklis 3 times,Dimitris really is a hunny and the food is quality and actually a bit cheaper than other places.I met some Forum peeps,namely Terry & Helen,Mark & Dee,Annette and,lucky for me,the elusive Eggy and his lovely wife.All were lovely people who I could have chatted away to all night!We ate at the Marina both Saturdays for their Greek dancing night,they really are the best I've seen and I've seen a few,especially Talis.My 15 year old daughter and I were particularly happy with the view at Marina,for view read "gorgeous Greek men"!!Every single one of them was GORGEOUS!Hubby a little put out I noticed though!
The only little disappointment with our holiday was not Arillas at all but the silly trips we booked with Thomas Cook.Here are my tips if you are going with them and considering any:
1. Avoid shopping in Corfu town unless you enjoy sitting on a coach (air conditioning the blower above you)in the mid afternoon sun, shopping in a crowded place in stifling heat,and paying more for not as nice food with awful service.
2. Avoid the "relaxing kayiki boat cruise" unless your idea of relaxing is being crammed on a boat with over 100 people!Also,until we'd got our tickets after paying we didn't know the coach picks you up at 7.10am!!It cost us well over 100 euros for the 4 of us yet we had to pay for "breakfast",tea,coffe,crisps or a huge doughnut.After paying 8 euros for 2 coffees and 2 doughnuts we left the boat and got a cab back to Arillas.The part refund the rep mentioned was never mentioned again.
3. Avoid the Cabaret night.A 20 minute trip to Sidari took nearly an hour.Again the cost for the 4 of us was over 100 euros.Food and drink was provided,but here's the catch.The drinks start flowing with the food and stop when the food does.Well,you've never seen food get served so quickly!And it really wasn't very good,a measly greek salad between 4,pizza (very Greek) for the kids and a piece of chicken with a couple potatoes for adults,followed swiftly by a few chunks of melon for dessert.God help you if you put your drink down,the reps soon swiped it!
Obviously I am putting my letter of complaint to Thomas Cook together this week!
Apart from those minor points I can find no fault with Arillas,I LOVELOVE LOVED it!
I absolutely cannot wait to go back,beautiful place,lovely people,great atmosphere,fabulous weather and gorgeous sunsets.
I am supremely jealous of anyone in the forum who is due to go......any room in a suitcase for a smallish person??!!

Nicki, so pleased you loved it.  It is very special isnt it. 

Sharon x

Glad you had a good time Nicky - Arillas is a lovely place.

I think everyone learns not to go on those trips... once bitten twice shy as they say!

We have also wasted good holiday money on organised trips, we leave Arillas for an hour and wish we were back there on the beach.

Hi

Just reading the thread about the horrendous transfer(s) that some of you have had from airport to resort and back.

I'm going back in September (2nd time) and staying at Tria Adelphia.  How much would a taxi cost from the airport to the resort?

Really looking forward to it.  So glad to read that the Thalassa is back open.

Debs

Hi Deb,
The cost of a taxi is only 50 euros so well worth it!The only reason we didn't skip the coach on the way back is because there were 4 of us and 3 suitcases so we wouldn't have fit!
Have a great time,I'm sooooooooooooooo jealous!!

Thanks Jen

Looks like it's a taxi then

I'll let you know how the week went

Debs

SORRY

I meant to put Nicky, not Jen!!!

Debs

WHO will be staying at Irenes first week in sept ??

Well folks thats it for another 50 weeks lol Arillas was brilliant The Mathraki apartments were spot on with an excellent view from the balcony looking over Arillas on out over the sea to Gravia,once i get my pics sorted a full report is to come
We took a video on the scooter from San Stef pizza place riding to the Mathraki apartments its 333mb and i,m having probs trying to upload it onto youtube,any ideas anyone,im not sure if its just too larger file so might have to reduce the size of it which means i will lose some of the quality
                                                       Tony

PPMMAN
We arrive there on Monday 8th, will you still be there ?
Paul

stayed at the marvel for 2 weeks got back to uk on 25th august.spiros costas and family were great although the hotel is getting a bit run down now i would go again just needs a bit of maintaining here and there.didnt do too much really went to the beach or pool most days till about 14.00 then lunch in thalassa where another spiros is doing a great job as host.then it was siesta between6-8pm and then dinner.ate at brouklis 3 times no probs great food as ever ,had a few chats with demitris.porto fino twice,not to impressed with the food here,but it was ok for the sunsets.costas on the beach 4 times great food and a charming host recommend the sofrito it just melts in the mouth.and thalassa ate here 5 times and the best food of all recommend any of their meals all were fantastic.the service was great for me i had no complaints although at busy periods it seemed too fall flat on its face some people waiting an eternity for meals and or getting the wrong orders.as for litsa and yiannis coming back or not is a big dont know spiros says he will be there again next year.
walked up to afionas one day must have been crazy asit was 38 degrees but the view from porto timoni made it all worth while.
went to corfu town on another hot and busy day but wont go again.
went to paxos and parga by boat paxos i think has now been spoilt by tourism i prefered it 20 years ago when i first came to corfu too many shops and tourists now in the daytime.parga was beautiful and is now on my list of holiday destinations.payed 7 euro for a pint of guinness but boy was it worth it.
had the pleasure of meeting malcolm an elderly man in his sixties,from chesterfield who has been coming to arillas for 23 years.he sits in marvel all day and night apart from the odd trip to porto fino.and boy can he drink 15 bottles of royal ionian every day.didnt do coconut or malibu as i find it to loud and noisy and think their music is about 30 yrs out of date.and why sit there when you can sit beachside and take in the views.as i said didnt do much came for relaxation and got it.will i be back for a 3rd time you bet.

Thanks for the great report Wino.  Felt like we were there with you!

ignore the above post the code went a bit silly

try again

http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k131/wino1605/?action=view&current=9fee4be3.pbw

Love the photos... I like the way Photobucket displays them.

i carnt veiw them :(

Great, Thank you for sharing.

I can't either Sue, don't know why? Viv

Just back from 3 wonderful weeks in Arillas.  We went independently this year and thanks to all the forum members for their help - recommendations for the Marina hotel,and thanks to Eileen for the phone number for Porto fino.  We loved both places. Portofino has mosquito screens and we could sleep with the balcony doors open, drifting off to sleep and awakening to the sound of the sea was superb.  The Marina has been refurbished to a very high standard, with TV, telephone, mini-fridge and tea and coffee making facilities. Probably worked out cheaper than a package deal.  An absolutely fantastic holiday - my son wife and children went for the first time this year and are now also hooked!!

Dorothy

Quote from: sue on September 01, 2008, 06:44:22 PM
i carnt veiw them :(

have you got flash player installed i think you need it to view the images.

Yep, I can get your albums and so forth but for some reason not the Arillas one. wierd. Have to get Pete to have a look at weekend. Viv

Thanks for the reports Wino and Dorothy.  The photos are great Wino. 

Dorothy, Billy wants to try Marina next year, i'll show him your report on them, i've heard they are really good. Would love to wake up to the sound of the sea, aw you've got me going now.

Sharon xx