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Author Topic: First Choice Pull out of Plakias!  (Read 47386 times)

Offline Greecemad

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First Choice Pull out of Plakias!
« Reply #90 on: August 03, 2004, 09:34:01 PM »
I agree that the SunMed brochure was very informative - because of that I still have the 1989 edition! I was trying to scan the Plakias bit to share it but couldn't manage to upload it - maybe it was too big.

It says thing like: "Flights from Gatwick, Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, East Midlands, Luton, Bristol and Glasgow to Heraklion and Flights from Gatwick to Chania"  [Can you do that today?]

"Plakias attracts a fair number of German visitors in the summer, and although the main beach is dressed, it may come as no surprise that other sandy beaches within walking distance, are nudist beaches. Ve have vays of getting the little rascal brown, ya!"

"Behind the small village are a range of mountains that often create strong thermals, resulting in a cool sea breeze on the beach" [or in other words it gets very windy sometimes].

Greecemad.

Offline ostraco

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First Choice Pull out of Plakias!
« Reply #91 on: August 03, 2004, 11:42:09 PM »
Thanks Greecemad,
I wish I had kept a few of the old brochures - would be great to look back on.
I remember those words well.
If you want to send me the scanned file, I'll have a go at getting it loaded for all to see.
John - Ostraco

Offline fraoula

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First Choice Pull out of Plakias!
« Reply #92 on: August 05, 2004, 04:24:53 PM »
Quote
You do have the right Kelly in mind. I'm pretty sure she was working for Olympic during the time I knew her. Sadly, she did die young, but is still very fondly remembered, and often talked about. She was married to Zak, who was involved in an accident, although it was not his fault. He is still in the village, and I will always use him if I can.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=2065\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


Oh my god I can't believe Kelly has passed on. The last I'd heard about her was when she had recovered from her illness but sadly discovered it was back and that was the last I'd heard. may she rest in peace.  
 I've lost quite a few friends form Plakias who have all tragically died and this comes as another big shock.  Also how is Zak and when did this accident happen? Ihope he is alright he must have been through alot.
                       Fraoula
« Last Edit: August 15, 2004, 10:07:23 AM by ostraco »

Offline roger

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First Choice Pull out of Plakias!
« Reply #93 on: August 05, 2004, 06:01:16 PM »
I did not realise quite so many companies had been to Plakias - I certainly do not remember Thompson's .Some of them were probably rather short lived . I have only ever been with Sunmed , Insopirations and First choice
 Sunmed , I agree , were terrific , esp their brochure . They always had a croypic one liner about each resort and the one for Plakias was - you wont find any tattoos or Sun readers on the beach ! TGhat immeidately tells you so much about the place in an amusing way .
 And I rather think that the people who wrote the sunmed brochure then wrote the Inspirations brochure after sunmed became part of first choice and in so doing ,lost thier identity . Indeed it is possible that some of the people involved with sunmed started up Inspirations -but they did not seem to last for long
 AsI think I have said elsewhere on this conference, i first travlled with sunmed in 1976 to Ios .They had one flight a week from gatwick - and poss one from manchester - to Athens , or rather part of one flight , and then people went on by boat to I think 4 islands .Cant remember for sure what the others were but I think  spetses and poros were among them . It really was a man and dog operation which grew like topsy - and then became so big that they became attractive to the even biiger boys like first choice
Personally I hope to be able to go next year with Kosmar - their brochures seem to indicate they are a discerning comany interested in the discerning market - ie people like us ! - rather than the costa del guiiness and chips and disco brigade
 roger

Offline ostraco

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First Choice Pull out of Plakias!
« Reply #94 on: August 09, 2004, 12:04:02 AM »
Still trying to catch up here after a few days away!
I got the scan of the Olympic entries - I'll try to get to that this week.

