San Stefanos Online ~ North West Corfu
Welcome to San Stefanos (NW Corfu) => Where to eat out in San Stefanos? => Topic started by: Silverstar on August 21, 2013, 06:56:41 PM
-
I have eaten at the Delfino Blu several times in 2008/9 and have always really liked it and had good food and service.
I suggested to my parents that we eat there during our stay as for one reason or another they had never got round to eating there and quite fancied giving it a try especially after we had said how lovely it was.
My husband went to book a table during the day for 10 of us and was instructed by Kostas to deal with one of the waiters who would take all the details. Said waiter (who shall remain nameless…) then proceeded to pull faces and sigh and make out like it was a massive inconvenience to accommodate us and eventually said he would do it. ???
We turned up at 8pm that night to be told that it was too windy to sit outside and they had no tables free indoors so they had cancelled our table!! Well, let’s just say that they were told in no uncertain terms that it was not too windy and we wanted them to sort the table sharpish!!
We were told to go to the pool bar whilst they did the table and the bar man couldn’t have less personality or looked less fed up…..he was completely miserable. By this point my parents are looking at me as if the say ‘and you think this place is nice?’ and I am wondering what the hell is going on….
Eventually the table is ready and the same waiter who took the booking is our waiter – rude, condescending and disdainful come to mind when thinking of his behaviour – the food was good but I could tell that nobody was really enjoying the meal because of how we had been treated. The waiter must have overheard some of our less than happy comments because at the end of the meal he bought us free drinks and plates of fruit – but the damage was done.
By the time we left we were really annoyed and I spoke to a couple of my Greek friends in the town and they basically said that that is how Kostas trains his staff to act and if you are not staying at the hotel then you are not always treated particularly well. They think that they are the crème de la crème and unless you obviously have a lot of money, they are not interested.
I will never go there again and will also be putting a scathing review on trip adviser. Kostas needs to sort it out!
-
Wow! Stand by for action!
-
What a shame not very good customer service then I thought with the Economic climate they would have been pleased with such a big party and doing all they could so you would want to go back
-
Wasn't it the Delfino where that person was frogmarched off the premises a couple of years ago when they went for a look round!
-
How disappointing for you especially as it was recommended by yourself to your parents. Not somewhere on our list to visit anyway
-
It's a shame. The Mango Bar staff are really great and very friendly.
Kostas doesn't mind taking over most of the beach-bed industry without checking the bank-balances of those supine in the solar rays!
San Stef is (in my view) an odd location for a "boutique" hotel. I have stayed in some of the world's top hotels courtesy of the TV production companies I have worked for. Top places never sneer. They don't know exactly who you are, and rude staff are out of the door like greased lightning.
I'd describe it as a pocket of bling in a tapestry of honest down-to-earth unpretentiousness.
-
Correct Gav, it was! She is friend of ours who has been going to AS for c20 years.
-
What exactly is a "boutique hotel"? For us part of the charm of the islands is the simple, clean, basic accommodation.
-
What a shame - we have experienced none of what you said Jimbo. Just amazing kindness and generosity from ALL staff at Delfino - this year and previous years. There was one member of staff behind the bar at the wedding who didn't seem quite 'with it' so can't believe it was Silvio the sommelier who served at the cocktail bar - he is lovely. I know Kostas is a very very hard task master - was talking to Spiros at the Nafsika who said how much he admired Kostas as a business man (maybe not personally) and how pleased the hotel was in the village as it had changed the face of it a little - Spiros felt the village began a decline with Thomson monopoly about 1983 and out came the football shirts etc. This seems to be changing...............
I love the beds outside the Mango Bar and the lovely bed man Alex..............
-
Debra - I agree - we have eaten there several times before and my husband has always had lovely chats with Kostas and we have had a lovely time, hence why I wanted to go with my family...........!
It was really terrible and we did have a chat to Speros (Nafsika) about it afterwards as my mum was fuming and he did say exactly what you said, that he is a great business man but personally leaves a bit to be desired and that his staff are trained in a certain way.
I think the locals also have questioned where Kostas made his money and there are many rumours on this...........!
However, my parents and sisters went to sit on the beds outside Mango bar a few days later and had a lovely day there and some nice food although when my bro-in-law went to pay the bill he made the grim discovery that they cook pretty much everything in the microwave.............! >:(
-
I agree Jimbo, and suspect that its impact on SS ha been negligible. I am concerned, however, that if I travel with Thomson I may have to buy a soccer shirt? Is there a list of U and Non U teams?
-
Anything except Man United!
-
I don't think Kostas would be pleased to read this review at all! It'll be interesting to see how a less than favourable review goes down on Trip Advisor! Its certainly not the way he would expect his staff to behave. I agree with Debra that we didn't experience this at all in our homeymoon stay there this year - the four male waiters/bar staff could not have been more attentive and friendly, I'm intrigued which one it was. Maybe there's some truth in it being one rule for residents and another for visitors - which it shouldn't be of course. How disappointing though for you Silverstar, especially as it wasn't your first visit there and wanted to show it off.
Kostas told me he used to be a professional footballer (goalkeeper) in Germany and on the mainland in Greece. He certainly seems to have a reputation as a businessman who works his staff extremely hard. We met Dimitri (I think?) from Brouklis in Arillas (great restaurant), and it seems Kostas' reputation is the same there. We also heard the rooms/hotel next to Delfino (where the greek flag flies) were going to be a partnership with Kostas and another man, but that they had fallen out.
-
A real shame to read this as we we're thinking about going here one night, kind of having second thoughts now... :(
-
Take the dog.
-
and some thick skin....
-
Les Shark Boy - you should go and see what you think.
I would hope it was a one off but from talking to others, it might not be the case.
Trip Advisory - here I come!! ;D
-
Bruno would lick them into being attentive! ;D
We'll definitely have a look and see...
-
I can remember many less than attractive comments over the years on this forum - - -referring to this hotel - - and some support too....
We went once to look and decide if we should book - - again a frosty pants reception - - then there was the Rottweiler saga . . . remember that?
Kostas once used to often be in Mango (when it first opened - the early years), and when we ate lunch there for the first time - he was the rudest man short of Fawlty Towers...
It's difficult to want to go to the hotel these days....... (I suppose different if you book and stay there).....
Mango has changed and is OK - - but why should we want to eat anywhere when the attitude is so poor??
I rest my case....
-
When walking down the hill into the village we have sometimes taken the "loop" and looked at the hotel. It does not look inviting, so we have never ventured in. Given that there are plenty of very good places to eat in the village it makes no sense to risk embarrassment or confrontation?
-
To be fair - as I said before - the Mango Bar staff are really nice.
Might try booking a meal in the autumn - just out of naughtiness.
-
Mango is good - BUT - you'll get the blues if you use Delfino with Kostas the rude....
-
Went for a look round this may. Met Kostas leaving as we entered and he was pleasant enough but instructed us to go to reception. We did'nt we walked past, it was amusing to see the receptionist nearly break her neck to get from behind her desk to head us off. She was courteous but made it clear we weren't welcome to look around, so based on how we were treated we wouldn't return for a meal despite her sales pitch. Far to up themselves for my liking
-
I'll let you know what day I do my trip advisor review (still tweaking it) so you can all avoid the DB.
