Phew...has anyone looked at the Olympic holidays website recently?
I looked at their details about Arillas and read that the estimated coach transfer time is 3-4hrs...smelling a rat I decided to check the private taxi transfer price....it's a whopping 151 euros (£120)!!!!.
I thought that the transfer times were much improved these days? Do you think it really is still a 3-4hrs transfer nowadays or are they trying to push people into using the private transfer???
Pity the poor first-timers who don't know that the taxi is 45-50euros each way.
Eileenxx
Eileen
We are traveling with Olympic in two weeks time.
Phil & Jen have posted previously that transfer times can be long with Olympic.
They were droped off in Sidari to await another vehicle to pick them up to continue to Arillas.
Hope that this has changed but just to be on the safe side we will book a taxi or enquire as to the route for transfer before we board the coach,we will then have the option of going, or geting a taxi (45-50 euro)
Dont fancy a 3-4 hour ride around the Island following a flight that lands at 3.20am
Quote from: JohnTheRef&Dot on June 30, 2008, 10:44:56 PM
Dont fancy a 3-4 hour ride around the Island following a flight that lands at 3.20am
Quite right too John. I remember the first time we stayed at the Mathraki we had booked with Olympic. After arriving at stupid-o'clock the transfer took just under three hours because like you say we were transferred onto a smaller coach in Sidari. Never again...after that we picked up our hire car at the airport.
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that the bus is going straight to Arillas.
Eileenx
Thanks Eileen
You may find that you keep hiting the wrong key with your fingers crossed. lol
We are arriving on the 19th July at 5.00am with Olympic and I also saw the transfer time of 3-4 hours - I suppose we are in for a scenic tour of Corfu!!
I was wondering if it helps to cut the cost down a bit, picking up the transfer coach, getting to Sidari hopping off and then taking a taxi... It might work out cheaper and be 1/2 the price from the airport and quicker or I suppose it might not be worth it depending how long they take getting to Sidari. All in all,I think I would start saving for the taxi fare getting from the airport to Arillas... it doesnt really matter so much going back, it would be worth it. 50 euros seems a lot for a taxi but I live near Gatwick and it can cost £40 to get to Heathrow from here.
Hi Sue,
It's bound to keep costs down, but ever so slightly I think. For not much more Olympic could charter the Sidari mini-bus from the airport instead of Sidari, but Olympic are only thinking about their profits. I call it exploitation. They have no scruples in asking customers to suffer a coach journey for 3-4 hours for a journey that should only take 1 hour at maximum. Funnily enough they have no scruples in asking the same customer for a 50% mark up on the taxi fare. Exploitation indeed.
This surely must also have a knock on effect for bookings in Arillas. Fine for those of us who have been before and are determined to return, but first time visitors (especially to Corfu) must think twice. I know that fairly often I'm asked to recommend a resort within a reasonable distance to the airport. Of course I always say that Arillas is...if they get a taxi!!
My oh my I've started the day off on a rant. ;-)
Eileenxx
Rant away Eileen. You've hit a nail on the head...
First timers will definitely be put off by the expeience of a night flight, then being dumped at 7am in Sidari, then waiting by the roadside with no idea of how long the minbus will take to arrive, let alone get to Arillas. That was our first ever experience and we never have and never will do it again!
John and Dot - just get the taxi. We have visions of you both at 7.30 am in Sidari, waiting for Angela to arrive. Worn out, fed up and wishing harm on Olympic Holidays! The return journey is not so bad, and will match up to your flights - as Joe said. And you can spend the time reminiscing over another fabulous holiday.
Booking through this website may even save a few euros - I think it is a tad dearer to simply dive in one at the airport.
Best wishes to all
Phil
Hi
Last year we got a taxi from the airport and although he said he knew where Arillas was he didn't and we got lost. It was dark and late and our directions not very good.
I think it is best to book one through the web site, thats what we are going to do this year. The coach jouney can be long and i think the 50 euros is definately worth it.
8)
I have booked with Olympic and am taking their coach transfer (estimated at 2-2 and a half hours)
Will report on accuracy of this when I get back in Sept. Taxi not really an affordable option for a solo traveller.
Someone might be able to help you out with a taxi/mini bus share if you leave your arrival date and time. Perhaps they could fit in one person and would appreciate "help" with the cost.
Luckily ther last twice we've been it's been straight there with T.C.
But my mate is booked with Olympic and he's a bit worried about a 3 hour drive.
Hope it's stright there for him !
Olypic Transfer times.
The Bad News
We had about a two and a half hour transfer
Rhoda,Sidari and then dropped off last to get a taxi to Arillas got there about 6am.
