Steve Fountain aged 58. Took semi retirement when made redundant at 51. Back from THASSOS loved it....
Steve Fountain aged 58. Took semi retirement when made redundant at 51. Back from THASSOS loved it. Back to whistling at Trains.
Member since:15.07.2007
Reviews:110
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It was 2 years ago that we stayed at the Villa Plori in Makriyalos on the South East Coat of Crete.
THE BOOKING. ----------------------
As usual I picked out where we wanted to stay for the Holiday not for that year but the next year. For our main Holiday I like to know where and when we are going and where we are staying.
Once picked out of the Travel Book (at this time I was always ending up with KOSMAR, at that time one of the only Greek Specialists and head and shoulders over the competition.
Kosmar would have the Best Accomodation at the best price. If you were paying £500 with Thompson or Cosmos then you paid under £300 with Kosmar, only Manos came close.
Now Kosmar have been taken over by XL I fear the worst. Their brochure has only just appeared (1st Week September) it used to be out in JUNE.
Anyway back to the story, after making my selection I would trawl around the Travel Agents for the best discount.
This time it was VILLA PLORI,, MAKRIYALOS South East Crete (May 2005) all in £289 per person Flights/Transfers/Acoomodation Taxes Suppliments.
Booked with Travel Care and got 12.5 % discount on this. DEAL DONE.
THE BIG DAY ARRIVES ---------------------------------
Night
Flight from East Midlands, normally I prefer day flights, but in this case there was no option. Night Flight to Heraklion Crete.
As it turned out there are benifits when going on a night flight, but it helps when you are just 2 adults and no children, as was the case this time.
No early morning rush to Airport, gives the day to take your time packing.
Taxi booked for 19:00 Airport only 15 miles away East Midlands.
Check in for 22:00 flight. At this point East Midlands was not very good, all the food/drink outlets were closing down, not to worry we had had a meal during the day.
Routine flight out to Crete about 4 hours Departed on time arrived early at about 3;30 a.m.
This had an advantage, it is fairly cool no oven blast of heat as aeroplane door opens.
Airport arrivals is almost empty.
Only our baggage in arrivals.
Escorted to transfer bus.
TRANSFER TO RESORT ------------------------------------
A peaceful transfer as very little traffic.
Heraklion airport is on North Coast so traverse the Island heading South East towards a Glorious Sun Rise.
So by the Time we arrived at Makriyalos the Sun was just up.
MAKRIYALOS --------------------
Makriyalos is a fairly small resort that hugs the Coast. It has one main street that the Bus runs along.
Your first sight is as you come around the bend above it at the Harbour end so you get a lovely view of the stretch of beach to be yours for two weeks.
It has a small harbour at its Western End with a long (Makriyalos makri meaning Long yailos meaning Baech) stretch of clean soft beach.
VILLA PLORI -------------------
the Villa Plori is a block of 8 Apartments that face directly onto the Beach.
we were dropped off at the back of the Villa Plori 5 o'clock in the Morning. The guide said the keys are in the lock (normal for Greece) see you later.
we let ourselves in.
We had a ground floor apartment (as requested at booking)
Like most Greek Apartments/Studios they are basic but are fine for the job that you require of them.
By the Door was the kitchenette the usual two Hot plate unit. Fridge, sink, storage cupboards who needs more on Holiday in Greece. In fact there was a bonus, there was a PLUG in the sink, very rare in Greece.
A door led into Toilet/Shower Room. The normal warning about nothing that has not passed through the mouth to go down the toilet. They have a very small diameter waste pipe so blockages are easy. So you get used to the little bin.
Shower as normal is just a tray with no curtain. Everthing gets wet so be careful where you store the toilet paper.
At the other end of the Room is a DOUBLE BED again requested on booking, we may be old but we still know how to cuddle.
Also a table and Chairs, a wardrobe and chest of draws.
Even Coat Hangers , you certainly get all the comforts.
Most places we have stayed with KOSMAR The contract states that the owner will supply towels but these may be small ones, once again we had nice large towels supplied. Good old Kosmar.
The apratments were cleaned Daily by the Lady who lives next Door and Towels changed twice a week. As were the Sheets.
We then opened the front Frecnch Windows. They open onto a front area about 30 feet deep, Mainly concrete with a few benches and tables. Then the Beach starts.
We had a Cup of Tea. Coffee for me, unpacked and grabbed a couple of Hours sleep.
Then we explored our resort.
There were 4 Ground Floor Apartments with a mirror image on the first floor.
Kosmar had the lot.
Kosmar customers seem to be a very GREEKOPHILE LOT, so mixing is no problem if you want or not if that is your want.
As said earlier the Beach is a very soft sand beach ideal for families etc. There is the normal Sun Beds on hire.
We even had Dolphins just off the beach on 3 seperate Days
So most days are lasy days on the beach interspresed with a day out here and there.
On offer was an Excellent Mountain Village Tour, very Scenic and restful, well worth the time. Brilliant Scenery and History.
A trip to Spinalonga, on whicjh I have done a seperate review. A leaper colony Island until very recently.
EATING OUT ---------------------
As with most quite Greek Resorts evening entertainment is usually a meal in a Taverna then conversation with people you meet.
Makriyalios has a fine selection of Tavernas most around the Small Harbour end but try them all you will not be disappointed with the fare or the price.
We usually ended up at the OLYMPIAN BAR a small bar by the harbour but with a BIG FRIENDLY atmosphere, a place where the owner will sit and talk etc. Nothing is a problem.
My only disapoointment was the Night Liverpool were 0-3 down at half time, we had a trip out next day so at midnight left Liverpool to their fete.
It was not until tea time next day I found out about the best come back ever LIVERPOOL HAD WON.
So like Finikounda (see seperate review) I would give this small south coast resort 10 out of 10 for those seekin GREEK GREECE rather than MALIA.
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It upsets me to see spelling mistakes in your section titles. I also think this review would be better if it was more concise :)
redeyes22 11.09.2007 00:29
great review!!!!!!!!!!!
gizmogizmo 10.09.2007 22:48
An interesting read! and sounds like my kind of resort but I wonder how many of Kosmar's exclusive properties will suffer next year since the sale to Excel?
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