Arillas Forum

Welcome to Arillas => Arillas general information => Topic started by: dimitris on April 03, 2008, 10:40:38 PM

Title: How I found Arillas!
Post by: dimitris on April 03, 2008, 10:40:38 PM
Well, I did not find Arillas It seems that Arillas found me!!
I was born in Arillas
I sometines ask my guests in the Taverna how did they find our little Arillas.
Was it recommended? By a last minute deal? etc.
It will be interesting  for me and for other people to know your story don't you think so?
Kalispera every one!

Dimitris
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Paul C on April 03, 2008, 10:50:27 PM
We went to a travel agent with some dates in mind asked them to find us a holiday in Corfu.We had been to Paleo before, they found us a vacancy in the Rainbow and have never looked back. third year in Arillas.Not as many visits as most ,but we love it.
Paul
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: gaye on April 03, 2008, 11:29:12 PM
Always had a great affection for corfu having spent 4 holidays in Paleocastritsa After a break of some years and as a married couple, we had a holiday in Kassiopi and rediscovered the magic of this beautiful island. Our girls really enjoyed the holiday so we decided to book for the following year, anywhere on the island. This time we would be bringing a much loved friend of the girls........Maria.
At the Travel Agent, we were offered San Stefanos and as we had not been so far north on the western coast we took it.
We loved it and Maria did also, it being her first time abroad.
We arrived home on 21st August and Maria died 10 days later...sudden adolescent death. We were devastated. She was 13 years old.
Next Summer we felt that we needed a break so returned to the same travel agent asking what they had anywhere.
We were offered vavillas apartments in Arillas. O.K. we thought, maybe this would be theraputic. We had never heard of Arillas and had no idea how close it was to San Stef!
We arrived at 2 a.m. wondering whether we had done the right thing and when we hired a car and realised just how close we were to all of our precious memories it just felt so right. Almost fate!
Sorry to have gone on a little but just typing this has helped.
We have revisited Arillas 4 times since and just feel so at peace there. x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: blondegirl on April 04, 2008, 12:45:50 AM
That was really nice to read Gaye.

We were what you might call regular visitors to Crete with our girls and decided we needed a change.  We didnt really fancy Corfu as we thought it was wetter than most Greek Islands, full of mozzies etc.  But we thought we would try and look for somewhere and ended up in Agios Gordios, had a beach bungalow and had a wonderful relaxing holiday, much more so than in Crete,  I think it was because we always hired a car and would visit friends there. Even though it did rain when in Ag. Gordios  it didnt put us off.   Anyhow, the following year we couldnt find the same accommodation in Agios Gordios and didnt want to stay anywhere else so looked at another part of the island.  Arillas came up, we didnt know anything about it, we booked for the Galini and it came at a time in our life where we were having some sad family problems too.  It was a bit of a recuperation and healing process for us and I think that is why it is a special place for us in that way.  These are our own personal memories we are making now, this is our time and we will always have special memories of other holidays but Arillas is for us very special. We took my best friend with us last year, she has been a real true friend and I wanted to share Arillas with her, I will shut up now or I will end up in tears too!

What have you started Dimitris?  You could write a book about the reasons why we all started visiting Arillas.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: RUSSELL on April 04, 2008, 01:57:25 AM
We found Arillas through Thomas Cooks when I was looking for somewhere to go for our 25th wedding anniversary ,but like blondegirl we had a sad family problem before we could go
It was a healing and recuperation process for us also, thats why we love to go back.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: PaulnMaria on April 04, 2008, 02:26:53 AM
To be honest, we never really fancied Corfu although we loved Greece and had tried numerous islands ..naxos, santorini, lefkadas, zakynthos to name just a few. We just pictured Kavos and Sidari and thought Corfu? oh no!!
Then, we were in the local travel agent looking for our next Greek holiday to suit Paul's fixed dates from work. The agent asked us where we had been in the past that we really liked. Naxos we said. At the time still quite traditional and off the main tourist track. The only flights that matched our dates were to Kos and Corfu. The travel agent said I have the ideal place for you...Arillas!  She was sooooo right. It is such a wonderful place, friendly, traditional and very relaxing (even if we do walk for miles during each stay). Prior to visiting Arillas we had never returned to the same holiday destination but we are now looking forward to our sixth visit and planning our seventh for later this year. We certainly have caught the Arillas bug!   
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Sandy x on April 04, 2008, 02:34:41 AM
I had visited several Greek islands in my youth(!) ,including Corfu, and in 1993 was looking for somewhere to take my children aged 11 and 9 on a limited budget. Looking through the various holiday brochures, Corfu seemed to have the quickest direct flights and I wanted somewhere with a pool as they were not too keen on the beach. But I also wanted somewhere quiet and peaceful. So looking through the various options, I suddenly came across Arillas, described as quiet and off the beaten track....I noticed Manos seemed to do excellent deals for families....so I booked up!

And the rest is history. Simple really.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on April 04, 2008, 04:00:23 AM
Our story, like so many others was about an accidental discovery. Friends of ours were searching for the cheapest foreign holiday possible that three couples could do together. None of us had been to Corfu before, though Jen and I had always wanted to. We had been to Rhodes, and adored the Greek culture and lifestyle. Linda came bursting in to our house one day and said "I've found this place called Arillas. It's dead cheap."

We were tarts for bargains so we booked there and then. Linda and I hugged and jumped up and down. The next few weeks we were singing "Oh we're going to Arillas" to the tune of "Oh I'm going to Ibiza" (Purists could tell us the exact song...)

We arrived and stayed at Elena Studios. It was an Olympic package, and the rep was the lovely Lorna. On the first day, I was dressed in matching red shorts and T-Shirt. Trinny and Suzanna would have had a heart attack with that red cloth against my milk-bottle white but very sun-reddened skin. I looked ridiculous but nobody cared. She asked if the holiday was all right, expecting a string of complaints, and I told her I had "died and gone to heaven." I already knew that I had fallen in love again, only this time it was a place and not a woman.

We had a fantastic holiday about which I could write Blondegirl's book. Jen who is supervising this post agrees with every word I am saying.

After this accidental discovery, we came back the next year. Jenny got eaten alive by mosquitos and had to have medical treatment. It kept us away for four years while our "friends" took us to Ibiza and Benidorm. What a mistake that was. We hate Benidorm with a passion. No sun on the streets because the high rise concrete flat blocks keep it out. I got robbed twice, and worse. We both knew where we really wanted to be, and Jen had the courage to say let's try a week in Arillas. That was last summer. Boots Jungle strength etc.

We had fantastic meals with Giannis and Litsa in Thalassa who treated us as if we had never been away. Brother Spiros spent ages talking to us and making us feel part of it all. Anna's Kostas came up to Jen while we sat in their bar and gave her a big hug as soon he saw us. She was overwhelmed to believe he even remembered her. Filipos and Angela Goudelis of the Christos Apartments welcomed us back. It goes on and on. So many more stories will have to go in this book BG - who should write it?

We had only experienced a small part of Arillas by then. We didn't "meet" Dimitris until the forum. We signed up to it just before last October when we came out to Arillas again, and when we met Eggy in the Coconut. It was fate.

If you want to have an accident - find Arillas. Life will never be the same but it will be better.

Phil and Jenny
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Erja on April 04, 2008, 08:58:58 AM
I was working in Corfu for the summer season 1992 and I first arrived in Arillas when I delivered a hire car to client. Then I had to just sit on the beach and wait for someone to come and pick me up to go back to Corfu town. I remember thinking how perfectly nice the beach was and there were no crowds taking up all the space as the case was in some other beaches on the island.

