San Stefanos Online ~ North West Corfu
Welcome to San Stefanos (NW Corfu) => San Stefanos news and views => Topic started by: lisak123 on June 03, 2010, 09:29:56 AM
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hi were booked back up to fly out on the 2nd aug for 11 days,we only booked a flight cos we have accomodation,does anybody know of any reasonable transfers,thanks lisa and andy
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Hi isa and Andy
Check out SS Travel here and they can arrange your transfer by taxi. If you do decide to get a taxi from the airport make sure they know which San Stefanos (North West) and also agree the price.
http://www.san-stefano.gr/transfers.php
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Email or phone Noula - contacts as per the site Jules has put on - and ask if you can get a transfer on her Mini Bus!
If others are coming in on the same of close timed flights, she can combine parties and save you a heap of money!!
This is what we did last year for five of us, and we saved the cost of a second taxi and around 15% off the price of one taxi,
by sharing a mini bus - Noula will co-ordinate if available - so ask the question - it's worth it!
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thanks tony and jules,what do yous think about gettin on the thomson coach for 50 pound return,i know its gonna go around the world but its gotta be the cheaper option aint it,thanks for your replies
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We always use ourThomson transfer and more often than not the coach is full of people on the package holidays
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if Noula hasn't got a mini bus at the time you land then the Thomsons deal sounds good.
Ataxi will cost you double that, but it is direct. As you say this Thomsons one will prob go all over Sidari first. It depends how desparate you are to get to San Steph.
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The Thomson ones we have been on no longer go through Sidari - last few years have been direct to SS - I suppose that may depend on numbers as well though.
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Must back Jules on that - last coach transfer we took was direct - just the luck of the draw I suppose!!
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Hi came back from San Stef last week and was on the Thompson transfer coach and we went straight to San Stef, so no detours for us
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thanks everyone for all the comments,gonna try and book thomson first,will they drop me at my apartments or just in the village,at the bottom of the hill ???lol
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They tend to drop at the main Thomson apartment / Hotel drop off places, not sure where you are staying.
I would just ask the Driver - a tip goes a long way!!
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Hi Lisa K - we are also flying out on 2nd Aug from Bristol - we have arranged for minibus transfer direct with apartment owners - not sure yr flight times but we arrive in Corfu approx midday.
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Hi Lisa K - we are also flying out on 2nd Aug from Bristol - we have arranged for minibus transfer direct with apartment owners - not sure yr flight times but we arrive in Corfu approx midday.
Pauline - are you flying Easyjet from BTL? If so, the flight times were changed back in February. The Monday flight doesn't leave BTL until 17:50 - we booked for this Monday coming (7 June) back in late Sept last year and it was a 6 o'clock in morning flight then - no longer though....sadly.
Thought i'd better let u know, so you can re-arrange your minibus transfer.
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I've booked this year with Peli & Maria. Transfers included! Had same at Sunset Studios. Both suit as I dislike bus travel.
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I think it all depends on how flush people are with cash!!
Taxi's are great - bus is cheaper!
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This year's transfer up to the Little Prince was under an hour and down just on the hour. They seem to have changed the way they do things following some problems last year.
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Which way did they come in Gordon? Was it past Romanza or past Ozzy Oils
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Came in past Ozzy Oils, out the same way but one pick up at the Rose Garden, so down to Corfu Town from the end of Sidari
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Last year it was past Romanza and down in to the village from there which is why we arrived quicker than other times.
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It's always going to be pot luck, always worse if you do several resorts!
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It'a always worse when they plan for two different planes passengers for the one transfer. We have had to wait over an hour for these to come through.
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Don - you always seem to be the Jonah!! LOL
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Hi all. We are staying at Sunset apts, does anybody know if transfers are now included in price as when we booked they said transfers extra, I have read on here that they are now included.
Thanks Angela
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I think I read it on their website, the free Transfer.
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Thanks Tony will have a look on website
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Hope it's still the same!!
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Pretty sure that Spiros told us transfers would be included again this year. 2 carafe of wine before moving on but not normally think I have heard imaginary things.
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I can still hear that wine sloshing around your ankles - LOL
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I've just pushed the boat out and booked a taxi transfer on arrival at the airport!! Booked it through Noula, 53 Euros.
