Arillas Forum
Welcome to Arillas => Accommodation reviews => Independent accomodation => Topic started by: huge*abba*fan on September 17, 2008, 05:31:41 PM
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After XL going bust and the way the travel market is at the moment, it does not pay to go independent anymore.
I still wouldn't even if it worked out cheaper.
It would be far better going through a travel agent who are ABTA bonded, even just to book a flight. Its not worth taking a risk, even just to save a few pennies.
I am off to Arillas next month and can't wait!!
Lisa
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Thats all ok if you go for 2 weeks, but if you want 3 or more you don't have a choice.
2 WEEKS ISN'T LONG ENOUGH!
Sreve
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I have just compared flight only with package on TC for next year, and in some cases the flight alone is more expensive than a package...
Travel agent or on line bookings have same protection so long as the companies are Abta..also not all accomodation is covered by the the major travel companies ..so all depends were you want to stay,and as Steve says if you want to stay for 3 weeks or longer then flight only is the only realistic option...Maybe Easyjet will take up the spare slots now vacated by XL and make more flights to Corfu available from Airports other than gatwick? that would give us a few more options...
Please Stelios start some flights from Manchester......
Anyone know his address? we could write to him....
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My first priority of going independent is that I get to go where I want and the times that I want. Yes, it can be more expensive at times but like I said, I get to go and travel when it suits me and no more 4 am arrivals and departures, and long transfer times :)
So yep, credit crunch or not, independent is the way for me and my friends ;)
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Well, like I said, I would not risk it, it just isn't worth it. I suppose its down to the individual choice at the end of the day.
Lisa
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I agree, it doesn't pay to go independent. There again I don't go on holiday to save money. What it does do, however, is, as EEG says, is let me go where, when and for how long I want. It also means that when I pay for my accomadation I am putting my hard-earned into the pockets of my hosts and not into a tour companies profits. Having said that, the security of a package is right for some people.
The really important thing is that everyone gets the holiday that is right for them,
Ivan
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each to there own i love to go indie.............yammas
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Yeah, fantastic going on a package! No indemnity like a scheduled flight for delay so carte blanche for the operator to ship you out for 3 am arrival after being messed about in Gatwick for 12 hours while they clear the days backlog.
Then a 2-3 hour transfer all round the Island on a vomit inducing coachtrip in a clammy bus full of clammier Chavs going to Sidari and Roda, howling kids so tired they cant sleep.
Then look forward to the morning wake up call of reps pushing tours down your throat. "Hia Im Suzi! The kumquat factory is fab."
Yes you will end up in Arillas.
Want any more than a basic hotel room though and you are in trouble.
I want to chose when and how I go and have the space, comfort and privacy that I can only get from independant accomodation. I want the security of knowing my family is in safe surroundings near the pool not hidden by a throng of other people.
Booking a villa through James etc means spending at least double what booking independantly costs.
However, I do understand that it depends what you expect from a Holiday and obviously how you value that precious 2 weeks a year with your family and the level of relaxation and comfort you want to spend it in.
Sorry if this sounds snobby or offends any tartan baseball cap wearers.
(Who am I kidding, no I'm not)
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Hi All,
This year is my first attempt at booking independent for next year.
6 years of package with no problems [ why the change ]
Because you can travel when you want to, and stay where you want to on the dates you want to.
7 days 10 days 14 days [Package no problem]
Independent you can have 6 days 9 days 13 days 17 days, its your choice.
So I booked the the flights and then matched the accomadation [ Perfect ]
THEN XL WENT BUST
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Sorry John, genuinely.
You didnt take cancellation insurance or pay on your credit card?
Regards
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We like going independent where ever we go,for flights and we like to choose our own accommodation,but I'm afraid that my plans to pop back over to Arillas before the season ends have been blown out of the water because of the increase in flight prices over the last week and I dont belive that paying almost £1000 for 2 return flights to Corfu is really value for money.
Book well in advance I here some of you cry,not possible as I work in intrim management so its not easy to plan ahead.
I shall miss my second fix this year boo hoo but at least the forum keeps me going.
