San Stefanos Online ~ North West Corfu
Welcome to San Stefanos (NW Corfu) => San Stefanos news and views => Topic started by: Rod on September 16, 2020, 06:38:57 PM
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Hello all. Just a quick update as my wife and I have been here a week now. First of all I must mention the apartments that we are in, Fedra Mare. They are fabulous, nipping clean, lovely pool area, unbelievably quiet, the hosts are professional and the group of guests staying here are all lovely and we all get along.
It has already been mentioned on this board but here we go again;
CLOSED - Nafsika, Thomas Bay, Acabar, Athens Bar, 180°.
The beach is relatively full throughout the day and Waves and Manthos are doing a roaring trade at lunchtime. The Tavernas/restaurants are mostly full on an evening. The bars such as Prince Bar, Star Bar and Condor are all busy. Kamini, Aquarius, El Greco, Barras, 3 W and Bar 38 are all "ticking along nicely". Prices are more or less the same as last year. Most if not all owners of said establishments are pleasantly surprised of takings as they were worried at the beginning of the season. The flight and airport experience was a breeze. We both feel more safe here than we do at home especially as there has been a rise in covid cases in the North East.
Finally the weather ........... has been absolutely fantastic with brilliant sunshine every day with temperatures of 31°. However there is a thunderstorm predicted for Thursday night into the early hours of Friday and then bright sunshine again. Take care everyone and stay safe.
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Good to hear such a positive report Rod and glad to hear you are really enjoying your holiday. Like so many others we hope to be there next year. Enjoy the rest of your holiday. :)
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Sounds fab Rod, I'm really envious!
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Thanks Rod! Great report and I'm so glad everyone is doing well. I'm sure you'll continue to enjoy your holiday! :)
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Great report Rod, Fedra is top notch, as are the lovely hosts, oh, and Eirini lol. Get yourself on the apartment balcony, and witness the thunderstorm, we did it a good few times whilst there. Enjoy the rest of your hols mate.
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Enjoy while you can Rod, looks like you may be in lock-down on return ???
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Thanks for the comments. I might do another update later in the week.
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Thanks for the comments. I might do another update later in the week.
Would appreciate that Rod, thank you :)
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Enjoy while you can Rod, looks like you may be in lock-down on return ???
Oh...where did you see that Geordie?
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Oh...where did you see that Geordie?
It was on the BBC news last night, might have been the local Yorkshire news, but main news this morning. Not good for us or our family there either.
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It was on the BBC news last night, might have been the local Yorkshire news, but main news this morning. Not good for us or our family there either.
Oh dear...
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Don't steal our sunshine! We are coming out Monday (Bojo -willing!) although I must admit I can't get excited yet as I am still convinced it will go boobs-up at the last minute!! I think I will get excited when the wheels touch down on the tarmac at Corfu airport! Thanks for the report-it helps us decide where we will go to eat each night
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Thanks for the update, Rod. Sounds fabulous and wish we were there! Glad you're having a great time and enjoy the rest of your stay. ;)
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Sorry about the news Rod, do hope this does not impact you too much, but thought it best you knew. It does not seem (to me) too bad. Enjoy!
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It was on the BBC news last night, might have been the local Yorkshire news, but main news this morning. Not good for us or our family there either.
I think we will all be on lockdown soon, the way things are going...
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Sorry about the news Rod, do hope this does not impact you too much, but thought it best you knew. It does not seem (to me) too bad. Enjoy!
Cheers geordieborn. What will be will be. We still have another week so we are keeping the UK restrictions out of our minds for now. ::)
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The village is lovely, if it wasnt for the face masks worn by the staff and your brief need in the shops you wouldnt know Covid existed. Everyone is chiiled and enjoying the sun.
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Well this is our last day in the beautiful resort of San Stefanos as my wife and I fly back to the (infected) UK tomorrow morning. :D
First of all if you recall my original post I forgot to mention that Beer o' Clock is also closed. However there is a new trendy cocktail bar opposite The Thomas Bay Hotel called Hideout that is very good.
We have dined at Gravia, Olympia, Fantasea, Yiannis Grill, Yiannis Gyros (opposite Silver Moon), Manthos, Mistral and Condor in the village. We also visited Night Owl and Panorama up in Afionas. I must give a special mention to Condor as it took me years to persuade my snobby wife to dine there. It has amazing breakfasts (eggs benedict for wife) and the fajitas are the best that I have tasted anywhere. It's still a bit not right eating your food when a mad DJ is shouting out quiz questions, but hey ho.