I was dating a guy called Akis and we always came to Arillas on my day off to hang out on the beach for the day. This continued for the summer seasons 1992 and 1993. Then my first time back was last summer and although slightly busier, Arillas is still a haven for me and I just relax as soon as I get there :)
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: TONYNEW on April 04, 2008, 09:05:03 AM
We Found Arillas after staying in San Stef next door a good few years ago , after visiting several other greek islands we decided to go back to corfu last year and again this year this will be our 5th time so that just shows how much we love the place its the best of all the other islands we have stayed in
                                              Tony
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: blondegirl on April 04, 2008, 10:14:49 AM
I love reading these, please keep it going.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: sharonF on April 04, 2008, 10:20:21 AM
First went to Corfu in 2005 on a last minute booking, ended up in Sidari!  Hated the resort, but we loved the people and the loveliness of the island so booked for Acharavi the next year.  It was nice but just didnt have that naturalness I was looking for.  Decided we would give Corfu one more chance.  Arillas came up, on special offer.  There were a couple of other resorts to choose from but I had looked up Arillas on the Net and it sounded exactly what I wanted.  Stayed at Leonidas across from the Tria.  That was in the July.  So we came and fell in love with the village and the people, booked whilst there to return that September to the Tria.

The rest is history, there is simply no where else to compare and I dont want to go anywhere else.

So that's how I discoved it Dimitris and i'm so glad I did.

Sharon x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: TerryW on April 04, 2008, 11:36:33 AM
This is a really good idea for a topic. Here is our story.

This time last year we had our annual dilemma. Do we go to somewhere we know and have a very relaxing holiday or do we take a gamble and try somewhere new. The fear is that you go else where and spend two weeks at a place you don't like and wishing that you had gone to your normal destination.

We had been going to Mounda Bay, near Skala in Kefalonia since 1999, and if you look at this video you will see why Lots of beach with hardly anyone on it and a hotel that is right amongst the sand dunes (http://www.marinabay.gr/ )

The only problem was that you didn't really see anyone to talk to, except at night, ( and I like to talk ) and Skala was becoming too busy and being spoilt by large developments.

Four years ago we made a decision to try somewhere else and went to Tobago and stayed here http://www.castararetreats.com/fishermans.php. What seemed like paradise was a disaster, and we spent all holiday wishing we were in Kefalonia.
 
So, last February we went to a travel agent, described Skala,  and asked the assistant to find a similar place. The response from the girl helping us was instant. She said a place in Corfu called Arillas. She had been going there since she was a little girl and was planning here wedding there. She also recommended the Horizon.

I was a bit apprehensive because my vision of Corfu was night clubs, noisy bars and over commercialisation, so we went home to do some research. That night, I found this forum, and ended up talking to a lovely Scottish lady called Eileen, who told me lots about Arillas and her Villa and she convinced me that it would be the ideal place for a holiday and the Horizon would be a nice place to stay.

We booked up the next day. 

I never thought that I would find anywhere, that was better than Mounda Bay, but I did, Arillas. I was not sure during the first day, I liked it, but was not convinced.  During the second day I had a feeling that I was in a different world, that was unique to anywhere else I had been. It was like like being in a world full of wonderful friendly people, where the food was second to none, you had no fear of anything, and you could actually feel as if you were part of a community and not just a visitor. Arillasitus had set in.

Arillas is a magical place, and it also has the best holiday, website and forum that I have ever seen.

Arillas is a magical place.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Ang on April 04, 2008, 11:50:51 AM
It was 1994, our daughter then 8 was been taken by her gran and grandpa for a 2 week holiday in Florida, so we though whopeeee we can have a week away just the two of us,so off I trotted to the travel agents, we were not to bothered where we ended up but as I had been to Corfu a cpl of times before I met hubby I thought it would be nice to show him.
A holiday came up for Corfu I think it was just over £100 each with destination on arrival,wasnt too keen on that idea but it was a good price and flying from Manchester and returning on the same day our daughter got back from the states so It meant we could meet her at the airport...all worked out perfect.

We arrived late at night and got on the bus that seemed to go round the entire island,when we got to Sidari there was only a few of us left on the bus and the rep then pronounced that the bus was unable to take us to our destination of Arillas but transport had been arranged...
Along came our transport a beaten up van..so with intrepidation we jumped in with our cases  and others being thrown on the back....he drove like a maniac no street lights to see where we were going just pitch blackness..oh my I was thinking
We then entered the village couldnt see much, pulled up outside our appartments (Makris) given the keys and directed to the second floor.

We got in to the appartment which was basic but clean....looked at each other and said Oh poo where the hell are we??? we were tired so decided to just have a few hours sleep get up and scout around..
We woke up to a beautiful sunny morning...couldnt see the sea(had asked for a beach resort)I was now getting a bit cross with myself for booking this holiday..Oh come on said Hubby I need a coffee and a brandy, lets go see.
So off we strole down the road passing a cloths shop, tavern a disused building mmmmm though I ...then we took a right and walked a bit further and WHOPEEE I could see the sea.
We had our coffee and brandy at the Marine Hotel was greeted by George and we just sat there both with little sighs of Ahh this is nice.
What followed was one if not the best weeks holiday we have ever had, Arillas was very quiet but the people who we met up with were fantastic and I think we all had a fab week.

The following year we had to return to show our daughter...and the rest is history or another tale or two to tell another day
Ang
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: angiem on April 04, 2008, 12:31:36 PM
(Great topic, but I'm going to have to stop reading it at work - in tears at every one!!)
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: vivian on April 04, 2008, 12:33:32 PM
Like most of you we ended up in Arillas not knowing what to expect,as we had taken the cheapest last miute holiday we could find and thought where the heck are we going but as we reached the village the coach driver kept repeating lovely lovely and when we came down the High street and got our first glimse of the shimmering sea we knew he was right. We had a cuppa and then went for a walk, met a young man called Dimitris who treated us as if he had known us all of his life and hadn't seen us for ages. We already felt as if we were in our spiritral home and when we ate that night we knew it. So Dimitris it is your fault we kept coming back. lol. No seriously folks there was just something about the place that kept calling to us, we have tried a few places since that we used to think were nice before Canarie Island, Menjorca ect but the pull of Arillas was to strong to ignore and we have been lucky enough to be able to go back home twice if not three times a year.
Don't know how we will feel in Oct as we are going to Tingaki in Kos on P.J.s recommendation but will be back in Arillas soon after that you can bet a dollar to a dog biscuit on that. Viv
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Mango on April 04, 2008, 02:17:31 PM
We first discovered Arillas in 1987, we booked through a travel agent and came with my Mum and Dad, I was 21 and by partner was 23.

After that we didn't go abroad again for 13 years because we bought our own house and we could never really afford an holiday.

We always said that Arillas would be the ideal place to take our children (if ever we had any).

In 1999 we had a daughter, Amy and in 2002 we decided we would try and find a holiday in Arillas.  The only problem was we could not remember the name of the appartments we stayed at way back in 1987.

Luckily for us we dropped on a travel agent who took us through all the accommodations available until we realised that the one we wanted was at the far end of the resort being the last one on the sea front AKA Kaloudis  Village.  We booked for that year and have been every years since and twice a year some years.

We have also taken my dad (mum died in 1997) and my partners' mum and dad and they loved it too.

So that is how we discovered Arillas, twice, really when you think about it.

Amanda
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Shuey on April 04, 2008, 02:51:16 PM
We have been going to Corfu on and off for about 20 years.  We have always stayed at the north of the island but only ever got as far as San Stefanos.

In 2005 we went into our local airport and done a last minute booking going the next day at a really cheap price. We had never heard of Arillas but thought we would give it a try.  We like it that much we booked for three weeks later after we returned home.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: ger on April 04, 2008, 03:02:07 PM
we had booked to go to the peloppenese, 6 weeks before departure the flights from bristol were cancelled, we were offered gatwick (no thanks!) so we cancelled, went to the travel agents and said ok we want to go somewhere quiet with a lovely beach, corfu she said (kavos and 18 - 30 sprang to mind) but as she was a friend of mine i trusted her judgement and we booked  arrived in SAN STEPHANOS and had a fabulous holiday, a couple of days in and martin gets bored with laying on a beach, so we set off over the hill, got lost! ended up in arillas..........so hot  we sat had an iced coffee and pronounced ourselves in heaven!!!! last year we stayed in arillas, we did enjoy our time in san stephanos but arillas just has that something special and draws you back! this year we will be staying at the akti hotel for 2 weeks yipee!!!!!!!!!
ger x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Jennifer Ferguson on April 04, 2008, 03:24:00 PM
Ours was a sort of allocation on arrival back in 1988.We knew we were going to Arillas but the accommodation was only listed as village rooms.We ended up arriving in the pitch black at about 3am after an 8 hour delay thanks to an air traffic control strike,following the poor exhausted rep,with a tiny torch down what can only be described as a dirt track.
Everything in the little 'house' we had been allocated looked grim at that time of the morning but after a few hours sleep we opened the kichen door and what a view.We had a lovely relaxing holiday-apart from the climb up and down the hill to the village.
We kept saying over the years that we would love to go back and when we did almost 3 years ago we couldn't believe that although a little more developed,the resort was still quiet and friendly.
Waiting for hols to be agreed at work so hoping to be back for our 4th visit in September.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Chris & Mark's mum on April 04, 2008, 05:44:16 PM
I love this thread!