Ang
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Always gone package and had some very good deals indeed week in Halkadiki apartment right on the beach £69.00 last minute one.Other than the last minute stuff have always gone with a tour company and it suited us.However next year we have gone independant and this is just down to us getting what we want.Fly from Exeter stay at Bardis sun.It has cost us about£200 more but i just dont fancy travelling upto Bristol and Going Places dont do Arillas its there plane we will be on.
You pays your money and you takes your chance as the saying goes.
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Opps its First Choice airways we will be on not going places,good job its not next May god knows where we would have ended up.
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I suppose I have always booked a package and with the same Tour Operator because I have never had any problems with them and you are not restricted with them. You have a flight & accommodation booked and yes, there can be delays like there would be even when you go independent. The rooms may not be brilliant and yes, you can ask to be moved. A holiday booked with a travel agent/tour operator gives you that little more assurance that you will be looked after in the event of a tour operator/flight company going bust.
You can still book a flight only through a travel agent and be bonded.
Like John B said, why change a habit of a lifetime?.
I think some people are very naive and dont check if companies are bonded beforehand and just want to save a few quid.
Lisa
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I think these days , most people go indepentant because of the flexibility it affords, not "to save a few quid" - because it doesn't! A few years ago it was possible, if you got a really cheap flight, to do it cheaper than a package but not anymore.
Personnally, I will still go independantly when I can afford to, for the flexibility as I said, and to put money in the locals pockets rather than the tour operators'. If you use a bonded flight operator, or a credit card, there should be no problem.
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usually go independent but if XL had gone bust six weeks ago we would have had no holiday! Time for a rethink!
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Heres a slightly different take.
My colleague Simon and his wife left in my Suzuki Jeep last night bound for Arillas the scenic route.
They hit Dover at midnight last night and were having breakfast in Koeningsbourg this morning. They are taking a leisurely couple days through Germany and Italy on the way to the 17.30 ferry from Venice on Monday to be in Corfu Tuesday evening.
Total cost on this round trip would be £480 including ferries and Petrol in a 1.6L Jeep.
Considering you could take 5 or 7 people given the right car for around this price and load up with wine in Calais on the return leg this sounds like a good option.
Its about 1000 miles by road to Venice from us in the West Country so 2 people sharing the driving could knock it out in under 20 Hours no problem.
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Having tried both methods, my personal preference is going the independent route - it just works better for us.
Have just read your latest post Corfusoon & I'm SO tempted to try it this way.
I would love to drive & take the ferry, I just think it would be so much fun & such an exciting way of coming to Corfu & Arillas, I think Christian would be really tempted too.
Thanks for telling us about your friends. I'd be interested in hearing how they found it etc.
Food for thought - definately :-)
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I am seriously jelous! Its a trip I wanted to do in my old Landrover last year but I lent it to somebody who crashed it and there was a problem with the insurance. The Suzuki was bought out of the salvage value but as a four seater it wasnt a trip I could do with the group I had planned.
My wifes MPV would be perfect though so maybe another year.
On the subject of daring not to book a flight incase the airline goes bust I have to say that if you buy your flights on a credit card you are covered in the event of a failure, if you take a decent holiday insurance out you are covered.
So if the worst happens at least you get your money back.
There are not many people I would hand over a stack of cash to on the promise of a service some months away. Why would flying be any different.
Credit Card payment gives you protection. Insurance gives you protection.
If you are booking without taking these precautions upon yourself then you need to take a long hard look at how you operate! All business is at highr risk at this time. Be careful about any major purchase with payment up front.
Take a look at this:
http://www.moneywise.co.uk/news-views/2008/09/12/are-you-covered-against-collapsing-airlines
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Ang
We have 6 odd days spare at our villa http://www.corfuhome.co.uk from 13th to 19th October. So theres a deal to be done on our 1 week rate which is normally £700.
Flights from Gatwick are £142.40 per person on Easyjet.
Villa sleeps 6. How can this not make fantastic value?
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Not sure why it is considered more 'dangerous' to book independent, you can quiet easily when booking afford yourself the same protection as on package deals, it just depends on where and how you book it. You can thank the government (as always) for this mess with people losing money, this link explains it better than me, we have actually asked for this protection but the government overruled:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/09/13/cncook113.xml
While the package holiday is not to everyone's taste it can be seen the last few weeks why it is so popular and no doubt here to stay, it offers people who are often not seasoned travellers security and protection which makes them feel at ease when they are so far from home.
