San Stefanos Online ~ North West Corfu

We booked Barras for a week in late June 48 hours before travelling (ex-Birmingham) when showing "one room left".  Re-checked after booking and sure enough  it had gone from the website from all airports never to reappear.  Frankly it was a bargain especially as the booking showed a studio and we actually got the famous room 102 - far and away the best room we've had in San Stef but we would have been happy in a tent in the field at the back at the price.  Intended to review Barras on here when we returned but we're still confused, we're not comfortable with giving it rave reviews yet we had our best holiday yet in San Stef there and we haven't worked out why ourselves.   

Heck, there's some thread drift here but do know the Tsaros/Thomson story from the San Stef end, it's only one side of the story but Thomsons was a four letter word during our stay in the village but those of us who have to book very late have no other option.    We paid less including the room than we could book flight only on the same day, it was less even the same flight on ThomsonFly!  Just haven't a clue what Thomson's business model is, if they even have one.

Terry and Joy

Until the strong winds of our last couple of days there earlier in the month the beach was as normal, perhaps even a few yards wider than in 2008.   That was certainly the case at the far end of the beach by the cliffs, in 2008 it was just a narrow strip of sand a few yards wide, this year there was 20 yards or more in places.

The Saturday of our week in all changed, an overnight storm and continuing strong winds caused the beach to vanish except for a small part at the Waves end.   I really do mean vanish, it was sea in as far as it could get and you couldn't walk past Havana without getting your feet wet.    Bloody cold sea it was too!!

Did the locals say if it was unusually quiet?

There was a certain amount of concern around not only that it was quieter than usual but that visitors were not spending as much.   This was certainly true in our own case where we spent about 25% less than we did in 2008, not a deliberate thing - we had the money with us, just didn't spend it.  Not sure what we didn't spend it on though!

Back home again.   Left San Stephanos at 0740 not knowing if we had an aircraft to get onto but fortune favoured us for a change - the Brum flight was the only one on schedule.

A brief report here for now - have a washing machine to feed.    Not a lot changed in SS since we last visited in 2008 although it was very, very quiet.   Most businesses were up and running although notable exceptions were Gladiator, Bar38 and the Olive Press.  Gladiator showed some signs that it may open later but Bar 38 and Olive Press looked completely shut down. 

Prices are up for a lot of things fuel being the most notable, €1.50 to 1.60 for unleaded, €1.30 - 1.35 for diesel.   Ciggies and tobacco have gone up too, local brand Leader from €2 (2009) to €2.40, B & H up from €3.20 to €3.80 although there is still some old stock around at the cheaper price including the airport.   Golden Virginia rolling tobacco up from €60 to €75 for half a kilo.

We weren't in SS in 2009 but went to Thassos instead so I can't compare meal and drink prices directly.   Examples though are that most set menus were pitched at €9, half litre of house wine €4.50 (€4 at Zorbas).   Large beer €2.50.

So onto the beach - no idea of sunbed prices because there weren't a lot around.  Just a few towards the south end of the beach and we didn't go down there.   Our first few days the beach was as usual but by Saturday there wasn't much of a beach to speak of - it was almost completely covered by sea blown in on a strong westerly, at Arillas there was no beach at all this morning when we passed through.

Quad hire was €20 per day with the usual reductions for long term hire, scooters were €15 per day.  Didn't check car hire prices but I noticed that the car hire place now has a digital thermometer I hadn't noticed before.

Nothing to compare the excursion prices with but the one's in San Stef Travel's window looked good value.

We were told to expect price increases soon to reflect new taxes coming in the very near future, the impression I got that these will be across the board reflecting the state of the economy in Greece.

I hope that's enough to keep you guys going for now.

Bags are packed and ready to leave for the airport in about 4 hours time.  I'd noticed those forecast temperatures seemed a fair bit higher than usual for May - 27C all week, that will do nicely.   Both Thomson and Birmingham airports show flight on time so fingers crossed that we should be feeling some of that heat at about 1115 local time.   Even with a coach transfer we should be in San Stef in time for a late lunch.   Going to be knackered so a kip in a warm shady location will be looking like a good idea after that.

Only there for a week so should be back before Lisa but the only thing I can guarantee finding out will be the Mythos prices although we will try to remember a few other things too!!

Fingers crossed there is not a general strike there on Monday - all flights today cancelled to Greece.   

If you take a look at http://www.sanstefanos.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=380.0 scroll down and I explain how you post photos to this site.   It's not difficult and doesn't cost.     I would add that modern mega-pixel digital cameras store the images as quite large .jpeg files which will need to be resized downwards before using in this forum.    800 x 600 is plenty big enough.    A useful bit of free software to do this is IrfanView, just be careful installing as it likes to install the Google Toolbar.

Likewise from us to each and every one of you.