I imagine Kostas will not be a happy bunny......
-
it happened to us this year also. took a detour on way to beach to show off delfin blu to friends on their first trip to san stef . couldn't have felt more awkward if I tried . short sharp "theres the pool , now goodbye ". was rather embarrassed in front of friends but they never said anything so forgot about it . must say that when we,ve been there previous (only twice) its always been good service,
-
Trip adviser review done and will be online sometime in next 48 hours.
For those in SS this weekend, please avoid the Delfino Blu as Kostas might be on the rampage...!
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
-
shark boy - go and see......................
On the last day of our holidays (10th August) my son and his new wife, her disabled daughter, and my daughter and Aussie husband booked in for the breakfast - they were told NOT to bring too rowdy kids with them. I understand this actually, this hotel is expensive and the customers maybe feel they have paid for it be more exclusive. Can't remember who on this forum wrote about the Nine Muses in Kefalonia and his disappointment that that hotel did not protect their customers and it sullied their holiday a little. My lot had an amazing breakfast at the hotel - they were not guests, but Ben had been the week before as his wedding was there. They were touched and amazed by the kindness they received from Kostas and the staff, who even gave them a little gift. I also want to say that I have NEVER, EVER experienced kindness like we received this year and last year from the staff at the Mango with our disabled little 9 year old. Every day they ran down and lifted her wheelchair up all those steps, made fresh pasta (she has difficulty eating). Alex the bed man would give them the thumbs up if she wanted the loo and down the knights in shining armour would come and Kostas would talk with her etc. They really didn't have much to gain from doing this.
I don't think it matters what Kostas did before or anything - what matters is it is a beautiful hotel. I don't really agree with Jimbo that it is bling, it felt understated to me. However on the wedding night there was a very dour bar man - slow and struggling - not sure what the problem was. But all the guys and girls from the Mango were there and SMILING was the name of the game.
-
Debra, I completely agree with all you've said. We stayed in June on our honeymoon with our (nearly) 4 year old. As with all children of that age (see my post elsewhere on eating out), we were nervous of him acting up in a posh hotel, but the staff took to him for the whole time we were there, playing with him, treating him like a little prince (no pun intended!). When he was fussy at breakfast, Kostas asked him what his favourite was and asked the chef to make it for him (pancakes). Emilia in the pool bar made him fruit cocktails, Aline (Silvio's wife) and the Mango team kept him entertained for the 11 days we were there. We too received gifts when we left. We may be biased but we loved our stay.
Le Shark boy - you need to go and make your own mind up; those of us who have been to SS before have our opinions. As this is your first time, you can give us all your unbiased thoughts. Might be worth waiting until Kostas has calmed down from Silverstar's review though!! ;)
-
In June, we had our best meal in Delfino Blu. We're back on Monday and will most certainly be going again.
-
It was me with Kefalonia and related to wedding parties who weren't staying at the hotel turning up en masse to use the pool!!
Not an issue with anyone eating there as the restaurant was big enough and it also welcomed the general public
From reading these reports about the Delfino the one that seems clear is inconsistency.
Kostas attitude with customers seems to go from really welcoming to very frosty. At least be consistent
-
We were in SS in May for the first time,and had read about DB on TA.We could not get booked in due to them being fully booked.On one of our wanders around the village,we came across this hotel,and thought,lets see what it offers,and maybe we can have a look around a room or even the pool area.We neared the reception door,and had a look to see if anyone was around,there was no one there,so we ventured further towards the pool.We just made the corner,when a voice sounded out from the aforementioned doorway,Excuse me!!,can I help,it was a lady, and she raised a naughty finger when we explained why we were there.We were politely told we could not venture any further as the guests were having dinner.We asked if we could book a room for next year,and were told again,it was fully booked. We felt so unwelcome,and like intruders.Little Prince will do just fine thank you.
-
Silverstar
Just read your review on trip advisor, very good and objective, but I think if we had received that sort of treatment we would have been a lot more scathing.
Have often thought of going up there for a celebratory meal but will be sticking to Beachcombers.
-
I also read your review Silverstar, I think it was fair and not too overboard in my opinion.
We will check it out whilst we are away next week (6 days and counting). But if I get those 'vibes' we won't be spending any money there!
Maybe they read trip advisor, if so hopefully your review will serve as a wake up call for them.
Thanks for a good review and heads up.
-
Good review and very objective
-
Very well written. Should cause pause for thought at DB.
-
Thanks all
I tried to keep it fairly objective as Kostas is known for replying to TA reviews that are unfavourable and accusing the reviewer of deliberately sabotaging his hotel in order to help push forward other places to stay and eat in the village. Im sure he will comment so look forward to his explanation interest.
I understand Debra's view is different but its interesting to note that she was treated so well when her son had his wedding there.....i bet the reception would have been very different had they just walked in off the street...!
-
I have to say Silverstar that I fully appreciate how you feel and would (am sure) have been as affronted as you. if I had been treated that way. We went for a meal last year (when there was no wedding planned) - it was on my and my husbands birthday - same day/different year (lol). We booked a table for 8 adults and 2 children. We too had to wait for a table - it actually was windy - we went down to the cocktail bar and had a drink whilst they set the table up. Their restaurant isn't that large and was still almost full. There the similarities end. We had wonderful service. At the end of the meal I was walking the one year old in the pushchair up and down the side of the hotel and Kostas and partner were sitting outside. We chatted and then my son shouted me to come because he had ordered a cake. Whoosh disappeared Kostas and the 2 big bottles of champagne and a round of cocktails appeared on the house. So that was our treatment when we had just sort of 'walked off the street'.
-
Well that just makes his behaviour seem even more bizarre!!!
You need to treat every customer as if it was your first.
At least be consistent
-
Debra - i do agree - as i said before, i visited 4 or 5 times just for dinner and was treated very well hence what was so confusing and disappointed with our visit the other week
It was totally at odds to the reception we had had before...
-
As Gav says, you have to be consistent when dealing with customers. Why do they book tables for 'outsiders' if they don't really want you there? Having worked in a customer facing position for over 30 years, it is important that everyone is treated the same and with courtesy! These people who the DB are turning away, could have been their future customers and guests. Your staff are only as good as the Manager/Owner of the business. I realise these are different people's opinions, but it only takes a couple of bad reviews to put me off going somewhere. Not on my list of places to visit and we've never experienced that behaviour anywhere in San Stef in the last nine years.
-
Silver star just looked at trip advisor to see if there is a reply and can't find your review anymore, have you removed it?
-
Definately not there anymore
-
Silver star just looked at trip advisor to see if there is a reply and can't find your review anymore, have you removed it?
No wonder they are "No 1 in Agios Stefanos"
-
If that's been removed by the hotel that is scandalous.
Trip Advisor review every post before putting it on. So it was ok with them!
If Silverstar didn't get it removed, and I cant see why she would, this is a disgrace
-
I didn't think you could have it removed except by the person who wrote it!!
-
That makes sense Debra. Not much use if critical reviews can be edited out?
