Plakias Forums
Plakias => Plakias => Topic started by: We live in Plakias on November 07, 2013, 07:30:38 AM
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It is sad to say that the best days of Plakias as a tourist destination are in the past. Businesses have closed this year and it is likely that more will follow next year. Whilst the number of visitors to Plakias may have stayed the same, the amount they spend has gone down. The Russian and Eastern European tourists have helped to keep the numbers up but their budget is very small and too many of them lack politeness. So stores such as Forum take out all the quality stuff and fill the shelves with the tacky stuff because this is what now sells.
Different nationalities come at different times of year so it is still possible to come to Plakias and think that it is the same as ever. But it isn't. All very sad.
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Sad to say, but we agree. Its lost its magic for us.
Yvonne
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Topics like this can turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy. I appreciate that "We live in Plakias" will see the village all year round, and therefore you are in a position to see the ups and downs, and maybe you have a business which is suffering. Last year we visited in early July and late August and were surprised how relatively quiet July was. August was busy. This year visited in late August, which certainly did seem quieter than the previous August, and the last week in October, which was indeed extremely quiet. However we were told that the businesses had done well this year, and there had been a very good September and October.
I like the laid-back feel of Plakias, and it still has that. It still has the lovely beach, beautiful surroundings, friendly people and many good tavernas. Sadly some businesses will fail. It is the same in many other countries.
I think we should be promoting Plakias for its many good aspects. Otherwise it will become like that empty taverna that people walk past to get to a busier one. No matter how good your offering is, if your taverna is empty, you find it difficult to attract custom, which in turn means it is difficult to attract custom - and so on.
I am keeping my faith in Plakias and have booked for August 2014.
Arnaki
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'We live in Plakias' Do you want to identify yourselves a bit more?
Barny.
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It's a shame you feel this way about Plakias------ You can always move or visit elsewhere !
We think it and the surrounding area is fantastic and will be back next year.
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Yes Plakias changes - it is not a museum but a living community admittedly with a strong tourist bias. We have seen changes some we like better than others but it still wholly satisfies us in as many ways - indeed more - than when we first came 15 or so years back. We have many friends including some locals who we think of as true friends and I know that is reciprocated and of course long standing tourist friends who like us return every year. The climate is good, the scenery is brilliant, the position re striding out to places further afar is superb, the food is brilliant with choices for all tastes etc etc. And of course there are superb beaches - even if we ourselves don't use them. I do not sense any terminal decline and any suggestion of that can damage the place - which like most other places is struggling a bit in the current economic climate. We have absolutely never considered not visiting the place at least once a year regardless of what other holiday options may materialise.
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We will go along with those thoughts, John.
We have seen many Greek resorts change over the very many years we have been visiting there.
When they changed too much for our taste, then we moved on.
But Plakias has not reach that stage for us.
And not by quite some way !!
Crete is still our island of choice and Plakias our resort of choice.
Yes, the mix of nationalities has altered and moved more towards the eastern European countries.
A good thing or not ?
We all have our own opinions on that (but not control of it)
Are we alone in thinking that it is good to be in a resort where the majority of voices which you hear are NOT British ?
And the town will come to terms with those changes of nationality and move on.
A few "cosmetic" changes have been made of late and not all of them are for the better but the spirit of the place remains alive and kicking.
We shall be back again in early June with George at Creta Mare and look forward to renewing old friendships.
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It has taken me a few days to think about what my reply might be to this thread. Everything changes....especially when there are national issues to be dealt with on top of local pressures. I can only compare my 25 year love of Plakias with a lifetime love of places like Polperro and Mevagissey in Cornwall and my home town of Littlehampton which are also popular tourist 'villages'....they too have grown and changed, declined and grown again. Everything goes in circles. Throughout it is the people that matter - those who live there, those who visit and those who love the village.
I work in a sector that takes the threats of changing climates very seriously. It has a knock on impact on all sorts of things but the solution is to change and adapt. For the first time this topic came up in conversation in Plakias this year as some physical changes have also been noticed. Even so, the overall attitude seemed to be 'we'll deal with it...we'll cope'.
