San Stefanos Online ~ North West Corfu
Welcome to San Stefanos (NW Corfu) => Where to stay => Topic started by: Canary on August 07, 2014, 01:44:57 PM
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Hi there, just returned from a blissful 2 weeks in San stefanos, just have to love the place. However, even more annoying than the wasps in Afionas, is that the towel reservation mafia have arrived at the Romanza. Having stayed here for the past 5 years one of the lovely things about the place was the consideration of other guests. However a couple of days this time ALL beds were 'reserved' by 7.30am, with the occupants emerging by 11 if you're lucky. A pair of flippers is now enough to gain control of 2 beds for the day. Just a shame that some of the more considerate guests who come down when they are ready end up with no where to sit.....it's still an idyllic spot though....
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Now this is a touchy subject...think there is a thread last year about the same problem.same time same place.dummys flying everywhere
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This was mentioned in a recent TripAdvisor review, which was somewhat less than complimentary.
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I read trip advisor review from last year and same was said for the Nafsika, where a group saved 11 beds eveey day with towels, in prime spot and the reviewer realised the group were not even staying in the Nafsika hotel. It was sad to read as have always thought how wonderful it was that people did not feel the need to do this in Ag Stef. I sort of had it in my mind that this selfish behaviour didn't happen there. Such a shame
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:( :( :( :( :( :( :( such a massive shame... Sometimes I wish San Stef would return to its quiet former self.
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We stayed at Romanza in June 2012 and vowed never again as have never been anywhere so cliquey in all our years of travelling.
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I think it would be a good idea for all apartments and hotels to to forbid non-residents from claiming sunbeds before (say) 10am.
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Just read the review on Tripadvisor about towels and I suspect that they are talking about my family.
We stayed in vagelis' villa behind Nafsika but as Spiros is a personal friends of over 30 years, we asked if it was ok if we used the pool in the daytime and he was more than happy to have us.
We did put towels down at 8.30am'ish ahead of having breakfast (Nafsika) and getting on the sunbeds by 9am most mornings (i.e. we didnt put towels down and then not use the beds until hours later).
We werent there every day (ventured out to Kassiopi, SS beach and St Georges beach on various days) and we ate breakfast and lunch every day at the Nafsika.
Now, the poolside had plenty of spare sun beds every day and on a couple of occasions when it was busier, we gave up 2 or 3 of our sunbeds and lay on lilo's instead so other people (who werent staying at the hotel either...) could have a sunbed.
However, I do think what the people at the Romanza did was out of order - I would never put a towel on a bed and not use it for several hours.
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It's a tricky one.
In the situation that SilverStar describes above, even though her family are not staying at the Nafsica, they are eating there once or twice a day which actually makes them more profitable guests to Nafsika than even families that are staying half board (Nafsika receive low prices from Thomsons per head)
Laying a towel out whilst nipping to the bar/for breakfast is fine but it's out of order waking early to reserve a bed and disappearing for the day. I'd agree that Jimbos idea to remove all towels from beds at a set time but this would need to be enforced by the hotels themselves.
Thankfully we will have no such problems at the Perros.
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I think it would be a good idea for all apartments and hotels to to forbid non-residents from claiming sunbeds before (say) 10am.
Difficult to know Jimbo, who is a resident and who is not just by looking at towels.
At a large hotel we visit in Tenerife they have the policy that towels will be removed from sunbeds (if not currently occupied) before 10.00am. This is enforced strictly and newcomers soon get the message.
I think that the small hotel owners in Ag Stef would be reluctant to remove towels and maybe upset residents.
At The Romanza Hotel it would be difficult for staff to remove towels as the only staff present around the pool are not the owners, they would require permission from the two owners and I think the owners would be reluctant to do this.
Perhaps some signage around pools forbidding this practice would be helpful!
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We have stayed there before back in 2010 and pre child days.
I had to get up around 8am and nab two beds. Wife joined me around 9 for brekkie, then (apart from lunch) we stayed on them till 6ish.
It can be a bit cliquey up there..... I think it's because it gets a lot of repeat visitors at exactly the same time of year. Also I think the hill means folk spend more time round the pool than other guests.
I love their food and also the staff, I don't miss the fight for sun beds. This year at the Perros we went down around 10am and not one bed taken most taken. Same next door at Jasmine. Stayed at Tsaros last year and again..... Loads of beds
The sunbed situation seems unique to Romanza and Thomas Bay
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Never had to fight for sun beds at The Romanza in Sept and have been going for last 5 years.
If we did, I would certainly raise the question with management asking what steps are they going to take to resolve problem. Not complain on forums or Trip Advisor.