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Some really useful, accurate and well written information here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/news/article4782234.ece
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As a family of five we always book independently. I would say the first determining factor is wanting to guarantee out accommodation, the second is definitely the price. I have done extensive searches and would still have to pay £1000 more for our usual 2 weeks. This is simply not an option for us. Unfortunately I am restricted to the school holidays as I work in a school.
We used to go in June before I worked in a school and sometimes managed to get a package then and I reckon as a couple you would get some better bargains if you booked packages.
I have been as shocked as everyone by the xl demise as we have booked with them every single year and would have done so again in a couple of months. We also always booked using a debit card so this is a definite change we will be making. I am also flabbergasted that we would have never been protected.
Perhaps next year will be the one that makes us finally take the kids somewhere else even though it will break my heart!
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Thanks Corfusoon,troble is Gatwicks a tad too far, but hey ho I think it will have to be a cheapy flight to Malaga for a few days in october instead can get them for just under £200 return for us both.
Ang
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Hi Ang
It wasnt really an offer so much as making a point that for some people this kind of holiday works out way cheaper and for so much more.
I, my wife, my mother in law and 3 young children would fit into your Malagar accomodation how I wonder?
Helios Court would rate a good many more T's than Thompsons usual rating.
Again it depends what makes a holiday comfortable for you.
Regards
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Nice try at touting for some business though, corfu soon!
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Might of hit on something there ...how about a swap shop...Swap 2 weeks in our house for 2 weeks in a 3 bedroom villa in Arillas....now thats an offer no one can refuse!!! anyone intersted ?... PM me
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That’s a bit cynical Jo.
I think that suggesting the people should not go independent because they perceive a high risk of losing their money and that going independent is always so much more expensive is just plain wrong. I hope I have put up valuable comments to counter this.
Flights to Corfu a grand in October or any other time!!!! In what world? Not yet anyway.
I couldn’t think of a better way of making my point. Can you?
These are the kind of throw away comments that do down business in Arillas which this web site tries hard to promote.
Arillas has had its share of rough treatment from the Holiday companies and a lot of accomodation is greatful to recieve independant business.
BeckyB, My friends got rediculous deal on a hotel suite overlooking Lake Lucern yesterday lunchtime. Stunning views. Just turned up and booked.
They are having fun.
They have to be on the 17.30 ferry on Monday in Venice so they will spend today and tomorrow going through the Alps and Northern Italy before exploring Venice ahead of the Trip.
I was told that the Ferry is one like they use on the Bilbao route, its like a little cruise ship.
They will be in Arillas Tuesday night staying at the Marina Hotel.
Hope they like Arillas as much as we do!
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Ha! Ha! That's pretty funny Kes :-)
Call me cynical, but somehow I don't think that will catch on - you never know though...
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First try at sending the photo he sent me
(http://[url=http://img380.imageshack.us/my.php?image=imag0120sn7.jpg][img=http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/567/imag0120sn7.th.jpg][/url][url=http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php][img=http://img380.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif][/url])
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£1000.00 for 4 is about write for flights to corfu from northwest uk.....last week when I booked for October it only cost £8.00 more for hotel + b&b than flight only..
....no contest.....
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Well to quote Ang
"£1000 for 2 return flights to Corfu is really value for money"
2 flights to Corfu £1000????????????????????????????
If you will live in the North :-)
Everythhing else is cheaper there I suppose. Of course according to recent statistics you die 30 years younger due to the lack of sun.
How much value can you put on your health!
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It costing us £200 less to stay in Arillas on a package deal than it would had we booked flights and accommodation. I would definately prefer to book independently, but we couldnt have come this time if we hadnt found this deal.
Sharon
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Hmm...someone in corfu got there claws out.!!!
Don`t want to get into a North/South devide debate...but that seems a bit of a unnecersary snide remark...
(http://www.arillas.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/misc/4.gif)
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haha kes, love the purple hippo. Wouldnt let it bother you, i'm from the north west and wouldnt change it.
