Reviews are subjective so this is where we're coming from -
US : 40 -ish couple, into footie, reading, local food & drink, easy walks, peace & quiet and more reading.
Dislikes - kids, the knotted hanky / fish & chip brigade (That whole Avios Chavios crowd !)
KAPETANIOS : Great location, super pool, compact bar reception with deposit boxes, surprisingly good
little restaurant. (Yes it's on the road and up a hill, but to be fair, the traffic's hardly noticeable and you don't get such great views with out a bit of altitiude). Staff - polite, attentive and friendly. Rooms - same basic set up you'll see on many Greek islands, but great balcony views a bonus. Lower block / numbers -
#11 - #17 will experience regular "Cock a Doodle Dooing"
(My question to the rep at the day 2 welcome meeting - "Jo, can we eat the chicken ?" puzzled looks
all round "I mean the one that bloody woke us up this morning !")
Wear ear plugs and drink Metaxa like we did, and it'll be the chickens complaining about the snoring !
Pay for late check out, it's worth it. Out of you room at Midday, only to be picked up more than 12 hours later, you'll regret it. Some on the 6.00 am flight looked like they'd been released from Guantanamo Bay !
RESORT : Suited us - quieter than Sidari, no cash points, more authentic tavernas than not. Second hand books everywhere. A couple of bars to watch the footie in, and cheap Amstel on draught. Nuff said.
Many we saw, stuck with the same restaurant night after night. We went for variety so standards did vary, but I think saying A is much better than B is misleading and very subjective. We had neither a bad or expensive meal the whole week.
THOMAS COOK : The two reps - Jo & Laura we're effiecient, and Jo seemed to be there more often than not. (We've a soft spot for her as she also supports the Boro). Transfers can run to 90 mins each way ! (You want remote - you got it !) Despite Greece being one of the oldest civilisations in the world, the whole baggage reclaim and check-in operation could be better run by a Channel 5 weather girl ! The Greek night which they want to sell you, is 3 & half hours of great food, wine & entertainment. Shame that it was overshadowed by the 4 hours we spent on the coach getting to & fro, and not the "50 minutes either way" we were promised. (My advice - book as late as possible so you can see if they're picking any one up from Kassiopi. This diversion for just two punters added over an hour to each leg !)
MELDREW MOMENT : I'm from the "Pontious Pilot" school of childcare and didn't expect to share my holiday with kids in mid May.WRONG DIDDLY WRONG WRONG ! Mr & Ms.Oblivious + a trio of squealers descended on the pool area, shattering the tranquility. The topic among the quieter couples turned to the removal of kids from school during term time, while I checked the Greek Yellow Pages for Pirhana Fish Deliveries.(...... and I never get asked to baby sit either !) On the subject of infants, once again, in order to avoid brats, we often travel at anti-social hours, but this time still encountered crying infants on both flights. As usual these little bundles of joy are cunning placed a midships in order to spread their teary gospel to the maximum number of sleeping passengers ! If I made THAT noise, for
THAT long, I'd expect to be restrained, prosecuted or at the very least zapped with a Tazer ! and I paid full price for my seat ! C'mon you Tour Operators ! There's a significant crowd out there who'd pay more for childless accomodation and travel !
(Sorry about that... I'm going to go and lie down in a darkened room and take my medication now !)
- UK