First timer questions

[belsilver]

Arriving on Monday 29th to Arilas for the first time. Questions galore foryou all:

In light of all the recent airline news as anyone recently flown via Manos and is there anything extra we need to be aware of flying to Greece right now ?

Where would you suggest we eat for our first mea?- I am vegetarian (I don't eat fish, but hubby does). Good veggie choices please.

Can we book car hire before hand or is it cheaper to get it when we are there - what kind of price should we budget for a day?

We are keen walkers so good local walks advice please, short cuts to the centre of Arilas from Nikos apartments would also be useful.

See you there if you are going next week!

[JohnJ]

Can't help with info about flights, but you will find most tavernas in Arillas have a good selection of vegetarian meals.  Brouklis would be a good place to start, but don't miss out on Gratziella and Costas.
We have always found Arillas car hire in the resort to be good value and certainly cheaper than booking in England!
We are also keen walkers and you really can't go wrong for miles around Arillas.  To start with try the cliff path up towards the headland, visiting the chapel on the way and then down into San stefanos, coming back via the roadway and call in at Annas studios for a refreshing drink.  Then try the track up to Affionas, a great walk with spectacular views.  Make sure you carry straight on past the church in the village and look out for the sign to the Dyonnosis taverna.  There you will get fabulous views over San George and further afield. Also worth doing are the walks to Magouladas and Kavadades and you can combine both in a circular walk.  If you are really into long distance walks you can walk to Paleokastritsas via San George, but allow a full day for this one. And finally if you are really keen you should pick up a copy of " The Corfu trail" which goes from the southern most tip of Corfu to it's northern most point.  Ten days walking in all but well worth just doing one or two days for a taster.
Hope you find all this useful and will look forward to your comments after your visit, particularly on any walks that you complete.

[JohnJ]

Sorry forgot to say that when we were there in June cars started at about 36 euros a day for the smallest car and a decent sized one from about 40.

[Inca]

Hi. We bought a booklet and map of walks arround Arillas from this site:

http://www.marengowalks.com/Corfu_bk.html


We only managed one before I slipped a disk in my back but we will be back to complete the rest!!
I

[OldFox]

Just to follow up on what JohnJ said about the walk to Affionas. Yes, look out for the Dionossis (or similar sign!) and for the accompanying sign to Porto Timoni (I think that is what it is called). This is a rough walk down the peninsula, past precipitous cliffs, down a track of rock and gorse. As you face the head of the peninsula, the track is off to the left. When you walk the track up to the Dionossis Taverna, look out for what appears to be a dead end path on the left... this is the start of the track to Porto Timoni.

The track meanders closer and closer to the headland and down to an absolutely glorious duo of inlets. These almost meet but for a few metres of land that separates them and allows the walk to continue up onto the headland proper. This is a cracking trail down to Porto Timoni, with some tremendous views and with the expectation that you will be the only visitors to these inlets - unless others have come by boat!

Without some form of guide I found it very difficult to determine what was a track to some wayward property, or some grower's trail through the olive groves or a track that all could use with some determinant end! Good luck and enjoy! You lucky people.

OldFocs