-
Silverstar, try emailing Trip Adviser to find out why your listing has been removed.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ContactUs?topic=how_to_alert_us_when_a_listing_is_incorrect
-
Silverstar should ask TA about it. If Kostas had it removed because it was negative, then it renders Tripadviser pointless.
-
OMG!! Can't believe it has been removed - I showed it to my mom on Monday night and it was there then so no idea - I will find out!!
-
I've emailed TA demanding an explanation as to why it was removed after being on there for 4 days.
If Kostas has demanded they remove it then I will ring him directly - I am not having it.
Obviously it might be a glitch but we shall see!
-
If TA removed your post they should have notified you immediately, with reasons. If it was because of Kostas complaining, I am happy to email TA (as a respected contributor) complaining, and then would suggest that loads of people on the forum spam DB saying what they think.
-
Thanks Jimbo ;D
I agree - I am hoping its a glitch of some sort as Kostas usually replies (disdainfully) to bad reviews but then who knows if he has done this before?
It defeats the whole purpose of TA if this is the case and I will be both disappointed and annoyed.
It was a balanced review and not a hatchet job as some have been so slightly bemused if he has complained.......!
-
I doubt if it's a glitch. He owns most of the sunbeds on the beach, so maybe he's taking over TA as well.
-
Hi Silverstar
Will be quite happy to spam DB as Jimbo suggests as the removal of negative reviews, especially as it was balanced and objective, is totally unacceptable and makes a complete mockery of TA.
-
so sorry Silverstar. You wrote a fair review makes me wonder just how genuine Trip Advisor is. Does Kostas advertise with them I wonder? Whatever the reason it stinks
-
I read your review on Tripadvisor and it was a fair review. I have used Tripadvisor for years and can't believe they have removed your report its terrible if they have done it. I really can't understand unles this Kostas guy does have some hold over Tripadvisor! Maybe he writes the excellent reviews himself or gets his staff to write them under false names or is that too untrusting?
-
I will be very interested to hear what Tripadvisor have to say about this. Provided that the review was honest, and not malicious, there can be no reason to remove it? Certainly the only party to benefit from the removal is DB?
-
Still no reply from TA guys - this is really bad!!
-
They still have the 3 "terrible" reviews on from 2009/10 Silverstar...and on reading them they are considerably worse than your critique.Maybe they want to show people that they have improved since then and have left these problems way behind? ???
-
Can you re-post a review?
-
Can you re-post a review?
If I were Silverstar I would give it a try, she could register under a different user name on TA if necessary.
-
Ironically, I received an email from TA this morning with a very big picture of DB - "The best hotel in Agios Stephanos."
-
That's strange, so have I, rather an odd coincidence. Anyone else had one?
-
Nope and no reply from TA either still.
This is really really odd - anyone have a number for them - I can't find one online?
-
What is your TA name? I may initiate some action!
-
silverstar007 ;D
-
I have just sent the following to Tripadvisor:
"We are dismayed to see that silverstar007's review of eating at Delfino Blu in San Stefanos, NW Corfu, has been removed. It was entirely fair, intelligent, and well-written. Moreover, she has been going to San Stefanos since she was a child, and her visit to Delfino Blu was because she had eaten there many times before.
I sincerely hope that this removal was not at the instigation of the owner. If so, I would like to register my protest, and will henceforth regard the integrity of Tripadvisor as suspect.
Please advise.
JimandGillie"
-
I also emailed them last night. I'll see if we get a response
-
Completely brillinat - thanks so much Jimbo ;D
Let's see if either you or Gavlah get a reply!
-
Does make one wonder how many times this has happened?
-
I've never heard of it happening before - it does make you question the site's credibility. I had a quick read through their complaints pages and can't see why or how Silverstar's post would be removed (no blackmail or derogatory feedback). Has anyone else ever had a post removed?
We, like most travellers, use Trip Advisor as THE go-to website for impartial views - and, for that reason, so do Thomson! We chose Delfino Blu for our honeymoon based on its reviews, and as I've already posted, we couldn't fault the service or experience we received. However, the way Kostas trains his team to defend the hotel from non-residents is completely at odds with the way the rest of the village embraces visitors.
Like most of us, I'm avidly reading this thread, to find out the final answer to this one!!
-
Fascinating isn't it,can't wait for the next instalment and the final result.
-
The auto-responder said 5 to 8 days for a reply. So don't hold your breath!
-
Silverstar, have been looking at TA website. Go to bottom of page click "About us" will give general tel no 020 3320 3253 or click on "Help Centre" then click "contact us" then "General Support" this will go to your email address with a drop down box click for "reviews" then another drop down box click "where is my Review". Hope this helps a bit.
-
Didn't take them that long to remove the review!!
-
last time I looked at it before it was removed there were 14 helpful votes of it!
-
Still no reply from TA......
Thx for number Caz, will give it a try on Monday - I did the dropdown bit and found the where is my review bit and also sent amessage via that as well as general cust complaints bit
This is just so random?
-
It's odd that different customers (us) have different experiences there - - -
I still remember the day that Mango opened up on the beach - - we didn't go there that year but decided to try it the next time, as we always went to Havana Bar.
We went to try Mango with our friends Alan & Carole the following holiday.
I remember it well as we laughed about the miserable treatment we received from Kostas, when ordering lunch, just like Basil Fawlty, he was a misery.
These were the days when Mango had no downstairs toilets, and the only toilet was up near the pool.
As we waited for lunch the girls asked where the toilets were, initially Kostas refused to allow them up the stairs to use the loo.
I went over and said if we couldn't use the toilet, then we were walking out and spending our money in Havana Bar.
He grumpily then allowed them to go, but almost chucked the lunch plates on the table in front of us - - he never cracked a smile.
We never went back there until many years later - 2011 in fact because Mango had been extended and refurbished and we had a very young Grandchild with us.
It was safer for the child as they had a small wall to prevent a drop on to the beach, unlike Havana.
Then - no Kostas around - toilets in the bar - lovely staff - good lunch food.
Such a shame that the "Fawlty Towers" attitude still rears it's ugly head in the Hotel though.
I doubt I will ever want to stay there with all the feedback we hear.
-
I would definitely exclude the Mango Bar staff from any criticism. Last year and this year they have been nothing but friendly and cheerful.
Must say, though, that in the later end of July we camped outside Mistral; there were far fewer people down that end of the beach, probably because there was a teeny bit of in-shore seaweed.
-
Still no reply from TA - completely disgraceful!!
-
I would definitely exclude the Mango Bar staff from any criticism. Last year and this year they have been nothing but friendly and cheerful.
Three of the waiters working at Mango (Silviu, Michael and Julian) also wait in the hotel. Aline (Silviu's wife), her mother, Alex and Alexandra work on the beach.
Kostas must train the staff to have a no visitors policy for his hotel and pool area. They seem to thrive on repeat business - and their near perfect Trip Advisor reports!! ;)
-
Ok - just rang TA and after a very long around the houses conversation they said that there system showed an email being sent to me on 27/8 as to reasons why the review was taken down.
I never received that email and have my Spam as well so they said they will resend.....
