Indepentently or Package?

[Truth]

We enjoyed Kefalos when we went
Pity Bardis Sun Studios only do studios and not appartments otherwise we would be in there like a shot.
Have been e mailing around for next May and have had lots of replies so we are just mulling over where to choose now ...........

[Rachel B]

Caroline, I loved Kefalos! Went on a day trip there a couple of years ago, that's what made me book there last year.
Lovely and calm, quiet, not a lot going on but enough places to eat out at etc. Found prices there pretty reasonable as well.
Was a lovely relaxing 2 weeks, could just enjoy the island  because all the day trips on offer, i'd done in previous years in Kos.

Rachel x

[Rachel B]

What's the difference between the studios and apartments then Truth? I can't say i've really taken any notice of that really. Infact, i've heard many of the places i've been to being referred to as studio apartments..

I take it that apartments are bigger than studios then?

Rachel x

[ger]

a studio is normally just one room, with bed, kitchenette and table and chairs all together and apartment has a separate bedroom, they normally advertise apt for 4 then if there is just 2 of you the travel agents charge an underoccupancy fee!!!
ger x

[kes]

Our first few visits to Arillas back in 2002 - 2005 where packages but since then always independent..I feel the only way to better the package deals is to get Easyjet flights booked within days of them coming available..Acomodation prices are much the same everywhere..we got a great deal in April/May earlier this year but having not booked our sept/oct visit  flights earlier they  were double the cost..so get the flights booked  early and can work out a lot less expensive..

[MicK-G]

I've just got back from two weeks in Arillas and although I had a lovely time, travelling independently is just too expensive and not particularly good value. When you compare the service and the cleanliness of rooms in a package then Arillas has to do better. I won't be travelling to Arillas for my main summer holiday any time soon unless the room prices become more reasonable. Nearly £1000 for a room for two weeks is, in my opinion, too much.

[Stephanie]

Where did you stay Mick? It sounds very expensive and not like you had a great time. I stay in Roula's apartments at Kaloudis, booked independently and it's 60 Euros per night for a 2 bedroom apartment, with aircon included & full, proper bathroom. It's all immaculate!  Last time I priced it up it was cheaper than the studios at the same site through Thomson, where aircon is extra too.  According to the survey last year, the vast majority of visitors book indpendently and keep on coming back.  It's the independent bookings that keep it going really so the owners have to to their best - but, like everything, you're bound to find the odd one or two that isn't up to scratch.

[Rachel B]

Mick G,

£1000! geez that's expensive! Where the heck did you stay?

I've been emailing a couple of placs

[Rachel B]

*places for next year and they are priced at less than half that!

It's just the return flights i'm having trouble finding a good price for. Found an outward flight for £69.00!

[Rachel B]

ger,

There's usually only me travelling so i'm used to the under occupancy fees by now lol.
I'd rather not pay it of course but i'm not really fussed. I have always liked my accomodation, always been spacious and had everything i needed so i think of it as a little extra money well spent

[MicK-G]

Hi, I just thought that I'd add some clarity to my post. My problem isn't with where we stayed. We did have a great holiday, I was just comparing the cost of a package holiday against that of travelling to Arillas. Where we stayed cost €800 for two weeks. I won't say who as, I don't wish to embarrass them, and their prices aren't too much higher than most. Current exchange rates are £713 for the room. Add to this the £1500 for the flights, £89 taxi transfers and £89 air conditioning then my holiday cost me £2390. I also spent £2000 over the course of he holiday for a family of four. I wasn't over extravagant, we ate lunch in our apartment most days and enjoyed evenings out. My issue was that I believe that the service is better when travelling on a package holiday. Linen is changed more frequently, clean towels in the bathroom every day. For what I spent I could go to a fairly decent all inclusive resort where I don't count the pennies. Also i always exchange my money in Arillas, this year I got a better exchange rate at M&S with the money i exchanged to take out with me. All of the exchanges charged 2% making this expensive.  I love my holidays in Arillas, I'm just not sure how much value there is to keep returning. There are some highlights that i would recomend, Kosta's on the beach, Coconuts had some great entertainment and we had some great nights in Whispers. The recession is world wide, we all are having to watch how we spend so I'm afraid that I will be going all inclusive next year.