Way back in 1997 we went to the travel agent and requested a week in the sun ANYWHERE!

She came up with Acharavi......We both looked at her absolutely horrified! CORFU??? Discos, teenagers, loud music...."No thank you!"  We were told Acharavi wasn't like that at all so we were dropped off in Acharavi at 3am, in the dark.... same old story....dragged off the coach and transported up a long, dark, rough road to the apartments....Oh boy, we dreaded waking up in the morning.....but The Sun Apartments in Acharavi were LOVELY! (Hi Socrates!)  We went back for 4 years until a disco opened in the town centre and we could hear the music.   We complained to one of the restaurant owners who told us of a private house that had a studio to let....Right next to the sea..... so that's where we continued to go for another 4 years (The sound of the waves used to keep us awake at night......) 

What is it about Corfu that is so wonderful???????? 

Unfortunately the owners wanted the house to themselves as their son was coming back to live with them and they turned our lovely studio back into their house.  We had the flight booked but no accommodation for our 2006 holiday.......I Googled accommodation in Corfu and discovered www.arillas.com (Thanks Dimitris!) We have never looked back!

One door closes another one opens!
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: sue on April 04, 2008, 06:27:08 PM
my dad first discovered arillas in 1990.
then we had our first holiday abroad with our daughter and my dad said arillas is a beautiful place so we booked in 1994 my daughter was 5years old.
mum and dad paid and we stayed at the kaloudis. my dad won some money thats why he paid. it was great. few years later we started going abroad all greek islands then in 2002 i went into travel agents and wanted somewhere cheap so they come up with arillas i was over the moon.we was going to stay at the malibu but 4 weeks before we were going they sent me a letter saying they have changed our accomadation to annas. so i thought well its probably still nice.
when we got their we was so impressed and what a fantastic time we had.we have been staying at annas ever since  apart from last year we missed it and we really did miss it.
thats my story suexx
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: riggers on April 04, 2008, 06:57:07 PM
We went in our local Thomsons and asked for somewhere really quiet and peaceful.
Also there must be some nice walks. We booked it at a bargain price at the time.
Didn't know what to expect. It was a teatime flight so we arrived very late and dark.
When we got to the Kaloudis Roula showed us to our room with all the greetings., this was about 3am'ish. Woke next morning and opened the curtains and WOW.I was hit by this beautiful site. As said before the rest is history. Back for number 5 and 6 visit this year.

riggers..
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Peckedhen on April 04, 2008, 09:04:46 PM
Our first experience of Corfu was 15 years ago when we stayed in San Stef. I climbed the hill and looked down at Arillas - if only I had made the effort to walk down, I could have 'discovered' it then! 

Five years ago, we took out first 'child free' holiday. An 'allocated on' arrival cheapy. I vaguely remember it cost us £99 each and we decided that, as we were arriving in the middle of the night, we would sleep where we were put and then hire a car, the next day,and go on a search for somewhere we liked. It was very dark when we went to bed but, the following morning, we woke to find that we were in a front room at the Hotel Marina - facing the beach, with a view to die for! :shock:

We have been nowhere else since! Why waste valuable holiday time dicovering places that you don't like when you have found 'Paradise' ??

David and Sue :)
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: dorothy on April 04, 2008, 09:37:18 PM
We went to corfu for several years, starting when our family were all quite young - we stayed in Acharavi, Ag George South and Ag Gordis. In 1980, when staying at Ag Gordis and our 3 teenagers were still asleep in the morning, we used to go 'exploring' by moped.  We came across Arillas and had an amazingly cheap breakfast at a taverna at the sea front.  Then followed many years of holidays in various locations, including Crete, Zante and Rhodes and Cyprus.  We then booked our first holiday in Arillas in 2004 and have been returning every year since. It really is THE BEST!!!!

Dorothy and James
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Maggie on April 04, 2008, 09:42:55 PM
In 1993? I think, may have been 92, we arrived at Tria adalphia at 5am.  It was very quiet, but looked nice. As the day wore on, we spent time in the pool with our kids, and watched the workmen putting the roof on what is now the bar. In those days George at the marine hotel ran a minibus up and down, so we didn't even have to walk to the sea!
 (now I enjoy that walk so much). We had a wonderful 2 weeks, and new then that we would return.The next year when we returned, Philip & Eleni had Yiannis. That was lovely.
 They even had sunbeds that time.(the first time, we just lay on the concrete).lol.
 We have many happy memories of all our visits, and many great friends we have made on all those visits. My hubby is one of those who need to be doing things all the time, and arillas is the only place we've been to where he does absolutely nothing, and doesn't complain that he's bored.  When we took our friends with us, they couldn't believe how he changed. Arillas does that to you!
   We love the place, and now we've reached the stage where we are nearly ready to retire there. I can't think of anywhere nicer to spend the rest of our lives.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: M n M on April 04, 2008, 10:10:51 PM
First came to Corfu in 1990 and stopped in Kassiopi (nice place then), we hired a car and traveled around the North of the island (the roads were a challenge and signs were interesting) we had travelled north from Paleokastritsa and came across a little place called Arillas, had a wander about and a bite to eat and thought it was a very very nice place.
The following year we went to Halkidiki (think thats how you spell it), again a nice place.
1992 we came to Arillas and stopped at what is now the Sea Breeze bar and fell in love.
Since then we have been back nearly every year and still love the place and the people.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: riggers on April 04, 2008, 10:19:32 PM
Wow with all these Stories, makes me feel like i am still wearing my L PLATES.

riggers.....
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: TerryW on April 04, 2008, 11:43:57 PM


Quote
Wow with all these Stories, makes me feel like i am still wearing my L PLATES.

I feel the same riggers, I have only been to Arillas once.

The stories are wonderful.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: JohnTheRef&Dot on April 05, 2008, 01:14:56 AM
Found Arillas thanks to the sales assistant in first choice at Merry Hill Dudley. Popped out for lunch early July last year and stumbled across two late deals in the window. Telephoned the wife and told her about them, went back and asked about Insurance details as I needed to book extra Insurance having had a kidney transplant six months earlier. Gave me a good price on the insurance and was asked if I wanted to book . had no money, bank card or credit card with me phoned the wife to get her credit card details, did I want to book, hang on a minute need to get time off work, phoned the boss told him I would be late back from lunch ,Why he asked , In the travel agents booking a holiday, can I have these dates, its only two weeks away he replied. I need the dates, OK he replied. Do you want to book the travel agent asked again. Yes please, where do you want to go? The two holidays on the window, pick one for me (Turkey or Corfu allocated on arrival) I can’t do that  she replied, Yes you can you pick and I’ll go there, out came her boss, Is there a problem she asked, yes , I need a decision on either Turkey or Corfu but the lady wont pick one for me , what do you want from your holiday she asked. Peace and quiet with good food. She went to check where we may be allocated. She came back and advised to go to Corfu. Can’t tell you where it is because it may change but take my advice you wont be disappointed. Booked it up £208 each for two weeks. Were we disappointed NO, did we find it the best holiday we ever had YES, would we be going back YES. Did I go into the travel agents on my return and thank the travel agent for her advice YES, and booked there and then for May this year  can’t wait, for our second visit, or our third, YES we have also booked for July.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on April 05, 2008, 04:03:45 AM
Hi John.  Worked hard to translate your post but loved it. You and Dot (Dorothy of course?) just reinforce what we tell the world about our favourite place. The number of times you say YES agrees with how Jen and I feel. YES Dimitris, YES Eggy YES Thalassa YES Filipos YES Brouklis YES Anna YES Graziella YES everyone. Welcome to Arillas.

