16
Holiday Companies / Re: Ryanair (revisited) - when to book?
« on: November 03, 2014, 06:55:51 PM »
Easy enough to check the story just visit Siegel+Gale's 2014 simplicity index.
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17
Holiday Companies / Re: Ryanair (revisited) - when to book?
« on: November 03, 2014, 05:00:15 PM »
Because of the bad publicity surrounding Ryanair we were very wary about booking our first flights with them this year but apart from their app (had to phone one son in UK to check information) the whole experience was problem free. The on board service was good, leg room excellent and arrival times ok & above all amazingly cheap.
Interestingly The Mail-online carries the following story today,
“Ryanair has been named one of the worst brands in the world by customers.
Despite recent efforts to transform its reputation, the budget airline was one of the worst-performing brands overall in Siegel+Gale's 2014 simplicity index.
In a survey of over 12,000 customers in eight countries, Ryanair was named the second worst-ranked brand, based on ease of customer use of a company's products, services, interactions and communications.
Primary customer complaints against the airline were Ryanair's badly designed website and poor customer service that 'leaves the onus on the customer.'
The airline's app was also named a major cause for headaches, with many having difficulty in downloading mobile boarding passes.”
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary hit back at the survey, telling MailOnline Travel that the airline's rising passenger traffic and profits indicate otherwise.
He said: ‘If we’re the worst performing brand in the world why are we the biggest international airline in the world? Why are we the most profitable airline?’
He makes an interesting point.
Interestingly The Mail-online carries the following story today,
“Ryanair has been named one of the worst brands in the world by customers.
Despite recent efforts to transform its reputation, the budget airline was one of the worst-performing brands overall in Siegel+Gale's 2014 simplicity index.
In a survey of over 12,000 customers in eight countries, Ryanair was named the second worst-ranked brand, based on ease of customer use of a company's products, services, interactions and communications.
Primary customer complaints against the airline were Ryanair's badly designed website and poor customer service that 'leaves the onus on the customer.'
The airline's app was also named a major cause for headaches, with many having difficulty in downloading mobile boarding passes.”
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary hit back at the survey, telling MailOnline Travel that the airline's rising passenger traffic and profits indicate otherwise.
He said: ‘If we’re the worst performing brand in the world why are we the biggest international airline in the world? Why are we the most profitable airline?’
He makes an interesting point.
18
Holiday Companies / Re: Ryanair (revisited) - when to book?
« on: October 31, 2014, 06:42:50 PM »
Difficult to see how it could get that much cheaper to make it worth while waiting.
Stuart
Stuart
19
Holiday Companies / Re: Ryanair
« on: October 29, 2014, 10:16:57 AM »
This year Paul we taxied to Chania town (flight arrived there after midnight). The following day we caught the bus to Paleohora, then worked our way by ferry to Chora Safakia spending the last week in Plakias. Returning to Chania we taxied to Rethimnon (40eu) & then bus Chania. A meal, then another bus to the airport. Now next year the flight times are very different so we will probably taxi from Plakias to the airport so I will be interested in how much you pay.
Stuart
Stuart
20
Holiday Companies / Re: Ryanair
« on: October 28, 2014, 06:56:12 PM »Luton-based Monarch airlines face 700 redundancies
BBC News - 20 hours ago
Staff at Monarch airlines have agreed to 700 redundancies and pay cuts of up to 30% as part of a deal to save the Luton-based company.
21
Holiday Companies / Re: Ryanair
« on: October 28, 2014, 04:39:07 PM »
Hi Paul,
We fly out Wednesday 16th Sept and back Wednesday 14th October. We have never taken hold luggage with us. We find that both Easyjet & Ryanair now provide a generous allowance (no weight limit just size) and after packing we still have spare room. With Ryanair you can take a small second bag if you need to. We will probably also book our seats because we like to be near an exit so that we can be away from the airport as quick as possible & in a taxi to Chania town before the suit cases hit the carousel. This year was our first experience of Chania airport and what a pleasant change to Iraklion.
Best wishes
Stuart
We fly out Wednesday 16th Sept and back Wednesday 14th October. We have never taken hold luggage with us. We find that both Easyjet & Ryanair now provide a generous allowance (no weight limit just size) and after packing we still have spare room. With Ryanair you can take a small second bag if you need to. We will probably also book our seats because we like to be near an exit so that we can be away from the airport as quick as possible & in a taxi to Chania town before the suit cases hit the carousel. This year was our first experience of Chania airport and what a pleasant change to Iraklion.
Best wishes
Stuart
22
Holiday Companies / Ryanair
« on: October 19, 2014, 06:26:58 PM »
Ryanair flights are out for summer 2015. Able to book yesterday for September/October 2015. Two of us return for £251.
Have just got back from this year's holiday (Bristol/ Chania) with Ryanair and no problems.
Stuart
Have just got back from this year's holiday (Bristol/ Chania) with Ryanair and no problems.
Stuart
23
Where to go / The final organised evacuation from Crete 1943
« on: October 04, 2014, 08:43:01 AM »
A booklet for under 5 euros commemorating the Tripiti evaluation in May 1943.