Cant handle a 2 hour transfer so thought we'd arrive in style for an early Mythos!!
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It could be that someone else might still book a taxi, if this is the case the cost will be shared. We used to book a taxi with Noula after we had two and half hour coach trip from the airport, I would never go through that again. We now stay in Nikos appartments and get picked up by car at the airport, this is included in the price.
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We've tried it all - taxi can't be beaten -- except by price!!
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We arrived on Friday, The transfer in was via Sidari (only 1 stop). We waited at the harbour in Corfu town for 15 mins as somebody had been left behind at the airport and the rep couldn't work out if she had to return and pick them up or not!
We didn't and the transfer was approx 1hr 30.
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we go on the 12th, i hope our transfer is that quick.
it will be our 1st time there, cant wait.
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Always carry a small water, usually OK - you will love it there!
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My recent transfer from the Romanza to the airport was beyond belief.The coach a very large luxurious affair started out from the Voula and picked up at the Romanza at 0820.It then continued to pick up all over San Stefanos all the time having great difficulty making the corners.The best was the reverse from the Rose Garden and the 10 point turn at the tennis courts.We then went to Arillas and had major problems negotiating through the village and accessing the hotels.The driver constantly stopping and calling someone in a very irate manner.My thought was how is he going to get this bus across country and back to the airport.I soon got my answer he wasn't.We then got to the top of the hill above Arillas and turned left back to San Stefanos.Turned right at Tasty corner and back up the hill passing the Romanza at 0920.So there I was 1hr on the bus and back where we started.We then travelled through Avilotes and Sidari and used the better roads.Thankfully no more pickups.It was obvious to anyone with half a brain not a lot of thought had gone into the schedule.
1 The bus was too large for the narrow roads and bends.
2 If they had to use this bus why didn't they make the first pickups Arillas that would have given me an extra hour to get my full english.
Whoever planned this was an idiot and from the drivers irate phone calls I am sure it wasn't him.
Yammas
Yannis
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Does anyone remember the double decker bus that Thomson had. ::) That was super scary especially coming through the very tight turn at Agros and then through the villages towards Arillas and then onto SS. At this time the roads hadn't been widened so it was a real seat gripper. Needless to say it only lasted about two seasons.
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Sounds like you had an identical experience as us Yiannis, we left The Romanza at 8.15am and were back in San Stefanos again at 9.15am, the driver had forgotten a "pick up" at The Rose Gardens. He was constantly stopping to get directions from fellow Greeks and using his mobile, probably for the same reason.
Over 2 hours travelling to the airport, Thomsons should get a grip on this.
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There's a couple of roadside cottages approaching Avliotes (To SS), a high lorry running in front of our coach, caught the electric supply cable across the road, and pulled it down about 15 years ago, it was sparking and arching all over the road. 2 hour delay.
They must have made it higher for the Double decker to pass under!!
Crazy pick-up routine this year!!
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I hope ours isn't like that as I will be travel sick. Its bad enough as it is on a normal transfer
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The fun of Corfu!!
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Personal taxi is out little luxury - 100 euros return last month to SS and back to airport - we always have a personal taxi on The Algarve as well. Costs, but helps get the holiday off to a great start.
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We left San Stef at 11.15 on 9th July. Travelled to the far outskirts of Arillas where the coach stopped at an hotel to pick up passengers. No passengers!! After a few irate phone calls the driver realised he should have gone to SIDARI!!! So, back to San Stef by 12.15 Then on to Sidari. The driver was constantly on his phone getting directions and driving very irratically. By the time we reached Sidari I was green and didn't know how I would make it to the airport. In Sidari a rep boarded the coach and gave the driver directions to the numerous hotel pick ups. She then left the coach as we left Sidari. We arrived at the airport after a 2hour 30 min nightmare journey!!!!! I have complained to Thomson on numerous occasions about the transfers but to no avail. Last year the rep said the transfers were going to get better!! Definitley not. Despite the cost its a taxi for us in future. :( >:( :'( By Comparison we can fly from England to Corfu in 3 hours!!!!
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So you 've landed. You've survived the baggage hall. You've got your case and found your coach. How long before the coach leaves the airport?
Last year we stayed at Stamatis apartments. We flew out ewith friends who were on a Thomson's package and arrived in SS a good 30 minutes before they left the airport surrounds.