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You've been lucky Linnetman. We were there first week Sept and was bad.
To be honest there weren't many people leaving the beds...... Just seemed like not enough beds for the amount of guests
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We always fly out 1st Friday in Sept. So will be interesting to see what it's like this year.
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We always fly out 1st Friday in Sept. So will be interesting to see what it's like this year.
See you there Linnetman, but as I remember late August last year was the worst I'd seen, about 12/15 sun beds in a row "allocated" by 7.30am. Hope it's better this year.
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Isn't it pathetic that grown-ups can behave like this?
I can see that it's a real problem if you're stuck up in Stalagl Luft 93 at the top of the hill. Lower down, nature has provided a vast, if slightly salty, swimming pool called the Ionian Sea, which comes with its own remarkably realistic wave machine!
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In one place I remember the owners even putting towels out first thing to reserve beds for their own guests!!!!Thats service for you!!
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Not something we do. Tereza has plenty of beds for all and have never not managed to get a couple of beds together. I think people reserving beds and not using them for ages need to be told and that the management of each establishment need to remove towels not being used for hours at a time.
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Never a towel problem at The Fedra Mare, there are far more sunbeds and loungers than there are guests
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Sunbeds wars taken to an whole new level, two brothers stabbed over a row about sunbeds in Gumbet, Turkey, todays Daily Mirror, absolutely shocking that an adult would resort to this! :o :o :o
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In SanStef now and when we walked past Nafsica at 10 30 today plenty of sun beds free no towels reserving any.Have to say wasps are about two of our party have been stung,never experienced problem before.
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Never a problem at Stamatis, always plenty of sunbeds, but then it is a big pool. Doesn't affect us as we go to the lovely beach, much nicer, in our opinion!
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Never a towel problem at The Fedra Mare, there are far more sunbeds and loungers than there are guests
That's probably because Dimitri has a sign by the pool requesting people who are not guests at Fedra Mare ask his permission before using the pool or sunbeds.
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That's probably because Dimitri has a sign by the pool requesting people who are not guests at Fedra Mare ask his permission before using the pool or sunbeds.
Correct, that's because it's a private pool, as Delfino Blu. Also they will not necessarily provide breakfasts or lunches. Their priority is their guests, correctly so.
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Correct, that's because it's a private pool, as Delfino Blu. Also they will not necessarily provide breakfasts or lunches. Their priority is their guests, correctly so.
Not so much private as selective.Dimitris does not like people abusing his hospitality and spoiling the peaceful experience of others.If they are going to race around playing noisy ball games or running around his Pool Bar then they are not welcome and I don't blame him. I am not a "pool person" the idea of lying about all day and basting ones self like an oven ready chicken I find brain numbingly boring but I know some people enjoy it.
We have friends who always go at the same time of the year as us and like us have been visiting San Stefanos for many years and are long term friends of Dimitris and Haritini,they don't stay at Fedra Mare but they are always made welcome and yes they do sometimes have breakfast or lunch there.
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Selective, why not, it's his hotel, it must work, he's fully booked for a year, who else in the village can say that?
As for non guests dining there, a party of six wanting breakfasts every day were turned away when we were there because Dimitris didn't want his guests having to wait, he could have invited them in and made a handsome profit, but no, his guests come first, that's loyalty. This is probably why the Fedra Mare is so popular.
As I said the Fedra don't "necessarily" provide food for non residents.
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I think the Fedra mare are quite right in having their pool private. It's a lovely place with a beautiful pool. I would me mad if I had paid for a hotel/apartment and couldn't get a bed at the pool because people who didn't stay there were using it. We have never came across this anywhere we have stayed in SS and hopefully we never do. As for putting towels down first thing I think it's the managements fault for letting this happen. We were at the algarve one year and the manager went round at 10am and put the towels that weren't being used in the reception.
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Well done to that manager Jaxbubbles
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Does anyone know whether Dimitri still allows guests from Christinas to use pool or have breakfast etc in FM?
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Selective, why not, it's his hotel, it must work, he's fully booked for a year, who else in the village can say that?
As for non guests dining there, a party of six wanting breakfasts every day were turned away when we were there because Dimitris didn't want his guests having to wait, he could have invited them in and made a handsome profit, but no, his guests come first, that's loyalty. This is probably why the Fedra Mare is so popular.
As I said the Fedra don't "necessarily" provide food for non residents.
Fedra Mare is not an hotel it is a block of apartments,upmarket and luxurious maybe but apartments nevertheless.How do you know Waspman that other apartments are not fully booked throughout the Summer.There are only seven apartments at Fedra Mare,doesn't take much to fill them up during the season.
other apa
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Does anyone know whether Dimitri still allows guests from Christinas to use pool or have breakfast etc in FM?