The return was booked for a 11.45pm pick up but that passed eventualy arriving at 12.30, then picked up at the Galini. the taxi then went to Sidari where we waited for a coach to the airport.
The Good news
By all accounts Olympic was about to take transfers straight to Arillas as from 28th July 08
this info came from the horses mouth
The Bad news
Would that be Direct or Via Rhoda and Sidari?
The mystery continues
hope someone else can throw some light on this matter.
We were with Olympic when we were in Arillas in July. We left Corfu airport at 10.30am on the 19th July and were taken straight to Arillas and arrived at 11.45am - the coach went on to Sidari. On the way back we were picked up first and then onto Sidari to pick up there. Transfer time about 2 hours in total.
I think the transfer times depend on the number of people staying in Arillas and Sidari, If there is a coach full with these 2 resorts there is no real problem. The only thing is you will not find this out until you arrive!
When I first saw this I thought it was for the Olympics in Bejing... Doh!!!!
Oh dear blondegirl what can I say!
BG wot u like?
This is the reason we will not now use the coach to get to Arillas. Taxis rule ok. Mick.
BG
Were you having a BG moment.
made me laugh though.
Always a blonde moment with me which is very worrying! The family wont be able to tell the difference when I get older and end up with senile dementia!
We have just come back from Arillas and we travelled with Olympic. I too was concerned regarding the lengthy transfer times but to be fair to them it wasn't too bad.
We arrived in the early hours and were the only two on the coach going to Arillas. The coach made one drop in Roda, one other drop in Sidari and then dropped us off. We were told that a taxi would be along shortly to take us to Arillas. It appeared before the coach left and took us straight to the accommodation. The journey home again went fairly smoothly, we were picked up at midnight and taken to the same hotel in Sidari that we were dropped off at when we arrived. We had approx 20 -30 minute wait for the coach to arrive and then went straight to the airport. For some reason, even at this time of night there seemed to be a lot of traffic in Sidari and this seemed to delay the coach.
If this is a typical Olympic transfer I would be happy to do it this way again and wouldn't want to pay out 100 euro for a taxi.
If I had to be really critical it would be that there was a certain amount of uncertainty regarding the transfer back to the airport. It obviously changes each week, and will depend on the number of people stopping in Arillas. The rep couldn't confirm exactly what the route would be, there was one option to go to Sidari about 8.00pm and to have two or three hours there before the coach arrived. If this had been the case we would have gone for a meal. In the end we were told that we would be picked up at midnight. To be fair to her, the mini bus was there bang on time. I suppose that if you are travelling earlier or later in the year when the weather might be a bit cooler or even wet, hanging around for half an hour in Sidari waiting for a coach will be a real pain. But as far as we were concerned it all went fairly smoothly and as I said earlier we wouldn't bother to pay that sort of money for a taxi.
Have commented elsewhere on transfers with Olympic, but these were the worst part of our recent holiday. Otherwise we thoroughly enjoyed staying at the Gallini Apts - friendly, comfortable, peaceful (apart from one young English chavably illegal and his partner who disturbed several of us) - with a very helpful Olympic rep - Nadine. But yes it took is from before midnight to 4.30 am to arrive, having travelled up the opposite coast, round to Roda, crammed into a minibus packed with luggage and probably very dangerous, to drive across country to Arillas. Rep tried to help. Return journey we did not have to change. instead we all travelled for no apparent reason up to Sidari, then south to Corfu Town - all at no more than 20km/hr!! Left at 6.30pm and arrived 9.30pm. My wife an I are in our sixties, and I have some difficulty walking - so to be fair we may react more to such cramped and long transfers. But be warned. If you are able - get a taxi or hire a car (if you are experienced on greek roads!)
We had the same experience with Olympic in 2002 Peter. Never again! We try to go independently now so factor in the taxi fares anyway.
But last October we went with Thomsons to Kaloudis and risked it - it was daytime then so seemed like a good idea. And it only took barely an hour going the Paleokastritsa route. Seems Olympic still need to learn about Customer Service.
Phil
I did hear that Olympic were planning some more properties in Arillas so then the coach transfer should go straight there, last year the coaches not only went to sidari they went all round kassiopi, dassia etc before getting to Arillas, so it seems it is a bit better now if it is onyl going to Sidari! No that I have experienced the coach not for about 20 years anyway.
My Husband and I went to Arillas with Olympic between 25th Aug and 8th Sept and thr transfers were pretty good expecially after what we had heard!
We went by coach to sidari and then got straight on a mini bus to Arillas..............took about an hour and half.......not bad. On return, again, mini bus to sidari and then on the coach the rest of the way. Took about 2 hours as there was a short wait at Sidari.