Sharon x
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Me neither Sharon...(unless it was for Arillas)
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Hi Kes,
My husband did not mean any harm he was having a joke, which unfortunatley the many smiley faces cannot get that a cross very well. We have got some wonderful friends who live up north and love it, and wont come back to the south for all the tea in China!
We are very lucky that in Arillas you have accommodation for everyone tastes and pocket. It does make you wonder how much the hotels etc get paid fromt he tour operaters!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a wonderful holiday where ever you go, and i am sure Arillas will miss you.
Mandy
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Hi Mandy,
Thats one of the reasons we prefer to go independant, would much rather put the money in the pockets of Arillas than the tour operators! But unfortunately it just wasnt possible this time. Hope to go indepedent next year though.
Sharon x
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Hi, everyone . We`ve done a package deal for next year simply because the flights we were quoted were far too high by themselves. Add on your accomodation and it was too high for us to go in June
Best Wishes Paul D
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I am a bit confused here I don't mind anyone quoting what I have written but please only do so in the right context.....
to quote myself I stated that paying almost £1000 for 2 return flights for 1 week to corfu was NOT value for money...
and I certainly do not make throw away comments!!!!
we have been coming to Arillas for the past 15yrs sometimes 2x a year and always support the local economy and like going independent and don't mind paying more for quality and the standards we like, this summer we took a package as it was a good price but then decided it was not for us so moved and paid for what we wanted
Furthermore we don't live in the North we live in Wales so yet another inaccurate assumption made have a look at thomsons flight price's !! must say they have dropped this week but still almost £800.
Anyway I said my bit but no hard feelings just making the point.
Cheers Ang
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Oh and I forgot to mention when we stay in Malaga we again go independant and are happy to pay 100-150Euro a night for our room only accomodation just for a relaxiing bit of R&R.
Ang
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We always try to go independent. No choice this last time because we wanted four weeks. We paid a very good price all told, about the same as 2 weeks in July.
Last October a Thomson week at Kaloudis was less than the flights so we took that. It was also just fine with a very good transfer time. There are pros and cons to both.
Our main motivation is that we want the money to end up with our local friends, not a Tour Operator.
Phil
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Same for us this October ,a week in hotel was same price as flight only...Of course its good to support local economy but package or flight only most visitors eat out and use the supermarkets and bars..so all in all whatever we spend is spread around,..
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We usually travel independently, however, for Arillas it just wasn't feasible for us. Living in the North it was easier getting flights and much cheaper to go with Thomsons. I have to admit that Thomsons aren't bad for a package tour operator and their flights are much better than some of the independent airlines. We are a tall family and find that they have a tad more legroom in their planes than some of the others.
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Hi Ang
Easyjet to Corfu was £142 each fro Gatwick. Couldnt understand the £500 per flight. It just doesnt cost that much even via Athens.
One of the local hotels would be E210 for 7 nights B&B
E100 for a taxi transfer both ways or hire a car for E25 per day.
So one week for 2 would be £532. £266 each independant.
£1000 for a week? Dont understand what you were looking at. Even if you had to get a cab both ways from Wales I couldnt get to your number. Why would anybody want to pay an extra £500 for that.
As for the disposable comment remark. I think the original statement is difficult to justify ( that it doesnt pay to go independant) I think this was said in haste based on the incorrect thought that your money was only safe if you booked a package through an ABTA bonded agent.
I trust I have explained the legalities of the financial transaction and that your money is safe if you apply the same logic as to any major transaction. Independant still represents great value if you want more than basic accomodation (especially with 3 children ourselves), unusual timings or accomodation that is unavailable on a package. Personally I like scheduled rather than charter flights as I find them more reliable and have greater comeback on the airline than I do on a Package. Then again I have one experience of being delayed 3 entire days which colours my thinking.
I am not knocking the package market but it doesnt suit everbody and may not always be the best deal. In many cases it indeed does pay to go independant.
One last thought. "Value is what is remembered long after the price is forgotten"
Regards (And no hard feelings either)
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Hi CF...I think this discussion could go on forever...and as everyone says its down to personal preference...
Your example from Gatwick is ok...but the £1000.00 quoted from Manchester in the original post is correct...see below......