Will never use a coach again.
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My relative has just come back, they arrived at the airport, and had to wait on their bus for the manchester flight to come in before they could go.An hour or so later.Not sure if this is true but heard the drivers are from athens and not from corfu itself and that is why they dont know where they are going.No more buses for me or my relatives.
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I think we need a few more reports on these transfers - just to see if it's a glitch - or going to be very worrying!!
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Transfer back to airport was fine on Friday. One stop in Arrilas and straight there. We arrived two minutes before the check-in opened. Can't complain.
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had a fab time in s.s.
arrived on 12th july. the transfer was 1 hour only, the coach was half full.
departed on 19th july and the transfer was 2 hours to the airport.
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Ours were fine going 1hr 20 coming back 2hr 15 mins not so good, we spoke to someone picked up from Sidari and theirs was 3hrs 10 mins, Another story was the week before we arrived some had a 3hr 30 and went through Sidari 4 times oops
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Pauline - are you flying Easyjet from BTL? If so, the flight times were changed back in February. The Monday flight doesn't leave BTL until 17:50 - we booked for this Monday coming (7 June) back in late Sept last year and it was a 6 o'clock in morning flight then - no longer though....sadly.
Thought i'd better let u know, so you can re-arrange your minibus transfer.
Hi Bristle Boy - no, we are flying out of Bristol at 7am on Thomas Cook flight - gets into Corfu just after midday 2nd August - will be emailing Dmitri (Fedra Mare) flight details later today and ask whether it's a minibus or taxi - last couple of years it's been a minibus - so if there is anyone out there on same flight then let me know - we can always share up to SS
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I reported previously on this site about our nightmare transfer with Thomsons. Took 3 hours from airport to resort. Driver appeared lost and spent a lot of time on phone too! When we eventually reached San Stefanos we got off coach and walked last few hundred yards! Complained to Thomson rep who was actively collecting complaints re transfers, in the hope of improving service. This was on 18th June, so looks like they still have problems. We boarded our coach to the airport at 7.50 and after a magical mystery tour, ended up back about 100 yards from our pick up at 9 am!! Another 3 hour journey back to airport. I would encourage any Thomson travellers to make a complaint to Rep if you have same problems. They are using a different bus company this year, obviously a bad choice for all of us!! Happy hols!! ;)
Karen
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I don't care so much on the way in - but if I suspect problems going to the Airport - I may get a Taxi!
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Transfers were fine on June 25 and July 16. No complaints.
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Our transfer back to the airport was a nightmare, bus picked us up and then PASSED the Romanza AGAIN about 90 mins later, the driver got lost (or redirected) then the coach broke down near Sidari and we had to get a replacement coach which got us to the airport about 8-40, just in time for those passengers on a Manchester flight @ 9-00pm :o
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hi everyone,well we fly out next monday,arriving at 23.10,i opted to try and look for my own transfer to ss,after a long surch i suprisingly found a return transfer for 2 people for 46.01,very cheap and very sceptical about where we are gonna actually end up,ha ha.never mind i will let everyone know how the transfers faired with everyone elses when i get back
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Hi Lisa - that is cheap - who was it with?? Hopefully u won't end up at the other Agios Stefanos on the east side of the island !!! 8) - We are also arriving Monday 2nd but get into SS early afternoon and have arranged transfer direct with Apartment owner
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hi everyone,well we fly out next monday,arriving at 23.10,i opted to try and look for my own transfer to ss,after a long surch i suprisingly found a return transfer for 2 people for 46.01,very cheap and very sceptical about where we are gonna actually end up,ha ha.never mind i will let everyone know how the transfers faired with everyone elses when i get back
Lisa, i'm only being charged 6 euros more by noula at san stef travel for a taxi to the Romanza from the airport.
Great price and great communication from Noula
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hi gavlah and paulene, gav i think you will find that your price is only 1 way ours is to the hotel and back to the airport but like paulene says i hope we dont end up at the other agios stefanos lol and paulene its with holiday taxis.com.am sure wherever we end up it will be an experience 8)
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Yeah, sounds like Gavs is def only one way - be interesting to see where u end up - see u around hopefully xx 8)
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mine is only one way but i'm planning on getting a taxi back to the airport but then doing a runner!
