Long absence

[Mike from Sussex]

Hi Ploppy. I?m back on the forum after several years. Pot and kettle I know, but I?m amazed at how few of the old regulars are still posting.
I suppose I should explain my absence. We were intending to visit in 2019, but our daughter, who has an auto immune condition, experienced a downturn, needing crutches to walk, and we stayed home to support her. When lockdown was announced we realised she could not stay in her first floor flat when we would not be able to visit, so took her back into our home. She continued to deteriorate, so could not return to her flat and we were her carers for the last five years. ESCC finally (!) found her a flat designed for the disabled with carer support earlier this year.
Plakias is now calling, but I am concerned after catching up with the forum. Our favourite place to stay demolished, many of our eateries closed and kokkinos vrachos? comments on prices and portions are concerning. Change is inevitable, but have we been away so long that we would not recognise today?s Plakias?

Mike

[Barny]

Hi Mike
It's certainly changed.
For the best? in my opinion. No.

    Barny.

[ian s]

Here at the moment for our 35th year I think.  Yes there have been many changes and new accommodation sprouting up in many places.  It may no longer have its end of the road feel and hardly a backpacker or hippie in sight but for us it still has its magic and we can reminisce about the old days.

As with nearly everywhere prices have gone up but it is still possible to dine out for reasonable price.

So worth revisiting to see for yourself I'd say.  The mountains and sea remain the same.

[Mike from Sussex]

Barny, Ian, thanks for the replies. Is Olympic the best option now? Whether I can get there depends on the cost of respite care for my wife, who is now disabled. But here's hoping.

Is the far end still as I remember?

Mike

[ian s]

we go independent so not sure about Olympic.  Far end still the same.

depending on when you come you may find the village very busy.  also the number of cars compared to the old days is staggering.

the clientele too have changed.

but we still keep returning.

[kokkinos vrachos]

It may no longer have its end of the road feel and hardly a backpacker or hippie in sight but for us it still has its magic and we can reminisce about the old days.

Kalimera, although the youth hostel is still full of long-standing regulars/freaks. But they are also getting older...

kalo savvatokyriako - καλo σαββατοκuριακο, kv

[kokkinos vrachos]

the clientele too have changed.

Kalimera, I would be interested to hear your observations/experiences...

kalo savvatokyriako - καλo σαββατοκuριακο, kv

[ian s]

i just feel it has become busy and lost a bit if its laid back feel e.g. people reserving tables in restaurants was never a thing before.  we now tend to eat late afternoon or in the mountain restaurants to avoid the crowds.  anyhow we still love Plakias and have many friends here. The surrounding landscape remains as spectacular as ever.  in process of booking for next year!

[kokkinos vrachos]

Kalimera, yes, in October/early November 2023, I also found Plakias extremely crowded, in the taverns and on the beaches. There was significantly more going on than in previous years.

In October/early November 2024, things have returned to normal. The beaches are significantly less busy than last year. The beaches are also not as crowded with sun loungers/umbrellas as last year ? possibly due to the new beach regulations.

This year, from mid-March to mid-April, significantly more taverns, bars, and cafes were open than usual at this time of year, and the town was also busier. But everything was still totally relaxed.

My observations over the past few years:

- In recent years, Plakias has developed from a summer resort that was virtually closed in winter to a proper coastal town with a school, etc. There are 7 supermarkets, a bakery, a butcher, a fish shop, a pharmacy, and a hairdresser.
The Plakias region has been very popular with Northern Europeans and residents for many years ? many own homes here. Many families from Albania have also settled in Plakias and the surrounding area in recent years.

- the massive construction boom around Plakias. Villas are springing up everywhere, often with pools. In Plakias, you can find new buildings with a sales price of 5,000 euros/m?, and in Asomatos, 4,000 euros/m?.

- This April, I noticed the extreme price increase in Plakias.

The biggest price increase I noticed in Plakias was in the cafes, bars, tavernas, and supermarkets. Some of the prices are simply outrageous. I'd say in every taverna in Plakias, you pay ?2 to ?3 more per dish than last season. The prices for salads and appetizers have also risen dramatically. In many tavernas, you no longer receive water as a welcome. Olive oil is now completely absent from the tables. Often, people charge ?2 to ?5 for the bread, dip, and olives provided. A bottle of beer in the tavernas is also very expensive. I always shared a bottle of beer with my girlfriend. For these reasons, I hardly ever go to a taverna in Plakias anymore.

In Paleochora, for example, the prices in the supermarkets were significantly cheaper than in Plakais.

kali evdomada, kv