You'll need to speak to Dimitris about that all depends how busy he is.
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Little Prince and Nafsika were, apparently, pretty-well fully-booked before the season even started.
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Fedra Mare is not an hotel it is a block of apartments,upmarket and luxurious maybe but apartments nevertheless.How do you know Waspman that other apartments are not fully booked throughout the Summer.There are only seven apartments at Fedra Mare,doesn't take much to fill them up during the season.
Just because The Fedra Mare doesn't call itself a hotel doesn't mean it's not, the definition of an hotel is "an establishment providing accommodation, meals, and other services for travellers and tourists, by the night", just like the Nafsika Hotel, Romanza Hotel, Perros Hotel etc etc.
Actually The Fedra Mare consists of only five two floor apartments and two ground floor studios.
Also I did state that Fedra Mare was booked for a year (12 months) in advance, not just the summer, I suspect that not many other hotels could say that, yes Jimbo, I suspect you're right that some were fully booked before the season started, but 12 months ahead, I doubt it!
Cabmufc, when we stayed at Fedra a couple of weeks ago nobody from Christina's used the Fedra for breakfasts, in fact Christina's didn't look very busy at all.
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Ive said on here before.....
i tried to book Fedra Mare last Aug to stay July just gone
Got an email back to say that they had full availability but wouldn't accept my booking until all their regulars had had chance to book when the summer flights were released in Oct.
They suggested i email back then.
So...... Not exactly fully booked but not available either!!
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Loyalty to long standing guests Gav?
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We,ve seen evidence on the forum that many people book their accommodation a year in advance,we certainly do. I always thought five plus two equalled seven whether you split it between apartments and studios it still makes seven. Those studios are quite large,we have stayed in them with our two grandchildren and had plenty of room.
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We,ve seen evidence on the forum that many people book their accommodation a year in advance,we certainly do. I always thought five plus two equalled seven whether you split it between apartments and studios it still makes seven. Those studios are quite large,we have stayed in them with our two grandchildren and had plenty of room.
Yes, five apartments plus two studios equals seven living accommodations in this "Hotel"
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All thomson accomodations are fully booked in theory,as they are paid a pittance from thomsons weather they have guests or not.
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Good point Rilo
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That's not quite true. It depends upon their contract.
The pittance bit is correct. I suspect, entirely my own supposition so I'm not quoting any locals, that TUI is using the Greek economic state as an excuse to employ a "take it or leave it" attitude to their contracting, and driving the percentages down.
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Yes a take it or leave it contract is true.they have the hoteliers by the b¥ll$.they give them a price for theseason on a block booking basis.most accomodations have invested so much money that they are obliged to accept...totally screwed
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Maybe so Waspy...... Those long standing guests that eventually,like all of us, will die off!
Up to them what they do.
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Still don't understand why the Tereza and Nafsika don't go independent - they have enough loyal repeat business (and new business) to make a go of it and make some serious cash
The Tereza has had a real facelift in last 2-3 years and looks really contemporary and cool whilst still retaining the family feel.
Nafsika really needs a refurb downstairs though as it still looks almost identical to when we first went in the early 80's....I love it to bits but I do think it needs a bit of a facelift :)
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I'm inclined to agree. I'm sure Lesley would be delighted to put them on CorfuSelections.com
Must say I rather like the quaint little sitting room at Nafsika - although people rarely sit in it!
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I have to agree with Silverstar regarding the Nafsika, we last stayed there about 3 years ago and if it's still the same it could do with some sort of refurbishment both downstairs and the bedrooms, nice place to stay though.
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i Just think if its going to go Indy, then it needs to aesthically update downstairs in particular.
I know what you mean about the sitting room Jimbo, it is dated but also strangely comforting and peaceful :)
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The trouble is - there's not much money around for refurbishments. Greek company taxes are now very high, and Thomson are giving less and less to the owners.
Talking to various local people there, nobody is making much money. Getting by, was the theme.
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Thanks Jimbo of course happy to help/advise etc......
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Yes, five apartments plus two studios equals seven living accommodations in this "Hotel"
Even Dimitris doesn't class his establishment as an "Hotel" If you look on his website it is advertised as "Fedra Mare Studios and Apartments"
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Ive said on here before.....
i tried to book Fedra Mare last Aug to stay July just gone
Got an email back to say that they had full availability but wouldn't accept my booking until all their regulars had had chance to book when the summer flights were released in Oct.
They suggested i email back then.
So...... Not exactly fully booked but not available either!!
Their loss Gavin!!
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Is Fedra Mare's 'regular guests' policy, if that's the right phrase, relatively new?
