Plakias Forums
Plakias => Holiday Companies => Topic started by: Paul Koblens on September 13, 2004, 09:56:10 AM
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Hello everybody!
Most of you have been traveling to Plakias for many years now.
I understand most of you choose to oragnise your holdiay yourselves.
But how about the Tour Operators?
Which tour operators can I recomment to my guests?
thanks, paul.
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Welkom Paul ! There have been many discussions on the 'tour operator' subject. The only British tour operators that go to plakias are: Olympic, Argo , Kosmar and Cachet travel. However If your friends are travelling from other countries then the best thing for them to do would be to contact a travel agent or to look on the internet, or in newspapers. Sorry couldn't be more helpful, perhaps someone else from the forums will have some ideas!?
Great website by the way! Can it be translated into English? My partner is really likes diving! Perhaps we will see you next year? Do you live in Plakias All year round?
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sorry double clicked on submit!!
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Paul,
In addition to the companies Fraoula has told you about, First Choice is there for the remainder of the 2004 season (but has pulled out for 2005). It was said in the forum that Cosmos is there for 2005, in the second edition of their brochure.
For the more independently minded traveller Susan K and others have recommended Anso travel (use the search button at the top of the page).
Mike
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sorry double clicked on submit!!
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Guys thanks a lot for your reactions. Djeessh this Forum is really active!
I'll list these comments and for sure they'll get me on my way.
Fraoula:
Thanks for the comment on our site. This site is still only used for our Dutch location which my brother runs. Since we have only, finally, received our license in the beginning of July , there still is a lot of work to do...including adding a parallel site for our new location on Crete. And the first language of course will be English. Nice to hear you friend likes diving... m sure we'll have a great time adding some activity to your next holiday.
My normal season in Plakias will be from end April till end November. The other months I will not stay in Plakias ...I hope... I m sure this will not do me good , as much as I love Plakias.
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Djeessh this Forum is really active! (Paul)
Paul,
If you think the forum is active now, just wait a week of so. Many of the regular contributors are in Plakias now and when they return I confidently predict the number of posts will markedly increase.
Mike
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Well - until I happened upon this group - there was me thinking, and looking forward to 14 days in May and another 14 in September in Plakias with FirstChoice - both booked and deposits paid in July!!!
You'd have thought that someone at FC would have informed their pre-booked clients that they had withdrawn from the resort -
I telephoned FC reservations could not confirm the situation -suggested I contact Customer Services - "they may still be working (1800hrs) because of the Hurricane - they're not!!!
I feel a touch of the 'Victor Meldrews" coming on tomorrow morning!!!
'If they had brains they'd be dangerous!
regards
ianjh
Paul,
In addition to the companies Fraoula has told you about, First Choice is there for the remainder of the 2004 season (but has pulled out for 2005). It was said in the forum that Cosmos is there for 2005, in the second edition of their brochure.
For the more independently minded traveller Susan K and others have recommended Anso travel (use the search button at the top of the page).
Mike
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You'd have thought that someone at FC would have informed their pre-booked clients that they had withdrawn from the resort -
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No Way. They would hang on to this information till about 56 days before you are due to leave and only then inform you of a major change, assuming that at that late stage you will feel you have no alternative but to accept some other similar cost holiday of their choice. Beyond about 56 days, compensation comes into the question so they will act before that but not much before. Up to that deadline they only have to offer alternatives or return deposits. I think that sort of paraphrases their small print as I now vaguely remember it.
It took me a long time on the phone to persuade them to recognise the truth that they had indeed pulled out and that a return of deposit would be a rather nice gesture. They fobbed me off with all sorts of possible reasons why the holidays may eventually be reinstated or that existing bookings "might" be honoured until they realised I knew more than they cared to admit and eventually came clean and returned my deposit. I have now booked my September 2005 holiday independantly but the flights alone have cost nearly as much as their total two weeks B & B holiday so I'm not best pleased with them.
John R
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Ian,
What John R says may sound cynical but I'm sure there is a lot of truth in it.
SeeFirst Choice pulls out of Plakias for 2005. (http://forums.plakias.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=298)
My experience was similar to John's; see above link with its multiple posts. On about the third call from me they contacted their accommodation team who knew that FC have pulled out of Plakias totally for 2005. Trouble is the word has still not filtered down to the telephone Help Desk. The annoying thing is that the decision was clearly taken at least 2 months ago.
My advice is to do what John and I did, insist on getting your deposit back now, so you can rebook. Someone has already reported that Olympic has already taken quite a lot of bookings for Kostas Chysoulla for May.
Wouldn't it be nice if someone from First Choice, reading all the negative posts, would respond. Is that a pig I see flying by?
Mike
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After a 50 minute telephone call involving 5 different people and giving each of my reference numbers 7 times - Fc have agreed to refund deposits on both bookings!!!
They stated that I would 'probably' been contacted early in the new year and offered an alternative holiday 'at the next resort along' - I didn't bother to find out where 'along' was!!!
regards
ianjh
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After a 50 minute telephone call involving 5 different people and giving each of my reference numbers 7 times - Fc have agreed to refund deposits on both bookings!!!
They stated that I would 'probably' been contacted early in the new year and offered an alternative holiday 'at the next resort along' - I didn't bother to find out where 'along' was!!!
regards
ianjh
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Well - I think that just about sums things up nicely :'(
John R
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I have just checked out the Kosmar 2005 website. It has been off line for a day or so and now it is back, Plakias is now there.
They have two properties featured - Lamon apartmemnts and Appolon Apartments. They fly to Chania Airport and from Newcastle it is a daytime flight (compared with 1st choice Night flight from Newcastle).
