Arillas Forum
Welcome to Arillas => Arillas general information => Arillas Calendar => Topic started by: Laura on September 08, 2015, 02:16:42 PM
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Im so devastated. Thomson have just rang to say that they will no longer have a contract to book under 2's to the kaloudis from next year and have had to cancel our holiday...no further explanation. We have no other option as Thomson are the only flights from Belfast and the only other accomodation they offer in Arillas is Mathraki which you cannot book children onto either. I was so looking forward to this holiday....connecting via England is just ridiculously expensive and flights from Dublin (as I have explained on here previously) is so inpractical due to our daughters age.it is over 100 miles from home and the flight departs at 5.55am!! :( :(
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That's so disappointing for you. Are there no flights at all from Belfast allowing you to go independently?
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That's terrible ! I have heard , as we all have , of adult only accommodation but never just "under 2's" ? Weird
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I'd echo the independent route. Roula has private apartments though they are on the top floor but it's worth enquiring about them? Sure she'd have availability in May (summer is fully booked). There are other good independent ones too as others have mentioned - Marina, Mirage, Alex Studios, Bardis Sun. You could just do the flight with Thomson.
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Thomson flights on their own are £875!! :0
Noone else flies from Belfast.
Im so confused how a 23month old cant go but a 24 month old can???
Thanks for the apartment suggestions also...im just so confused at why...im going to have to do some thinking. Have just broke my post baby diet and had a big toffee bun to try and cheer myself up! :)
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what are the dates you want to go? Belfast isn't coming up for Corfu at all.
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20th May 2016 or 27th May 2016. We are flexible with dates..late May or early June so it isn't too hot for little one!!
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I am absolutely gutted for you Flora. Hope you manage to sort something else out. I know its a pain but have you considered staying in San Stefanos and hiring a car so you can go over to Arillas every day. We did that a couple of years ago as booked a last minute thing and couldn't get anywhere in Arillas. We went with Thomson to Tsaro Apartments and I would recommend them, they are very clean and the 2 bedroom apartments are big.
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oh flora thats such a shame. perhaps its worth a look to stay in san steph its not far over the hill (by car) hope you manage to get something sorted
ger x
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Just had a look for you at the San Stefanos option Flora. Tsaro apartments - 2 bed apartment flying from Belfast International on 20th May, good flight times is £509 each for 2 weeks. There is also Little Prince which I would also recommend. That is only a studio though. Same dates is £432 per person.
By the way Flora - where are you from? I was born in Larne and lived there until I was 10. Will be over in Northern Ireland for a week at end of September, staying on the Antrim coast. My brother and his wife and children live near Carrickfergus.
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Must be an insurance or health and safety issue as it is only affecting under 2s. Might have a look at san steph...although we just love Arillas!! Thanks for looking that up sonia. We are just outside Belfast. The Antrim coast is gorgeous, we love Sundays on benone beach!!
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call me sceptical Flora but I think it is probably more to do with money as under 2's go free don't they? I suspect they are thinking that in a 2 bedroom apartment they will only get paid for 2 adults in that whereas if it is 2 adults and 2 children for the same amount of time, they will make a lot more money.
Like you, we prefer Arillas to San Stefanos but it is a good second option especially as it is so near to Arillas.
Not been to benone beach will look into that. We stay at Ballygally. My daughter is especially excited to be going this time as she wants to see all the locations where Game of Thrones were filmed.
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Suppose it may be different if they had 1 bed apartments evwn to use for the under 2s. I feel like a travel agent with all the searching I have done. So i can fly from Dublin even though it involves an extra night stay at airport it comes in around the same price as the package because the accomodation is turning out to be cheap as chips. Got a great price for the Tria although in the photos it doesnt look like there is a hob.. is this the case? If so foes anyone know any apartments that have a hob?
Soniap....Benone is the most beautiful beach. Would definately recommend a visit. The coastal drive from ballygally is gorgeous too!!
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Anna's Studios would perhaps be worth looking at, they have a hob, not that we've ever used it.
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Thanks paul!
Mirage working out reasonable also?
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Hi Flora
I would go for Mirage, we haven't stayed in the apartments but are booked in for next year after Angela gave us a look around them this year, lovely and clean with everything you should need with a little one, right on the beach with a fab pool and play area. We've always parked ourselves there on the days we just wanted to chill in Arillas. Always lots of children having fun, I think it would be ideal for you.
Sharon x
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Thank you so much for that Sharon. They have been so helpful too over the emails. We passed it each day last year and always thought it was an ideal location!! Were the studios open plan sharon...they have suggested one of these as the best for the little one? By the pictures the sleeping area seems separated a bit from the living area but not closed off?
