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Messages - Mike G

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781
Where to stay / First Choice Pull out of Plakias!
« on: July 07, 2004, 02:30:15 PM »
Re First Choice in Plakias in 2005 I have just received the following by E-Mail from FC.

Quote
Thank you for your email.

We regret that we have now dropped Plakias in Crete for operational reasons
as we have dropped a lot of units across the board.

Customer Services are currently in the process of advising passengers of
this, you will be informed by letter over the next week or so.

Back to the drawing board then. I wish Manos sold holidays in Plakias as I have had many positive holiday experiences with them (greatly outnumbering the few negatives).

782
Where to stay / First Choice Pull out of Plakias!
« on: July 06, 2004, 01:42:59 PM »
Could someone enlighten me as to how many UK tour operators sell holidays to Plakias. If FC is pulling out I only know of Olympic.

783
Where to stay / First Choice Pull out of Plakias!
« on: July 06, 2004, 01:35:25 PM »
The First Choice brochure for 2005 was published in April/May although even after calling into local travel agents many times I have been unable to obtain a copy. However, one of them had an office copy which I was able to peruse. On the basis of what I had seen I booked 2 weeks at Kostas Chysoulla for 10/5/05 on the internet in May, at a good discount to the brochure price. I have paid the deposit and received the documentation. I have E-Mailed FC but all they have said in reply is that they will get back to me.

What a way to do business!!!!!

784
Where to stay / First Choice Pull out of Plakias!
« on: July 02, 2004, 01:07:40 PM »
I have had the same response from the website as Ostraco for several days now. The Plakias properties are there but there is "no availability" for any date you put in for 2005. I have E-Mailed them to ask if the booking I have for 2005 is still valid and have been told "I don't know, we will look into it and get back to you".

My daughter worked for First Choice last year and found them to be frustratingly inefficient so in some ways I'm not surprised we can't get this resolved. However, my First Choice holiday to Tingaki (Kos) in May was brilliant and couldn't have been faulted!

785
Holiday Companies / Another Newbie!
« on: July 01, 2004, 02:09:01 PM »
Andy,

I've obviously missed some of the earlier correspondence on this topic, but if Olympic is saying you will not have transport or the services of a rep I would ask them to refund some of the cost of the holiday. Their brochure clearly says both transfers and the services of a rep are included in the price.

I agree that most folk (i.e. the non-whingeing sort) don't use the rep.  However, I have on several occasions seen that they were really useful for unplanned events or emergencies.

I also agree that you will glean more information from this website than the average rep will know and that excursions are much cheaper booked independently, although I advise checking that they are not for nationalities other than British, as this could mean that you have passed something of interest before you hear the commentary.

Mike

786
Where to stay / Brochures 2005
« on: June 28, 2004, 12:18:42 PM »
Hello "Plakias 34",

Yes, I found the same recently as well. I booked in late May and had no problems on the internet. John R checked a few days ago and found that his holiday at Stella, flying from Newcastle in Sept 2005, was still available on the internet. I received the same message as you (I was only doodling out of curiosity). I suspect the problem lies with the First Choice website. Maybe they can only cope with a certain number od enquiries at any one time. No way are they fully booked for 2005 already.

I suggest trying late at night or early morning or contacting them by E-Mail  for an explanation. If you don't need the advice of a Travel Agent  it is worth booking on line as there is a significant discount. I still haven't managed to track down a FC brochure for Greece for 2005, although I have glanced at an TA's "office copy".

787
Where to stay / First Choice Pull out of Plakias!
« on: June 26, 2004, 03:37:35 PM »
As you will see under the "Brochures 2005" correspondence, I have booked for 2005 already, as has John R. First Choice has sent all the documentation, so on the face of it it seems unlikely that they have pulled put. I hope not as the prices on the internet were excellent. Olympic is significantly more for the accommodation I have booked, namely the Kostas Chysoulla.

788
Where to stay / Brochures 2005
« on: June 24, 2004, 02:50:15 PM »
John,

I'm glad I'm not the only one who books holidays miles in advance. I always book around May for the following May and Sept/Oct. Some other people think I'm crazy!

