Arillas Forum
Welcome to Arillas => Accommodation reviews => Topic started by: Alan and Jan on June 24, 2011, 12:45:14 PM
-
Now that BMIBaby are flying to Corfu from East Mids next year we decided to look into doing our own thing rather than use the tour operators. Visited various flight websites and none could better BMIBaby so we have bit the bullet.
Flying out on 28th May 2012 for 14 glorious days. Just gor accommodation and transfer to sort. Still reckon we can undercut Thomsons at Kaloudis for same period by around £200.
The other thing of course is that we will be paying the locals and not Thomsons.
-
This will be our second year going independently to Kaloudis and the BMI Baby flights will make a huge difference to the cost if we go again next year - at the moment we use Thomson Airways as it's still cheaper than Jet2.
On paper it isn't cheaper going independently. When we priced it up and finally booked flights in May it was £1400 (incl taxi) as opposed to £990 with Thomsons - but you get a 2 bed, air-conditioned, lovely apartment as opposed to a tiny studio where aircon is extra with Thomsons! Plus you can do whatever dates you like. We're doing 11 nights this year, Mon-Fri which fits so well with work. Can't wait to be back there in a little over 2 weeks :-)
-
We've not yet booked for next year, although we always do May/June and Sept/Oct.
Just priced up three weeks at Kaloudis and it worked out at just a few pounds short of £2,000 for us two! A bit ridiculous I reckon. I'm not saying we want three weeks, but it would enable us include a few more things that way.
We usually do Thomson in May then independent in Sept so checking for offers all the time now!
Janis x
-
Our shy of three weeks (back on Friday instead of Monday) this July cost £360 flights, £400 accommodation and £90 transfer. £850 total. Had we done the full three weeks, it would have been £30 extra for accommodation, but £70 extra for flights. £950 total. Idiots, we should have stayed the extra days for the extra £100.
In October week the flights were £260, transfer £90, accommodation £180, total £530.
The prices that Janis is getting frighten me to death. If it is all up there, ArillasPhil might justbe GlastonburyPhil next year.
Phil
-
The three weeks at Kaloudis was package, through Thomson, and included a week of school holidays, Phil! I'd been trying to stay in Arillas and incorporate seeing friends that we already know will be there and also Jill's birthday.
Sadly, we can't do it, but have just booked two weeks - again at Kaloudis (package) flying 21st May from Manchester £868 for both of us.
Kaloudis is a good place to stay and we love the family there. Everything is absolutely spotless and well-kept; however we do like to go independent later in the year (Sept/Oct) when it usually works out slightly dearer but includes breakfast and aircon (yes, we still need aircon sometimes!)
Anyway - WE'RE BOOKED!!
Janis x x
-
I wish I'd booked sooner, though, as soon as Thomson released their prices.....
-
We stayed in chris and roula's rooms there a couple of years ago and they were far better than either the rooms we'd had via thomson or the lovenest. Great value too.
-
WeLl done Alan for taking the plunge!There is something slightly thrilling about doing it independently and saving some hard earned cash whilst at the same time helping the local community! Billy even has some private accom at Kaloudis so you may never notice the difference!!
-
im gonna be a big ,flash head,,,but i dont care what it costs ,independant is for me ,dates i want ,,accommodation i want ,and not much more than package if you book early,,i know some cant ,,but if you want something in life youll find a ,way,,come on,youve a yr to save up,,book now..xxx
........yammas
-
Kevin - I really wanted to go independent for BOTH Arillas holidays next year, but if I'd chosen the flights I wanted, from the airport I wanted, and especially the accommodation I wanted (Horizon), it would have worked out around £1,200 for the two of us....
Doing it this way, package in May and independent in Sept/Oct enables us to go there twice and do other things we enjoy as well.
We never economise on eating out while we're there - we eat out all the time and never "self cater" so this also helps the local economy
Looking forward to two weeks at Horizon in October this year! Can't wait...
Janis x x
-
We could only do Independent as we only ever want to stay at the Horizon, yes we have stayed at other independent places and at Kaloudis over the years and each of them satisfied our need at that time but we kind of found our spot now and would be reticent to compromise.
This little trip did'nt feel as expensive because I had already paid for the flights last year and 1/2 of the accommodation but in total
Fights £280, Taxi £100 Hotel £490 = £870 but I did pay for an extra day at the Horizon as we had a late return flight.