I asked why reviews are taken down after being 'live' for several days and they said that the immigration team look at posts once live and then they might not meet the 'criteria' and get removed.
This has got Kostas written all over it.
-
Bet TA think most people would have got fed up by now and have given up on this
-
I wonder if DB advertises on TA?
-
When you get their reasoning can you repost omiting whatever bit they don't like but getting your point across
-
I emailed also at the start of last week. Not heard anything either
-
I'm telling some friends in the village about this and it will get around quickly - this absolutely stinks.
-
I wonder if DB advertises on TA?
I wonder if TA get discounts on holidays at DB. OH NO!! DID I REALLY SAY THAT? Excuse me while I go and wash my mouth out with soap.
-
I assume silverstar has not yet received the "re-sent" email. An email takes from one millisecond to twenty minutes to arrive (depending on the server) so it looks like we can assume that they haven't sent it once or twice or ever.
They have not replied to Gavin or me. We must let their stated response time elapse before rocking the boat.
However - for several years I hosted a consumer radio phone-in, and I know how interested broadcasters would be in in determining how impartial TA actually is.
DB has an extraordinary number of wonderful reviews. Currently it's 346. The Dolder Grand in Zurich, one of Europe's top hotels (where I've stayed - thanks, Granada TV) has 298. The Ritz has 932. Nafsika has 192. Little Prince has 55. Fedra Mare: 22. Barras: 32. Romanza: 171.
Wow! Those DB customers are busy.
-
Very interesting figures Jimbo
-
Nice one Jim, the famous Caledonian Hotel in Edinburgh has a mighty 500 reviews, not bad for a city that attracts millions of tourists p.a.
-
Hi Diane,
It's important for us to be objective and clinical about this. The issue is not really about DB but TripAdvisor pulling adverse criticism without feedback on reasons.
Noise will be made (or not) when we have answers.
-
Hi David - You work with numbers. What's your view of the DB review count?
-
I agree Jim I have never had a review not posted by TA good or bad and have done a couple of really critical ones but was honest and they were posted a couple of times with a comment from the hotel which was fair enough saying they had changed a couple of the things I had mentioned
-
It's not just the incredibly high number of excellent reviews the DB receives, it is also the total lack of average and poor reviews, both 0, it has received.
Even the very best hotels have a small proportion of average and poor reviews, but not the DB - strange that they don't.
-
It does look a bit of an outlier.
If you take all the people who visit San Stef as the population and assume (reasonably) that as a population it would have the same propensity to respond as any other resort population then you can draw a couple of conclusions;
a) the DB is fantastic and overwhelms/encourages its visitors so much they feel compelled to post on TA
b) there may be an unreliability element in the results.
My friend rents a villa in Florida and takes TripAdvisor bookings. He was telling me that when he accepts a booking via TA he does not receive a penny until the guest arrives at the villa, whereas with bookings through other channels he will receive the deposit and the balance at the time the customer pays it. So, if you think about, as a hotelier this wouldn't encourage you use TA given the impact on your cashflow - hence he will only take a TA booking if he needs to fill that week/fortnight etc, ie if he doesn't have a choice.
TA's cash flow will come from its click rate and given the miniscule impact DB and SS users will have on its volume I can't help but think the DB proprietor won't have much of an influence in the grand scheme of TA's fortunes, but if he has found out a way to protect his business and his family then fair play to him. TA would argue that on balance its ratings on DB are 'broadly' accurate :-)
See article from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2013/05/06/these-drivers-will-help-fuel-tripadvisors-user-base-growth/ (http://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2013/05/06/these-drivers-will-help-fuel-tripadvisors-user-base-growth/)
-
Nope still no resent email from TA and they refuse to give me the reasoning over the phone saying they can only see the date they sent the email and not the content......!
If you think that the Nafsika has been open for nearly 25 years longer than DB and the disportionate amount of reviews, there is definitely something not quite right about TA.
As others have said - even the best hotels in the world have a smatterings of poor/average reviews yet DB has 2 I think and Kostas replied personally to both on TA.
There is something very odd about all of this. I will tell Speros at Nafsika and see what his view is.
-
I understand that TA "reserve the right to remove a post for any reason". I can only conclude that Silverstar's post was considered to have breached guidelines. Influence from DB? I really can't see how, but the review ratio per visitor is certainly strange. Can such a small Hotel in a small resort exert enough pressure to have a TA review removed?
-
It has been known for advertisers to pull their advertising if the paper publishes adverse copy. TA is making a lot of money out of adverts.
Interesting points in this wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TripAdvisor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TripAdvisor)
Read the "Criticism and Legal Actions" section; TA UK were slapped on the wrist by the Advertising Standards Authority, basically because it was easy to post fake favourable reviews.
A useful point here is that owners are notified when a review is posted. Why would an American company bother to pull a small review of a night out at a small hotel on Corfu without some prodding? I don't think silverstar's review breached any guidelines, and if it did, she should be told.
As a (retired) BBC journalist I smell a tiny stink of fish here. As of now I have not, and assume Gavin has not, had a reply from TA to our queries. I am logging it carefully. We will try again, then log it, and then I will, if necessary, talk to people I know.
In the great scheme of things it's obviously not a major issue - but people do rely upon reviews to make a judgement. If honesty is devalued we all suffer.
-
i visited 4 or 5 times just for dinner and was treated very well
It may well be that DB and TA read this forum thread (and have read the quote inserted) and thought that one bad visit out of 5/6 is unfortunate. Just a thought, but..........and maybe, just maybe, TA and DB think the review compared to the 5 or 6 reviews (posted?) following the 'treated very well' visits was perhaps on balance, a tad unfair.
Good luck with the investigation.
Devils Advocate :-)
-
"Unfair" or realistic? Reviews are subjective. If owners can have them removed, what is the use of TA? Clearly there are people who adore DB. I suspect that the truth is that if you stay there it is good, but if you merely visit (if allowed in!) it can be unpleasant.
-
Very interesting thread this, we use trip advisor for just about everything we do travel wise, it's concerning to think all may not be as transparent as we believed. Hope you get some clarity Silverstar, your review was balanced and not over the top. As ever a response could be made / expected from the managers to show two sides so to speak, a removal helps no one .
Hope this is not too far left field, in August last year I started a thread in yammas bar titled Trip advisor - The good,the bad and the ugly. I reflected on the value of T A to travellers after reading on TA's Romanza site what I considered to be a slanderous claim from a poster regarding an accusation of theft from staff at the Romanza ( titled cash nagging 2012) This awful post is still there on T A. It does throw into question the criteria for allowable postings / removal criteria etc? Secondly however my thread on this site seems to have disappeared? Unless I am doing something wrong in the search. I have records of it in my own post records. I mention this because I felt it would support and compliment Silverstars quest, quite a few posted on the issue, not being able to find it at the mo has added to my slight paranoia re Trip Advisor!
-
Re my previous post found the trip advisor thread it was active earlier this year in Yammas! Paranoia over! This thread may add something to Silverstars if we compare the post made against the Romanza which still stands for all to see!