Mike

789
Where to stay / Brochures 2005
« on: June 23, 2004, 03:31:50 PM »
Thanks to the two correspondents who replied. I have booked for mid May with First Choice at Costas Chrysoulla. This was mainly because my partner, Diane, occasionally likes the use of a pool. I always prefer the beach.

It's a long way off and I have to admit that when we travel it will be almost 10 years to the day that I made my one and only visit to Plakias. Up until recently I had a policy of never going to the same place twice; however, now I have about 5 favourite Greek resorts (Plakias being one of them) to revisit.

Diane made her first trip to Greece with me in May 2004. It was my 26th and we went to Tingaki, Kos. It was excellent, but not as scenic as Plakias; however, there are distinct similariities between the two resorts.

One of the things I have noted about Plakias is that the taverna reviews are almost invariably very positive- I hope I find this to be the case.

Incidentally, last year I had a very interesting correspondence on this website with several interesting folk about the merits of tour operators versus booking independently. The holiday I have booked with First Choice was £230 per person booked on their website. This price may be bettered in the 11 months before I go if there are any really good "special offers" but in my opinion it shuold be excellent value. First Choice seems cheaper than Olympic.

Congratulations to all who use this website. I know of nothing like it for any other Greek resort.

790
Where to stay / Brochures 2005
« on: May 01, 2004, 03:20:35 PM »
Brochures for 2005 are starting to appear (get a life I hear some of you saying- we haven't been away in 2004 yet!). First Choice is offering Costas Chrysoulla and Irida. Haven't seen Olympic yet- they usually offer Costas Chrysoulla and Dora. I have used the search facility on this website and there is quite a lot of comment about Dora (mainly positive) but little on Irida.

Dora looks to be on a 1 in 3 hill or is it just the way the photo has been taken? I don't remember Plakias being as hilly as that, although the surrounding area certainly is.

Opinions on any of the First Choice or Olympic properties would be welcome or advice on any other tour operators including Plakias in their programmes (I prefer to use a tour operator rather than going independently, as I believe they are better value, in low season at least).

Enjoy your holidays this year.

Mike

791
Plakias / End of October Weather
« on: August 19, 2003, 01:30:55 PM »
I have had several Greek holidays in the first two weeks of October. Temperatures are usually in the 20's Celsius, the sea is nice and warm, but you may need a light pullover, etc once it is dark (but often won't). As a rough rule of thumb if you draw a line tilted SW-NE across Greece, the first places the line reaches (e.g. Corfu) have the wettest weather out of season and the last (e.g. Rhodes/Karpathos) the driest. This is only an approximation as I had a perfect 2 weeks weather in Kefalonia in Oct 2001. On this reckoning Plakias is likely to be one of the best places to go late in the season.

Even if you get a couple of dud days, use them for walking or sightseeing and spend the sunny days on the beach. I think the benefits of early/late holidays for those who can are immense (nicer temperatures, less crowds, lower prices, no kids).

792
PlakChat / Independent vs Tour Operator
« on: August 19, 2003, 01:16:02 PM »
Susan makes a good point, which I can go along with as I concede that the internet has made going independently much easier. I also accept that the choice of accommodation offered by Olympic and First Choice is quite limited. Like Alisos I tend to be very independent even though on a package tour, often never seeing the rep, other than maybe passing in the street, after the welcome meeting. I never go on excursions (rip off) but travel around independently.

No one from the independent camp has shared costs in the way I set out yesterday. I suspect that at the time I holiday (May and Sept/Oct) John R's experience is typical in that it is cheaper to go with a tour operator, expecially if you take the heavy early booking discounts.

One question I have. If you book the accommodation as Susan does either the year before on on the internet, it means you have to find a flight on that particular day. Is this easy to do? I don't know what the frequency of charter flights to Crete is- maybe one of the "independents" will enlighten me.

However and wherever you go, ENJOY!

793
PlakChat / Independent vs Tour Operator
« on: August 18, 2003, 01:32:11 PM »
Thanks for your comments folks. Yes, it is all a matter of personal preference and a key factor in this is whether you would find not knowing where you are going to be staying stressful or part of the holiday adventure. I'm in the former camp here. I accept that the internet has made going independent much easier.