Ive looked at prices for maybe a return visit in Sept for hubby's 50th but so far nothing is coming up even looked at the cheapy packages just for the flight...what will be will be it would be nice but it may just be a few days in Spain to celebrate.
Ang
-
Ang, I feel that same about the Marinaki. Having stayed (and enjoyed) our hols at lots of different Arillas places over the years, as soon as they were built that was it for us!
I always remember us saying when it was just the Flamingo pool, that would be such a PERFECT spot for some apts! We also find that the independent price for 5 of us is impossible to beat via package and by a good £7/800. I can only IMAGINE the relaxation that PPMAN is enjoying now...grrrrr...
-
this yr it cost us for a 2bed apt at the marina ,£540 for 12 nights,,£260 for flights £100 taxi..total £900 ,,£40 more than t/c package in a 2xbed in the rainbow,,so not that much of a differance,,,xx
-
We've just booked for next year but again not arillas. Next year we'll be just over the headland at Romanza villa. 2800 euro for two weeks, flights for 4 at 800 euro, just need to organise a car now.
-
Being restricted 'up north' with Newcastle and its limited choise of flights, we could'nt get close to what we have paid for 2 weeks at the Akti next Jun/Jul. Would love to go it alone so hotel gets more money, but it adds £300 to the holiday compared to what we paid through Thomas Cook and for us that is the difference between going or staying.
-
GazCaz £300 is mulcho money for anyone these days and a saving not to be sniffed at.
Just think of the few days enjoyment you will get from that saving and at the end of the day your money will be spent in Arillas.
Ang
-
will me and ann booked for next yr on wed 2 weeks from the 18 th may so will see you there janis we must stop meeting like this lol
yammas to all
-
As long as we all keep going to Arillas, Keith, and we DON'T stop meeting like this (lol) - that's an important part!
Janis x
-
In principle we prefer to book independently and give the locals more of our money than travel companies. Yet we have still ended up booking packages at times because it was the difference of that or not going at all.
Incidentally Kevin, we booked a 2 bed appartment at the Rainbow with Thomas Cook for 14 days at £750, so that's a bit cheaper than you are quoting for them. Agree with your reasoning though, and will look into all options next time...
Janis, we also eat out all the time we are there, so that has to help more businesses. I think poor Eggy got a bit exasperated with me turning down the offer of free courgettes, because it would have meant cooking them, and I was on holiday!!
lynn xx
-
Going independent next june for first time........guess where ? you got it KALOUDIS...Roulas private apts....they are brill. We had one for a holding room when we left this week...so booked it for next june. Will try to put some pics on...
-
Obviously a package isn't an option for us. Normally we fly from Gatwick and over recent years with Easyjet even though we are much closer to Bristol.
This year Amanda and Pete booked the flights while I was tied up with work. They saved £500 on flights on our party of 7 flying from Bristol this year.
We don't normally fly out in July. It was an eye opener!
-
After much ummming and rrrring about where to put our heads down we decided on Bardis Sun Studios.
All booked in with Poppy, Spiros, Bobby and George from 28th May 2012 for 2 weeks. Taxi also arranged.
Incidentally will be on the inaugaral bmibaby flight from East Mids to Corfu. Only about 331 days to go.
-
You're staying at Poppy's?? WONDERFUL!! Poppy, Spiros, Bobby and Katerina, and George are such wonderful people... We don't stay there but we ALWAYS, ALWAYS, call in to see them. In fact, I think we introduced you to them? You'd eaten at Vavilas and we'd eaten at Eleni's... You'd recommended Eleni's to us, because someone had recommended it to you, then - on the way back from Vavilas - you saw us there, joined us, and the people who'd recommended it were on the next table to us!
Happy Days!
Enjoy, Alan and Jan - they are wonderful hosts - and we'll pop in there many times to see them
Love, Janis and Barry x x
PS If you have 331 days to go, and you posted yesterday, we have 324 days to go and we'll be there, waiting for you....
PPS Barry's cousin and her husband will be visiting Arillas for the first time in May, so we'll be bringing them to meet Poppy and family, and also Alan and Jan... (Carol and Dave will be flying from Robin Hood airport..)
-
Spot on Janis with your introductions. We reckon it will be a different holiday staying at the other end of Arillas.
-
Hi Alan & Jan, Got your e-mail, cant get back to you for some reason? answer is yes sure maybe we will see you there. Love Viv & Pete