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;D Checked out the website and it looks like it is the right San Stefanos (listed as Agios Stefanos) and if u do a search for taxi to Arillas the transfer time is about the some but only very slightly cheaper - there are 4 of us and the quote is coming out at £146 return which is alot more than we are going to pay. But if there are only 2 of u then not a bad deal at all
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I hope some other holiday makers will continue to post how the transfers by Thomsons are working, as I would hate to be on the SS - Arillas - SS roundabout run!!
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We have booked a transfer with Noula at ss travel, for this Friday. Our transfer is included but we had a such a good experience the last time we came 2 years ago, when the transfer wasn't included, we thought we would pay for a hassle free transfer. The driver was waitnig for us with a sign and we shared the mini bus ride (and cost) with another family. We went straight to the resort which took about 1 hour. We went to see Noula the next day to pay. Having children to consider I can't risk a 2-3 hour journey.
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We transferred via Noula last year, easy as pie!
Don't forget to tell the reps there, or the coach will be waiting for you for another hour!! LOL
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My mate went to Acharavi in June, and the coach got blocked somewhere near Sidari and it ended up with a fist fight between the driver and some locals(?), in total the transfer took over 4 hours!!
Perhaps Thomsons should reinstate one of their staff to a coach as they used to do instead of leaving it to the poor driver with just a hand scribbled list as has been of late!!
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When our children returned home in July after a week (we stayed on another few days) the First choice transfer coach got lost then broke down and the transfer took over 3 hours, at Corfu Airport they were rushed through departures and borded the plane just as it was leaving!
Awful.
Andy
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Whats the latest on transfers from and to the airport please/
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Yes Please - any good or bad reports please as Jules & Roy and Linda and I are going v/soon,
so this information will be v/useful!
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Hiya all...
Flying out with Thomsons next Fri the 27th (package deal) and we land about 1pm all being well. Last time I'm sure the transfer with Thomsons took approx 2 hours (we dropped off in Agios Georgios I think?!) but not Sidari. Can anyone confirm that this is still the case this season? On Thomsons site its saying that transfers to the Athina take 2.5 hours!!
Don't want to be stuck on a bus for any longer than this, but the more I read this thread I'm worrying about other planes being delayed etc and us having to wait on the bus, and basically wasting our day!
I swear I'm never 'happy' unless I got something to worry about!!
Thanks
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Cdavies, we are going to SS this Friday. I am sure it did'nt state 2hrs 30 mins when we last visited in 2008, seems that the transfer time is now much longer. In 2006 we went to A.G North and it took us 90 minutes, 2008 to SS 2 hours. I don't think that there is anyway of knowing which route the coach will take on any given day, I think it is just pot luck. We spent along time on the coach in 2008 waiting for a family who did'nt bother to tell Thomsons rep that they had booked a private transfer, I got off the coach in the end for some fresh air, it was baking hot.
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So it could well be 2.5 hours now, haven't been since 2006. We had a rep on our coach last time which really helped. She got us really excited by keeping on about the pool at the Athina and that we had made the right choice!!
Do you know if you can book private transfers (at an extra price of course) if your'e on a package deal? I know Thomsons want £99 for a one way taxi fare. No way will I pay that!!
Hope you have a great time, bet youre so excited. Tell the sun to keep shining hard till we get there ;)
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It's definatley not 99 pound each way for a private taxi, local taxis prebooked with a sign to meet you for 4 persons are around 55-60 euros each way. Also think Noula (San Stefanos travel) does a minibus share for a reasonable price if there are others on same flight. Check out her website on san stefanos travel. Then there are websites such as holiday taxis.com and Vavroom who also do meet and greet at more reasonable price , than 99 pounds, as well.
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Cdavies, like I say it is just pot luck.
We stayed at the Athina in 2008[really enjoyed our stay but said if we came back to SS we would go self catering]. There was no rep on the coach in 2008.
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The Rep dosn't matter you know where you are going, book your flight and accom and the transfer plenty of taxis - do to it all for you with no stress......
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Thomsons have not had reps for the last couple of years on the coaches for transfers. I asked someone who has been recently and it seems that the coach comes in through Sidari way as it did last year and down past the Romanza and into the village from there.