-
Well Sellsy, your post reminded me of the "Romanza Affair", and although I do not rely on TA, I have looked at some reviews, and revised my opinions. There are some very critical reviews, owners being described as "Thugs", staff accused of stealing etc. I am not going to do any more research, others are better placed to do this, but given the level of critical reviews which remain on TA, I can only conclude that the review in question has been removed because of pressure from somewhere. I can no longer believe that the review breached guidelines, having read some of the vitriol on the TA site. I guess we have all learned something? Take it all with a pinch of salt? If something looks too good to be true, it probably isn't?
-
I see the fight back has started on TA :D
-
Let's see how long that lasts! I think I know who posted it.
TA have still not responded to my email. So I may be next.
-
It's gone already!!! I've submitted a similar one lets see if it gets posted.
Definitely something fishy going on. I think all the other hoteliers in San Stef need this bringing to their attention.
Surely this is screwing their rating
-
Oh my god was reading it then it disappeared something not right there
-
Come on someone out there..you must have contacts in the media,surely this can be made aware to a bigger audience..it needs showing up as it could be happening more times to similar hotels in resorts like San Stefanos
-
Think I've missed something here,what's been happening?
-
I read the review earlier, it wasn't really a review about the hotel but more about reviews being removed, it mentioned the Romanza review not being removed earlier which has nothing to do with DB. At the bottom of each review there is an option to report the review if the reader thinks there is a problem, so maybe someone who likes going to the DB thought it unfair and asked for it to be removed.
-
Many years ago I had my first 'ménage-a-trios' with Irina and Tash in Casa Delfino. We never posted review. It's hot here in Albany,
Heh, heh, heh xx
-
Yes - That one has been pulled as well.
So there is something afoot.
-
Oh yes , it was pulled, yes it was pulled :o
"Afoot".....that is old Albany saying for..........oh, I can't remember now, I geeting old.
-
Can'tbelieve they have pulled another review!
Spoke to one of my SS friends this morning and he was very interested in this discussion and also told me that DB pays to advertise on TA and as such Kostas welds a certain amount of power in terms of negative reviews and can have them pulled - especially if it related to the restaurant and not the hotel... !
He has asked me to keep him informedas the accomodation owners in SS willbe interestedto hear about it.
I think we can safely assume now that Kostas is behind having both reviews pulled and therefore as far as I am concerned, the purpose (and integrity) of TA is both defunct and compromised.
Any views on what our next steps should be because I think we need to take this further.
Jimbo - as an ex-journalist what is your view?
-
Im marching on Corfu Town in the morning
-
My view is that I need to think carefully about how to expose this. I agree that it undermines TA's integrity.
We've now seen two examples of TA pulling things. In the second case, it make sense, because it wasn't a review. In the first case, it wasn't.
Do you have the text of your posting?
-
A new "review" with searching questions on TA today, how long will it last? Maybe a couple of hours, Kostas must be glued to the TA website all day long!
-
Does not have to be Kostas?
16. Re: Post Removal
29 July 2013, 18:03
-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-
This post was determined to be inappropriate by the TripAdvisor community and has been removed.
To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html
Our staff may also remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason. Thanks for being a part of the TripAdvisor travel community!
Removed on: 29 July 2013, 18:35
-
I know who posted the new one.
Actually, the owners get an email every time somebody posts about them.
-
Jimbo, does this mean that a Hotel has to be "registered" on TA before posts can be made? That is provide contact details etc.? The mail to owners will then be automatic with each post.
-
I think TA should be ashamed to post the latest review. I thought they read reviews before posting, surely they didn't read that one as it is nothing to do with the hotel, the same as the last review that was removed. The reviews should be about the hotel/restaurant not about why reviews are being removed. I dont think this post is about the Delfino Blu anymore it is about Trip Advisor. And I don't think it is correct that people think they can give a hotel a bad review or any review without even staying there or eating there because a previous review has been removed! After all this is peoples businesses and livelihoods you are talking about, and we all know that the lovely wonderful people of San Stef have felt a big decline in their businesses these last few years.
-
I think you're missing the point.
A perfectly sensible review by Silverstar of the very poor experience she had at Delfino Blu was removed without her being notified. TA did not respond to her request for reasons. Gavlah and I have asked for information and received no reply. The only place to point out that TA cannot be trusted is on TA itself, which is why two people have posted comments in the DB thread.
Other places - like Romanza, Little Prince, Nafsika - have not had adverse criticism removed. Owners have a right of reply. Why was that no used?
DB may be posh and expensive, but it does not have a God-given right to have criticism removed.
-
And it clearly states on the lastest Trip Advisor post........ "This is not a review of the hotel"
-
Jim I am not missing the point, I agree Silverstars review should never have been removed, but for others to give DB reviews regarding posts being removed, surely isn't fair, quote from yourself "We've now seen two examples of TA pulling things. In the second case, it make sense, because it wasn't a review"
Put the question on the Corfu forum page and see what the results are, but not on DB review page.
And yes Gav it does say its not a review, so it shouldn't be there.
-
Trip Advisor should have the courtesy to respond to their emails then people wouldnt think that they need to resort to these measures just to get an answer!!
-
Jimbo - I haven't got the text of what I wrote unfortunately.
However update - had an email from TA:-
Hello,
Thank you for contacting TripAdvisor.
As our guidelines state, we do not post reviews that include things you have overheard from other guests or your account of another party’s experience.
We hope you will consider re-submitting a review that meets our guidelines:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/help/our_guidelines_for_traveler_reviews
Thank you for your understanding. Please feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions or concerns.
Kind Regards,Herwin
TripAdvisor Support Team
What a crock of pants!!!
Thoughts?
-
I think you're missing the point.
A perfectly sensible review by Silverstar of the very poor experience she had at Delfino Blu was removed without her being notified. TA did not respond to her request for reasons. Gavlah and I have asked for information and received no reply. The only place to point out that TA cannot be trusted is on TA itself, which is why two people have posted comments in the DB thread.
Other places - like Romanza, Little Prince, Nafsika - have not had adverse criticism removed. Owners have a right of reply. Why was that no used?
DB may be posh and expensive, but it does not have a God-given right to have criticism removed.
It's hard to say it Jimbo but I agree with you.
-
Trip Advisor should have the courtesy to respond to their emails then people wouldnt think that they need to resort to these measures just to get an answer!!
I would imagine TA get thousands of e-mails, and maybe haven't got round to responding to yours yet! However I still think it is very bad manners to give a hotel any sort of review if you haven't even stayed or eaten there. TA should never have put the comments on DB page. (not Silverstars comments because that was a real review) I really I don't want to get into a big debate with anyone, I am just giving my opinion.
-
Silverstar.....
I've had one review removed before for a hotel in Egypt. It was posted onto TA then went about 2 days later. I got an email telling me I could alter it and post it again which I did.
A group of girls had their room robbed and were then treated like criminals themselves for complaining. It was only due to the intervention of me and another male guest that made the hotel investigate their claim correctly. They were taken to a police station for 5 hours and basically accused of being prostitutes and told that it was their fault.
I put this on Trip Advisor and was told that I couldnt make unsubstantiated claims. They might have been unsubstantiated to TA but they werent to the 20 or so guests who saw all of this play out!!