Fraoula, Zak is back in the village, trying to rebuild his life. Kelly's family visit, and their son id growing into a nice young lad.
John - Ostraco

Offline Mike G

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First Choice Pull out of Plakias!
« Reply #95 on: August 10, 2004, 01:22:01 PM »
Re. First Choice pulling out of Plakias (see my earlier entries for my experience of the issue) it now looks as if it is closed. After nothing for over 2 weeks since my last communication with them I E-Mailed their communications team and they phoned me back. I had to explain everything from the beginning and initially still got the line that "we may honour existing bookings even though accepting no more". I expressed doubts whether this was viable and was then put in touch with their accommodation team. They eventually confirmed that FC has pulled out of Plakias for 2005 completely. On that basis they are sending me my deposit back and confirming it in writing. I was also told that edition 2 of FC Greece is out on Friday and will still contain some Plakias properties (Alianthos, Stella, and Irida I think). However, this is just a case of the new brochure being out of date before it is issued.

So, over 6 weeks after Grahame alerted us to the fact, FC has finally confirmed to me that my holiday is cancelled. John R was right in that the information you are told depends on whom you speak to at FC.

So, it looks like Olympic for me for 2005 as it seems they are the only operator offering day flights (outward and return), self catering accommodation, and less than £300 pp in May. If anyone knows differently perhaps they could let me know.

As someone else said, it is sad for those in the holiday industry in Plakias that one of the two major UK companies is pulling out and I hope that they replace the business.  

Offline fraoula

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First Choice Pull out of Plakias!
« Reply #96 on: August 12, 2004, 11:00:08 AM »
Quote
Still trying to catch up here after a few days away!
I got the scan of the Olympic entries - I'll try to get to that this week.

Fraoula, Zak is back in the village, trying to rebuild his life. Kelly's family visit, and their son id growing into a nice young lad.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=2104\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


 That is good to hear Ostraco, thanks for getting back to us on that!!

Offline fraoula

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First Choice Pull out of Plakias!
« Reply #97 on: August 12, 2004, 11:28:37 AM »
Quote
. I was also told that edition 2 of FC Greece is out on Friday and will still contain some Plakias properties (Alianthos, Stella, and Irida I think). However, this is just a case of the new brochure being out of date before it is issued.


When i spoke to FC  when the FIRST edition brochure was just out they advised that
 'Plakias would definatly  NOT  feature in their 2nd edition '05 brochure due to the contract expiring this summer' so why have they issued a brochure with incorrect information when they knew  the situation months ago?? makes me wonder if the FC guys talk to each other!! 

And on my current Argo situation it's amazing the different replies you get form the same question; When I call as travel agent to Argo they inform me that their 2nd edition brochure should appear 'sometime in August'. However for fun   I decided to call as a customer and ask exactly the same question and was told 'sometime at the end of September'. Once again I tried phoning and I received yet another answer-  ' We do not have any information at all on the resort of Plakias for '05 ' This is getting a bit frustrating never the less, so if anyone comes across any info regarding Argo for next year(namely the Alianthos gardens or Apollo) whilst they are in Plakias  could you let me know!!??
« Last Edit: August 15, 2004, 10:10:31 AM by ostraco »

Offline ostraco

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First Choice Pull out of Plakias!
« Reply #98 on: August 15, 2004, 11:37:57 AM »
[attachment=35:attachment][attachment=36:attachment]
At last I managed to get the scans of the 1989 Sunmed brochure done!
Thank God for weekends - and thanks to Greecemad!
« Last Edit: August 15, 2004, 11:39:56 AM by ostraco »
John - Ostraco

Offline LoukaFran

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First Choice Pull out of Plakias!
« Reply #99 on: August 16, 2004, 08:43:45 PM »
Having read all the stories and problems of travel agents, I wonder why it is so important to use them.

For years we book the flight to Crete ourselves and arrange the accomodation we want directly with the people in Plakias.

I can't say we have had any bad experiences this way.

Before this we did...

Offline fraoula

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First Choice Pull out of Plakias!
« Reply #100 on: August 17, 2004, 09:20:49 AM »
Quote from: LoukaFran,Aug 16 2004, 07:43 PM
Having read all the stories and problems of travel agents, I wonder why it is so important to use them.

