Albatross Apartments

[Mohun]

Hi, we (self, wife & 3 year old) are hoping to visit Plakias next summer in June or late August. Searching the web the Albatross Apartments seem to provide the type of small, quiet accommodation we like. Has anyone stayed there who can provide an unbiased opinion?

How close are the apartments to the village? Will there be much (any) noise pollution?

Cheers,

Mohun.

[compage]

We stayed there in September '99 for ten days having arrived on spec.  We had the ground floor two-bedroom apartment facing West and looking out into a small patch of open ground and a small olive grove.  Absolutely perfect for a family with youngsters.  My records say it was apartment 9 but I can't be certain of that.  It didn't have air conditioning then but probably has by now along with most other places.

You can see Albatross on this picture.  It's the place standing on its own just right and down from the centre of the picture which appears to have no road leading to it.  In fact, it is at the end of an unsurfaced track.  It's painted white with darker coloured balconies.

If you can hear anything at Albatross apart from cicadas I'd be very surprised.  We didn't.  It is about 1 kilometre from the centre of Plakias.  5 to 10 minutes gentle walk with the first bit up and then down hill unless you can find a short-cut through to the main road.  You could also cut across the field to the road that runs along the back of the beach.  There is plenty of parking space.

The only problem we had was in communicating with the owners as they had little or no English but that may have changed too.

You'll find other pictures of Plakias here.

[DOTTY]

Hi John, just been looking at your photo's (very good) and wondered if you could tell me what to expect of Agia Galini as we are attending our daughters wedding there in May. Being a fellow Plakias lover what will I find in comparison?.
Dotty

[Susan K]

Hi

We stayed there every year until 2003. In 2002 whilst in Plakias we once again reserved our studio at the Albatross for 2003 and paid our deposit. "Two weeks before we were due to arrive we discovered that the whole of the apartments had been contracted out to two tour operators, one was German and the other Czech. We were left trying to find alternative accommodation at short notice. The owner of Albatross was very happy to take a third deposit but forgot to hand it back even though she knew what was happening.

Although it is advertised on the web as far as I am aware it is the same two tour ops and it is always booked solid.

Susan

[compage]

Hi Dotty.  Thanks for your comments about the pictures.  I married Valerie in Agia Gallini in June 1997.  Although we already knew and liked Plakias we were unable to organise the wedding there so settled for a package that included an organised wedding at Agia Gallini.  If you search the forums for my earlier posts about the wedding you might find them of interest.

The wedding went well and was everything we wanted it to be.  I could send you one or two pictures if you wish.
However, we did not like Agia Gallini much and our accommodation was poor.  Agia Gallini is somewhat smaller than Plakias and sits in a narrow valley that runs down to the harbour.  The town has a crowded feel and is packed with shops, tavernas and bars.  The town beaches are small, narrow and don't have the facilities that 'far enders' such as us like.  There may be better beaches nearby but we didn't find them.  Perhaps Agios Georgios just to the West.

Our accommodation overlooked the main road so was a bit noisy.  Although not too small it was poorly maintained.  It was by the first sharp bend as you go up the road to leave the town.

Agia Gallini is somewhat better than Plakias if you want to visit Festos, Agia Triada, Gortys, Matala or the Amari valley as it is much nearer to them all.

We were there for 3 or 4 days before the wedding but, on the day after, we got our tour rep to find us a room in Plakias and immediately legged it!

[Mohun]

John,

Many thanks for the info. The photographs make interesting viewing too. Albatross sounds just the sort of place we like.

Susan K's posting sounds a cautionary note though. I'm a bit dubious about dealing over the phone with someone who's English isn't up to snuff, and who could use this to their sdvantage!

[Mohun]

Susan,

Many thanks for the information. I am in a bit of a tiz now, as the location/accommodation seems to be just what I am after, but it appears that the management may leave a bit to be desired.

Can you recommend any other accommodation of a similar standard/solitude?

Ta!

Mohun

[Susan K]

Hi Mohun

Have you checked that they are actually available? They have taken no direct bookings for the last two years. If they are you won't find a better place to stay. I can also recommend the Artemis Studio's where we stayed last year. Again the view is very good and they are very quiet. The downside is you need a car if you have children as it is up hill and a good 15-20 minute walk into town. Any questions let me know.

Susan

[Mike G]

Re. Aghia Galini. I have never been there but have always remembered the comment in my ancient (late 1980s) Let's Go, Greece which said.

"Once a peaceful fishing village, Aghia Galini is now a casualty of the tourist trade and about as Greek as Frankfurt."

Well, I have been to Frankfurt and it isn't very Greek!

Mike

[Mike G]

Hello Mohun,

Have you checked out the Olympic and Kosmar brochures? They are the two "middle of the road" tour operators in Plakias for 2005. There is plenty on this forum about going independently if you use the excellent search facility.

Mike

[Mohun]

Susan,

I haven't contacted them yet. I was sounding out here first.

I'll give them a go later and report back.

Many thanks for the help so far, What a friendly bunch you all are on this 'board!

 

[Mohun]

Mike,

I don't usually use the tour operators, so was sounding out this 'board re: the Albatross whom I contacted last year. Guess what... No Vacancies!

I was going to try again this year, discovered this site & sought advice prior to retrying the Albatross for 2005.

It seems that they are very popular, probably for a reason, so I'm off to send them an e-mail later on.

Thanks for the help.

Mohun.

[george g...]

Re. Aghia Galini. I have never been there but have always remembered the comment in my ancient (late 1980s) Let's Go, Greece which said.

"Once a peaceful fishing village, Aghia Galini is now a casualty of the tourist trade and about as Greek as Frankfurt."

Well, I have been to Frankfurt and it isn't very Greek!

Mike
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=2727\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I totally agree with Mike G, I've been to Gallini a few times and it is very busy during the day and it must buzz at night. The place is full of bars, restaurants and souvanier shops and beware if your not too fit it is extreemly hilly with cobble stone roads. This could be a resort anywhere in Europe ie Spain.
george g...

[DOTTY]

Re. Aghia Galini. I have never been there but have always remembered the comment in my ancient (late 1980s) Let's Go, Greece which said.

"Once a peaceful fishing village, Aghia Galini is now a casualty of the tourist trade and about as Greek as Frankfurt."

Well, I have been to Frankfurt and it isn't very Greek!

Mike
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=2727\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I totally agree with Mike G, I've been to Gallini a few times and it is very busy during the day and it must buzz at night. The place is full of bars, restaurants and souvanier shops and beware if your not too fit it is extreemly hilly with cobble stone roads. This could be a resort anywhere in Europe ie Spain.
george g...
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=2731\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

OK I asked and I got.   Just didn't belive it could be so much.   :'( Please no more horrors The wedding is booked so we have to go. Thanks to everyone who answered (I think?).  

Dotty

[John R]

Dotty - we visit Gallini every year at least once and it is perfectly ok and pleasant for a relatively short while. Simply not up to Plakias standards. We much prefer it to say Matala and if you have reason to be there (a wedding say) you will find it perfectly enjoyable and a reasonably nice place to be. Hope your daughter's marriage is well and truly cemented at that place.

John R and Gillian