I was actually still giving the hotel 4/5 but was just pointing out to folk to be careful in the first place and that the hotel didnt really help in regards to this.
-
Waspman agreed with me twice! I am delighted!
TA's response to Silverstar (after the effective prodding in the DB thread) is plainly a complete load of old toad-poo, since it was a first-person account and not a second-hand report.
Jaxbubbles - TA claim to respond in 5-8 days. They don't. So that's a lie. They claim that they will notify you if your post is deemed unworthy. They didn't, so that's a lie. Silverstar had to go to considerable effort to get any response at all. If they are pulling critiques in response to advertisers, that's bad practice. We have to query them on their own ground first; it's naive to think that posting something on a forum like this is going to worry TA - they won't read it and won't care.
They have invited Silverstar to re-submit. That's interesting, because it implies that the cage has been rattled slightly.
So Silverstar must re-submit. When doing this, write it first in a word-processor, save the file, then copy and paste into the submission form. That way it's kept for later comparison. We will then see how long it survives.
Finally - for now - it does no good for the other owners in Agios Stephanos for one owner to dominate TA.
-
Silverstar - I seem to recall your TA review was almost word for word what you posted here, so I'd copy and paste from here and then re-read it to see if you think any of it contravenes any TA guidelines and amend it appropriately.
The TA reply looks like an automatic response rather than addressing anything specific you (or anyone else) questioned. I doubt you'll ever get a personal response from a company as big as TA, but a company of that size should have a formal complaints team (for hosts as well as reviewers), but I'd imagine it would take forever to actually find the personal details of a person who would manage the complaint. Try something generic like complaints@tripadvisor.co.uk - you never know.
-
Ok - I think you are right Woodman and my TA review was pretty much what I wrote on my opening this thread.
So I will amend and re-post BUT will post here first for your thoughts.
I think the second hand account that TA refers to can only be my saying that friends in SS say that is the way Kosta trains his staff - there is nothing else that isnt a first hand account.
-
Jimbo I meant Trip Advisors forum not this one. There are other people who have mentioned reviews being removed.
-
Amended review - comments pls. I have tweaked it to remove any possible reason for them for them to pull it.
I have eaten at the Delfino Blu several times in 2008/9 and have always really liked it and had good food and service.
I suggested to my parents that we eat there during our stay this year as for one reason or another they had never got round to eating there and quite fancied giving it a try especially after we had said how lovely it was.
My husband went to book a table during the day for 10 of us and was instructed by Kostas to deal with one of the waiters who would take all the details. The waiter (who shall remain nameless…) then proceeded to pull faces and sigh and make out like it was a massive inconvenience to accommodate us and eventually said he would do it.
We turned up at 8pm that night to be told that it was too windy to sit outside and had no tables free indoors so they had cancelled our table!! Well, let’s just say that they were told in no uncertain terms that it was not too windy and we wanted them to sort the table sharpish!!
We were told to go to the pool bar to wait whilst they arranged the table and so we did. However, the bartender couldn’t have had less personality or looked more fed up…..he was completely miserable to the point that we actually left the bar without waiting for our drinks and just waited near our table.
Eventually the table is ready and the same waiter who took the booking is our waiter – rude, condescending and disdainful come to mind when thinking of his behaviour throughout the meal – the food was good (although we did have to send some fries back as they were cold) but I could tell that nobody was really enjoying the meal because of how we had been treated. The waiter must have overheard some of our less than happy comments because at the end of the meal he bought us free drinks and plates of fruit – but the damage was done.
By the time we left we were really annoyed and I now feel that if you are not staying at the hotel then you are not always treated particularly well.
I have eaten at some of the best hotels in the world (Savoy in London, George Cinq in Paris and the Danieli, Venice to name but three) and although I wasn’t staying in the hotel, I was treated with nothing but courtesy and respect. Maybe the Delfino Blu should take note that tonight’s diners could be next year’s hotel guests……?
-
I've been reading this thread as it has unfolded with increasing frustration. I, like many of the contributors on this forum, have used TA to review resorts, places to eat/stay/go etc etc in many places home and abroad and have taken the balance between good and bad reviews at face value. In light of Silverstars experience I feel I'm being taken for a mug.
If you can't trust TA to leave first hand reviews alone what's the point of them. Businesses have a right to respond and thats where the counter-balance comes in so TA should not censor/remove legitmate reviews.
I use Skytrax to review airlines and this debate has got me wondering about them as well now (though there certainly seem to be a lot of poor reviews on their site).
Its all very interesting.
-
Well Tredegar Boy, there are a lot of "poor" reviews on TA. The criteria for post removal does seem to be a bit of a mystery?
-
Well done Siverstar,I particularly like the last paragraph.
-
I've used it for years and to be honest never found it too far from the mark.
If a hotel has a mainly brilliant reviews and then a person gives it poor I look to see if that person has reviewed other hotels and if they moaned about those places too!! Also it's worth looking at the resorts they've also been to as to whether you'd think the holiday they've just reviewed was suitable for them in the first place!
Usually a pattern emerges.
The ones that I can't get my head are like the one I saw whilst weighing up whether to stay at the Tsaros or not. This certain review gave it a poor because it was up a steep hill. Now I don't think the hotel will have moved between that person booking it and arriving!
-
The lastest post on TA has also disappeared now. The fact is though that if DB are getting any unfavourable posts removed then it does not give TA readers a true picture of the hotel. The not so favourable posts on all the other hotels/apartments have been allowed to stand, very odd indeed. The hotel has a right to reply so why can't they use this facility as other hotels/restaurant owners do?
-
Does anyone know whether just by hitting the 'Problem with this review?' button, the review disappears while it is 'considered' by the relevant team at TA? If that's the case, that could be the reason why the 'reviews' about posts being removed are going so quickly (being reported either by the staff, someone at TA or by any other reviewer).
This has gone beyond being about a poor experience at the restaurant and is now more about the impartiality of Trip Advisor.
-
Im not suprised the last two were removed as in reality they weren't actual reviews.
-
Post it, Silverstar.
-
Re-posted on TA - lets see what dumb ass excuse they come up with to remove it now.
My SS friend thought that Kostas might have had the previous one pulled because I wasnt reviewing the hotel as a guest but the restaurant. Not sure why that would matter but it may be the angle that K is working to get it removed.
Let's see!
-
Hasn't appeared yet.
There are lots of eating out at DB...
-
It's appeared now, but for how long, any bets?
-
11 "helpful" votes and counting!!!
-
Interesting to see if the other posts praising the Hotel also now get increases in "helpful" votes"?
-
will it beat 16 in the charts, from 6th march 13
-
Still there!!! with 35 "helpful" votes now.
-
Own up, how many have given it helpful vote.
I'll put me hand up.
-
Kostas has given his reply
-
Well done Kostas, (I bet he was secretly delighted to be benchmarked against the Savoy). I'm so glad we know both sides to the story. Good copy!
-
Anybody else noticed that the little map called "Browse Nearby" puts Delfino Blu squarely in the middle of Agios Stephanos North EAST! :-)
-
Anybody else noticed that the little map called "Browse Nearby" puts Delfino Blu squarely in the middle of Agios Stephanos North EAST! :-)
Is that where you'd like it moved to Jim? If you click on the map, it then plants it firmly on the eastern side of the Greek mainland. According to TA, Fedra Mare is on the western side of the mainland too.