For those in the "Independent" camp, could you share some approximate costs. I'll start the ball rolling here. I have heard positive cooments (from Ostraco I think)on the Dora Studios (Olympic Holidays). For my "early" holiday (first half of May) for someone travelling as one of a couple this is £295 plus £20 Gatwick flight supplement, less £40 Olympic discount, less tour operator's discount (Magic Breaks, who I use, will probably offer 7.5% off). There may be an extra "flight discount" from Olympic if you book early but I have ignored this. This makes £254. I have ignored insurance and the security supplement as both the independents and tour operator customers will have to pay this. One of the correspondents mentioned a flight cost of £175 and there is also mention of £50 for the taxi each way!!

I know the transfer can be less than ideal (for two recent holidays neither the coach driver nor the rep could find the accommodation I was going to and for one we travelled round and round the resort several times before we found it. This was in Paralio Astros in the Pelopponese and they didn't even know where it was in the police station!). However, unlike 21 century life for those who aren't retired, I have plenty of time on holiday and refuse to rush or be rushed for anything. (I don't go quite as far as some people I have met who take off their watch on arrival and don't put it on again until they leave). I don't find the greater time to resort on a coach a hassle. I sit back and enjoy the countryside and think about my first taverna meal and glass of house wine or Amstel. Maybe get to know some of my fellow holidaymakers

I would find negotiating the price of a taxi or accommodation on arrival a real hassle, but then again I can appreciate that others wouldn't.

The flaxibility of choosing one's start date and holiday duration both seem trivial to me  but maybe not to others (I doesn't matter whether I travel on May 5 or 7!).

I can appreciate you have a wider choice of accommodation going independent and this would become important if Olympic or First Choice were to abandon Plakias. One of the reason why I haven't returned since 1995 is becasue my preferred tour operator is Manos and they don't go to Plakias, but do go to many other good Greek resorts.

I look forward to some more feedback.

794
PlakChat / Independent vs Tour Operator
« on: August 16, 2003, 10:24:29 AM »
There are several mentions in the forums of "Going Independent" to Plakias. I have never done this on any holiday, in fact I have never seen the attraction, especially as one of the correspondents admitted that you didn't save money. Let me explain my reasons and perhaps some of you will try to convince me otherwise.

The one think I look for on a holiday is relaxation and a minimum of stress. That's one reason why I enjoy resorts such as Plakias so much. This was admittedly more important when I worked (I took early retirement a year ago but it still applies). For this reason  I have never hired a car, looking on it that this is one aspect of 21st century life I can do without (buses in Greece are an interesting (?) holiday experience). I don't want the hassle of a taxi journey from an airport or looking for a studio on arrival. I like the fact that a rep meets you at the airport, says "you're in Coach C in the car park", and am dropped off outside the studio. I like sitting on the plane knowing there is a bed with my name on it! I have never been pressurised to buy excursions etc by a rep and in a new resort find the welcome meeting is a useful source of information and meeting other holidaymakers.  When I used to holiday with my daughters I found a rep invaluable when one of them was ill and he prevented this from becoming a stressful experience.  I always book as soon as the brochures come out (I want to go where I choose to, not take what is left the week before, even if I pay a bit more).

Talking of cost, over the last 5 years I have paid only around £200-240 for 2 weeks in both May and Oct (always Greece), including insurance. Good value or what? You need to know who is offering good discounts. Admittedly the rep is often not too well informed in May but in Oct they always are.

Someone mentioned Smart Holidays and I checked out their brochure. Yes, they have a better selection in Plakias than either Olympic or First Choice. However, you have to book the flight separately and get yourself to and from Heraklion airport. The latter would cost best part of £100 for the two way journey.

I accept that the Internet has made booking independently easier but would be interested in the counter view from some of your correspondents.

Mike G

795
PlakChat / Plakias 1995
« on: August 14, 2003, 01:38:17 PM »
Many thanks for the useful information. You've convinced me that I'll still like Plakias and I definitely intend to return. I'll certainly be consulting the Forums before booking.

Congratulations on the website, Ostraco. I wish all Greek resorts had one- it would make researching holidays much easier.

Mike G

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