Things will change but that isn't going to put off those who choose to return year after year. We were there in Sept and saw a few changes but that has always been the case....some of our favourite tavernas and shops have closed over the years and friends have moved on but we've found others. It would take a very serious change to put us off....so we've already booked for Sept next year.
I cant help thinking that the beautiful landscape around Plakias has taken hundreds of thousands of years to mould, the lifestyle (in some cases) hasn't changed even though the influences of modern living has (but even then it is mostly new technology...I remember the black and white TV in the town square with the aerial that needed twitching when the screen went fuzzy.....now just look at the raft of dishes !).
At the risk of sounding rude, it might be worth taking a look at what you have there.......living in the middle of a cold, wet modern city I can assure you I know where I'd rather be..change or no change !
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We too have been going for around 25 years and agree there have been changes but not too drastic I'm pleased to say. In the early days there were more backpackers and fewer tourists had cars to run around in. Also no brollies on the beaches.
The walk to Souda in these days took some effort - dirt track which led much further up the hill before heading back down again. And scrambling round the rocks at the far end of Damnoni to get out of the wind.
Those were the days but it hasn't changed enough to stop me going back next June.
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We are relative 'newbies', first (accidental) visit in '94 and first lengthy visit in '95.
Plakias does not seem to have changed that much since my first visit, in some ways at least; perhaps the major changes occurred early(ish) on and then changes have been incremental since then? What do people think?
I remember the coastal road as a track, for example. We walk to Souda at least as often a Paligremnos, when staying at Skinos, as a result.
I do miss the little cake / pastry shop on the corner opposite Ostraco. Seems to have closed for good.
Richard
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Because last winter was mild and dry the olive harvest has failed. Normally at this time of year the taverna owners shut up shop and go and collect the harvest along with the waiters they employ. But not this year. No harvest means no employment for the coming winter. No employment means no money. Both ex-pats and locals are suffering. Because of this for the first time ever we are being advised to keep everything under lock and key. There is a simmering anger at the government. On the surface things may seem the same as ever but they are not.
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The olive harvest in Crete has declined by 80% this year, attributed to unrelenting strong winds in the spring, and this has an adverse effect on the whole island, not just Plakias. Given the present political climate in Greece it perhaps isn't surprising that more negative feelings may be brought into the open now the tourists have all gone for the year. All resorts and villages depending on tourism have to adapt and change to some extent, or fail. We love to remember the old days with no air conditioning and no windows in any bathroom, just a bit of wire mesh crudely stuck in place. If these apartments were still the same there isn't a tourist operator that would touch them. I think time moves on relentlessly and it's us who fail to keep up. Plakias was fantastic in October, the people as welcoming as ever, and where else apart from Crete can you walk along the coast and watch an eagle soaring above and have beautiful surrounding countryside? The latter will hopefully never change, and therefore I fail to see any problems for Plakias.
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and where else apart from Crete can you walk along the coast and watch an eagle soaring above and have beautiful surrounding countryside? The latter will hopefully never change, and therefore I fail to see any problems for Plakias.
Sorry happyashellas to burst your rose tinted view of Crete but the beautiful surrounding countryside has changed considerably. The main harvest used to be sultana grapes but Turkey decimated that by flooding the market. Overgrazing by goats has denuded many a hillside. The olive harvest failed which will provide even more encouragement for the locals to cut down the olive trees for firewood because over winter they will need to keep warm and the locals are more likely to kill an eagle for food than to stand and watch it soaring high above.
But the main problem Plakias faces along with the rest of Crete is an increasingly downmarket tourist is here with less money in their pocket and poorer social values.
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I find your overall absolute pessimism to be underwhelming.
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Agreed.
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I can assure you my view is not through rose tinted glasses, more based on experience and reality. If you wish to see more resorts that appear to be in terminal decline then I would suggest a visit to the north of the island where many open prisons are now in operation (all inclusive hotels). These places have a terrible effect for the local tavernas, restaurants, kafenions etc. As much as I hate them, we'll have to get used to them as they are very successful. They undercut the price for a self catering package holiday and supply all food and drink, meaning you don't need to take a penny "spending" money with you.