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We have travelled independently and also as a package deal many times over the years.
It is without doubt, pure luck - get a good driver and the right mix of drop-offs and its quick, if not the max could be 2.5 hours, but that is a terrible transfer.
Our Average is around 1.5 hours by coach, Thomsons say the worst time so you have no complaint.
My quickest transfer was 45 mins in a Taxi!
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does anyone know where drop off point is
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Drop off for where?
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Which hotel or apartment are staying at.
Thomsons drop off at all the individual properties. The coaches these days do not have a rep on them so you have to rely on the coach driver telling you each drop off.
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Jules is absolutely right (as always). You will be dropped within a few feet of your destination.
They can take this to extremes. Those who know the village will understand - the coach stops outside Barras and unloads the Barras contingent. It is about twenty yards from Barras to Little Prince, but one must stay on board as the coach moves forward ten yards to the T-junction, turns left, then reverses twenty yards to stop outside Little Prince. We have tried to jump ship, but some drivers get upset, because they are tasked, as the military say, to drop your baggage right on the threshold of the apartment.
It's the same going home. Bags outside. Bus arrives. Bags into bus. Simples!
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staying at the athina,is it the same on return journey,thank you
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Thomas Cook do still have reps on the coaches, both to and from the airport.
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staying at the athina,is it the same on return journey,thank you
See previous posts!
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Just an update on Thomson transfers to and from resort. Took us 1 hr 30 mins to resort, not too many drop offs. Took 2 hours back to airport. We had Lauren, Thomson rep on bus as she was working at the airport that day. There was some confusion about people who had booked taxis to airport and hadn't let rep know, therefore we were turning up at apartments and there was no one to pick up. Also another couple had booked a taxi and changed their minds at last minute, so we had to wait on the coach whilst a mini bus went to pick them up to meet our coach!! Please, if you want to alter your transfers, make sure that your rep is clear about this, as it causes a lot of frustration for probably 50 other people driving around resorts for nothing!! On a good note, the drivers were much better and seemed to know where they were going this year!!
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For those using the airport taxi, it is still 65 euro. 55 mins.
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cAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT THE TRANSFER TIMES ARE LIKE WITH THOMAS COOK. I HAVE BOOKED A TAXI WITH NOULA FOR THE JOURNEY IN, BUT DON'T RELISH THE THOUGHT OF SPENDING HOURS ON THE COACH GOING BACK TO THE AIRPORT
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When we went back in June, the transfer was around one and a half hours.
We picked up a few folks in Sidari, and then went straight to the airport.
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Transfers were a nightmare for everybody yesterday. The taxi drivers were on strike, so those doing private transfers were facing a lot of problems.
The traffic was appalling right across the island, apparently. The bus was half an hour late picking us up, and then waited for another twenty minutes outside Arillas for two people from St George's. This stationary coach with the engine running made at least one woman sick, and Gillie turned from brown to green. The traffic around Corfu Town was near grid-locked, and by the time we reached the airport the flight had started boarding. So it was straight through security (where they insisted on separately x-raying the Kindles, which they didn't at Doncaster), quick pee after nearly two hours on the bus, and literally last onto the plane. At least that avoided hanging about in the departure lounge. Plane took off exactly on time, and got back early.
The one comfort, as I pointed out to several people, was that there were twenty people on the bus going to Doncaster, and the plane would have to have been held for that many. So this was a circumstance when being on a Thomson bus to a Thomson flight was a better option than being stuck out in limbo with no taxi on a DIY trip.
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Jimbo we did our taxi transfers by minibus and had very few issues. For our arrivals we had emailed all our customers to advise them of the situation in case they hadn't seen on the news previously. Glad you got back okay and lets hope these strikes are over very shortly for all concerned and affected.
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We had a minibus transfer to the airport yesterday, the same day as Jimbo and no problems whatsoever, it took 50 minutes only. The taxi's were lined up along the airport road but not obstructing any coaches or minibuses.
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Lesley, are there any other reports of strikes - we arrive next Friday evening
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Updates daily on news re taxi drivers and strikes....I am sure the tour operator will make all necessary arrangements to get you upto resort Tony and your family, if I hear anything will let you know.
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Thanks Lesley
Shame they get pushed into a corner through the Austerity measures.