The locals are so grateful for the British holiday makers as they would probably have been struggling without us.
I am typing away and in the background an amazing thunderstorm is doing it's thing. Thunder, lightning and rain but still very warm. We have had a fantastic holiday and I can honestly say covid is being managed very well here and we have always felt safe. We even did a day trip to Corfu Town where there were six of us on the mini bus with our masks on. It was no big deal and we spent a lovely afternoon and a fantastic lunch in Belissimo (look it up).
All in all we are so pleased that we came and have already booked for next year. Take care everyone.
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Cheers, Rod! Nice to have some pleasant news.
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Crikey Rod, did you weigh yourself when you left home.
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Great review Rod, really appreciate it. Sounds like you've had a fabulous time and visited lots of bars and restaurants, that's good! So , rainy here in the South East...have a safe and comfortable journey home :)
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Crikey Rod, did you weigh yourself when you left home.
I think I may have lost weight actually Charlie. What with all our early morning treks and eating probably more healthy food than back home. I haven't had any junk such as pizza/kebab and most of my meals I ask for rice or boiled potatoes as an accompaniment. The hot weather has also dampened our appetites. We have made up for it mind you with the cheap wine (hic).
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Great review Rod, really appreciate it. Sounds like you've had a fabulous time and visited lots of bars and restaurants, that's good! So , rainy here in the South East...have a safe and comfortable journey home :)
Thanks Karen. Next year eh?
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Haha!
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Thanks Karen. Next year eh?
Yes already booked for July Rod ;)
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Super post Rod, wish you safe travels home sir. Thank you for the updates too, so missed being there this year, it is a wonderful place to visit, so friendly and so many different places to eat for such a small village. Maybe catch up with you next year, fingers crossed 8).
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Great report yesterday Rod really enjoyed it. When you are home can you report on Corfu airport, changes etc and if things are better now the upgrades are well on the way of being finished..
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Great report yesterday Rod really enjoyed it. When you are home can you report on Corfu airport, changes etc and if things are better now the upgrades are well on the way of being finished..
The Corfu airport experience was surprisingly very good. I say surprisingly because we had mixed reports from previous holiday makers. A small few reported queuing for an hour and twenty minutes to get through passport control. However we absolutely sailed through and there were more than enough seats as it is a little bigger now. I do think though it would still be a crush during peak times. The airport is very modern now and very clean and tidy.
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I’m sure you’re really glad to be back in the UK Rod. ??
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That's great to hear Rod. We found even last year it was improved and we've always found them very efficient.
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I’m sure you’re really glad to be back in the UK Rod. ??
It's blowing a hoolie here, even the cat won't go out!
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We can confirm the Hideout bar mixes some of the best cocktails we have ever had. The long Island Ice Tea was only second to a beach bar in Thailand which needed a pint glass to contain it and Mrs J said the Maithai was the best bar none.
I can also confirm with Rod that we found Corfu Airport a breeze compared to previous years with more work ongoing. They seem to lump all the Brits in one section, gates 1-4.
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Thanks Jackson :)
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I'm glad to hear airport getting abit easier, that was the one thing I hated after having a terrible experience there a few years again. I'm not a relaxed traveller. Weather looks very windy there today like here. I don't mind walking on the beach at San Stefanos in windy weather it's very refreshing.
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Yes, the weather keeps changing today, I bet it's warmer than here though!
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At least now you can drop your cases at check in without that stupid second queue for the cases. More security check areas and as I said a special area for Brits at gates 1-4 beyond passport control. It has a coffee and sandwich shop and bar with draft beer, although that was closed off, not sure if that was for covid or building reasons.
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The case drop off is good :)
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Greetings from our balcony at the vicky. Another thunderstorm rumbling around but currently no rain or lightning. Like everyone else we feel safer here than at home and so glad we came. We've eaten at little prince and Olympia twice, barras, 2 stars and zorbas. I was disappointed with the latter as they didn't seem to be trying too hard. I had stamna and it was enormous lumps of chewy beef and underdone vegetables ! And I dislike the habit some restaurants have of bringing out their choice of dessert for you! Also a strange smell of corfiot bathroom at the entrance of zorbas🤢 . Lesley has looked after us all so well here even though there are only about half a dozen of us left.
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So pleased you're having a lovely time, Hobbes, thanks for your post. Looking at the web cam, the sea has been in a long way, I guess it's the storms.