YES Phil


Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Marymary on April 05, 2008, 04:48:46 AM
How I found Arillas was  by accident.
I had lost my precious daughter Nichola in a tragic care accident in 2002 and never thought of going anywhere tilll 2 years later and I was just looking on  Teletext for something Greek but not so commercial, I got a phone number and  the agent went through varous  resorts none of which appealed to me (my heart wasn't in this holiday malarky) then he said Arillas in North West  Corfu , quiet, scenic I thought , whatever let's book it the price is ok. 
So then 3 weeks later me and my boyfriend arrived in Arillas Corfu and stayed at Kaloudis Village. I hated it the 1st day, thought it was just for pensioners!! Didn't help  that me and Ken had a blazing row!! Because bless him, I can be quite difficult with losing my precious Nichola  and I suppose he wants a happy life and I can't always  be happy. Anyyway I wanted to get on the next flight home but the next day I woke up to this beautiful pareaice place with the most chilled out, genuine people I could ever wish to meet.

I've been back 5 times since. It is a very "healing" place and I am coming back here , on my own on May 9th and there is no where else I would feel comfortable doing that other than Arillas. It's just got everything

Mary 
XXX
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Eileen on April 05, 2008, 10:28:58 AM
Over the years we had spent many a happy hour discussing what it would be like to own a holiday home...as one does!  In the early years we would return from our caravan holidays in Devon wishing we could afford to buy a caravan.  As more money became available we would take the children to Spain and it's islands...by now we were now dreaming of a holiday apartment in the sun!

In 2001 we decided to do something about it.  We bought a house in Edinburgh, renovated it in the evenings and weekends then sold it on making a hefty profit in the process.  We then bought a flat went through the whole process again.  It was all hard work and no play but it's not easy bringing dreams to reality!

All the time (during my day job!) I was researching, contacting Estate Agents and making phone calls.  Initially we wanted to invest in Spain..shock, horror I hear some say, but scratch the surface and it's easy to find the good parts of this country.  Cheap and plentiful flights from our local airport was a big draw for us, imagine finishing work on a Friday and spending the weekend in the sun!

After a few reco'  trips we still could not find exactly what we were looking for within our budget.  We wanted a village, 45 minutes at most from the airport and within a taxi ride to a large town for the kids to party in.

On the last day of one particular trip we were returning with long faces from the mountain side village of Competa, beautiful as it was it had one road in, one road out which would have driven me stir crazy!!!  As Keith tackled the twisting and turning road my mind was doing overtime....it was time for a rethink of our plans.

We liked and still like Spain.  We had not been in high season for many a year as we would visit Greece for our main family holiday.

We loved Greece.  But surely Greece was such a pain to get to out of season without spending a lot of money on flights?

O.K lets think about where we have been to in Greece and where we would be happy to go back to.

We had all enjoyed our stay in Kassiopi in 1992 which offered something for everyone, it was important to us that we chose somewhere we could all enjoy, not necessarily just what Keith and I wanted.

Corfu was also one of the (slightly) easier islands to get to out of season via Athens, or cheap flight to Italy and onward by ferry. We always wanted to buy somewhere we could drive to in order to spend time in other countries thereby not spending all our holidays in the same place.

Meanwhile we had both received the good news that we were to be made redundant, Keith had been with his company for 36 years and I had been with mine 23.  Whey hey, just what we wanted...a forced change with redundancy packages at the same time!

All of a sudden our criteria for our 'place in the sun' changed.  The investment part became a bigger issue, we needed to put our redundancy payments to good use and not fritter them away (much as I would have enjoyed it!).

So a few days before Keith finished work I checked out a few last minute deals to Corfu.  We found Arillas and Ag.Georgios South at ridiculously cheap price. There was very little information about these two places on the net in those days, but we did find a photo of a very windy and desolate Arillas which swayed our decision!

The day after Keith finished work we were on our way.    It was low season, we arrived in our hire car in the early afternoon...the place was deserted...just like a ghost town!  Yegods where have I brought us!!! We checked into the Mathraki and were pleasantly surprised at our lovely apartments with their lovely welcoming family.

We spent the whole of the following week out and about, returning in the evening feed and refresh ourselves for the following day's reco'.  At the end of our first week we were sitting in Graziellas and it suddenly struck us that we had fallen for Arillas, no more days visting towns and villages...this crafty little place had crept up on us and into our hearts.

And that is how we found Arillas!!!

The rest is history....

Eileenx





Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: blondegirl on April 05, 2008, 11:41:26 AM
Lovely to read Eileen, I was wondering how long you had a place in Arillas.  Goes to show with a lot of hard work and patience you managed to make your dream work, and judging by your beautiful greek home it was worth it.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Paul C on April 05, 2008, 11:54:55 AM
The tales of how people found Arillas are brilliant.Full of incident,happiness,tears and luck,as they say "full of life's rich tapestry". Please keep them comming,they are great.
Paul
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justlynn on April 05, 2008, 01:02:58 PM
Love this topic - it has been such a good read!

Like you, Phil and Jen, we had also visited other Greek Islands including Rhodes - but had always wanted to come to Corfu but not yet made it. 

After a few years going to varying places like Spain, Portugal, Iceland, Croatia and Antigua, last year I said it has to be Coru this time.  I googled for holidays and came up with a website called holiday hypermarket.  Just entered the dates I wanted for Corfu, and it came up with options for Arillas.

I then googled Arillas and found this fantastic website.  It didn't take much reading to decide to go for it, and we booked it the next day.

At the time I was going through problems at work with victimisation, yet 2 weeks in Arillas and I was a different person.  The people and the atmosphere just take you in, to say nothing of the food....

Unfortunately, I had to come back to the same problems at work, which took me right through to this year, but I have at last moved on to a new job at the end of last month, and the people are so much friendlier - or more to the point, the manager is!

We loved Arillas as soon as we arrived - and now looking forward to our next visit in just over 4 weeks!

Envy you, Dimitri, for being BORN in Arillas - superb!
Lynn x

Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: BBB on April 05, 2008, 03:08:23 PM
We too have been holidaying in Corfu for many years. In the early 90s we looked for a “Small and Friendly” place on the beach and came up with the Nafsika Hotel in San Stefano. We loved it and came back every year. The children wouldn’t let us go anywhere else. So in 2002 when we were able to finance a modest investment we decided to look for a house to buy in Corfu. There was only a fledgling housing market in Corfu but nothing really in the NW. We also wanted to live in a village amongst the Greek families. This wasn’t going to be a remote holiday villa, just a traditional village house as our second home. There were a couple of renovation properties in Peroulades but that was all. So on an impulse, my husband decided to fly over on his own (this was March so via Athens) Just as he was leaving we heard about a small derelict house in Arillas not yet on the books. Although we had been going to San Stef for many years we didn’t know much about Arillas, although some friends of ours were keen and we’d always been intrigued. After seeing the 2 properties in Peroulades he was taken to the house in Arillas and immediately knew that this was right for us. It was built in 1922 but had been empty since 1988. It had electricity but no water and an outside kitchen with an amazing old bread oven. It was close to a year-round shop and bakery, 15min walk from Arillas beach and had a glimpse of a sea view. So without me even seeing the house, we decided to buy it. So the journey began. Unfortunately our lovely little house had to be demolished and rebuilt but we have replicated the original house exactly using the same style doors/windows etc and paint colours. So we have a brand new house that looks like the old house.
Arillas is the perfect place for us as it is an authentic village, and a holiday resort, the best of both worlds. We love being amongst our Greek neighbours in Arillas (Dimitris’ Auntie lives next door) and still see our Greek friends in San Stef. We had our first winter holiday last January and of course the shop and bakery were open as well as Mon Amour and Amourada so it was business as usual. How wonderful to have a house there and we feel very lucky, but it comes at a price both financially and emotionally, as others will tell you.
Brigette
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Holly on April 05, 2008, 03:39:09 PM
It was Rick Stein's Mediterranean Odyssey that got me interested in Corfu. Until then it had all the appeal of Blackpool with sun. How wrong I was.
We stayed at the Kaloudis apartments last Spetember and have booked the same week for this year.