(and taxi transfer on top)
Fly thomas cooke july 2009
Outbound (MAN - CFU)
2 Adult @ 288.49£576.98
Inbound (CFU - MAN)
2 Adult @ 276.49£552.98
Total £1129.96
check link below
http://book.flythomascook.com/skylights/cgi-bin/skylights.cgi
Unfortunately the power is with the package companies and no matter what... with most people (espacially families with children)its all a matter of finance and getting the best deal possible within reason..
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Pays to shop around then.
Click here for Flights from £165 return to Manchester.
http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/flights/Corfu/Manchester/
You can play the last minute flght game too if you have your accomodation independantly!
Before you give up on independant check your options.
Regards
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Try following the link for the £165.00 flight...that is one way! and way out of season... and if visitors have prebooked independent accomodation they can`t very well wait in the hope they will get a late flight..just not worth the risk...
anyhow thats gotta be my last post on this subject...My dinner is on the table...
Have to meet up in October (we have booked a package) or Next May (we are flight only)and have a good chinwag on the subject..
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Point is Kes I wouldn’t book now for June. Easyjet won’t even bring its schedules out until the end of next month.
Ang was looking for an October break. That’s what I was working on. Even you said for 4 people a grand is right from your locale.
Now much as I love a good debate I am packing to leave tomorrow for Arillas. (Independent of course) so thats it from me. I shall drink to you tomorrow night.
Don’t discount Independent travel it may well work out far better for you.
Dont be too disparaging about October it’s the most beautiful time in Arillas!
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I trust this isn't a forum war or I wouldn't comment. I will spill the beans - we took Joe's advice and booked early. For two, our flights were 340 pounds (400 euros at worst rate.) Our accommodation for a month was 600 euros (admittedly a special deal.) Our taxis were the full 100 euros, but in July we only paid 30 each way. The total cost was 1100 euros (£900) for two for a month. It was the same for two weeks in July.
Admittedly my liver has more money left than I have ....... apparently I have a huge bill to pay unless I come back without it next year. No chance I will have to pay. Just read Eggy on Arillas Today....
Jen just said "it is like spending Christmas with rellies........" And I would add that it is much more fun. Arillas gives us a new lease of life, every time we are there. We would have had the triplets this time if we hadn't planned ahead........ snip snip
best wishes
Phil
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http://www.charterflights.co.uk/sabs/online_booking.php
I hope to understand well English and in October it only costs 370.00pounds 2 ways for 2 people
also
Going Out
Mon, 13 Oct 08
Thomas Cook Airlines (TCX772K) 07:05 Depart Manchester (MAN)
12:30 Arrive Corfu (CFU)
Coming Back
Mon, 20 Oct 08
Thomas Cook Airlines (TCX772L) 13:30 Depart Corfu (CFU)
15:00 Arrive Manchester (MAN)
Passenger Information
Cost details
Adult £ 159.00 GBP
X 2 Adult £ 318.00 GBP
Airport Tax £ 10.00 GBP
X 2 Airport Tax £ 20.00 GBP
ATOL protection (APC) £ 1.00 GBP
X 2 ATOL protection (APC) £ 2.00 GBP
Fuel supplement £ 15.00 GBP
X 2 Fuel supplement £ 30.00 GBP
Web discount £ 0.00 GBP
Total cost £ 370.00 GBP
Fare Rules
- All fares are 100% non-refundable.
- Paper Tickets are required at check-in for this fare. Tickets will be sent to the postal address you provide at the time of booking (if booking is made within 14 days of first departure, tickets should be collected from the Thomas Cook desk at the airport)
- No changes are allowed on scheduled services (including Canada) at any time.
- Flight/route changes are subject to availability and charged from £20.00 per passenger sector plus any increase between the original and prevailing fare. (excluding scheduled services)
- Name changes are permitted via the sales centre and are charged from £25.00 per passenger sector plus any increase between the original and prevailing fare. (excluding scheduled services)
- Changes must be made 96 hours before the first departure within the booking via the sales centre.
- In-flight meals are not included in the base fare (apart from selected long haul flights). Once booked, a meal cannot be removed from the booking. Meal charges are non refundable. No changes to meal requests can be made within 96 hours of first departure
- Bookings made within 96 hours of first departure will receive and incur charges for standard meals.
