Messages

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Forum and Website discussion / Re: Return to the UK - COVID & AIRPORT

« on: May 16, 2021, 12:17:05 PM »

Thanks for sharing your experience, Jerry and Lin. Perhaps more forumers can post their experiences here as the season progresses, with hints about pre-return flight testing especially.

I have my fingers tightly crossed for our holiday at the end of August. We were lucky enough to get to Plakias twice last year, even if our November holiday ended in lockdown.

Good luck everyone in your travels and best wishes to all the businesses who rely on tourists. Have a good season!

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Plakias / Re: Plakias Far end, what's there now (summer 2020)?

« on: August 15, 2020, 01:17:23 PM »

We waited for everyone to finish the food and drink from the trolley round, then quickly ate our Boots meal deal sandwiches.   Everyone around us took their masks off for the shortest time possible, as I think everyone was thinking the same as you.

The UK form is online. No one asked for it, just whether we had completed it. I assume it gets linked to your passport. I was worried as we couldn't print the form or find it on my phone download, but no problem.
https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/public-health-passenger-locator-form

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Plakias / Re: Plakias Far end, what's there now (summer 2020)?

« on: August 15, 2020, 12:12:15 PM »

Oh and don't forget to fill in the return to UK form no earlier than 48 hours before. We completed them on the Monday morning for a Tuesday 2310 flight.

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Plakias / Re: Plakias Far end, what's there now (summer 2020)?

« on: August 15, 2020, 12:10:25 PM »

I only booked the holiday a week before, so completed the forms a few days before travel. I got the QR codes just after 10pm UK time, midnight Greek time. At that time it was a form each, now I believe you fill in one for each household, but that there has been confusion on the airlines' part about this. Any number of threads on TripAdvisor!
Manchester Airport is probably busier now than when we flew, judging by the planes going over our house now.   Chania departing our Jet2 flight was the only one departing so we had the terminal to ourselves. The flight out was full, returning we had some empty seats around us. Jet2 handled it well. No queueing for toilets allowed, masks enforced, but allowed to take them off for food and drink of course. We took several cloth masks with us and changed them when we felt a bit uncomfortable. I actually found my chest felt a lot better for having worn a mask on the flight. The taxi back to Chania was on a very hot day and we had had a good meal, so our breath was hot! We checked in then went outside and took off our masks for a bit and put on a new one.
Take wipes and hand sanitiser and go for it! I was worried about the journey before we went, but it was fine.

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Plakias / Re: Plakias Far end, what's there now (summer 2020)?

« on: August 13, 2020, 09:13:47 AM »

Hi Andrew,

There are sunbeds at the Far End, fewer than previously and distanced from each other.  When we were there they seldom became more than half full anyway, but hopefully for Plakias things will get busier.  6 Euros for two beds and an umbrella, 4 Euros for one.  There were very few UK visitors in Plakias when we were there at the end of July.

The sea edge is sandy again and better than last year, and the sea is shallow for much further than usual.

I hope you get your bargain! We travelled independently, Manchester to Chania.

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Plakias / Re: Still hoping to make it this year!

« on: August 03, 2020, 01:45:02 PM »

We have had a marvellously relaxing week in Plakias, and received a very warm welcome everywhere. The break (booked at last minute) has done us no end of good and boosted our physical and mental wellbeing. We are just sorry it wasn't a fortnight, and don't really want to return to lockdown Manchester tomorrow. There are very few British holidaymakers at the moment, and most of the voices you hear around are Greek, but there are just enough people around to give the place atmosphere.

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Plakias / Re: October ?

« on: May 24, 2020, 12:44:15 AM »

Hi Daza and JB, Our ouzo supply is dwindling too. Thanks for the information about Greek week. I hope the world has recovered enough soon for us all  to safely travel and not infect each other, but in the meantime we must find our Greek experience where we can. Next year we will presumably be limited to Duty Free levels. But don't get me started on Brexit!

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Holiday Companies / Re: Olympic and Kostas Chrysoulla 2020

« on: September 25, 2019, 12:41:48 PM »

I think KC has offered a half board basis as an option for a while, using Gorgona for the evening meal. Olympic hasn't offered this.  I think this is more likely than AI.

I went to Plakias independently this year, and we stayed at Manolis. I can recommend them. There are two blocks, the newer one has a lift and offers deluxe rooms. We were in a studio in the older block which appears to have been refurbished recently. Lovely clean rooms, mosquito screen on the balcony and bathroom window, basic but adequate self-catering (we don't cook when there is such a range of tavernas to choose from), small shower-room but a decent sized shower cubicle (with doors). Our balcony was sheltered from the wind, which was a great relief!

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Where to stay / Re: Secret Nest, Plakias

« on: August 28, 2019, 10:05:29 PM »

I found this phone number for Secret Nest on Trivago. I hope it helps.
+30 6972244173

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Plakias / Re: Question re Plakias - Agia Galini ferry

« on: July 29, 2019, 03:48:36 PM »

Excellent - thank you so much for the info.   Would save driving and allow for a small sherry !   We usually spend a couple of days there but I think this would be a nice way to do the trip.  Replies much appreciated - ta !

Fiona,  Looking at the timetable, the schedule doesn't allow a day trip to Agia Galini. It sets off from Agia Galini for Plakias at 8.00am and sets off back again at 1830.  But maybe you have an overnight stay planned.

We are hoping to get a day trip to Gavdos when we are in Plakias at the end of August, now there is this very welcome service.

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Plakias / Re: Update

« on: March 18, 2019, 09:06:36 PM »

Thanks for the update.  It is good to know that repairs are coming along, but it is such a shame that the damage happened in the first place.  Looking forward to our next visit in the summer.

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Plakias / Re: Car hire

« on: February 18, 2019, 10:20:58 PM »

We've used Monza a couple of times recently and have been very satisfied - good cars and very laid back attitude.

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Plakias / Re: Re Lance Chilton - HELP NEEDED

« on: January 09, 2019, 02:06:17 PM »

That's brilliant. I am so glad someone could help.

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Plakias / Re: Re Lance Chilton - HELP NEEDED

« on: January 05, 2019, 02:30:49 PM »

I hope someone here will be able to help him, but have you suggested to Rutger that he put the question on the English language TripAdvisor Samos Forum?  He doesn't appear to have asked there, and there may be a better chance of an answer. He may have to word it in such as way that doesn't give away that he is doing research, to stay within TripAdvisor guidelines.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowForum-g189480-i1351-Samos_Northeast_Aegean_Islands.html

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Holiday Companies / Re: Olympic 2019

« on: November 29, 2018, 03:20:52 PM »

I have been a loyal Olympic customer, ever since Kosmar/Excel sadly went bust.  Flying from Manchester, we've been lucky enough to continue to get transfers when they have been dropped for other airports. However, for 2019 there are no transfers to Plakias from Manchester.  This made me look again at costing up independent travel (which had always been more expensive in the past when you factored in travelling to and from the airport).

So in August, for a bit less than the price for 14 nights with Olympic (including taxis booked locally, not the ridiculous price offered by Olympic), I have booked independently a 17 night holiday flying Jet2 to Chania, two nights in Chania, bus to Sougia for 4 nights and 11 in Plakias (at Manolis), taking the ferry from Sougia to Chora Sfakion and a taxi to Plakias, and taxi from Plakias to the airport at the end. Before you tell me buses are fine and cheaper, I'm disabled and would prefer to make life a bit easier for myself in my advancing years.

If Olympic unravels its package much more, then people will explore other options.  Part of me wants to continue to support them, as Olympic has the small-scale accommodation that others don't, not to mention the lively Les and the lovely Elspeth as recent and current reps.