I have compared prices for a 27th September 2005, 2 week, 2 people self catering holiday with the ex 1st Choice, Stella pension B & B holiday and it is £528 (from Newcastle) which is about £100 more expensive than that cancelled 1st Choice option. Our independently arranged holiday is going to cost us about £680 plus transfers.
John R
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I have kept rechecking the Kosmar site and have noticed that for the two weeks mentioned above the availability of a 2 person room in the Lamon Hotel seems to have disappeared already. Only a 4 person room with very high underoccupancy surcharge available now. The 2 bed room(s) is(are) available later in October. It WAS available only last week when I wrote the above report. So it looks as if someone is keenly booking up rooms already even for so late in the 2005 season.
John R
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I can not say I'm surprised at what you say John about the Lamon being full,
I did mention this in the Forum back in July when we came back But it seems no one took any notice.
It may be worthwhile contacting Maggy direct (Email: info@lamon-hotel.gr) at the Lamon to see if there are any vacances though.
John & Zell
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I did mention this in the Forum back in July when we came back But it seems no one took any notice.
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Perhaps the opposite applies - hence filling up fast
John R
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Hi All
I tried to book the Lamon last night with Kosmar, but they would not allow any single person booking in any of the appartments. They did however offer me the Apollon but they wanted £120 per week, single suppliment.
I'm still looking!
george g...
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They stated that I would 'probably' been contacted early in the new year and offered an alternative holiday 'at the next resort along' - I didn't bother to find out where 'along' was!!!
probably cyprus
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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. (http://forums.plakias.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=298&st=0). 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
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Regarding Brochure options - it certainly is limited. No budget places like Dora or Stella. Costas Chrysoulla is £779 for 2 people for the 2 weeks in September we want -and that includes an online booking discount.
Cheapest flight I've seen is £220, £440 for 2, say £280 for the room/studio add about £100 for the transfers gives £820 total. Not so much more than Olympic. If only we had the nerve to book the accomodation and then get any late deal to Crete just to get to Heraklion - but, we haven't so I guess it's going to be a pricier holiday next year.
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Cheapest flight I've seen is £220, [a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=2484\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Much as I don't want to continue to support FC I found an quirk when booking my late September Flight for 2005.
The flight that FC use out of Newcastle is a Thomas Cook flight and I instinctively looked on their site to book the flight. However it was much cheaper (£187 each) when booked via First Choice than via Thomas Cook.
Hey - I've just realised, only 4 days before we set off this year - better get packed !!!
John R
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=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
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Have a good time John and I hope the wind has dropped by the time you arrive.
And thanks for your tips in the 'Where to go' topic.
This year the safari took in the road from Asi Gonia to Imbros and we also did an independent trip to the Amari valley using your suggested route.
This week I sent Dionyssius by email the picture that you took out for him last year. I also sent the original unedited version but I doubt he's got his head around photo editing just yet.
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Have a good time John and I hope the wind has dropped by the time you arrive.
And thanks for your tips in the 'Where to go' topic.
This year the safari took in the road from Asi Gonia to Imbros and we also did an independent trip to the Amari valley using your suggested route.
This week I sent Dionyssius by email the picture that you took out for him last year. I also sent the original unedited version but I doubt he's got his head around photo editing just yet.
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Many thanks for your good wishes.
I was thrilled that you took that route to Imbros - it is quite something. We will definitely be doing a repeat trip - and the Amari valley.
The forcast hints a strong North winds from Wednesday onwards - not a good sign. Not being a far ender and not being addicted to beaches (shame I hear you all saying) we can at least travel away for the day usually leaving the worst of the winds behind. Returning to Plakias is always great though.
I've got quite a good photo of Dionyssius to give him this time.
Best wishes
John R
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We do like the beach but, nambie pambies that we are, only when it's calm.
So we were only on the beach 4 out of the 14 days this year.
The sheer endurance of many people who braved the beach while we were in Plakias this year was astounding.
Not that we were short of things to do on the other 10 days. Through looking around for properties on Crete we met quite a few ex-pats and, in the end, spent quite some time with them.
One couple introduced us to an excellent 'old style' taverna not a million miles from Plakias in which we enjoyed 2 excellent dinners at very reasonable prices. The choice of meals was very limited but the food was scrummy.
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What you have just said really does sum up Plakias and the area around very well. A super place to be with no shortage of sensible things to do whatever the weather. Can you imagine this sort of conversation occuring about a place like (say) Malia.
John R
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i've been going to plakias for years and done firstchoice, olympic, flight only and other companies that just dont go there anymore. but after checking out the travel agents, the internet & flight only it looks like as long as you book early the travel agents are the cheapest. you do have to be quick of the mark because from going in to price it and then going in to book it a fortnight later the price had jumped up £60 per person (this is for july 2005) but aleast its booked now. got a great deal through olympic on the internet for september passed, last minute thing but i dont like to chance last minute deals for my main holiday incase there isn't any avalibility.
my problem is the £100 & over flight supplement you get for flying from scotland- anyboby else in the same boat????? (or should that be plane)
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I've got flights from Newcastle in late September which are a reasonable price - ironically via first choice but on a Thomas Cook flight. I now know that excelair fly daytime to Chania from Newcastle at a similar price - wish I had known that. Booking my flight with First Choice was much cheaper than booking the same flight with Thomas Cook - even though it is a Thomas Cook flight. One has to be careful.
I agree that the cost of going independent is going to exceed a package deal by a considerable amount - I've now booked those flights and done my sums.
However Kosmar do now have a reasonable package deal with accommodation at Lamont and Appolo.
John R
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have to admit i've done the same for next summer and am flying from newcastle too, its the only reasonable choice if your north of the border.....haven't seen kosmar yet but i'm guessing from what been writen its definetly worth a look