Messages

76

Gossip / Butchers in Greece

« on: February 03, 2006, 07:47:57 PM »

My wife Sue and I must be fellow carnivors, John, as we've found all meat related dishes at Medousa Taverna Plakias simply wonderful year after year!!  Like you, we're definitely confirmed carnivors.

Graham

77

Plakias / Cycling....

« on: February 03, 2006, 07:34:47 PM »

Hi Joolz,

Enjoy Plakias, it's a wonderful place.  As for cycling, based on the experience of my other half Sue and I, it can be really good fun to hire cycles for a few days.

We've hired from the shop on the road down towards the sea front nr the doctor's, close to the new Post Office (we always stop in Stella's just up the road from there, which we can thoroughly recommend re quality and price).

The coastal routes are fairly flat, although the hills can understandably get a bit steep.  Only tip is just to remember which way is up and down re gear changing as Sue got it wrong last time and ground to an ignominious halt on the short climb west out of the town!).

All the best

Graham

78

Where to stay / Stella pensions

« on: February 03, 2006, 05:38:59 PM »

Hi Mike and John,

An interesting comparison, Mike, and fine if you're happy to stay in accomodation still offered in Plakias by the package operators still active there and if you only want trfs to and from Heraklion and no car hire whilst there.  With us specifically wanting to stay at Stella's again, a flight only option was what we needed, as with John, and BA's £114.50 per person return from Manchester all inclusive in early Oct still seems a good buy to me.  Way better than charter prices I sourced for the same (agreed, John, that flight only charter prices are often excessive compared to the discount airlines) and even more so than other scheduled airline prices I checked out routing via Athens.  

Graham

79

Where to stay / Stella pensions

« on: February 01, 2006, 03:35:40 PM »

Having travelled widely for the last 25 years we've rarely used BA as they've never been known for their low pricing.  However, let's enjoy what they've started offering re Heraklion whilstever it lasts and hope this year's May-Oct scheduling is repeated next year and with equally attractive pricing.

I note that the flights we purchased at £229 yesterday are being offered today at £279 (post end of Jan sale and Birthday offer), but they still represent very good value.  I also checked out this coming Whit week and discovered that price inflation around school holidays still exists on the Man-Her route.  Was quoted a mere £599 for the two of us.  Is there any wonder I can't wait for my good lady Sue to stop full-time teaching in July!!  Being able to go away outside school holidays will be a rare but oh so welcome treat.

John - spoke to Marcos yesterday and we're all sorted for our 10 nights in Oct.  Have done a bit of comparative checking on the car hire front, but think I'll leave it until nearer the time to book.  I'm sure there'll be far more supply than demand in early Oct, which may benefit pricing.  Will probably end up booking with Alianthos, Caravel or Holiday Autos.  

Already looking forward to seeing Stella and Yannis again and settling in for a relaxing break.  It's like visiting old friends.  Fingers crossed for some decent weather which we seem to have always had bar one particular year in the mid '90s.

Graham

80

Where to stay / Stella pensions

« on: January 31, 2006, 08:40:55 PM »

After my experience with BA today I fully agree with all John says about the excellence of their online booking system and subsequent online checking-in/seat selection/self printing of boarding cards etc procedures when the time comes.

Long may this level of service quality and the low pricing continue!

Graham

81

Where to stay / Stella pensions

« on: January 31, 2006, 07:57:35 PM »

Thanks for the car parking tip, John (not that we have a Tescos locally unfortunately).

Graham

82

Where to stay / Stella pensions

« on: January 31, 2006, 11:37:29 AM »

John,

Many thanks for your detailed response - the flt & car hire info + the contact details for Stella's son much appreciated.

After missing out on Stella's/Plakias last autumn we'll definitely be back this Oct as I've just booked us flts on your GB Airways operated BA scheduled route from Manchester.  Just sneaked in on the last day of BA's January Sale and in short have purchased the two return flts for a 10 day stay (out Tues 3 Oct and back Fri 13, same as you) for a total (not each) of £229 all in - excellent value with the charter airlines from Man offering me something similar for over £400.  

Leeds Bradford is a lot nearer for us and avoids the need for us taking our own car/car parking costs etc, but, as with you, Airtours have lost my potential business too (1 wk return with Astraeus from LBA was £418 and 2 wks £478, on a worse airline with worse legroom and no meals incl).

