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Post by kevb on Nov 24, 2015 16:56:54 GMT
No Skiathos reports from me next year, there was a deal going in western Crete for 2016 that I couldn't pass up. So I'll be giving the little island a break next year with a view to possibly going back in 2017. I'll try to look in on the forum from time to time next summer though and see how you're all getting along on your adventures.
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Post by kelso on Nov 24, 2015 18:28:52 GMT
Tell the truth now Kev. You're taking a break until the Xenia is restored when you will return and stay with the other toffs!  I hear that Dennis and Vera have made an advance booking in anticipation of their lottery win! Bob |
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Post by amy114 on Nov 24, 2015 19:22:59 GMT
I thought that was you on the trip advisor thread Kev. There seems to be a few people that are giving the island a break next year. Mind you, looking at the cost of direct flights even at the beginning of the season they are pretty expensive in comparison to this year. Where in Cretehave you booked?
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Post by dennisn on Nov 25, 2015 7:36:01 GMT
A "Must do" for Crete is the Samaria Gorge walk.
Youi'll find the general landscape different from Skiathos.
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Post by kevb on Nov 25, 2015 10:08:04 GMT
I went to the more central area near Hersonnisos in 2010 and thought then I'd like to have a look further west. With the car I hired I got as far as Rethymnon westward but that was about the limit for a sensible day out. You couldn't fly direct to Chania from East Mids until recently but now Ryanair are doing it. I'm staying in the seafront part of Stalos so about 20min by bus from Chania itself. I've got 7 nights B&B in a small family run hotel, flights, luggage and all airport transfers for about £450 which I thought was a good deal. Just nice to have a change now and again. If I get a car I can then have some trips further West or even south (Samaria Gorge might be possible at a push Dennis). Kelso, I doubt the Xenia will ever be in my budget, I went to the beach bar at Ambelakia in 2012 and they were charging 4 euros for a very ordinary frappe then!
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Post by amy114 on Nov 25, 2015 20:17:10 GMT
Sounds like an excellent deal. I had thought about going back to Crete this year - 10 days in either Koutouloufari or Piskopiano in October or one week back in Skiathos in September. Afraid that Skiathos won this year. Not sure yet where I am going in 2016, whether it is back to Skiathos with a side trip to alonnisos or to a different Greek island. I think it will come down to cost!
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Post by kevb on Nov 26, 2015 12:05:00 GMT
Funny you should mention Koutouloufari, I was staying about 20min walk away from there when I did my last Crete trip in 2010.
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Post by cariad23 on Nov 27, 2015 15:17:26 GMT
my first ever visit to Greece was koutouloufari, was a lovely village, I remember sitting on the roof terrace of a tavern looking out to sea and all the lights along the coast. lovely family run appartments.
I remember doing a boat trip to spinalonga, leaning back on the boat listening to bazukki music thinking this is heaven. Never been anywhere but greek islands since.
Also booked elsewhere next year stoupa after five years in skiathos, but will be back if not in September the year after.Unless 6 numbers tomorrow!
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Post by dennisn on Nov 27, 2015 17:06:49 GMT
(Samaria Gorge might be possible at a push Dennis) I did it on one of the holiday rep's trips. Full day pretty much. The coach dropped us at the top, we walked down to the sea, then boat out and back to somewhere to get back on the coach. It's a very long time ago, so that's all the details I can remember. |
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Post by amy114 on Nov 27, 2015 20:49:25 GMT
I discovered Piskopiano on my last (third) holiday to Crete. We were staying in Hersonnisos and a couple of days into the holiday we climbed the hill to Pisko. The difference in the resorts! A little taste of "old" Greece (pisko) compared to modern Greece (Hersonnisos). My preference was definitely the former, as I found Hersonnisos a little soulless! A bit like Blackpool in the sun. However,it did have a couple of things going for it. We had arrived very late at night, dropped off on the main road and told to walk down to the bottom of a side street until we came to our apartment block. It wasn't until the next morning we got a good look from the balcony to find we were literally a couple of feet from he sea! There was also a wonderful little bakery on the main road that served the most divine cakes & had a couple of tables outside to sit and eat cake and drink coffee and watch the world go by.
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Post by dennisn on Nov 27, 2015 22:52:56 GMT
I found Hersonnisos a little soulless! A bit like Blackpool in the sun. Oh Amy, you should try Blackpool in the rain, completely different and very appealing.  |
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Post by amy114 on Nov 28, 2015 12:08:53 GMT
I think I will pass on that Dennis, certainly not my cup of tea, rain or shine! :-)
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Post by dennisn on Nov 28, 2015 18:07:23 GMT
You'd LOVE it. You could even have a ride in a princess carriage - horse drawn roundish thingies with over the top hoops and glass (plastic, I suppose) and wrought iron filigrees (plastic too, I expect) and they have at least one pink one. You could wear a party frock and be handed in and out, magic! I was up there three weeks ago and kicked myself afterwards for not taking a picture of one.
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Post by amy114 on Nov 28, 2015 20:44:29 GMT
What are you trying to say Dennis?  ? |
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Post by dennisn on Dec 3, 2015 8:01:06 GMT
Well, if I remember rightly, Blackpool was my first ever day trip. We went by train from our local station (which was done away with a zillion years ago) and we loved the place (although I suppose it would have been more enjoyable if we'd had any cash to spend in the arcades and on the rides).
I was trying to suggest you might find it a pleasant, or at lkeast different experience, even to the extent of riding in one of the naff carriages, which are decorated one up on those in Corfu town. I'll readily admit Skiathos without horse and carriage rides is preferable by a large degree!
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