- Bookings made within 14 days of first departure will incur a ticket servicecharge of £15 per passenger.
- Standard Baggage allowance is 15kg (Premium Cabin services may allow more) unless extra baggage allowance has been pre-selected. In this case the allowance is 20kg. Excess baggage will incur an additional charge.
- If you fail to present your tickets at check-in you will be liable to pay £5 per passenger for the same tickets to be re-issued and we will assume a baggage allowance of 15kg per passenger.
- A £1 per passenger ATOL Protection Contribution (APC) is included in the cost of all fares.
hi all i dont think is so bad at all if you look very carefull and you are not in hurry.
take care
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Thanks for that website Anna
I haven't used that website before and just for other people's information there are also flights on there for a similar price from Gatwick and Birmingham.
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Thomson flight only from cardiff to corfu 1 week return for 2 £797.00 thats flying out on any friday for the month of october,what is it that Im missing here??Oh sorry it must be that I dont book well in advance to get a cheaper price .
Im trying to point out that not evryone is able to get cheaper flights if they want to fly from a local airport at a time when it suits them.
Ang
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Thanks Anna. We KNOW you are right. That is how we came to stay with you in July. We would have done in September but you were as good as full. We wish you a happy and successful season for next year.
much love
Jen and Phil
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Hi Anna,
Thats the flight that Pete and I are on.
When we tried to book flight only there was no room but when we booked a package
with TC we got the same flight (funny how suddenly there were 2 seats) and a weeks accomadation for £218.
I dont know how it worked bt it did so we will see you then (all being well) Love Viv
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We met a couple staying at the BS Studios last week, it was their 2nd visit this year... they booked a cheap package to Corfu... told the Tour OP. they didnt want the accommodation which they said was fine, and then this couple booked with Poppy at the BS. Hired a car for the week. The only thing is the reps miss out on is the commission on "trips" etc. but you might not do that anyway, we never do through the reps.
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June 4 weeks and accomodation at Makris £1530 icluding flights and accomodation.
If i could get time off i would be there
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I KNOW THESE POST'S WERE LAST YEAR BUT I HAVE COME BACK FROM ARILLA'S THIS WAS MY FIRST VISIT WE BOOKED THE VILLA LINAKIS AND THEN WE BOOKED FLIGHT'S WITH THE DOOMED XL,THE FLIGBHT'S WERE FOR 6 PEOPLE SO PANIC SET IN I HAD TO FIND A FLIGHT THAT LEFT ON A MONDAY AND PAY IT WITH MY CREDIT CARD OR ELSE THE HOLIDAY WAS NON-EXISTENT.WE BOOKED THOMAS COOK FLIGHTS FOR NOT MORE THAN WHAT XL COST US SO IT WORKED OUT IN THE END AND I DID RECEIVE MY MONEY BACK BUT WE ARE THINKING OF GOING BACK TO ARILLA'S IN 2011 AND WE WILL ONLY BE BOOKING THE FLIGHT'S WITH THOMAS COOK NO ACCOMODATION BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PRICES FOR A PACKAGE HOLIDAY TO ARILLA'S AND COMPARE RENTING FROM THE OWNER YOU ARE STILL SAVING MONEY AND IF ANYTHING HAPPENED THAT THE ACCOMODATION WAS DOUBLE BOOKED I'M SURE THIS COULD BE EASILY SORTED THE FRIENDLY PEOPLE IN ARILLA'S I'M SURE ARE VERY HONOURABLE FROM MARTHA LONGMUIR
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Try again. My last post disappeared so let's try again.
Anna Krasakis and her family Kostas, Theo and Tassos are some of the most honest and lovely people you can meet. The studios and apartments are so clean and tidy you could feel ashamed. Well we did - jen and me only wash our pathways once a year. At Annas it is every day.
The rooms are fab -a typical Greek holiday. If you want red carpets go to Spain, if you want peace and happiness come to Arills
Phil
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Nowadays the choice of which way to do it is a complete lottery, and no-one can say which is cheaper for other people, or even how much it will cost them when flight prices can change several times a day.
For example, we have been visiting Corfu for many years both independantly and packages, and I constantly check out the package prices and flight prices from airports within a 3 hours car journey.