-
OMG - the lies Kostas has told. I am emailing him directly - am fricking LIVID!!
"Regarding your review, you requested a specific table on the terrace at front for 10 persons, which was not possible as there isn’t space for a table that big there. Our restaurant supervisor offered you a side table, where you would be more comfortable, however as the weather forecast at that time was unpredictable, he had advised you to confirm your reservation on the day you were coming which you didn’t."
Err.....we booked the table at 11am in the morning for that evening - there was no need to confirm the booking.
Due to the bad weather conditions on that specific day, the terrace was closed and the indoor restaurant was fully booked. When we didn’t get any call from you, the booking was cancelled because of the weather. The same thing that happened to you, happened with three other bookings that day.The parties had called to confirm and we were able to tell them the terrace was closed and they were able to amend their bookings.
LIAR!! The terrace was not closed and indeed two other couples sat down to eat within 30 minutes of us arriving.
The interior of the restaurant was full and we kindly asked you to wait and take an aperitif until a table became available or to make a new reservation for the next day. Despite the fact all other guests were dining inside, you insisted on having a table fixed on the terrace, even though the service was not possible under these circumstances.
LIAR - refer above - the terrace was not closed.
SO LIVID!!!
-
Is it possible that Kostas does not like beautiful women?
-
Should he not invest in some kind of structure with windbreaks like the Romanza, Athina, Aquarius has?
Therefore he would lessen the impact of the weather on potential bookings.
It was very breezy throughout June and Glenn at. Aquarius told me that the places on the front without the breaks would be losing business as folk were unable to eat outside
-
Jimbo - I would laugh but I am too darn angry. Can you review my email to Kostas because my Italian blood is raging and I fear that I am currently too angry to send anything objective.
This is my first draft:-
Kostas
I recently wrote a review for Delfino Blu on Trip advisor which you replied to yesterday.
To say that I am livid is frankly an understatement and I would like to settle the matter as you are clearly misguided around what actually happened that evening.
See below for your comments and my response:-
Your comment
First of all I would like to point out that all guests are welcomed in “Kohili” restaurant, regardless of whether they are staying in the hotel or not. You actually, mention that fact in your review as well, when you say that you have trusted our restaurant since 2008 and 2009. Nothing has changed with our dedication to quality and service standards.
My Reply
Not all guests are welcomed in your hotel and I know for a fact that people have been asked to leave the premises when simply looking around to see if it’s somewhere they would like to stay or eat. Your reputation is known in the resort – I have defended the hotel in the past because I have had lovely meals there and have been treated well but you managed to ruin that in one evening.
Your Comment
Regarding your review, you requested a specific table on the terrace at front for 10 persons, which was not possible as there isn’t space for a table that big there. Our restaurant supervisor offered you a side table, where you would be more comfortable, however as the weather forecast at that time was unpredictable, he had advised you to confirm your reservation on the day you were coming which you didn’t.
My Reply
This is an outright lie. My husband booked the table around 11am in the morning and we were eating at 8pm that night – he was never told he had to reconfirm the table due to the fact we were eating the same evening. You host wedding parties at the hotel – I fail to see how a table of 10 people threw up such problems for you. Rubbish.
Your comment
Due to the bad weather conditions on that specific day, the terrace was closed and the indoor restaurant was fully booked. When we didn’t get any call from you, the booking was cancelled because of the weather. The same thing that happened to you, happened with three other bookings that day. The parties had called to confirm and we were able to tell them the terrace was closed and they were able to amend their bookings.
My reply
Another lie. The terrace was NOT closed that evening – yes it was slightly windy but not badly enough to close a terrace and besides which there was another couple who arrived within 30 minutes of us and were dining next to our table with their son!!
Your comment
The interior of the restaurant was full and we kindly asked you to wait and take an aperitif until a table became available or to make a new reservation for the next day. Despite the fact all other guests were dining inside, you insisted on having a table fixed on the terrace, even though the service was not possible under these circumstances.
My reply
We were told to wait at the pool bar until our table for 10 was ready on the terrace. The service was possible because you were quite happy to seat the couple with their son on the table next to us and fawn over them all night. Obviously they were hotel guests so clearly entitled to wonderful service and not having their table cancelled.
You have done absolutely nothing to reaffirm my faith in your hotel or your staff by this ficitious reply to my review. I will never eat at your hotel again, nor will I recommend you (as I have in the past).
I am also interested in the disportionate amount of 5* reviews the hotel has and the incredibly small number of poor reviews. Looking at the best 5 and 6 star hotels in the world, they all have a proportionate amount of average or bad reviews yet the Delfino Blu does not. Considering my initial review was pulled by Trip advisor after several days being live on the site, I am starting to wonder how many other negative reviews have been taken down to preserve your ratings.
-
Send it! Bet you don't get a reply.
Love your "Italian blood."
-
Ha ha!! He is going to regret tangling with me!! ;D
I want to calm down and read it tomorrow - I also want to think about anything else I want to add in.
Honestly - I cannot believe how much he has lied to preserve his 5* rating on TA - and all those people who found my review helpful now probably believe the crap he has written!!
I've looked to see if you can reply to his comments and you can't without doing another review.
i.e. Kostas gets the last word!
-
Perhaps you could also ask one of your party of 10 to write a review?
-
or all 10 that would certainly put the proverbial cat among the pigeons!!
-
Silverstar - I think in writing directly to Kostas, you have the opportunity to correct any inaccuracies in his reply - but I don't know how that can be corrected on TA (could/would he amend his reply?). As he has invited you to contact him, I think you also have the opportunity to point out what many people on this forum have said about how they appear to make visitors unwelcome - reiterating the point about them being potential future guests.
-
I think Lesley had the right idea. Get other members of your party to also post a review but use it to also challenge what kosta has written given that you yourself can't reply.
-
I wouldn't want to eat there again
-
I wouldn't want to eat there again
Shame, we were going to take you both there on Tuesday.
-
And we were going to take you there wednesday. :D
-
Ok - so I'm shallow - - but for a free meal................................. LOL
-
sad - if you let someone's experience put you off............ It is such a beautiful place with amazing staff.
-
sad - if you let someone's experience put you off............ It is such a beautiful place with amazing staff.
All joking aside - we have previous experience of the rudeness of Kostas, and that is the put-off - not the nice staff there,
but - - we'll give it some thought next week....
-
See the rave reviews are still coming in thick and fast. Can't think of another hotel to get so many - barely a day goes by before there's another one
-
I'm sure DB has an automated email list system. I can speculate that every customer has had an email along the lines of:
"Dear Precious Boutique Friend,
Certain malicious grovellers have posted reviews on TripAdvisor which have failed to grasp the quality of guests who grace our modest hotel.
It would make the staff and me immensely happy if you, your relatives, children, grandchildren, friends and colleagues, would post a favourable review correcting the false accusation that we are unfriendly to those unfortunates not sufficiently successful in society to stay at our oasis of excellence in the desert of mediocrity that surrounds us and merely wish to explore the magnificent menu which you, our wonderful life-achieving residents, enjoy on a daily basis.