I really am so grateful all the help I have been given on this forum!! Thank you
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Yes they are open plan,but as you say there is the kitchen living room area, the bathroom in the middle then the bedroom area. If you look on mirage own website you can view them on there, happy to help, fingers crossed you get booked
Sharon x
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we booked with tomas cook to stay at the nafsika and have been told we are going to sidari. we booked this holiday a year ago, we do not want to go to sidari but have been told by Thomas cook no apartments available in arillas
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Hi Flora, maybe there may be something in my earlier post that might help you, am gutted for you. We only found out a fortnight before we went that Olympic were doing a flight also but we'd never seen it advertised but again the return flight isn.t great. We go next week to Majorca with family and our grandson who will be 14 months and the flight is now at 5.20 am! Should I let you know how he copes with the flight before you consider Olympic Lol. Try looking at the Thomson flight you will always be able to get accommodation at that time of year.
SoniaP, Jim and I live in Carrickfergus!!
Sandra
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Neil......Maybe not with Thomas Cook as they have very few apartments in Arillas get your money back and rebook.... there is lots of independent accommodation in Arillas. All the information you need can be found on the forum. There are apartment and hotel lists on the accommodation page.
If you don't fancy the independent route try Thomsons, we stay at the Mathraki which is very popular but also adults only (over sixteen) as the apartments are all twin bedded, the Kaloudis is a family place, if you have children it's great.
Thomas Cook can't just send you somewhere else, they can only offer you an alternative.... but you do not have to accept it. You will get somewhere in Arillas at this time of year.
Val
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See above. Couldn't agree more with what Val says
Good luck
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Hi sandra. I tried olympic but they have only released up to October for Belfast...not sure if they are stopping it next year!
We have been quoted a good price for the rainbow through thomas cook...you have me worried now!!
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we booked with tomas cook to stay at the nafsika and have been told we are going to sidari. we booked this holiday a year ago, we do not want to go to sidari but have been told by Thomas cook no apartments available in arillas
In my opinion, if you booked for Nafsika , Arillas, this is a Tommy Cook problem. They have to sort it out. What will be next??? Maybe they will tell us what we have to eat in the Tavernas. (Sorry - You ordered Sofrito but only beans on toast is available now!!)
I would be in their face 24-7 until they rectified it out or gave back a generous compensation which would possibly make you think about using independent accommodation in Arillas. It is a hard one to call and at the end of the day all you want is to spend time at a place of your choice.
Sort it out, Mr Cook, and stop playing around with other peoples well earned breaks!!!!
Negg
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Sandra know it well. What a beautiful place to live. Love Maud's ice cream shop. Sorry Flora for hijacking your thread. Hopefully you will get it sorted. We always go independent now but we do have more choice of airports and airlines because of living in Yorkshire.
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We cant get anywhere from Belfast. Our choices are so poor!!
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You are spot on neil, they booked their holiday a year ago wasn't a last minute thing TC have no excuse for messing it up
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Not sure if this is any use to you at all but we are just about to book Bardis Hotel (well we think) . Very good prices that include the aircon and breakfast and its a very highly thought of place on here , well everywhere I have looked in fairness. Ideal location too.......
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Good choice, not too far from Thomas's and near the beach for the girls with the advantage of a lovely pool.
Let us know if you get booked, the trouble with a second choice is you start to weigh up if it's as good as your first choice. Some times a change is good. As you probably already know it's a nice quiet hotel, lovely lawns and looks very safe for children.
Val x
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Cheers Val.
Like you say though Tria is a hard act to follow and I am SURE , even if we try not to, comparisons will be made. The rooms not going to be as big that's for sure .....
Its better for my mother in law as she's not the best on her feet and its a better location than Tria for her
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I would definitely get a refund Flora and book independently. Bardis hotel as Truth says would be ideal as just at other end of the beach road really and in a lovely quiet spot. Truth once you have stayed nearer to the beach you will not look back. we stayed at Tria when the twins were 2 and we loved it but would never stay that far out now because we are just too lazy lol.
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A very good choice Truth.We have stayed at the Bardis Hotel many times and always been well looked after by Dorita. One thing to remember is that is as the name implies a hotel and although there is a fridge there are no self catering provisions. We always eat out anyway but it is a point worth remembering. Ron & Sue.
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I would definitely get a refund Flora and book independently. Bardis hotel as Truth says would be ideal as just at other end of the beach road really and in a lovely quiet spot. Truth once you have stayed nearer to the beach you will not look back. we stayed at Tria when the twins were 2 and we loved it but would never stay that far out now because we are just too lazy lol.
Hi Jo !
I think being close to the beach , especially in August as opposed o May , could be a real plus ! It was like an excursion with us all hiking from Tria to be honest even though the beach in May is a bit cool sometimes and it hardly existed anyway this year. Very narrow.
