San Stefanos Online ~ North West Corfu
Welcome to San Stefanos (NW Corfu) => Out and About => Topic started by: Jacksi on May 14, 2013, 03:56:32 PM
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Hi - we never got to do any trips last time we were in San Stefanos but would like to do some this time and see a little more of Corfu, and the surrounding area. I see that San Stefanos Travel offer trips and the prices from last year look to be so much better than those offered by Thomsons.
Are these trips as good as the ones that Thomson offer?
Does any one know when they will be putting the prices on the web for this year and do you think they will alter much from last year?
Which are the best trips to do that you all recommend? Any advice would be greatly received. I would like to go to Paleocastritsa (spelling!!) but dont know whether it would be best to do this by boat or coach. Also I have been recommended to go to Kassiopi for a day or so.
Thanks for your answers
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Paleo by boat instead of coach every time! The views are great. We always book trips with SS Travel - they are virtually identical to any through the Reps and they are always lower priced.
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Agree Paleo by boat is a great trip. The San Stef Travel trips to Ericousa or Othoni also v. good. Ericousa is really beautiful with an easy walk, Othoni also v. nice. For something different, Albania is worth a trip and would really recommend the Parga and Paxos trip. both these are a long day but worth it.
Of the coach tours, have only done the SS travel Corfu Town shopper. It's a little more expensive than the local bus but you don't have the slightly chaotic wait at the bus station for the return.
SS travel are cheaper than Thomsons and the girls will look after you. Enjoy.
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Also booked through Noula did Paleo by boat and Corfu by night both very enjoyable.
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If you do the island tour (by coach) it also stops at Paleo as well as the Achillion Palace and the monastery. Kassiopi is also an option by coach.
Better value than going through Thomsons as well and are all insured.
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Perhaps a PM to Cerys at SS travel they have also posted this weeks trips on their Facebook page.......
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Thanks for your help. Paleo by boat then and to think about which others to do!!
Gettin excited now - booked the seats on the plane today!!
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Agree with the above and the trips are safe fully insured and cheaper than Thomsons - thomsons only offer the "Theos Boat" trip otherwise itīs San Stef Travel all the way for us...
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I did Paxos and Antipaxos, Grand Island Tour and Corfu Town evening coach trip. All with San Stef Travel. All were really good and well worth the money - and cheaper than Thomsons! The Grand Island Tour was a long day but still very good :)
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Take the local bus service to Corfu Town and appreciate the real Greek feel,thus avoiding over commercial stops and at the same time mixing with the genuinely friendly locals.You will have a seriously nice day.
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We did the Albania trip a couple of years ago.
The ruins at Butrint were fascinating, but we felt a little uncomfortable
during the free time in Saranda, lots of young males just hanging around aimlessly. So we were glad we'd paid the extra to visit the heritage site.
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The boat trip to Corfu Town is one we will do again. It's only about half an hour to the harbour near Acharavi on the coach, then a nice cruise down the east coast and a few hours to explore the town.
The boat stops on the way back for a (much needed) swim.
Check the trips on San Stefanos Travel, buy from any one of the three goddesses, and enjoy!
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We had the same thing in Albania with lots of beggars giving us grief. Jimbo is right about the swim on the way back from Corfu Town - it was much needed when we did the trip last year!!
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It's all very well getting the local bus into Corfu Town because in San Stefanos you are the first ones on,but getting back is another thing
when there are about 200 people trying to get on to a single decker coach (only English people queue) we ended up getting a taxi back
rather than risk being trampled in the rush. Believe me you are far better booking with San Stefanos travel,costs 10 or 12 euros which
works out cheaper in the end.
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I went on the trip to Albania two years ago and didn't have any problems with beggars.There were a few young boys selling cheap bracelets
at Butrint but the weren't a nuisance and didn't persist when politely told "no thank you". The drive from Saranda to Butrint was interesting
and a real eye opener,I don't want to say too much or spoil the surprise for people who may be planning to go.
I would advise you to take a few sandwiches and bottles of water,the "ample buffet" which was promised was neither ample or very nice.
Having said all that it was an interesting day and I'm glad I made the trip.
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Oh, I'm glad to hear someone else didn't enjoy the buffet lunch!
We couldn't eat a thing from it, but everyone else at the restaurant with us was filling their plates with relish.
The other diners were mostly German, though.
The discomfort we felt was in Saranda in the last hour or so before the return boat. We had taken our Kindles to read, but were not happy bringing them out in public, we really did feel intimidated.
We found a pub instead, so smiles all round.