Looking forward to buying you a drink in the bar next year.
Your loving and ever-attentive friend
Kostas"
-
It's a shame. The Mango Bar staff are really great and very friendly.
Hypocrite
-
Mango Bar is NOT Delfino Blu.
-
Silverstar.
I see that your review has been removed again.
Have you received any notification from TA?
-
I cannot believe this. I check on TA probably once a week and look at reviews for places I have stayed at. Romanza, Tsaros and occasionally the 9 Muses in Kefalonia.
Reviews for these are very sporadic and as you'd expect, varied.
It's so obvious that something underhand is going on here. Can't believe Silverstars latest review has gone now??
Shocking.
Something needs doing
-
Perhaps Kostas didn't like the number of helpful reviews it was getting, last time I looked, 3 or 4 days ago, it had 49!!
-
By the way I assume the Athina has more capacity than the Delfino? It has approx 22 Trip Advisor reviews for this summer so far. The Delfino has nearly double that?
It gets an amazingly high number of reviews compared to other places in the village.
I think the Tsaros has about 6 from this summer.
Something very fishy about all this. Surely Kostas isn't making up reviews is he?
-
By George - you're right, Gavin. It has indeed vanished, along with Kostas' strangely eloquent rebuttal.
I think that even the most devoted admirers of DB may ponder the avalanche of favourable reviews (way beyond what might reasonably be expected) and the strange disappearance of adverse comments.
-
DB has had 43 reviews already this year!!!!
Had a quick count up and 30% are first time reviewers. They do say that first time reviews are the ones that maybe "dodgy".
Don't know if this is a particularly high percentage.
Had a quick count up of a few other places -
Nafsika 16 reviews this year and 25% were first time reviewers.
Romanza 19 reviews with 10.5% first time reviewers.
Little Prince 21 reviews with 9.5% first time reviewers.
Thomas Bay 42 reviews with 19% first time reviews.
Teresas 14 reviews with 14% first time reviewers.
-
Don't know what's going on but I do know it smells worse than the harbour.
-
I would say it stinks more than a smoker's breath and clothes.
-
Now now
Papapetros don't preach.....
-
Didn't mean to preach Gavlah,just trying to be fagtual.
-
I would say it stinks more than a smoker's breath and clothes.
Gavlah, is this where I come in? Ding ding round 3!
-
Ha ha..... straight over the head!!
-
Cheap, I call it. I don't moan about pound-shop perfume wafting over my kebab.
-
I think the post 'Dear Precious...... although intended to be funny and 'tongue in cheek' is completely uncalled for. We went for a look around a couple of years ago and were treated with politeness, shown the menu and wished a pleasant evening. This is someone's livelihood and after all we all want San Stefanos to thrive.
The attraction of San Stefanos for me is that it has something for everyone. Some people don't like the Condor Bar, and I must admit we don't go there as we like to be outside, but one chilly May evening we were glad of the warmth and entertainment. Gerry James got slated at first but the Silver Star was always packed. I love the resort, quiet evenings, entertainment, reasonable prices etc.
We have stayed in lots of resorts on Corfu - Kassiopi, Kalami, Arillas, Roda, Sidari, Moratika, Aghios Gordios, St Georges South - and enjoyed every holiday but San Stefanos is still our favourite.
-
Winj - I think you are slightly missing the point.
We love the fact that SS has something for everyone and acknowledge that people are not going to all champion the same places, however my review of the DB was balanced and they had absolutely no reason to remove it.
They gave the reasons for removing the first review I made on the basis that I mentioned other people's opinions, so with the support of everybody on this thread, I re-wrote and reposted it which this time illicited a response from the silver fox himself and he completed LIED about the events that evening to discredit my review.
Now once again, it has been removed. I was actually waiting for this to happen before I sent my acerbic email directly to Kostas and letting him though what a throughly stinky business this all is.
The reviews for the DB are definitely fixed and I am sick of Kostas using TA for his own means. It defeats the whole purpose of the site and I am livid that he has the power to remove the reviews that he doesn't like.
He is about to experience the wrath of a seriously annoyed lady.
-
Silverstar
You could involve consumer programmes on TV, Like Watchdog etc. I bet yours wont be the only complaint about the impartiality of TA
-
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151694515101452&l=1cdfed6eee
Check the Link - - Health & Safety (Not) at Delfino Blue - - Poor children - I hope no one was injured..
-
Perhaps a review on TA? ;D
-
We've been lucky enough to have stayed at Delfino Blu twice. On our first stay in Sept 2012, the bottom of this slide landed on level sand. Kostas told me the winter storms took 2m of sand away from the beach, hence the drop that now exists. When we returned in June this year, our son was quite upset that he couldn't use the slide anymore - he'd thoroughly enjoyed it the previous September. I am surprised Kostas hasn't removed it, but I think he was more concerned about protecting the rest of Mango being eroded by the sea - he put the stone wall in to protect it. I suspect the play area won't be there next May when we return, probably to be replaced by a further extension of the Mango Bar decking.
-
If they take as long to do it as they have to finish the new pool at the back of DB it'll still be there in 2020.
-
I understand the pool and the other hotel/rooms don't belong to DB and that a friend/associate of Kostas was building them in the same style as DB but that they are no longer working together on the project. There was some work going on to the pool in June, but it wasn't exactly being done at breakneck speed, maybe for 4 or 5 of the 11 days we were there and only then probably between 10am and 3 pm at most!
-
I was chatting to one of my friends in SS this week and apparently the removal of my reviews on TA has been talked about quite a bit and has further raised questions on Kostas' involvement in the censoring of reviews regarding DB.
It has done nothing to help his already dubious reputation and I for one will never visit DB ever again and I think that will be true for many on this forum.
An odious little man who needs to understand that people have the right to criticise bad service!
-
nothing was officially solved then Silver star?
-
Er no Debra but apparently its been talked about quite a bit in the resort by various accomodation owners as you know what a hotbed of gossip SS can be!!
He really has not done himself or the hotel any favours by behaving like this and unfortunately it also calls into question the validity and integrity of TA.
-
yes the TA angle is a real worry - I always check it!
-
Have never stopped at DB and never will, its clearly over priced and has developed purely on its 'snob' value.
We stay at the Fedra Mare when possible where the rooms are twice the size and the hospitality ten times better!
There are now so many places in SS that offer superior accommodation, just look at some of those offered by San Stef Travel, Vassillis, Sugar & Almond and Parilia, all of those offer apartments that are better than DB at half the price.
And have you seen the outside of DB recently? Its a rubbish tip, if I had paid the inflated price to stop there and had a apartment with an inland view I would be seriously pi**ed off.
Don't pay those stupid prices the place just isn't worth it.
However, I love the Mango Bar and its friendly staff!
Andy
-
Andy - I couldn't agree more - and the Mango staff are great.
-
Hey Silverstar
Just found your review still on trip advisor - on Kohili restaurant? Delfino Blu. Its still there
-
I'm sure it is - together with Kostas' lying response that I can't reply to!