The resort ticked all the right boxes for us - quiet, low key, no karaoke, no junk food, lots of Greek tavernas, lovely beach, great location for the apartment. I could go on.
We walked over to San Stefanos one day and decided that we preferred Arillas, not least because people were riding motor bikes on the beach. Not brilliant when you have got children.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Wendy n Stu on April 05, 2008, 06:19:54 PM
We were sat in a cold and wet Derbyshire one winter's morn and decided to cheer ourselves up by going to the Co-op and booking a hol!  We grabbed some brochures off the shelf, knew we wanted a greek isand and we sat in the car to go thro' the options.  I remembered a guy at work who constantly raved about a resort in Corfu but I couldn't remember the name so I phoned him and heard Arillas.  As soon as we found it in the brochure we loved the look of it and quickly returned to the travel shop to book.  We arrived 9 July 1999 and have never looked back.  We just fell in love with the place, the people, the beach, the food, the scenery, you name it, we love it!  We have returned twice a year ever since and we have made friends for life.  We even went one Bank Holiday weekend!!!!  Before Arillas we always tried different places, said the world was too big a place to stick to one resort alone.  Now we never venture elsewhere.  We have tried a few places since on other family holidays and whilst it's always lovely to be with family and in the sun, we just look at each other and say, it's nice, but it's not Arillas!  We think of it as home and in between our trips we live in Derbyshire.  Arillas is where our hearts lie.  W & S. xx
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Paul & Denise on April 05, 2008, 07:01:44 PM
Quite a short one here. We took our grandson to see the plane(s) at Humberside airport and came away having booked a last minute suprise for my wife Denise! 2 weeks at the Rainbow to coincide with our 2nd wedding anniversary. I arranged for flowers to be in the room and the lads of their own doing placed a bottle of bubbly in the room too. Never seen us before but we felt like long lost friends. Never been anywhere else since. 10th anniversary coming up, same 2 weeks booked and looking forward to meeting friends old & new once more.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: riggers on April 05, 2008, 08:50:07 PM
Even more and more lovely stories.

Is it really cold and wet in Derbyshire Wendy n Stu ???

riggers....
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: helenw on April 05, 2008, 10:02:57 PM
i was made redundant , the receivers were called in on 06/12/00 and on the 06/01/01 i lost my job after 11 yrs . the pay off was an insult statatory goverment pay , i was only out of work for 2 wks , but it was the worst 2 wks of my life as i was at that time the main earner .
i was thinking god how are we going to pay the mortgage and bills
so i got the cash did a few jobs around the house and had a few bob left ! we had been to rhodes, kos and the main land and loved greece and thought we would look for something cheap and cheerfull
we were tied by dates so ended up booking for the last 2 wks of the season , off i trotted to smiths to look arillas and the weather up and could only find a few lines in the lonely plannet and the weather said to expect rain (didnt know how to use a computer then)
we were gutted !!
we arrived in arillas and stayed at the marina hotel the veiw was to die for , it was a fantastic relaxing holiday , it rained for at least 6 of the 14 days , were we botherd ?NO, it was great , one day we thought we would walk over the donkey path to san stef , we got about 100 meters up but it was just mud and slipped back down
that was our 1st visit to corfu and we fell in love with it . we stayed in paleo the next yr but ended up driving to arillas for a visit , as soon as we sat down in the marina george was over shaking hands
we love arillas , the place and most importantly the people
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Ruth Potts on April 06, 2008, 12:46:48 AM
Well my story is quite boring and mundane to all the others. Chose Arillas in 2000 for the beach and Nafsika for the proximity to the pool with 3 small boys. We arrived after the usual quiet and short coach transfer (not) at about 4pm. Jimmy showed us to the apartment and within seconds the boys had put their trunks on and had dived into the pool.
We went to the bar for a "throat opener", Mike Brown (God rest his soul) was at the bar, and he and Spiros and Jimmy made us very welcome.
The only bad point of the holiday was the people in the apartment above - Sandy and family!!!!!! (No- joking apart, she also made us feel very welcome) We fell in love with the place and have returned many times since.
Each time, we are totally at ease as the boys are at ease. The last 2 years I have come out as a single mum with 1 or 2 of the boys and the place is still as magical as ever. Always feel it is like coming home.
Dimitris always makes us welcome, used to pick my youngest up by his ears and they were in awe and wonder of him!
So many happy memories.
Ruth
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Sandy x on April 06, 2008, 02:54:57 AM
Thanks Ruth....I'm sure we weren't that bad....lol ....was that the year Michelle slipped on the stairs when Rory had left some water on them????
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: TerryW on April 06, 2008, 11:29:52 AM
I don't think I have ever had so many goose pimples from a website, and I bet there have been a few tears.
 
Its a wonderful, emotional topic, Dimitris.

Efhariso!!!!!
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: JohnTheRef&Dot on April 06, 2008, 10:57:29 PM
Dimitris THANK YOU for starting this post
It must be one of the best posts yet on the site
Everyone seems to have their own little story to tell
Fascinating read.  ………..once again Thank You
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Ruth Potts on April 07, 2008, 09:39:21 PM
Sandy - it was a year later when Michelle went flying without wings down the stairs at Nafsika. Rory was purely experimenting with the flow of water down steps!!! Anything to see the "Doc". x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: NicandJohn on April 07, 2008, 10:55:08 PM
This is our first post- but seems a good place to start.
We found Arilas in May/june 1998, it was a last minute booking for our honeymoon, and was very cheap! It needed to be as the wedding was expensive. That year we stayed at Makris, and have stayed there once since in 2000. We also stayed a couple of times at Tria Adephia, and really enjoyed all our time spent their.
This year we are coming back, on our wedding anniversary (30th of May) for two weeks, and we're really hoping for flights to be on time so that we can have a nice meal in the village that night. We are travelling with Thompson for the first time this year as they fly from our local airport and it's just a taxi ride away rather than the 70 miles each way to manchester that we've had to do in the past. I have a feeling we are staying at Kaloudis though not 100% certain as Nic booked it and she is out at work-I'm sure we're in that corner of the village anyway.
Can't wait to feel the sun on my back, and have some lovely greek food again washed down with some ice cold retsina.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on April 08, 2008, 12:32:22 AM
Welcome to the forum John and Nic. Jen and me hope to spend our anniversary there in September (few more than you I guess - it's 36 this time.)

Kaloudis is a very nice and popular choice. You can't fail to enjoy. You sound like you should be "Arillas Regular Visitors" already. 4 visits is the magic number - see posts elsewhere on the forum.

Good luck and best wishes. Hope to hear more from you both on this Arillas Merry Go Round, or is it a forum???
Phil
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Lisa and Steve on April 08, 2008, 09:25:02 AM
We would love to spend our anniversary in Arillas but it is in Jan so no hope there yet.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Jo Wissett on April 08, 2008, 10:25:05 AM
We started our love affair with Arillas back in 1995.  We had a one year old son who was still crawling and not much dosh.  Luckily my sister worked for a travel agency and managed to get us a mega cheap -accom on arrival - deal.  All we knew was that it was Corfu. I had fond memories of a greek holiday in Paleo as a child, remembering all the plate smashing and fabulous music.  Before the kids we always tended towards the Greek islands, visiting Zante, Halkidiki and Malia (we were young, ok!) so we knew that we would probably be ok.

I will never forget arriving at the airport seeing all the busus going to places I had vaguely heard of like Sidari and then being ushered onto a half empty bus with Arillas on the front. My husband was stressed and hot (long before the days of air conditioning!) and sat down with a face like thunder while I was trying to pacify a tetchy baby.

So we set off on the long journey and started to relax as we saw the spectacular scenery which was particulary beautiful as it was early morning and evrything was bathed in an almost magical haze.  A lovely lady started talking to us and asked where we were staying and explained that she had been coming for many years and that it was a gorgeous place and we would love it.  This helped to ease our minds somewhat and when we made our way down the main street and first saw that beautiful sea and beach we knew that we had found our perfect place. 

We have been drawn back every year since (apart from the year that twin boys arrived!) and that crawling baby is now 13 with 9 year old twin brothers.  Like many people have said, it is like going home every year and just the thought of this beautiful place can send me into a relaxed state.  Roll on July! x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Eleni on April 08, 2008, 09:35:54 PM
Hello everybody!