[martin-w]

I have found as a 'single' traveler, since I lost my wife, that it is cheaper for me to 'go independent'. Why? Well if you look at most 'package' deals there is a 'singles supplement' which immediately adds a whopping great lump to the cost. Several 'independent' establishments in Arillas are sympathetic towards single bookings, including the Bardis Hotel where I usually stay. I get a large well equipped room to myself at a very reasonable cost and breakfast included in the price! The other great thing about being independent is that your host gets all the cash, not a 'percentage with strings attached' that the companies dish out!
Of late the main cost increase is the air fare. not even the 'book early' tactic works these days. In May I traveled from Gatwick with Thomas Cook. At first I was disappointed with the fares I was quoted on-line. I did a bit of juggling of the dates and discovered that higher fares were attached to 'traditional' bookings, ie. 1 week, 2 weeks etc., however input 'odd' periods such as 17,18,19 days and the fares reduced dramatically. My final fare for 18 days including all the extras was £238-48 return, and I opted for on-line book-in.
I go again on September 27th. This time I got a 'bargain' from Thomson at Cardiff. O.K. it wasn't as cheap as May, but it's 30 minutes drive away, not 6 hours on the coach and saves me £25 on coach fees.
There are a few special offers now and again from Thomson and T.C., where it sometimes 'equals out', but then you have no choice as to where and when you stay. I tend to go early and late season when some establishments and flights are getting fewer as they are opening later and closing earlier in the season.
On all flights booked independently, there is the offer of 'coach transfer' for a modest fee, but I would prefer to pre-order a taxi, hopefully taxi-share, to avoid the 'island tour'.
All inclusive can be ok when you are in a group, but not when you are on your own.
Martin. 

[emeralddragons]

Thank you, MicK-G, for taking the trouble to clarify. We visit Arillas yearly, from a euro country. For us, independent booking has proved slightly cheaper. We book with a travel agency that sells package holidays, but we book "flight only". As there are only a few of these on each flight, one has to book early.
It is not always possible to choose the dates months in advance, so we have sometimes booked cheap last-minute packages, with undetermined accommodation somewhere in Corfu, and then not used that accommodation. Later, after having booked and paid, we inform the travel agency of this, and tell them where we actually will be staying.
Then we mail our usual hotel in Arillas, and have always been able to get a room. And excellent service everywhere.
As has often been said on these pages, this way more of the money stays in Arillas. Generally all inclusives are not good for the local people and local producers, and often their food is not the genuine food of the area. But they can make holidays easier for their guests, particularly for families.
The question of cost is important. It is time consuming and frustrating to compare alternatives before one chooses a trip, but it is worth the effort. The Arillas Forum is full of good tips.
(As for changing the towels every day, many hotels all over the world are going "green". Towels might not be changed daily, but one can ask for new towels, if needed. Or there may be signs in the bathroom, asking guests not to leave taps running unnecessarily. I am all for it, and hope this way of thinking will catch on.)
Emeralddragons

[Eggy]

Emerald-D

There are many posts on this forum which are well laid out and very informative.

This one was a pleasure to read and very well said.

Negg

[daisyday]

Agree with you all!  I think it all depends on whether you can book well in advance, whether there are just two of you (like us) or whether you are a family and have to travel in the school holidays.

I recall our last family holiday - to Cyprus maybe 7 years ago now - cost us £2500 for a 1 bed apartment only for our family of 4 (2 sleeping in the lounge) and that was no board but was travelling in August as a package through either Thomsons/Thomas Cook (don't recall which).

Now we pay just a tiny bit more to travel in March/April to somewhere like Mexico for 2 weeks all inclusive.

Our holiday for 2 of us to Arillas in Sept is costing us for 12 days (I've posted this before) less than £850 so a lot of factors to take into consideration, a package wasn't a lot more expensive.

Not sure what others spend in Arillas but we reckon around £100 a day for the 2 of us for food/drink/any trips/entertainment.