Kaloudis

[Janis]

It's amazing how people can have so many different views, isn't it? We enjoyed Kaloudis the first time we went, were there again this year and have booked again for next! A holiday is what you make of it. We didn't go into the bar every night, but when we did - usually for a quiz or two - we thoroughly enjoyed it and Billy (the owner of the complex) has a great sense of humour.  He can appear a little brusque to some people, but that's just his way. All the staff there are wonderfully friendly too.
We don't mind the kitchen equipment being basic because we only had breakfast there (fresh fruit and orange juice on the balcony) and we ate out the rest of the time. I suppose that some time we will have a try another place but, for now - all's well with Kaloudis.
Yammas all!

[justphil]

Kaloudis is special to many. It is the "like to be beside the seaside" bit. Nothing wrong with that. We were there last night enjoying ourselves thoroughly. Quieter places are available. Louder ones too. Just use the froum to find out. Someone here will know all about all of it.

BTW we don't have indemnity insurance so forget the lawyers....
Phil

[Paul D]

We were there in June, and really enjoyed ourselves. As has been said, a holiday is what you make it. We had a studio and were  happy with it.  As for cooking, our toast making didn`t take half an hour.
   Roula  and Christos are lovely people.  When we found out that my Grandfather was seriously ill, she was very concerned and sympathetic, genuinely concerned.
Billy and Billy the kid were also great. So, yes , we will return.  In the end, you have to make up your own minds whter it is for you or not.

                 Enjoy,  Paul D

[andym]

Hello Folks

 I have just returned from my first trip to Arillas and my first stay at the kaloudis.

 I loved the resort, could not fault it, apart from it being a bit on the pricey side.

 Sadly the group that i was with also had a few problems.
  We were directly behind the bar. I think billy and his clan were living above us.

 The first night we were there the music was very loud but it stopped about 1am. But every night after that apart from 1 night, the music thumped on till gone 2-230am. One night a lady who was staff was shouting at the top of her voice from the top balcony, could have been billys wife. She was shouting some guys name, all the dogs were barking untill this guy came up from the bar. I dont know what she said to him, but he turned the music down. We just all stood on our balconies laughing because it was so noisy.


 If you like that sort of thing then fair enough, but most people dont like music thumping till the early hours. There were an elderly couple next to us and they said that the noise had ruined there holiday and they wanted to come home half way through there week, now thats no right.  We also had a problem with billy over charging us for our air conditioning. He did it to both us couples and when we tried to explain, he was not having none of it
When we were getting onto the coach to go to the airport he came over and tried to explain but the damage had been done.
The kaloudis was  a very clean and tidy place in a lovely village and if its your cup of tea then good luck to you, it just wasnt mine.

[Eggy]

I'm sure that Kaloudis quite often looks at the Forum feedback it receives. Many other places do the same and many learn from it.

From all the postings I've read it seems that the main negative has been the music.

Just a neutral thought here, although late night noise is not my cup of T, it seems that many of guests are not bothered by it.
( Or are there some of the "many" who just put up with it )
So, to help guests like AndyM and indeed anyone who wants an un-disturbed night, then it should fall back to the Tour Operator to state in their Brochure ...
... " Late night music may bother some Guests"
Does the Tour Op state this? Should the description of the complex be updated.

Kaloudis, as many places, in Arillas value, and need ,your custom so when they see these reviews it will certainly gve them food for thought.

There is no doubt it has a very popular following and regular guests return every year.
It's a lovely well kept place in a good location. But....
...  Me ? - Well, If  Im ready for a sleep at 2 am then any interuptions are not welcome.
( We've got croaking frogs, and a barking dog and an early morning cockerall at Kavaddades - I'm sure they all wait for me to close my eyes and ... off they go! )

Cheers
Negg

[Ang]

Has Billy come back out of retirement?? when we popped into see Rula last year she told us that her brother in law had retired.
Billy can be a little grumpy but that's just Billy, I remember one time we had not been back to arillas for few yrs, we arrived late evening, Billy was so pleased to see us as if we were long lost family, he wanted to know where our little daughter was and laughed when he realised that she was not so little anymore and was not with us, when we asked about his son George who lives in America  he went straight to the phone and said to ask him ourselves, can you believe he rang America for us to say hello to George.
Another time we saw him at the airport we were arriving and he had just seen his daughter back off to Liverpool, again he greeted us with such friendship and warmth and we weren't even staying with him that time.

I agree with Eggy, its maybe down to the tour operator to advise that the bar stays open until late where much music and merriment is enjoyed by both young and old, also lets not forget that when Billy opened all those many many years ago he built his business on what his guests wanted and those are the foundations on which he has continued.

Ang

[justphil]

andy I am so sorry it didn't work for you. Kaloudis is one style, and a very popular one. The Rainbow is as camp as a row of tents, but proper concrete accommodation and an amazing place to stay. Anna Studios are spotless, fun and suit many who return time and time again. Tria Adelphia is in the very quiet area but always full. I have only mentioned a few.

I have said it before - Arillas is anyones. If we are sure what you want we will advise you accordingly. I always answer my personal messages.