This year we were planning to go 'independant' in May to our friends' apartments which they provide for us at no cost if there are vacancies, so we leave it 'lateish' but not very late.
Admittedly our choice of dates was limited by his other bookings and our own commitments but believe me due to the very high flight prices then we saved well £200 for 2 of us by booking instead a Thomsons 11 day package at nearby Theo's Hotel taking into account transfers, even though we would have no charge for our friend's accommodation ! Breakfasts were also included in that package.
We still saw just as much of our friends by visiting and spending time with them most days so everyone was happy.
We had checked Easyjet which was not really a viable option for us due to the airport distances coupled with times of check-in, "extras" such as suitcases, and boarding organisation, plus the flight prices were NOT cheap.
So now it's back to the Internet and flight lottery for our autumn Corfu trip but this time it must be 'flight only' to stay with our friends.
Dennis
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Having done the package thing with Thomas Cook last year, we decided to take the advice of the majority and go independant this year.
Flights with Monarch from Gatwick are £180.00 return each, admittedly the flights are late night / very early morning, but that suits us.
We booked accommodation directly with Akis at Mathraki Studios, following recommendation on this forum, and at a really good price.
Taxi fares from / to the airport are 50 euro's each way, the same as we paid last year (having decided to arrange a taxi direct rather than wait for the bus transfer.....again after advice from this forum!)
All in all, we're happy with the arrangements and the cost.
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Hi John,
I usually do the 'independent' booking as traveling alone can be quite expensive with 'single' supplements if you go down the package tour route! The other consideration is that your host gets your money and not just the 'per person/day' payout by the travel company, which can be as low as €10/day!
The flights from Gatwick seem to be quite cheap, but I personally hate the place, so prefer to travel from my local airport, Cardiff. In May the fare was £345, but it meant that I didn't have to endure the 6 hour bus ride to and from Gatwick at the cost of £80!
I'm back in Arillas in October and this time the fare is £210 all in, which isn't bad. I fly out at 0720hrs. arriving at 1235hrs. local time and return from Corfu at 1335hrs and get back to Cardiff at 1500hrs. so I'm home by 1600hrs.
Taxi fares vary but the firm Dorita at the Bardis Sun Hotel books for me was €45 in May each way, which can be halved if you can arrange a 'taxi share' with other members on the forum! On first name terms with the drivers now!
Yammas,
Martin.
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its a tough call but at the moment for arillas in october we are cheaper with a package than flight only
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Good point Martin, we're happier with the money going straight to the host too.
You're right about Gatwick, not the nicest airport I've been to, but all-in-all it aint too bad, and for us we can be there in less than an hour (assuming the M25 is running OK!).
Taxi sharing is a great idea, but finding somebody at the airport at the same time as us may be difficult as we arrive a 2:00 a.m!!
Who do you fly with from Cardiff?
I guess there's pro's & con's both ways with going independant or package, it all comes down to the deal you can get and personal preference but, for us, we're looking forward to our first independant holiday in Arillas and our first stay at the Mathraki.
Five weeks to Mythos!! :)
Yammas!
John
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Hi John,
I've had many a long chat with the hoteliers in Arillas about the way they are treated by the 'tour operators', that's why a lot of them have now opted for independent booking. I find that I can get a room at 'normal' rates and avoid the 'single supplement' ripoff!
I usually travel with Thomsonfly, you can book online or via one of their shops. They provide an excellent service and the cabin staff are great.
Taxi sharing can be sorted if you put a request on the forum. It's surprising how many folk arrive at or near the same time as you.
Hope you enjoy your stay at Mathraki, I'm sure you will!
Yammas,
Martin.
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Dennis and Martin-w I agree with you. We got a last minute package to Kaloudis for silly money in 2007, had we booked it earlier it was nearly three times the price. We also try to do independent and try to share ourselves around as many of the locals we can support. But sometimes you have to take what is on offer. There seems to be no rule you can follow.
Phil
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We have enjoyed "going independent" for the last couple of years but when we tried to book in October 08 for September 09 there was a £400 difference between independent and package so package won. But then again that is £400 more that we can spend in Arillas so local business will still benefit.