721
Forum and Website discussion / September 2004 Statistics
« on: November 17, 2004, 03:19:58 PM »
Anyone know what a "spider bot" is? (Board Statistics).
Mike
Mike
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722
Holiday Companies / Kosmar
« on: November 17, 2004, 03:17:46 PM »
Dotty said:
I know there are others like me who are "cautious" travellers and want to go with a tour operator rather than independently. At what I consider reasonable prices there are now only Olympic and Kosmar. No wonder others have said Plakias is significantly less busy than a few years ago.
I hope these two companies do well in 2005 and that a couple of others are encouraged into the market.
Mike
Quote
Looks like we have missed our chance for our late break with Kosmar it appears they are fully booked for the time we like to visit.It's only mid November and Kosmar is fully booked for some dates. This just makes it more surprising to me that First Choice pulled out, as there is obviously a demand that others are finding hard to satisfy.
I know there are others like me who are "cautious" travellers and want to go with a tour operator rather than independently. At what I consider reasonable prices there are now only Olympic and Kosmar. No wonder others have said Plakias is significantly less busy than a few years ago.
I hope these two companies do well in 2005 and that a couple of others are encouraged into the market.
Mike
723
Holiday Companies / Kosmar
« on: November 13, 2004, 02:50:27 PM »
From Stick of Rock's description, it doesn't sound like my sort of place. Thanks for the opinion.
Mike
Mike
724
Holiday Companies / Kosmar
« on: November 11, 2004, 01:10:27 PM »Quote
anyone who loves Plakias will not like Georgioupolis, but each to their ownI've never been there but have always thought it looked a "non lager lout" resort with a decent beach, tavernas etc. Could Harribobs please expand on his opinion.
Mike
725
Holiday Companies / Kosmar
« on: November 08, 2004, 01:13:01 PM »
Having now seen the Kosmar brochure (2nd edition) I certainly agree with Graham and Karen's Oct 24 comments about it being worth looking at. It looks good re. Plakias with two decent looking properties, very good prices, and Chania flights (daytime only).
They don't mention an on-line discount and if this is so then the cheapest way to book would be through a travel agent who always offers a discount (e.g. Magic Breaks).
Kosmar also has some other interesting resorts- Matala and Georgioupolis on Crete (both with clothes optional beaches for those of that persuasion) as well as several of my other favourite resorts on other islands. They also feature islands without an international airport (Paros, Naxos) which other operators have abandoned owing to ferries being cancelled and having to bear additional costs associated with this.
I look forward to hearing some reports of Kosmar in Plakias next year.
Mike
They don't mention an on-line discount and if this is so then the cheapest way to book would be through a travel agent who always offers a discount (e.g. Magic Breaks).
Kosmar also has some other interesting resorts- Matala and Georgioupolis on Crete (both with clothes optional beaches for those of that persuasion) as well as several of my other favourite resorts on other islands. They also feature islands without an international airport (Paros, Naxos) which other operators have abandoned owing to ferries being cancelled and having to bear additional costs associated with this.
I look forward to hearing some reports of Kosmar in Plakias next year.
Mike
726
Where to eat...or not! / what still remains?& what's new?
« on: October 28, 2004, 01:16:31 PM »Quote
I think it would be a great Idea to have a panel for food and drink comments and ratings!What I asked Paul (Ploppy) for was much simpler than this, namely a list, somewhere prominent on the forum, of all the known eating places in Plakias. This would enable anyone to use the forum's excellent search facility to check on users' comments on the establishment of interest.
Mike
727
Where to go / Other resorts
« on: October 28, 2004, 01:08:20 PM »
If anyone wants a really rural resort with several beaches (best was Gerakas; clothes optional at one end), they could do worse than consider Vasilikos, Zakynthos. If you're interested, my report on Holidays Uncovered should appear next week. See Vasilikos report. It's much smaller and quieter than Plakias though, which might not please some. 15 superb days of weather out of 20 in the first three weeks of October.
728
Quote
Hi ,glad to hear everyone enjoyed themselves in Sept even though it sounded like it was rather windy! I remember on our only previous visit 8 years ago that it was windy also.I'm sure it will be consistently sunny by then and as far as the wind goes, the worst of the meltemi should be still to come.
My wife and I have booked 2 weeks in June '05 at the Dora Apts. and were wondering what to expect the weather to be like earlier in the year? Is it likely to be windy then?
We have great memories of the far end and are looking forward to being there again....
best regards to all, Marmaliser.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=2608\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
One trend I've noticed (or am I imagining it) for Greece as a whole is that Mays are becoming less reliable for weather and Octobers more so. Temps have been around 30 Celsius earlier in the week with loads of sun, although there were shortish disturbed spells of weather last month and earlier this month.
Mike
729
Plakias / September Holiday 2004
« on: September 28, 2004, 02:48:32 PM »
Hello Graham and Karen,
On the last of your photos (posted earlier today) it looks as if the umbrellas do not extend the full length of the beach at the far end (i.e. south east end). If you confirm this I will be very pleased as I always look for a beach without them. This would be doubly pleasing because it doesn't look as if they have progressed much in the last few years, which is in marked contrast to some of my other favourite resorts.