Too much noise is always an issue, even for a deaf old s*d like me. Eggy is right - it will be worked on and sorted. Just so sad it wasn't yours this time.

Phil

[andym]

Hello Folks

 Thanks for the replies to my post and i think it would be a great idea if the tour operators did mention about the music. I was not that bothered so much that it ruined my holiday i was more upset for that poor couple next door to us because they wanted to go home, which i think was very sad.

 All of the staff that i met at the Kaloudis were very friendly. The lady in the supermarket was so nice i wanted to give her a cuddle.

 I loved Arillas. I could not fault it. We ate out every night and we only had one meal that was a bit dodgy, but that was in another resort.
 The portafino and kostas were our fav, food to die for.
 I would go back to Arillas again and if i did i would stay at the Anna studios. We spent a few days up there around their pool and it was such a lovely place and the food was good.

 I met Amanda (mango) and her family and they went on the same evening trip to Corfu town as we did. What a place that was. I did not want to leave. I loved all the little shops and lanes.

I think i may have seen you Phil. Did you have a bandage on your lower arm. I think it may have been you. Wish i had said hello now.
I can understand why so many of you are smitten with Arillas, it is a dream of a place and i will be going back again one day

[Janis]

Funnily enough, reading the posts I remembered that there were a couple of nights when I thought the music from the bar was a bit loud (Barry didn't notice - he was spark out!) However, it didn't disturb me enough to stop me sleeping...  Isnt't it funny how you come back with good memories only, then it just needs a gentle nudge to bring back a memory that's not so good?  Anyway, we're STILL looking forward to next year there....!!

[Steph ~]

We have just returned from our second stay at Kaloudis village.  Billy and Roula both greeted us like long lost family when we arrived.

It's not the most quiet of places and the brochure really should make people aware there's a bar onsite which plays music until the early hours.  We love Arillas and like the atmosphere at Kaloudis Village - it's nice to have a bar area to socialise and Billy's quizes are a great laugh!  If I could change one thing though, it would be to have the music turned down earlier at night!  Both times we've been, we have requested a high floor, so ended up in studios nearer to the coach pick up area/shop.  (Roula's accomodation).  While you can hear the music at night, it's not as  loud - we slept with the door open and I normally can't sleep if there's "oomcha oomcha" music banging on!   For those who aren't aware, but the accomodation is actually split into two - half owned and run by Billy (& Hellen), half by Roula & Christos (in the shop). Thomson have rooms in both and you can also book direct with Billy or Roula.  Wh

Yes, the studios are basic, but that's Greece for you. We had bread/fruit for breakfast and ate out at night - usually at Kostas on the Beach, which was fabulous. If  I wanted to cook meals I think I'd go for a villa. Apartments/studios in that sort of setting don't often have great cooking facilites.

Billy can be a bit abrupt sometimes but I got the impression that was when he'd done a long day (up and out at 9am for a boat  trip and then still on the go at midnight).  As for the prices, I wasn't really aware of them being far more than the bars but no end of times we were charged far less than the advertised price for drinks bills etc. 

We are looking to go back next year, either through Thomson (again, requesting a high floor to get the accomodation further away from the bar!) or booking direct with Roula (her accomodation is near her house and quiet!).

[Martin_G]

Interestingly I think we were their at the same time as you, and yes there were the odd time the music was a little louder than normal.

Most times the music is confined to low volume only inside the bar area, normally its piped outside to the pool area, which if not switched off can be very noisy!

I do remember a great deal commotion on change over day (Friday). Billy, I think, deliberately met every coach searching for 'his' local Thompson rep and when he found her was gesticulating about something. At one point the poor girl tried to get back on the coach but to no avail. It was quite concerning to see as she was getting a little distressed, but clearly related to a problem, possibly yours which Billy had possibly recently learned about.

From our experience the whole family are focused on making your stay with them as good as they know how. For us this extended to a very warm welcome, and Roula treating us like visiting family!

[june]

I wonder if the over charging with the air con was if it's in an apartment with more than one unit it's 5euros per unit not a night.

Also does anyone know about cots. Do they have full size cots or are they travel cots. We're going with our grand daughter who'll be 2 and a few months.

Thanks

June

[Steph ~]

The aircon price is per bedroom - 5 euros for a studio, 10 I think for 2 bed and feither 12 or 15 for 3 bed.  Again, as the accomodation is split you either pay Billy or Roula. I'm sure they wouldn't overcharge intentionally, it just doesn't fit with how they are.

[heatherberriman]

hi every one,i dont often come on as im not used to this yet,we wer also at the back of the bar and we didint have a problem,maybe because we went in may and it wasent high season.we have reqested the same room as the garden was to die for.billy was fantastic as was all the bar staff.look forward to meeting janis next year

[Janis]

Hi Heather and welcome back to the forum! I still struggle finding my way around the forum - I tend to click on "show new replies to your posts" and then "show unread posts since last visit".... I'm sure I must miss some though!
I've emailed Billy asking for rooms in the same place again (for both us and Joan and John) so will definitely see you....
Are you on Facebook?  There is a Heather Berriman on there from Manchester, but you can't always tell what people actually look like from their profile pics
Janis x