I guess that they must be so many stories about how somebody has found Arillas ,
as many are the people that they have visited the place!

Recomendation,last minute flight,luck,suggestion,end up of a daily excursion etc. etc

Though all of your stories have the unique element of the one who is writing about it,
combinating sometimes the feelings of a family situation or event  of each one
of you ,they do have also one thing in commom and that s the call of Arillas as a "unique"
place uncompared with any other !!!!

Maby we could find some very intresting answers as well ,to the subject:What it makes
want  COME  BACK  to Arillas.???


I found Arillas 20 years ago because of my hausband .Originally i come from Athens .

Corfu is a fantastic island ,full of beaches green and generally natural beauty! I ve been
all over through the years here and abroad.I ve seen  beautiful places astoning sceneries

          B U T


No OTHER place has inspired me to feel F R E E  like Arillas and there is nowhere else that i could feel so
intense the "light" in my heart!

An angle of the world that the sun visits first and leave last ! Full of sunlight ,it brightens the
pictures that  eye can see.

It releases the feelings! You forget your worries, your ordinary life and you are transfered in
a small world where you can become part of it without obligations but a genuine smile!

In a very quick time even the most unsociable people can meet new friends,discover
themselves ,being treated not as just anonymous tourists but as parts of the local comunity!
You start to care about that place and it s people! You consider it like a second home!

It is not the luxury that i would look for, but the simplicity in all aspects!

Memories with beloved persons,long quite evenings by the see,flavor of sand and salt all over,
Zorbas music together with echoes of Tina Turnrer,s song from the bars upper  the road,
air full of sand when it s windy ,waves of the type Hawai 5-0 ,flames on the street ,people
taulking and laughing or doing just nothing but enjoying the relaxing moments......

All of you have departed at least one time from the area!
The half of your heart denied to follow you back! You knew it already on your way to the airport
that "this would be  your nest" ....

Like the swallows !

We are all suffering from the swallows-nest syndrome!!! Thats how i call it...

Only that, apart from the" warm" nest we find also the people that we once met and started to love ,watching them growing up
and keep walking in life like they do with you,living parallel lives in parallel worlds!

We are all looking very much forward to welcoming you again!!!!

Yours

Eleni
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Sandy x on April 08, 2008, 09:40:05 PM
Dear Eleni
Once again you have described so beautifully how we all feel about Arillas....yammas
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: NicandJohn on April 08, 2008, 09:46:07 PM
My wife cries everytime we leave, and I always tell her not to worry, we'll be back.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Paul D on April 08, 2008, 09:58:32 PM
Hi,everyone. I am new to this great site all about Arillas. What a relaxing,chilled out place it is. Wife and I fancied Corfu,so we booked with Manos for Leonidas apartments. What an excellent choice. Been back three times now-twice at Leonidas and once at Rainbow with Jimmy and Spiros. Loved every minute of it-especially the beach. We hope to return soon. Our last visit was in October. Thanks for reading this-  Paul D
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Erja on April 08, 2008, 10:38:21 PM
In a very quick time even the most unsociable people can meet new friends,discover
themselves ,being treated not as just anonymous tourists but as parts of the local comunity!
You start to care about that place and it s people! You consider it like a second home!

Kiria Eleni,

How beautifully described once again. You should take up writing a book, maybe collected stories of people who visit Arillas. :)

Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: TerryW on April 09, 2008, 12:19:20 AM
How many descriptions of holiday locations have we read in brochures, that have been written by marketing people?

Well, I have just read something that is priceless as a description of holiday resort.

Quote
An angle of the world that the sun visits first and leave last ! Full of sunlight ,it brightens the
pictures that  eye can see.

It releases the feelings! You forget your worries, your ordinary life and you are transfered in
a small world where you can become part of it without obligations but a genuine smile!

It should be framed, bottled, copyrighted and used somewhere on the introduction to this website. I am sure that if anyone, who had never been to Arillas, read those words they would want to book a holiday.

I think you should come over to Stratford-upon-Avon Elini, and show a few tourists how to write expressive words about ones deepest thoughts and feelings.

 
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Shuey on April 09, 2008, 11:07:21 AM
Thank you Eleni you have a lovely way with words - your English is superb!!
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: JohnTheRef&Dot on April 09, 2008, 11:55:15 AM
Eleni
Your post was something special, especially to those of us that have seen the sunrise and the sunsets, met the people, herd the music,  knew we would be back.
Arillas is a special magical place, thank you for keeping that memory alive in your post.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justlynn on April 09, 2008, 12:18:42 PM
Beautiful words, Eleni - your post brought tears to my eyes.
Lynn x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: ger on April 09, 2008, 12:30:12 PM
oh eleni, i came into work this mornign feeling really poorly, logged on to arillas and just read your words, they sent shivers down my spine (nothing to do with my fever!!) just made me feel so much better, you summed up my feelings for arillas perfectly thank you so much!
ger x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: kvarnell on April 09, 2008, 12:44:47 PM
last year my husband ian and myself booked flights to corfu, we arranged our own place to stay at nondas in san stefanos. nondas was close to the start of the clifftop walk to arillas, we did this several times walking back the roadway in the evenings with the beautiful sunsets. the sea was great fun lovely waves, chilled, san stefanos was also excellent but this year we are staying in the atki and hoping for a holiday that is just as relaxing and friendly. also when we arrived home this website has satisfied my cravings for corfu, san stefanos and arillas.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Marion on April 09, 2008, 09:22:52 PM
When I worked for Thomas Cook many moons ago we managed a quick week away to Corfu and decided on Sidari as a last minute deal as we had never been to Corfu before. So there I was relaxing on sun bed by the pool - hubby decided to go for walk to "get a feel for the area" and some 4 hours later returned saying he had found the perfect place to stay - that's right lovely Arillas - He found Kostas Apartments and we have been going there twice a year since (forgotten how many times) so roll on June/September and we will be back again.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: lilacs on April 19, 2008, 06:20:14 PM
well found this amazing place by chance, it started, when our oldest son, went to kavos,for his fist holiday abroad, well, it was awful for him and his friends, they were attacked by thugs, that were staying in the resort, and well, my son and his mates were scared, he phoned home, and we booked a holiday at the last minuete, and we got arillas, we booked it and the next day were there, we hired a car, and had to drive to kavos,,,,,,,,,,,what a way to go, we brought him and his mate back to arillas with us, they also thought it was a lovely holiday,,,,,compared to what they left behind.
that was 5 years ago, and we go every year now, the local tavernas even remember our drinks after all this time,what a fantastic place, love every minuete of it, and we will return every year, love the sheffies.xoxoxoxoo
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on April 19, 2008, 08:32:07 PM
Our great mate Sandy (who we have never met in the flesh but will soon) is going out to live in her new house there for a while next week. Like all of us she found Arillas by chance. Aren't we all lucky? Better than winning the lottery?

Jen and me are used to laid back lovely people - in Glastonbury we are surrounded by them (and also some of the crusty disgusting others who can ruin everyones evening like last night in our pub)

But Arillas takes it to a new level. The Greek culture, the feelings of peace and belonging, the caring, tolerant attitude. That is why we are both Arillas Addicts.

lilacs - Kavos is not a word in the Arillas vocabulary. Corfu Uncovered was not about Corfu. Not the Corfu that we all know and love. You tell us what can go wrong and how it can get fixed.

Quote
it was awful for him and his friends, they were attacked by thugs, that were staying in the resort


That is Benidorm.... it happened to me there. Not here in Arillas

Phil






Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: lilacs on April 20, 2008, 03:15:16 PM
hi ya, not sure what you mean by the end of your comment, i realy hope you dont think i was putting arillas down, in any way, we love it there, have a nice day to you both, lilacs...
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on April 20, 2008, 06:33:15 PM
Hi lilacs. No issues here. No I wasn't putting you down - I was on about the way your son was attacked. I had that in Benidorm (where I shall NEVER return but for many more reasons than that.)