Many places in Agias Pelagia were feeling the pinch last year and it wasn't unusual to be the only diners in a restaurant. I fail to see how this is rose tinted. As for the present political and socio economic climate in Crete, if you feel my view on this is rose tinted then you completely misunderstand. I could go on about the natural beauty and the welcoming people, but you don't want to appear to acknowledge this, which is a shame, as they are the paramount reasons for returning year after year.
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This is a strange thread, reminds me of the peson who started the 'massage' thread. Is it you again Geoff?
Barny.
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Well, at the weekend we booked flights and an apartment at Skinos, for 11 days in May. We may well return later in the year also, went twice this year for the first time and certainly didn't regret it!
There have been changes over the years, some we like and some we like less, things move on. But, we both still love Plakias, and personally, I can't wait to be back.
Richard.
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Totally agree
We will be returning again next year too.
We can't stay away.
Dave&Les
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Not sure what the OP's agenda is - maybe to get people to go to Galini or Sfakia instead?
I live in Crete much of the year too, and although the problems for residents, especially greeks and business owners, are truly awful, the island remains a wonderful place both to live and to visit for a holiday. In fact tourism numbers increased this year (though not enough people are spending enough in tavernas, gift shops etc, too many all-inclusives being sold!) - many from the east, most of whom are as nice as from anywhere else - there are bad apples everywhere in the world.
Plakias is still one of the nicest resorts on the island, and retains its village feel despite the mushrooming of apartments on the outskirts. Businesses have gone bust, some because the owners were encourage to over borrow - much like everywehre else in Europe.
Anyway, this is a visitors forum, there are plenty of expat forums for having a moan about the economy, politics, etc.
So if you genuinely wish Plakias and its people well, why post something so negative in a forum that is used by people that love it? Do you want to put them off?
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When I visited Plakias in August I thought that there were maybe fewer people than last year (there was no shortage of sunbeds at the far end) but certainly no signs that the resort was in terminal decline as is being alleged here. On the contrary - it seemed to be as bustling as ever, and I can't wait to go back next year.
Noopsy
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I can assure you my view is not through rose tinted glasses, more based on experience and reality. If you wish to see more resorts that appear to be in terminal decline then I would suggest a visit to the north of the island where many open prisons are now in operation (all inclusive hotels). These places have a terrible effect for the local tavernas, restaurants, kafenions etc. As much as I hate them, we'll have to get used to them as they are very successful. They undercut the price for a self catering package holiday and supply all food and drink, meaning you don't need to take a penny "spending" money with you.
Many places in Agias Pelagia were feeling the pinch last year and it wasn't unusual to be the only diners in a restaurant. I fail to see how this is rose tinted. As for the present political and socio economic climate in Crete, if you feel my view on this is rose tinted then you completely misunderstand. I could go on about the natural beauty and the welcoming people, but you don't want to appear to acknowledge this, which is a shame, as they are the paramount reasons for returning year after year.
An interesting thread, which I have hesitated to join since I can see some truth on both sides of the argument.
The world is dynamic and if something is not on the incline it must be on the decline.
Greece has been in rapid decline, so there can be few spots there which are not following in some way. Failure of the olive crop has not been confined to Crete and the loss of such an important export commodity could not come at a worse time for Greece.
We have not been to Plakias for two years for family reasons, but would expect the wider financial recession to have effected it to a noticeable degree.
I am not quite sure where the thread moved from discussing gradual to terminal decline, but as Europe emerges from the recession, I am sure there will be a resurgence in Plakias. It may take some time, but for me the most noteworthy aspect of the Cretan character is resilience and so the locals will still be there to take advantage. As Happyashellas says, the biggest danger to local tourist economies is the all inclusive. It is slowly strangling the life out of Kos tavernas and apartment owners. Let us hope Plakias avoids its clutches.
Still, the thread has actually galvanised us. If the Plakias economy is suffering we need to do our bit to revive it and have just booked flights and accommodation for next year.
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Going down the nick or not, we'll be there in late June early July 2014, absolutely love the place, paradise!! The other half wanted a change from Crete in 2013 so we went to Corfu, big mistake, wont happen again!
