Hi all,
Just back from the Arillas Bay apartments and as stated I'm giving my update. Nothing was wrong with the AB that a little care and attention wouldn't fix. The apartment was cleaned almost every day. We arrived on the Monday had a change of bedding & towels on the Thursday and the following Tuesday then just towels the following Thursday/Friday. The toilet bin was emptied most days except Sunday when cleaner wasn't in. However, I didn't see the pool get 'hoovered' out on all but a couple of days in the first week, but this didn't stop everyone using it on a daily basis.
We stayed in apartment A5. In the main bedroom we only had one working lighbulb in the bedside light, one light unit being broken and the main room light didn't work either. When raised with Yiannis on our first Wednesday(after being raised at the welcome meeting with Rep, who obviously did not follow up as to whether the problem had been fixed) he siad he would get an electrician in the next day - needless to say he never appeared. It would be interesting to know how many people had raised the problem before us or just struggled along with one light, this wasn't a problem until you closed the shutters.
On the plus side- this is the first Greek apartment where there has been a shower curtain AND a holder for the shower, fantastic and we had plenty of hot water the whole time, no matter what time you went in the shower, even 6:30 in the morning as it was on our departure day.
Around the pool there was plenty of sunbeds and didn't have a problem getting an umberella. The cleaner swept around the pool area every moring when she was in.
As far as the Sea Breeze restaurant goes. The food was on a par with most of the other places, not exceptional by any means. The first Saturday we had Lamb on the Spit, and the restaurant was full- all waiting patiently for the lamb which had obvioulsy not been put on early enough. When it eventually arrived at the table there wasn't alot of it and it was not very hot, however, it was nice. Some nights the place was practically empty and this could be the drawback from being the last restaurant on the bay. We ate at the Stakis grill room and the Mirage mainly. Unfortunately only going to the latter in the second week otherwise I think we'd have been there most nights as the food is excellent and if you go for the specials is very reasonable. Also the service there was superb and there was not much waiting around to get the food.
All in all, having done a bus tour round San Stefanos, Sidaria & Roda whilst on the way to Paleokastritsa, I can certainly say that Arillas is by far the best resort and I would have no problem recommending Arillas and the AB apartments to anyone else. It is unfortunate the the previous holidaymakers had a bad time and it is definately better to be forewarned of any problems and I thank the for that, but all seems to be okay now and I hope other people going wait and see what it's like when they get there before judging it too soon. My family and I have had a fantastic 2 weeks and I wouldn't hesitate in going back. Hi to Jenny, Jane, Sally, Ray, Sara & Sammy it was lovely to meet you all, hope you all got home safe and sound.
Best wishes
Janine, Mike, Joshua & Izaak