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Sorry to hear about your disappointing meal at Zorbas hobbes. Did you complain? I would have if it was that bad. As for the dessert, many of the restaurants will serve a small portion of something sweet at the end of the meal, this is complimentary and not normally added to the bill. A nice touch I think..
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I am surprised to hear that about Zorbos.
I have always found the food and atmosphere excellent, having said that I have not been this year.
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Been viewing some pics this morning via social media. The village is all but closed, even Tasty Corner, which I thought was open all year round. Its a ghost town, there are folks still heading out this month, my word, it is going to be difficult finding somewhere to eat. I think the Barras and Teresas still open at the moment, but until when Im unsure. The beach is deserted, no beds or brollies, just looks completely different now, incredible how in a few days, the village changes into winter mode.
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I was thinking pretty much the same Winkie. I too wonder what is open there now for anyone going out...
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Town Pizza is probably still open. Arillas will have plenty, because a lot of people live there, and also Sidari.
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I see the goats are on Manthos ' car park helping keep the grass down.
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The photos showing on Social Media were taken at 08.30 in the rain - in fairness even high season not much is open at 08.30 - so roll on a few hours, the sun came through and the place looks lovely again. There is plenty open for those still coming out for the last 2 weeks of the season - do remember people live here all year round and don't go hungry or thirsty - of course not the same amount of places as 'high season' however again there is not the volume of visitors to warrant this - same for any seaside place really (thinks Southend, Clacton and other UK beaches)...... This is a great time to explore further than the high road - a walk towards the port will take you to Olympia, Zest for Life, Yasameni Cafe, Manthos or turn left and head up to Arillas , passed Town Pizza & Barola our first stop Nikolettas coffee shop before going down into Arillas beach area - a variety open there. We went to Arillas Recycling Centre yesterday and popped into a friends hotel for a frappe in Arillas, back over then to Agios Stefanos for a wine at El Greco, Barras had visitors around the pool and their restaurant also open as was the Bakery, the Station Market, Express, Condor and Vasia's shop. As we drove home Yiannis kebabs was pretty busy. Barola and Barras close this Thursday. I didn't go to the beach but saw Havana's is still open and as today the sun is shining again and a mild 23c sure there will be a few more strollng along the sand. Margarita's suites along with Teresa's, Romanza, Thanasis and a few other private apartments still have guests in resort.......... so whilst there are guests there will be a selection of eating and drinking establishments staying open.....
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The photos showing on Social Media were taken at 08.30 in the rain - in fairness even high season not much is open at 08.30 - so roll on a few hours, the sun came through and the place looks lovely again. There is plenty open for those still coming out for the last 2 weeks of the season - do remember people live here all year round and don't go hungry or thirsty - of course not the same amount of places as 'high season' however again there is not the volume of visitors to warrant this - same for any seaside place really (thinks Southend, Clacton and other UK beaches)...... This is a great time to explore further than the high road - a walk towards the port will take you to Olympia, Zest for Life, Yasameni Cafe, Manthos or turn left and head up to Arillas , passed Town Pizza & Barola our first stop Nikolettas coffee shop before going down into Arillas beach area - a variety open there. We went to Arillas Recycling Centre yesterday and popped into a friends hotel for a frappe in Arillas, back over then to Agios Stefanos for a wine at El Greco, Barras had visitors around the pool and their restaurant also open as was the Bakery, the Station Market, Express, Condor and Vasia's shop. As we drove home Yiannis kebabs was pretty busy. Barola and Barras close this Thursday. I didn't go to the beach but saw Havana's is still open and as today the sun is shining again and a mild 23c sure there will be a few more strollng along the sand. Margarita's suites along with Teresa's, Romanza, Thanasis and a few other private apartments still have guests in resort.......... so whilst there are guests there will be a selection of eating and drinking establishments staying open.....
Thanks Lesley for great update! Makes me want to go back right now!!!! Enjoy your winter, it will be much better than ours in Scotland and our crazy lockdown restrictions. Xx
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Great, Lesley. O Spiros at Havana never closes until it snows!
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When we left two weeksa go they were already beginning to open later.
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Great, Lesley. O Spiros at Havana never closes until it snows!
I can confirm Havana is closed as we bumped into Spiros in his usual wintering hideaway the bear and Billet in Chester. Sadly we saw him the Saturday before lockdown 2, so not sure when we will see him again. hopefully over Christmas and of course in Havana next summer....fingers crossed.
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Of course if we are talking about the same Spiros, such an uncommon name...not. I'm refering to the folically challenged chap. :)