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Reporting unpleasant facts can get one disliked. But if you continue to blind yourselves to the truth about what is happening to Plakias then one day you will wake up and find that your beloved Plakias has gone forever. So perhaps rather than getting cross with me you can all give a bit more thought to helping keep Plakias the way you like it. Because that it what I'm trying to do.
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That is exactly what we are doing - by affirming that we are continuing to return to Plakias despite your dire warnings of doom and gloom.
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OK......this thread is getting very depressing and it's not because of the 'threats' to the future of Plakias. Those of us who choose (a very important word in this argument) to return to the village on a regular basis are contributing to its continued appeal. We are not 'blind' to the changes or the current pressures on the local communities. If anything, it is one of the reasons why we choose to support a village that we love. As I said before, things change...it's happening everywhere at the moment but please don't have a go because someone mentions the wildlife or the landscape because it is important to them. I have a professional interest in the sustainability of locations and businesses and, although there are changes and it is hard at the moment, Plakias really isn't displaying the signs of unlimited decline so I don't know what sparked this theme.
I know from talking to friends in the tourism business that return rates are important indicators for both current and future success...Plakias maintains a return rate that is significantly higher than most of the other Cretan 'resorts' so it still has quite a bit going for it.
I am beginning to feel that I should justify my desire to return as it doesn't seem to suit some people...well, like many other I have already booked our 2014 hols (guess where !) and we are still thinking of retiring to the village in a few years time. Can you please either explain why you are so sure that Plakias will no longer exist in a few years time.....or, at least, realise that there are a lot of people out there who would give anything to ensure its success. If something specific is needed then tell us.....otherwise we cant help beyond the bookings for 2014 and beyond.
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Thank you, JUA, for a very constructive intervention.
I have no intention of justifying my desire to return (although I know what you mean regarding the perceived need to justify!), it is a personal thing, certain aspects of which I (and others) choose to share in this forum, and other aspects, perhaps not.
Agree that advice on how to help, rather than pessimistic forecasts, might be the better way forward.
Richard
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Well, I have waited a bit before attempting to write a reply (or an extra comment, to be precise), mainly because I have been going to Plakias only for the last 4 years or so, therefore my perception is limited to a much shorter experience.
A few changes yes, for sure; not all of them good, but some are.
It is true that the little bakery at the corner has closed down, but an excellent one opened up just a few doors down, and the lady is always sitting there ready for a chat and a laugh. By the way, their bread and cakes are great!
The place where I usually stay (Kostas) has refurbished their rooms, which is very good. A few shops on the far end have closed down, but last time I was there they were working to open something else.
I cannot recall seeing any kind of elegant, stylish and quality stuff in Forum market: for me that's the typical seaside kitsch place where we buy something just to regret it as soon as we unpack our suitcases at home; usually those are the funniest memories of the holiday...
So, all in all, whereas a general decline in manners and quality might be a sign of the global times (and I mainly blame the Media for that and a few other things), perhaps holding on to the good bits still available is simply healthier for the spirit.
But I do find democratically essential that this Forum must be open also to less "popular" points of view.
People have been labelled as pessimistic or negative (I am a "fan" of Existentialism and I tend to use those words very carefully) about their personal views and comments about Plakias, but I feel that everyone is entitled to express their opinions, especially if they do in a polite, analytical and critical way, as they did.
People might have a hard moment and the tendency to see everything in a darker light is somehow inevitable. In the same way, if one wins a big Lottery I doubt that his/her eyes might observe the rising amount of dirt with inadequate litter bins around the town.
There are people who observe intensely and others who are focussing only on the best they can.
I find interesting to hear different voices and most of them can add a new aspect to what I think I know.
But in order to have our views challenged and refreshed, it is very important to keep the Forum open to any kind of comment; again, as long as it's made in an appropriate tone.
Incidentally, I am going back next May, and as usual, I will do my little bit to help the locals by going especially in the empty restaurants. It is not a noble act of generosity: I simply have little sympathy for crowded and noisy places, not to mention when crying children are the main background. In my experience the tavernas in Plakias are all pretty good for the price they ask, and being served with all the attention of the single diner is a fantastic pleasure :-)
See you there.