We stayed there in June 2010 - booked the room with Dimitri in about Sept 09 i think - it was our first stay there and had no problem booking.
Loved it there and we're considering returning to SS next June, after a 5-year absence from Corfu. FM is on our list of possibles - seems we'll be lucky to get a reservation there if we decide on a return to SS.
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Tereza's do now have a fair few rooms for people to book independently. All the front block on the ground and first floors have been upgraded for this year as well and look fantastic on their website. The only problem was that by the time flights are added on Thomsons prices are coming in cheaper than independent.
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Bristol Boy
I got a very rapid and friendly email response.
It more or less read exactly how I've put it above.
Some have said on the FB page that they have had the same, others have said no problems getting in
Anyway...... Because we couldn't get in there we discovered the Perros which is a real gem.
Hardly any beds taken all day...... Lovely and peaceful
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Thanks Gav.
We had a lovely curry at Perros when we last visited SS in June 2010; just fancied a change one evening from the trad greek food.
Lovely setting there and really friendly owners.
We did enjoy the fab Fedra Mare though, with Dimitri bringing our brekkie to the terrace outside our room in front of the pool, most mornings.
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Is Fedra Mare's 'regular guests' policy, if that's the right phrase, relatively new?
We stayed there in June 2010 - booked the room with Dimitri in about Sept 09 i think - it was our first stay there and had no problem booking.
Loved it there and we're considering returning to SS next June, after a 5-year absence from Corfu. FM is on our list of possibles - seems we'll be lucky to get a reservation there if we decide on a return to SS.
Fedra Mare still have gaps for June 2015, from "the horses mouth" if you know what I mean, get in quick Bristle Boy, the vacancies won't last long! Lovely Hotel Dup?
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Waspy...... They had vacancies when I enquired, in fact she said "we have full availability"
However still wouldn't take my booking!!
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Keep trying Gav.
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will see the pair of you there linnetman and waspman, we fly 29th aug, not big lounger users ourselves, however would agree alot of repeat guests do treat the place like their summer home and are very standoffish with new guests, sometime ignoring them as they said "good morning".
We have bin guests for 10yr+ and love the place, maybee the staff should do more to put up signs, but i would never dream on doing the dawn raid on loungers.....shows a lack of respect to the hotel and other guests
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Leew,I am not sure if you are talking about the Romanza or Fedra, but we found when we visited the Fedra last September,to use the pool,(we did ask Dimitri), we got the cold shoulder treatment from a few that were staying there,it made us feel so uncomfortable.Why do people feel the need to be like that?,it ruined our morning there.We go there soon,to celebrate our Ruby wedding,hoping for a more pleasant stay.
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Winkie/leew, it is very sad that adults feel the need to behave like that but I guess people don't change their personalities just because they are on holiday, best thing is not to react to them and just go about your business, can never figure out why some adults on holiday become possessive about their hotel/apartments and even the resort, like I say tis a sad and childish way to behave, all water off a ducks back to me and on occasions it is highly amusing to witness. I once got told by a fellow holiday maker who returned to the same hotel year after year that I was sat on their chair, I politely explained that the said chair belonged to the hotel and not them, got glared at for the rest of the holiday, quite a pathetic way for an adult to behave!
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My daughter had a meal at the Romanza last year and felt very uncomfortable when a returnee! clicked his finger at Andreas and wantd to book a table for the following evening but wanted that table, pointing at the table my daughter and her boyfriend were sat on. She felt quite embarassed.
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Have never stayed at the Romanza but have read the very good reviews. The sad thing is the comments here put me off staying there. What a shame that the clientele can have that affect.
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You should try it Debra, great hospitality, spotlessly clean. I think you get the odd couple wherever you go.
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These type of people would just entice me to annoy them by keep saying good morning - and also to sit at 'their' table ;)
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It all goes back to the Cliquiness of certain places in most resorts who have guests returning year after year and think that because they do this they are entitled to certain priiviledges and treatment.Have experienced it in San Stef myself but still going back in 3 weeks after a 3yr gap for the 5th time because all of the resort's other qualities outweigh this sometimes negative vibe that exists in some accommodation.
Staying at Anatoli so can please ourselves where to go and what to do without any pressure..Cant wait!! 8) 8)
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My daughter had a meal at the Romanza last year and felt very uncomfortable when a returnee! clicked his finger at Andreas and wantd to book a table for the following evening but wanted that table, pointing at the table my daughter and her boyfriend were sat on. She felt quite embarassed.
One thing for sure Laurenandsam, whether they were regulars or not, they will not have endeared themselves to Andreas by clicking their finger at him...... He would have been bristling inside!