Large numbers of soldiers moved to the West of Crete in the summer of 1941 with the objective of finding a boat that would take them to North Africa.
Many schemes ended in failure and some soldiers left the area but a considerable number stayed and were taken in by Cretan families at considerable risk. A loosely connected underground community slowly formed and resulted in the Tripiti evacuation in May 1943 which was the last of the specially organised rescue operations.
The booklet lists many of the families that helped the mainly Australian and New Zealand soldiers and lists those soldiers involved.
In 2013 a plaque to commemorate the evacuation was erected at Tripiti Cove. Tipiti can be reached by water taxi from Sougia.
Large numbers of soldiers moved to the West of Crete in the summer of 1941 with the objective of finding a boat that would take them to North Africa.
Many schemes ended in failure and some soldiers left the area but a considerable number stayed and were taken in by Cretan families at considerable risk. A loosely connected underground community slowly formed and resulted in the Tripiti evacuation in May 1943 which was the last of the specially organised rescue operations.
The booklet lists many of the families that helped the mainly Australian and New Zealand soldiers and lists those soldiers involved.
In 2013 a plaque to commemorate the evacuation was erected at Tripiti Cove. Tipiti can be reached by water taxi from Sougia.
24
Where to eat...or not! / Re: Sofia Restaurant - Avoid
« on: August 31, 2014, 08:55:29 AM »
We avoid these places too. It is even worse in Sfakia where now we never walk through the main street but always go round the back to the taverna The Three Brothers. I don't remember there being a problem in Paleohora or Sougia. I suppose now it has started in Plakias there will be more pressure on other tavernas to follow suit. Maybe it would help, if as we paid, we pointed out that we ate there because we were not hassled.
Stuart
Stuart
25
Plakias / Re: Loutro
« on: August 28, 2014, 08:32:37 AM »
October is excellent. We always spend a week there early October & there are plenty of ferries. The taxi boats plus the larger ferries that serve the Samaria gorge, Sougia & Paleohora.
The weather is cooler which makes walking more pleasant & generally speaking the beach is wind free. With regards to walking in the hills then it is worth reading the Sfakia forum where there is tragic news of a French couple who died from heat exhaustion last week. There is also much useful advice on walking in the heat.
Stuart
The weather is cooler which makes walking more pleasant & generally speaking the beach is wind free. With regards to walking in the hills then it is worth reading the Sfakia forum where there is tragic news of a French couple who died from heat exhaustion last week. There is also much useful advice on walking in the heat.
Stuart
26
Gossip / Re: What books will you be reading when you go to Plakias this year?
« on: June 25, 2014, 08:41:53 PM »
Kalimera Pefki (A look inside Crete)
A book that we brought back from Crete last year, not just for reading on holiday but a lovely addition to the coffee table and to refresh Cretan memories during our long winter.
Beautiful photographs by Henk van der Walle and superb stories by Corinne Falagari who has lived on the Island since 1996.
Let me quote from the book
“Kalimera Pefki is a fascinating journey through a valley on the magical Island of Crete. Touching, hilarious and above all surprising photos and narratives open doors which otherwise would have remained closed to the reader.
Meet the wise mayor, the caring widow, five little girls splashing about in a baptismal font and the wistful bus driver. And follow the moving story of an eagle and the birth of an angel. Read, watch and taste the Cretan life. It will stay with you forever.
A book that we brought back from Crete last year, not just for reading on holiday but a lovely addition to the coffee table and to refresh Cretan memories during our long winter.
Beautiful photographs by Henk van der Walle and superb stories by Corinne Falagari who has lived on the Island since 1996.
Let me quote from the book
“Kalimera Pefki is a fascinating journey through a valley on the magical Island of Crete. Touching, hilarious and above all surprising photos and narratives open doors which otherwise would have remained closed to the reader.
Meet the wise mayor, the caring widow, five little girls splashing about in a baptismal font and the wistful bus driver. And follow the moving story of an eagle and the birth of an angel. Read, watch and taste the Cretan life. It will stay with you forever.
27
PlakChat / Re: The Path Up to Myrthios
« on: May 29, 2014, 09:39:59 PM »
We did that walk last October but I don't remember any difficulty, however while following the left had side of the river towards the mill we did witness quite a large landslip which fell across the path on the right hand side. Many large rocks were dislodged.
Stuart
Stuart
28
PlakChat / Cabin Baggage
« on: May 17, 2014, 10:03:11 PM »
Having travelled for some 15 years with cabin only luggage we have recently found on Amazon two rucksacks designed especially for the cabin. We purchased two “Cabin Max Backpack Flight Approved Carry On Bags Massive 44 litre Travel Hand Luggage 55x40x20 cm” and found they worked brilliantly with easy jet. No more weighing or measuring and they fitted perfectly into the Easy Jet Baggage Gauge.
Stuart
Stuart
29
PlakChat / Re: Plakias to Chora Sfakia
« on: May 17, 2014, 08:38:12 AM »
Journey time about 45 minutes.
Stuart
Stuart
30
PlakChat / Re: Plakias to Chora Sfakia
« on: May 16, 2014, 09:55:10 PM »
The last two years we have been charged 50 euros.
Stuart
Stuart