You said what I feel - Arillas continues to be a haven, a heaven. It just puts all the rest of it back into perspective. Aren't we lucky to have found it?

best wishes
Phil


Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: lilacs on April 21, 2008, 10:13:21 AM
HI YA PHIL. im glad you replied........
yes we are so lucky we found arillas, what a beautiful place, we go back in july, when will u be going back, sadly we only have 1 week ther e this year, we love it so much, we have looked into a holiday home there, but its to expensive, we just wanted a little place, ohhh well, we will keep trying, hey,,,, have u ever stayed in the mathrika apartmets...as we could not get the gallinni,,, so we booked there, have a lovely day to u both.....lilacs............. xox
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Ang on April 21, 2008, 11:54:08 AM
Hi Lilacs, though I know we are going of topic a tad here but your story of the problems your son had in Kavos reminded me of my daughters first holiday with friends to Kavos and whats more she also went there 5yrs ago...
When she asked if she could go we were fine as we had been going to Corfu for many years always staying in Arillas, she knew where Kavos was as we took a drive there one day..not our cup of tea but great for youngters we thought and she knew most of the island.
After the 2nd day she was phoning home saying she didnt like it over the next few days we had phone calls daily and by day 4 she was crying wanting to come home,what a time we had I couldnt get her a flight back so she eventually settled down for the remaining few days but Oh boy was she glad to get home,Kavos for her was nothing like what she had enjoyed with us in Arillas.
Ang
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: lilacs on April 21, 2008, 02:02:47 PM
hi ya ang,
its such a shame for the kids, they save there pennys all year for a holiday, and other people ruin it for them,
but they both came home safe in the end, thats the main thing,
how many times have you been to arrillas, are you going back this year..
we go july, only for a week this year, mind you we only booked a week last year,,,,
so the last day of our week, we decided, hey lets have another week, love arillas, its beautiful there,,,,,,,,countiing down my days...
best wishes
lilacs
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: blondegirl on April 21, 2008, 02:11:01 PM
Noticed you have stayed at the Galini Lilacs.  We had our first holiday there and had a brilliant time.  I think you can book independently though on their website.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: lilacs on April 21, 2008, 02:16:41 PM
hi ya blondegirl,
yes stayed at the gallinni last year, we did look at it this year,
and if you do it direct with them, it was cheap enough to stay there, but the flights were soooooooo expensive, so a package was cheaper, and were staying at the mathrika studios, they look nice, and near to the beach, but will def, go and see the owner of the galinni, hes a nice bloke, mind you every one in arillas, is nice, and the people who go there on holidays to are nice, we have met some lovely people in arillas.
best wishes lilacs
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: blondegirl on April 21, 2008, 02:19:16 PM
I think the flights are mad at the moment.  We got some very cheap flights with EJ, but we booked in about January, staying at the BS Hotel, (we stayed at the studios las year and they were lovely too).  There are loads of accommodation in Arillas, all at very good prices but its the flights that can be a pain.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: lilacs on April 21, 2008, 02:28:33 PM
gatwick was cheap, but live in coventry, and to fly from birm, was silly prices,
bs hotel were is that, dont reconise the name.......lilacs
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: blondegirl on April 22, 2008, 11:32:08 AM
If you go past the Sea Breeze restaurant right on the end, the road takes you to the Bardis Sun Studios and just next to it is the Hotel, its a yellow place with an impressive swimming pool.   We stayed at the studios last year and it was only a 2 min walk to the front and the beach, the hotel will be the same.  You can see it on the Arillas map.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: lilacs on April 22, 2008, 11:35:12 AM
ahhhhhhhh, thanks. i no were the sea breeze is, as we stayed there the 1st time we went to arillas, thanks
have agreat day
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: HARLIN on April 22, 2008, 09:26:00 PM
We found Arillas when our daughter decided to get married in Sidari. We only managed to book last minute and Arillas was the nearest place to Sidari we could get in as it was 1st week in August.
That was 7 years ago and we have been back twice a year since
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: lilacs on April 23, 2008, 10:04:54 AM
ahhhh............harlin, what a lovely way to find arillas, we to have been to sadiri, little bit tooooo busy for us, but we still had a nice time,,,,,have a nice day
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: emmak on April 28, 2008, 03:20:21 PM
i been to arillias now for 4yrs it was my frist  holiday when i was 19 mum said i could go on hoilday so i know mum been to arillas 7 times so i thought i go to c if i like it and i did and all the people in sea brezze appartment are wounderful and bardis sun stuido
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: kevin.g on May 01, 2008, 11:14:21 PM
we found arillas 10yrs ago,on a last minute break,on the last week of the season ,we didnt stop laughing for the week,....thanks arillasxxxxxx
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: nicky on May 25, 2008, 02:44:31 PM
Yassas Dimitris!
I have been holidaying in Greece for ten years now,Spetses and Stoupa,but this year needed to try somewhere new and wanted to show my family how beautiful Greece is and how wonderful the Greek people are.
I told the travel agent I wanted traditional "Greekness",quiet with plenty of tavenas etc,not loads of loud clubbers!Arillas came up and looked like it fit the bill so we booked it there and then.Reading in these forums and seeing the pictures makes me think it may just be perfect!
Five weeks tomorrow we are on our way!
We look forward to meeting you!

Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: dimitris on May 25, 2008, 04:07:12 PM

I told the travel agent I wanted traditional "Greekness",quiet with plenty of tavenas etc,not loads of loud clubbers!


Welcome to our forum Nicky,
Arillas is indeed exactly what you are looking for.

Best regards,

Dimitris



Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: england on May 30, 2008, 12:53:58 PM
My Wife and I found Arilas about 9 years ago. We were stressed with work and decided to look for a Holiday to fly out in next couple of days. At the travel agents they found us a holiday to Corfu (Resort and accomodation to be allocated on arrival)

We arrived late at night so didn’t see my of the area on arrival and we’re stay at dionyssos 2 (New apartments at the time only just been built and officially not open till next season)

Can honestly say it was the most relaxing holiday we've ever had. I love the pace of life and superb food really friendly people who could never do enough for you.

We returned again about 4 years later with our 3 year old boy and the in-laws and stayed at Makris, about a week into our holiday I need to cash some cash that’s when I remembered that I’d left them at home! I spoke the owners of the Makris to see if they could get me a taxi into town so I could get some cash from the ATM (hear I wont need to do that this year) They offered to take us into town so I could get some cash and we could have a look round and once we’d finished to give them a call and they’d pick us back up.

I’m getting stressed again with work so I think we’ll try to get back to Arilas again this year. We’ll need a bigger place to stay this year and we’ve extended the family since last time, we now have a daughter aged 2. It’s got to be August this year and our son who’s now 6 is in school.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: blondegirl on May 30, 2008, 02:17:48 PM
Hope you find something for your family, it will be like starting a new family tradition!  You will have a great time wherever you end up.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: england on June 02, 2008, 05:01:45 PM
Thanks Managed to book for the 4th August to the 18th Staying at Anna's Studio's cant wait
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: kevin.g on June 03, 2008, 05:37:16 PM
hi england
dosent matter where you stay in arillas you will a fab time,just chill and relax, and everyone there, is there to help ..fab people have a great one..yammas
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: wigiontree on June 14, 2008, 09:54:41 AM
Well what can i say after 25yrs engaged three children later we got married (Michelle my wife said she had to get to know me)
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on June 14, 2008, 10:59:21 AM
hi england

You will love Anna and her family. We are staying with her in July and hopefully September, and have spent many a long hour in her pool and bar. Sadly we will be back here for most of August, so will miss you. Have a great time.

Phil
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: sue on June 14, 2008, 01:19:42 PM
hi england
we have been to Annas 5 times now you will love it.
me and ian are their from 4th till 18th so we will meet you :)
what airport you flying from we are from manchester at 13.30pm on airmalta
see you in 7 weeks
suexx
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: jinksy on June 14, 2008, 01:33:05 PM
Hello everyone, after reading all these replies to the topic i think its about time i posted mine so here goes, My partner ang happened to have some good fortune on the lottery winning £490 on hot picks the very first draw, so suggested we go on holiday somewhere. To cut a long story shortish she found a holiday to corfu all. on. arr. I had just started a new job but my employer was great and said to go for it so we did. We arrived in corfu at 3pm from Cardiff and waited patiently at the carousel for our luggage. Once collected we approached our rep who explained that arillas was heaven on earth and we then thought oh dear is that what they say to everybody to keep them happy on the long transfer to the resort but how wrong were we.
After approx 2 hours we were the only couple left on the bus and after the driver had negotiated a lot of windy bends and narrow roads we came into arillas and what a sight it was, a fantastic looking ocean and beach, and we were then dropped off at kaloudis. A trully wonderful holiday ensued, with all of the taverns, restaurants and friendly people here we fell in love with arillas. We have been back 4 times, twice to kaloudis, once to marina hotel, once to dionysses1 last year and this year will be our 5th, once again to dionysses. So you see thats where the love affair started and still goes on, and ang is quite happy for it to continue and so am i, I'm sorry to have to go on a bit but thats how it happened, cheers, chris re. jinksy time                                                                                                  
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on June 14, 2008, 02:21:24 PM
hi jinsky
You just said very eloquently what most of us feel.