I have also found the large number of very positive comments on the tavernas in Plakias reassuring and the almost total lack of negative taverna reports. For me the quality of the beach and tavernas forms a very important part of a holiday (but not necessarily in that order).
Mike
On the last of your photos (posted earlier today) it looks as if the umbrellas do not extend the full length of the beach at the far end (i.e. south east end). If you confirm this I will be very pleased as I always look for a beach without them. This would be doubly pleasing because it doesn't look as if they have progressed much in the last few years, which is in marked contrast to some of my other favourite resorts.
I have also found the large number of very positive comments on the tavernas in Plakias reassuring and the almost total lack of negative taverna reports. For me the quality of the beach and tavernas forms a very important part of a holiday (but not necessarily in that order).
Mike
730
Plakias / Crowded Plakias?
« on: September 27, 2004, 01:24:02 PM »Quote
Compage,Sep 25 2004, 02:45 PM
Are you suggesting that there is something wrong with my eyes?
Or my brain?
Not suggesting either of these, just observing that to have even 5 members online at that time of day is unusual. It is nearly that time today and I am the only member online (or was 5 mins ago!).
Mike
731
Plakias / September Holiday 2004
« on: September 27, 2004, 01:05:04 PM »
Nice pictures, Graham and Karen. I particularly liked the sunsets, which I know from experience are difficult to take.
Mike
Mike
732
Where to eat...or not! / Gyros Mini Poll
« on: September 25, 2004, 02:40:42 PM »
Paul,
Having been to many Greek resorts (island and mainland) I don't believe the inclusion of chips is by any means universal. I would say little more than 50%. The other normal ingredients for a gyros pitta are the gyros meat (obviously) which I believe is lamb, onions, tomato, and plenty of tzatziki. If chips are present then this cuts down on the meat content.
The largest I have had were found at Tingaki (Kos) this year- I believe the place was called Memories. One sufficed for my partner Diane and two for me. In many places I can manage three. They go very well with very cold retsina (or Greek beer).
I loved your pictures of the gyros pitta. Maybe one of the regular visitors can inform me how many places in Plakias are selling them currently. I remember a small place on the seafront near the harbour, run by a lady, but this was several years ago.
Mike
Having been to many Greek resorts (island and mainland) I don't believe the inclusion of chips is by any means universal. I would say little more than 50%. The other normal ingredients for a gyros pitta are the gyros meat (obviously) which I believe is lamb, onions, tomato, and plenty of tzatziki. If chips are present then this cuts down on the meat content.
The largest I have had were found at Tingaki (Kos) this year- I believe the place was called Memories. One sufficed for my partner Diane and two for me. In many places I can manage three. They go very well with very cold retsina (or Greek beer).
I loved your pictures of the gyros pitta. Maybe one of the regular visitors can inform me how many places in Plakias are selling them currently. I remember a small place on the seafront near the harbour, run by a lady, but this was several years ago.
Mike
733
Plakias / Crowded Plakias?
« on: September 25, 2004, 02:22:47 PM »
I am very doubtful that there were 34 users online at 13.46 yesterday. I was online around that time (it is my usual login time) and it is quite rare for there to be more than 5 showing at the bottom of the screen.
Mike
Mike
734
Holiday Companies / Good Tour Operators
« on: September 25, 2004, 09:52:13 AM »Quote
=Graham and Karen, yesterday, 4.06pm
Costas Chrysoulla is £779 for 2 people for the 2 weeks in September we want
Hello Graham and Karen,
You may particularly want to go in September, but have you considered May? On average, the weather is very similar (but more light in the evenings and the higher sun means more sunburn risk), and resorts are similarly quiet. The accommodation you mention is £520 for two for the middle two weeks of May (Olympic)- this is an early morning Gatwick flight.
Mike
735
Holiday Companies / Good Tour Operators
« on: September 24, 2004, 01:12:28 PM »
There is no doubt that Ian has been treated appallingly by First Choice. It was 25th June when Grahame alerted the forum to the situation re. FC pulling out of Plakias for 2005. See link.. To take your bookings in July and then admit you wouldn't be told until next year is unforegivable. Have you thought of writing to the Travel sections of the Saturday Telegragh or Times (or similar in other papers) to shame FC into a response. I might even do it myself.
John R and I were lucky in that we were alerted early by the forum and were then pro-active in getting our money back. I suppose you were a little bit lucky in that your surfing did eventually alert you.
In terms of FC talking about "the next resort along", I don't think they feature any other south coast resorts on Crete! You wouldn't be best pleased with Malia or Agios Nikolaos I suspect!!
I don't think you will match the FC prices. I paid £30 pp more for the same accommodation with Olympic in May and John R has reported that he is paying significantly more "going independent".
I hope you get there next year.
Mike
John R and I were lucky in that we were alerted early by the forum and were then pro-active in getting our money back. I suppose you were a little bit lucky in that your surfing did eventually alert you.
In terms of FC talking about "the next resort along", I don't think they feature any other south coast resorts on Crete! You wouldn't be best pleased with Malia or Agios Nikolaos I suspect!!
I don't think you will match the FC prices. I paid £30 pp more for the same accommodation with Olympic in May and John R has reported that he is paying significantly more "going independent".
I hope you get there next year.
Mike