If BA continue their aggressive level of pricing to Crete, it's bound to take trade from the likes of First Choice and Airtours as awareness amongst independent travellers increases.    

Appreciated your offer re your Newcastle tickets, but obviously not required.  Manchester is closer for us anyway.

Look forward to seeing you at Stella's next Oct!

Best regards

Graham

83

Where to stay / Stella pensions

« on: January 30, 2006, 04:18:53 PM »

John,

Graham & Sue here.  We haven't contributed since last Oct, but have been reviewing the forum regularly.  Could you please remind me of the tel. no. for ringing Stella's son about bookings.

Like you, we've been regular autumn visitors (to date always Oct Half Term Week) and have probably stopped at Stella's maybe 10 times over the last 12 years or so, booking via First Choice.  Like a home from home.  Following First Choice's withdrawal and with Sue giving up full time teaching this July we will for the first time in 26 years be able to go away outside of school holidays (I'm already semi-retired) and we're thinking of going to Plakias for the week commencing Tues 3 Oct.  Our local airport is Leeds Bradford and for the first time ever in our memory there's a flight to Crete (Heraklion) from there this year (May - Oct), daytime Tuesdays.  The charter airline is Astraeus, whom we've never flown with and I'm not sure about their quality, but they are selling seats via Airtours and Thomas Cook as well as other outlets.  Best online price I've found to date for the two of us return is £418 all in with Airtours.

Could you please also remind me about your preferred car hire options.  Wherever else we travel I tend to book a car via Holiday Autos as their prices don't seem bad and I also get an additional discount as a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

Look forward to hearing from you.  Many thanks.

Graham

84

Holiday Companies / Flights/car hire

« on: May 10, 2005, 08:15:53 AM »

Thanks, Paul and John, for your assistance.  

Re your response to my other note under 'Stella Pension', John, it does indeed sound like we are v much Plakias clones, enjoying the same sort of thing.  We too feel really sorry for Stella and Yannis and hope that they can muster sufficient private bookings.  Do you know if they have approached any other tour companies, British or otherwise, to replace First choice?  The village doctor (on the 'fish shop' road) said to us last October that he thought First Choice would be back, but maybe this was just wishful thinking.  We'll see.

We've used Anso and Alianthos for car hire in the past, but not Caravel.  Thanks for the tip.  Having driven widely around the world and with my twin professions as a chauffeur and motorsport journalist I'm pretty happy to drive anything anywhere, but I fully agree about the need for defensive driving on Crete - driving standards vary a lot!

85

Holiday Companies / Flights/car hire

« on: May 09, 2005, 07:49:31 PM »

Thanks, Harribobs.

Graham

86

Plakias / stella pension

« on: May 09, 2005, 04:55:48 PM »

Hi,

G&S here.  Often dipped into your forum as a guest in the past, but decided to register as members today (see my post under holiday cos. re flights/car hire).  Just want to add our unreserved recommendation about Stella's too.  We've now stayed there more times than I can remember (always October Half Term week as my wife Sue is a teacher) and despite the language difficulties Stella and Yannis always greet us every year like long lost friends with beaming smiles.  I know they recognise us even if the conversation can't go much beyond our shared few Greek and English words.  

Wonderful, as is Plakias itself.  Ideal for a relaxing week - we tend to travel elsewhere during the rest of the year, but always look forward to our autumn Plakias visit to round things off and most years the weather has been very good.  There's something so nice about wearing shorts and a T shirt during the day and then watching the sunset over the bay before eating outside at night (the Medusa is our personal favourite) during the last week in October!

Graham

87

Holiday Companies / Flights/car hire

« on: May 09, 2005, 03:30:00 PM »

Hi,

New members.  My wife Sue and I have been regular visitors to Plakias most years since the early '90s and view it like visiting an old friend too.  Always go October Half term week and have stayed every year bar two (when at the Myrtis) at wonderful Stella's.

We too are victims of First Choice's decision to pull out and, as we hope to go again this year and stay at Stella's booking it directly via their son, I'm exploring flights/car hire.  Got a few potential flights via the web, but any tips from anyone?  Also, any tips on car hire?  Have a reasonable quote already via Expedia.

Thanks

Graham