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The queue for the one ladies loo wasn't much fun either was it Iris?
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Thank you all for these ideas they are brilliant.
Some people tell us that Corfu Town is a dump so we didnt fancy going but others are now telling us that its really nice, especially the old town area. We did like Rhodes old town and are now wondering if Corfu old town matches up to this.
We will definitely be doing Palo on the boat and have to decide on which others to do!!
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Two forts, Venetian buildings, excellent museums.
Anybody who says Kerkira is a dump is either blind, stupid, ignorant or all three!
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Who the hell told you it was a dump?!
Idiots
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Certainly not a dump - its a UNESCO site and has the only Asian Art Museum throughout Greece, then you have the wonderful gardens, bandstands, 2 fortresses, beautiful Venetian buildings, the Liston area, St Spyridon's Church etc etc definitely worth a visit. Parking can be a nightmare so take the coach trip...... 8)
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Thanks for clearing all this up - we will definitely take a visit there then, my husband loves historical buildings, etc.
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As I said earlier, the boat trip is nice because you go right down the east coast under the shadow of Mount Pantokrator, dock in the Old Harbour, which is right next to the forts, and it's a 2 minute walk into the old town. Much nicer than the bus ride. You get three hours in the town. After the idleness of Ag Stef it seems very busy.
http://www.san-stefano.gr/trips_boat.php (http://www.san-stefano.gr/trips_boat.php)
Oh - and by the way - we might get a Greek night at Pave. Steve tells me that there is a bouzouki player in Hull!
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or as Jimbo says the boat trip ........
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Oh Jimbo let us know when/if this is going to happen at Pave!!!! Sounds brilliant - just hope we are not away when its on!!!
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Fret not, Jacksi - you shall be the first to know!
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Will that be with Jimbo Tours ??
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Always the best. Very expensive for out-of-towners, though.
Up the Tigers.
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Well I'm not from Tiger country - but I do like them....
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Has anyone done the Paxos/Parga trip? If so could you tell me approx how long do you get on Parga itself?Had a lovely holiday there this year and met some great people who owned and worked in the town and would love to call in and say hello to them if we did the trip when we "return home"! to San Stefanos next August.
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We have never done it, but somewhere around this forum are write-ups which I read.
Basically seems to be very good - but a very long day.
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Just returned from a great holiday in San Stefanos. We booked two trips with Thomson one to Paleokastritsa, Bellavista and Makrades the other to Kassiopi by boat. Both were described as half day although we were picked up at 9.00 am and back at our studios (Rose Garden) at 5.00pm.
Whilst both trips were enjoyable we were rushed in Makrades to have lunch. We would rather have cut short the 1 and half hour stop in Paleo and the 20 minute stop at Bellavista to enable longer than the 40 minute stop at Makrades. The trip was on a coach far too big for the roads (and only half full) also no tour guide on the coach.
The boat trip was very good taking about 1 hour 20 minutes from Sidari to Kassiopi, a visit well worth making. However, we were not told that there would be an hour stop at Kalimaki beach on the way back which was pretty much a waste of time.
John
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We ended up going on 2 trips - both with San Stefanos travel (we had a ride in Micky!!).
Both were very good but the Cofu town one by day was a mistake really and we should have listed to you all on here and either gone at night or by boat!! We had too long in Corfu town and it was so hot!! We also ended up arguing as to where we were due to be picked up again - other half insisted it was near the square with one "castle" but I knew better and that it was near the one with the fountain!!! Good thing I had taken a photo of it enablng me to ask locals where we needed to be!!! And we got stung into paying over 18 Euros for some baklava - it was gorgous though!!!
We also went to Paleocastrisa by boat. It was a wonderful trip (so hot that day even the flag on the front of the boat didnt move!!). We climbed up to the monestry which had some wonderful views and then found a bar (on the flat) with fans that sprayed water out!! So refreshing! We loved it as it was so pretty but I wouldnt want to stay there I dont think as it was so busy and the beaches were croweded and not very nice sand either. But we have seen it, know we dont want to stay there, and had a very pleasant trip.
Now which ones to do next year?
Jim - The Tigers did brilliantly yesterday were you there too? And is this Greek night going to happen do you think?
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Paleo's pretty from above but in my (almost certainly wrong) opinion, a bit naff at sea level.
Will work on Greek night!!! Change of management at Pave.
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I would generally agree with Jim, the road above is stunning - view-wise...
But then I enjoy a boat trip as well, gives you a chance to see the coastline,
but Paleo is quite commercialised and not a place I like to spend too much time in.
The Monastery was worth a visit....