Hi again
I haven't been able to log on since I started this thread, so it's good to see all the responses. It seems as though a few people think we're looking for a really primitive style of holiday, but that couldn't be further from the truth. We normally only get one long holiday each year, we both work, and we just like to relax. Our criteria are quite simple, B & B in a hotel, with air-con, a pool and a pool bar. Usually 8 or 9 days of the holiday are spent by the pool(neither of us particularly like the beach, although we do like the sea), sunbathing, reading and swimming; the rest of the time is taken up by trips of one sort or another, or car hire etc. We don't even like to stay in apartments, always a hotel, so it isn't the style of holiday that has made us say to everyone who asked how our holiday was, 'It was OK'. We usually say 'It was brilliant'.
Quite simply, Arillas just didn't feel 'Greek' enough, so it seemed like we weren't as much 'on holiday' as we usually feel. As for the person who said that bars etc. have to try to cater for everybody, why? In Skala Kalloni on Lesvos, Agia Anna on Naxos and Frikes on Ithaca there was not one single bar showing Sky Sports, nor could you buy any English food except the ubiquitous 'Full English Breakfast', and all three resorts were very well patronised by Brits, so it obviously isn't necessary to try to cater for everybody, only if you aren't very discriminatory about the people you will attract.
We love Greece, and will probably be back somewhere next year. If we could have the food from the Brouklis and the ambience of Lesvos all situated on Naxos, we would probably have the perfect holiday. As it is, we're still searching. We're really happy that so many people love Arillas, and we hope that it dosen't start to go downhill, but just bear in mind that it's unlikely to get any better than it is now, so enjoy it while you can.
Cheers
Sam