Indepentently or Package?

[AJC51]

We always used to go package with Tommy Cook either from Birmingham, East Midlands or Gatwick but the prices jumped considerably and they started to ponse about with flight times and dates. Plus it was difficult to find accommodation for 3 adults with TC. Then there was the lottery coach transfer anything between 1 & 3 hours We then found out how much our hosts were getting from TC. We now go independent Easyjet from Luton book as soon as the flights go on sale and deal direct with the accommodation where we also get more choice. We also get 15 nights our daughter comes for a week or 10 days. Even with the taxi it works out about the same as a package and the locals get ALL THE MONEY they most definitely deserve.
Our son and daughter have just returned from a week at Kaloudis with Thomson this was a last minute deal and good price, independent only lost out as the transfer was included against a taxi.
We are lucky to live close to several airports and so Independent works for us but we understand every Arilliac is not so fortunate.

Al & Sal   

[westhampete]

We booked a package with Thompson staying at Kaloudis. May go independent with the Mirage next year though.

[harold]

Having done both,there is not a lot in it from our point of view cost wise,though with our flights from Exeter it does work out more expensive Than a package.One good thing that was pointed out to us by Viv when at Corfu Airport for the return home,The package people have to queque outside,we dont we just say we are independant and walk straight in and wait for the check-in to open.
2 months and 4 days to go roll around October

[GaryS]

Our package cost us £760 from Newcastle to the Akti for 14 nights b&b in 2013. Next year looks like about £950, unless we grab a special deal weekend. I just priced next July to the Horizon (I know its a jump in quality) for 14 nights from Newcastle with Jet2 (no easyjet or Ryan Air from Geordie International. even based on the Horizons 2013 prices and using jet2s for 2014 it doubled the price of going with TC. Would love to try indie, but simply can't justify the price increase.

[Ron and Sue]

Have done both but by booking early we find it very hard to beat T.Cook packages.14 nights at Rainbow 2014 already booked .Still cannot find Akti on TC site for 2014                                                         Ron.

[GaryS]

Akti appeared on TC site in last 5 days.

Gary

[justphil]

Gaz, there is a North/South divide going on. If we do package from Bristol it comes in at roughly the same price as indie, limited choice of accommodation and coach transfer instead of taxi. By booking our EJ flights as early as poss we may even save a little and get to stay where we want and transfer in 40 minutes (only 30 with the notorious Schumaker taxi driver, but with no hair left!)

The effect of many more properties going independent will be interesting, but as usual those in the North and Northern Ireland will be the losers. There is something wrong there. Eileen has been known to go to Gatwick from Scotland to get the right deal.

Phil

[daisyday]

Just looking at prices for next Sept 2014.  I thought I saw Akti available for 2014 but booking from Gatwick if that makes any difference!

Trouble is, booking a package can be a good deal but flight times can sometime be rubbish and then when you select nicer flight times the price jumps up. But I noticed on looking at Thomson packages that you can deselect coach transfer for £60.  We would then book a taxi each way ourselves at 55 Euros - I know it costs more but would much prefer that - didn't realise we could deselect coach transfer for a discount.

But for us I can't get it much under £1,000 for a package for 2 weeks in Sept and then we would have to go Friday or Monday with Thomson.  At least with Easyjet you get the option of booking a day that suits, i.e. Saturday with my husband's shifts.

When we go in Sept this year for 12 nights our price is:
£430 for flights/baggage with Easyjet
300 Euros for 12 nights at Bardis Sun Studios (excellent value) and
55 Euros each way for taxi

That is still quite a bit cheaper and gives us the option of booking flights on days that suit and also choosing accommodation - quite restricting on the packages now as a lot of the apartments are going independent.

Mind you, I did book my flights with Easyjet about a year ago and was very daring, as booked flight out on release and then had to wait until return flights were available to book that leg of the journey!  So far booking independently has been really easy as everyone in Arillas is so helpful - I think Bobby at Bardis Sun Studios is going to book our taxi for us - so not too difficult.

So..... when are the Sept 2014 flights released with Easyjet!!?

[GaryS]

I know phil, us Northeners lose out again. It would have been cheaper for us to have booked the Akti with TC in 2013 got the transfers and just walked to the Horizon on arrival, rather than pay the £850 I was quoted with Jet2 with a year in advance. That simply can't be right in any universe.

Gary

[daisyday]

PS: Has anyone got any other pricing for accommodation in Arillas for next year?  Would love to stay in Marinaki (think that is the one along from Kaloudis) but last Sept when I emailed them for this Sept they only had ground floor apartments available and think they were really expensive.  

What are the Marina apartments like or is it just as cheap to stay in the hotel?  Any comments on accommodation welcomed!

[GaryS]

Oh and Jet2 from Newcastle, once a week on a Monday, so much for the Indie traveller.

[Rachel B]

Blimey Caroline.. £430 for 12 nights! - Co-op travel certainly saw me coming - i paid £516 for 7 days!
..and that was with a tenner knocked off for having 15kg luggage instead of 20!
Only cost me £530 for 2 weeks in Kefalos last year as well.. best do a bit of shopping around for next year!

Rachel x

[Bella]

Hi.
Have a look at Booking.com - sometimes comes out cheaper than booking direct with the hotels for some strange reason!! Hotel Akti and the Bardis Sun Hotel amongst others are on there - you don't pay anything until you arrive and its free to cancel or change your booking on most hotels listed so is ideal if you want to reserve accommodation and then get flights sorted. Also no fixed 7 or 14 days - book the amount of days you want I use them all the time and never had a problem - prices for 2014 are already on there.

Re flights - always use Avro.co.uk - never found cheaper!

And hire a car for 1 day and drive from the airport and stock up with booze at Lidl on the way! Car is then collected from your Arillas hotel the following day! see: www.corfuexplorecarhire.com

[Bella]

Total cost for 3 weeks in June this year flying from Birmingham staying at Bardis Sun Hotel on B & B basis including car hire for transfer lol £517 each.

[daisyday]

Wow, you did do well Bella.  I did look at Hotel.com yesterday but they didn't have dates for next Sept on there (I know, I do like to book ahead!!).

Well, for the 2 of us we don't think this holiday will cost for 12 days any more than £800-820 (if my Euro calculations are correct!) which is still cheaper than Thomson/Thos Cook prices for next Sept and with the choice of flight dates/accommodation - I think that is pretty good.  I am pricing up other accommodation for next year at the moment but I am hoping we are going to love Bardis Sun Studios as much as others on here do and, if so, we will pre-book them for next year as they were so helpful this year.   

We all seem to be addicts! 

Rachel - what did you think of Kefalos?  I know BlueHeather on here is a big fan!