   
 We're not all bad you know!!    I believe that  Travel agents should have the revelent  ABTA qualifications to do the job properly; they make it too easy to get the job these days- you don't need a cv.

Offline Noopsy

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First Choice Pull out of Plakias!
« Reply #101 on: August 17, 2004, 09:45:28 AM »
Oh, dear!    

I hope we're not heading for another falling out à la Yvonne/Andy!  This is supposed to be a friendly Forum.  
Ελευθερία ή θάνατος

Offline Yvonne

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First Choice Pull out of Plakias!
« Reply #102 on: August 17, 2004, 10:55:24 AM »
Quote
Oh, dear!    

I hope we're not heading for another falling out à la Yvonne/Andy!  This is supposed to be a friendly Forum.  
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=2169\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


Excuse me, but I have not fallen out with any ne, most of all Andy.  It is really not my scene.  Get off my case Noopsy 500
Yvonne

Offline Graham_and_Karen

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First Choice Pull out of Plakias!
« Reply #103 on: August 17, 2004, 12:48:56 PM »
We have had a few problems with holiday companies changing flights or insisting on ridiculously early pick-up times for the return to the airport but overall, we have found it to be the cheapest way to get to Plakias. Problems can occur whatever travel arrangements you make and I would prefer to have a recognised UK company to complain to if things go horribly wrong. Two years ago, our luggage didn't arrive at Heraklion. Although the rep. didn't do much it was good to be able to check with them that we were doing the right things and phoning the correct people to sort it out.

Offline fraoula

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First Choice Pull out of Plakias!
« Reply #104 on: August 17, 2004, 01:12:26 PM »
Quote
Quote
Oh, dear!    

I hope we're not heading for another falling out à la Yvonne/Andy!  This is supposed to be a friendly Forum.  
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=2169\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


Excuse me, but I have not fallen out with any ne, most of all Andy.  It is really not my scene.  Get off my case Noopsy 500
Yvonne
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=2172\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH!!     No one's falling out with each other! I'm mearly defending MYSELF as a travel agent! HA HA!!            Before I was a travel agent I too used to book independantly  staying with the Baradakis family in Plakias, and I must agree that we never had any complaints! At the end of the day unless a complaint is concerning a travel agent, we are just the go between for the tour operator for which we  can then foward the complaints to the relevent company-which is often a very slow process  ( I know most will agree on that one!)As a Travel agent I'm here to help, advise and answer questions concerning travel -not everyone knows how to book independantly or on the net which is why we're still about, however I do think, personally that travel agencies will disappear within the next 20years (here's hoping! I here you say!!)As it is becoming easier to book without a travel agent as most of you know. Working in a travel agents isn't as 'glamorous' as it looks there are pros and cons-it's a 'cold' sales job 90% of the time and you need to know at least the basics of all the rules and regulations of ABTA,foriegn exchange etc,etc I could go on forever here (but we don't want that!). But I'd also like to say I love travel, always have which is why I chose to work in the travel industry. I won't always work as a travel agent my aim is to live in Greece again and do something like escorted tours-or perhaps just relax and enjoy the finer things in life, when my winning numbers show on the lottery. All I'm saying is that you have  your 'good' travel workers and your 'not so good ' travel workers  the not so good usually comes down to dishonest/bad customerservice skills and often no experiance/ travel qualifications. I do however have the experiance and ABTA qualifications and good customer care skills  .The key for my success is that I am unable to tell lies- so I don't! ( Not that I would dream of doing that even if I could of course.) So yes I believe I am an honest, skilled, nice travel agent!   Listen to me, sound like I'm being interviewed!  
 No hard feelings I hope!?    

 By the way at half 2 this morning got up and recorded Greek language lessons and culture on bbc 2 , bit tired now but glad I got it! Been waiting for years to see something like this on TV ......... anyone else get it too!?   Oh how exciting it is...