A very good choice Truth.We have stayed at the Bardis Hotel many times and always been well looked after by Dorita. One thing to remember is that is as the name implies a hotel and although there is a fridge there are no self catering provisions. We always eat out anyway but it is a point worth remembering. Ron & Sue.
Good to hear another nice report on Bardis, cheers. Thanks for the heads up on the self catering provisions......
The only thing that bothers me is how big our family room will be , I have seen the square footage of the room but there will be four of us (the youngest will sleep in a cot although she is in a bed at home) in there and we're used to having a one bed apartment.
Has anyone stayed in a family room there and can they tell me where the three family rooms are situated .... what floor , which end of the building ?
Thanks
Truth
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One family room on each floor in the centre of the building.We stayed in one a few years back with my grand-daughter.If the fourth person will be in a cot you should not have any problems. Ron & Sue.
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That's brilliant, thanks for coming back to me again
Cheers
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Hi folks. Well thank you for all your help. Dublin flights were just turning out to be a nightmare...just not practical with the baby unless us having to add more money to stay in Dublin the night before. A travel agent managed to find me a package to corfu and just advised not to use the accomodation and book our own but once we added our accomodation and transfers it was working out ridiculous money just for one week-if it was for 2 weeks it would have been justified. We have had to just say that its not going to be possible for next year, hopefully the year after though!! I'm going to miss Arillas but have to think of money too!!
Ended up grabbing flights to majorca when easyjet released them for £250 so will just try and find a nice area there instead....as said before I will probably spend the whole week comparing!!
Thank you all again...still gutted but sure hopefully 2017 we will be back in Arillas!!
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Flora, we have sometimes bought last-minute packages to somewhere in Corfu, going very cheap, and then not used the accommodation. For a normal prized package that option is too expensive.
If you are travelling with small children, you may not like leaving things so late, but for us it has been a good solution.
Emeralddragons
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Sorry to hear that Flora :-(
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Yeah the travel agent suggested just not using the accomodation but the cheapest package was just under £700 then with our own accomodation and transfers we just couldnt justify it for a week (as lovely and amazing as arillas is)!! Yeah due to childcare commitments we need to be organised in advance otherwise I would have just waited like you suggested.
Thanks Truth, I know Im just telling myself we'll get back soon and trying not to dwell on it. We had so many plans lol :(
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Yeah, sorry to hear that also Flora. Did you look into Thomson deals for San Stefanos as that is really the next best thing to Arillas with similar food/tavernas etc and not far from Arillas.
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Hi soniap. Yeah had a look at san stefanos. I dont want to offend anyone but we didnt like san stefanos when we went over there last year. We wouldnt want to stay in it but I do understand your point as it is close to arillas. Im just going to have to make do of staring at my large arillas sunset that i have on my living room wall and dreaming.
Oh i got an email back from roula at kaloudis, she isnt even aware of the change. If it turns out to be a mistake on thomsons part I think ill actually cry...there will be majorca tickets for sale hehe!!
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Yeah know what you mean Flora about SS but we were pleasantly surprised when we stayed there. The Little Prince taverna serves brilliant food and we still go over there for a meal even when staying in Arillas but yeah its still not Arillas.
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Thank you all so much for your help and cheering me up!!
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Hi Neil, Just Reading Your Post, I To Have Booked To go to the Nafsika Apartments On October 5th For 2 Weeks, What
Dates Have you Booked? As I have Not Had any Emails or Letters From Thomas Cook. But I Will Certainly be in their Travel Shop Tomorrow Asking Questions, As I To Will Not Go to Sidari Instead of Arrilas, Will Keep you posted.
Franpol.
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You will never believe this....thomson have just rang to say that they have amended the contract and we can book the kaloudis with an infant!!!!! I'm sitting here with the flights to majorca now though. Im so cross with Thomson...I cant believe it....anyone fancy a holiday to Majorca haha!!
I told Roula about the whole situation and she wasn't aware so not sure if she has queried it!!
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Good news/Bad news Flora? Now you have a dilemma. I am sure it is no coincidence that this has happened after you contacting Roula.
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I know. I just wish I hadn't of been so impatient booking the majorca flights but i really thought arillas was a no go!! Will just have to go to majorca...to sell the flights would mean a £140 charge to change name plus £ difference between booking date and name change. Maybe arillas just wasnt meant to be next year :(
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oh flora, what a shame, is there no way round it? did you book flights through thomsons? if you did they should change free of charge for all the hassle they've put you through
ger x
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Unfortunately I booked through easyjet and was getting my transfers and accomodation with Thomson. Im just cross at myself for booking the alternative flights but who was to know. Everyone keeps saying it just wasnt meant to be and i do believe things happen for a reason!!