Quote
So you see thats where the love affair started and still goes on, and ang is quite happy for it to continue and so am i

Jen and I could have written that. 7 weeks there this year, 7 months next year or more and then forever.

best wishes
Phil


Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: jean on June 14, 2008, 02:40:08 PM
Hi England! We had a week with Anna back in May. You will love the studios and Anna and her family are lovely, cannt do enough for you. It was our 3rd trip to Arillas but first with Anna. We will definately be back because we found it so relaxing. We stepped of the plane and Anna's son was there to meet us. straight Arillas to find Anna waiting for us with drinks on hand. We hired a car for the day from Anna's other son! Lovely people, fabulous food, do try Anna's greek salad or any of the tavanas. We are feeling quite envious of you, have a great time, look forward to hearing how you get on.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: england on June 14, 2008, 03:25:41 PM
hi england
we have been to Annas 5 times now you will love it.
me and ian are their from 4th till 18th so we will meet you :)
what airport you flying from we are from manchester at 13.30pm on airmalta
see you in 7 weeks
suexx

Hi Sue,

Snap, same flights as you. See you in a few weeks

england
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: sue on June 14, 2008, 06:47:49 PM
like the rest have said Annas is a fantastic place to stay. this will be our 5th year and we are on our own this year.
daughter moving out 2 weeks before we go away so will need this holiday as i will miss her terribley.
see you in 7 weeks.:)
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: philippa on June 16, 2008, 02:27:15 PM
OK - so we found Arillas last year - June 2007 - but ended up buying some land in Arillas- so were there again in Horizon in Oct - then again this May - arriving on the 24th so was that great sunset that is on the tube!!
We shall be back again in October - so that will be 4 times in 2 years!!

Amazing - after years of going to South Africa we have fallen in love with Arillas!!!
Great place and so convenient for us - ferry from Venice with our own car. We live in Austria so its only 4 hours max to drive

Good wishes to you all

Philippa
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: blondegirl on June 16, 2008, 06:14:47 PM
How brilliant is that Phillipa!  Being able to pack up your car with everything and be there in 4 hrs, no luggage allowance has got to be good!   Its quicker going there than it is to Cornwall or Scotland in the UK  (from surrey anyway).
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: philantsue on June 24, 2008, 04:37:25 PM
we found arillas by accident. after a pretty bad year we went to the travel agents to get a quick holliday, we needed to get away from all the stress and upset..we were told by the agent that we could end up in any of 3 places around corfu, of course we ended up in arillas staying at the kaloudis village and to be honest it was like a good old tonic, beautiful, idylic, relaxing, peaceful, friendly just everything we needed at the right time, arillas made me forget all the bad times and i feel very lucky to have found it. we promissed to return but had already planned and booked our holliday for the following year as it was a special occasion we were celebrating..believe it or not though it has taken us another 2 years of trying before we could finally get booked again ITS ALWAYS BOOKED UP.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Fiona_ on July 09, 2008, 01:43:11 PM
We have very fond memories of our first Greek holiday in Corfu in 1984 when we just got a flight and then a bus to Paleocastritsa before we had our lovely children. Paleocastritsa was really unspoilt then. Since then we have visited Lefkas and Crete many times. Five years ago a friend showed us photos after they visited Arillas for their first Greek holiday and we couldn’t believe how beautiful and unspoilt it appeared.  I found the website, thank you Dimitris, and the reviews were so positive.

So the four of us Roger my husband and Chris and Kath experienced Arillas for the first time in 2004 and it was a beautiful therapeutic holiday for us all. We had had a really tough year and I was determined for us all to have a lovely relaxing Greek holiday. We weren’t disappointed. We stayed at Kokinos and just relaxed and walked the beach and visited Nicos and Angela’s pool bar, which I think, had just opened. We all thought Arillas was lovely and Roger and I felt that we had found a little piece of heaven. As we felt you can’t keep going back to the same place, the following year we went to Stegna in Rhodes. It was nice but not as beautiful or tranquil as Arillas and the sun sets over the land!

The following year I suggested Arillas again and we all agreed. This time we stayed with Eleni and Spiros at Irini villas who we consider dear friends. Their apartments are really lovely with so many extras provided. We stayed at Irini villas again last year, which was another lovely holiday, and are counting down the days until the 21st of July when we are staying at Irini Villas again. This will be our fourth holiday in Arillas. Eleni and Spiros are so welcoming and friendly and we can't wait to see beautiful Arillas again. My family will complain about me watching the sunsets and taking too many photos but that’s too bad. We love walking over to San Stephanos and will visit Efionas again with that fantastic view! We are so glad we discovered the magic of Arillas.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: kcarol on July 17, 2008, 01:05:34 AM
It was about 11 years ago we chose Arillas from a travel magazine, we had never been to Greece before, and only been abroad twice, as although being married since 1974 we had our family young, and little spare money for foreign holidays.

We arrived in Arillas at night in darkness, and as the coach drove down the narrow main street, lights from the few bars was the only indication we had reached a resort.
As the coach turned right and headed towards Kaloudis  the sea sounded very close to the road and there was no indication of what the beach was like. It was gone midnight when we were welcomed off the coach by Christos and Ruler who showed us our accomodation, which was simple but spotlessly clean. We peered out onto the balcony, but in the dark was difficult to tell what the resort was like, the only sound to be heard was the waves  gently lapping the beach, and in the quitness of the surroundings I felt a little uneasy, almost spooked by the stillness.

What a difference in the morning when we looked out to see an endless blue sky and Arillas bathed in glorious sun, we could see the beautiful beach, and the olive covered hills dotted with villas, from San Stephanos to Afionas.

From that point on our lives changed and thankfully we have never looked back. We visit Arillas once or twice a year and have lost count of the times spent there. We have explored as far as possible on foot from Magaloudes to Pagi and met such wonderful people in the small villages, and believe one day we will make North West Corfu our home, at least for a few years.

Inevitably there has been some changes, but in comparison tp practically anywhere else I can think of Arillas is timeless, and in all the years we have been visiting its magic has not dimmed

I sincerely thank the wonderful local people of Arillas for their hospitality and letting us share their wonderful home village with them every summer. I am not sure I would be so generous, I fear I would want to keep this jewel of the Adriatic a secret for myself, as I cannot help feeling quite possessive about it.

There is something about Arillas that gets into your blood and it feels part of you, and you long for it like you would when you are parted from a loved one. Well and truly a life long love affair i don't want to end.......
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justlynn on July 17, 2008, 01:17:46 PM
What a lovely read your post made, kcarol!  Certainly agree that Arillas is both timeless and magical.

And you'll have to wink in Dimitris's direction for a regular visitors badge, me reckons!

Cheers,
lynn
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: sharonF on July 17, 2008, 03:01:40 PM
Yes that was a lovely post kcarol. 

My fella told his brother we would be going again in sept (4th time) and he says, why are going back to the same place again you saddos.  Billy said, just go and look.  I said, i dont want him to go!   Because he would be deteremined to pick holes in it and then i would have to smash his head in, lol. 

Sharon x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Erja on July 17, 2008, 06:55:19 PM
There is something about Arillas that gets into your blood and it feels part of you, and you long for it like you would when you are parted from a loved one. Well and truly a life long love affair i don't want to end.......

Well put! Once again I have admit: My name is Erja and I am a Arillas addict.

:D
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Paul D on July 17, 2008, 09:04:28 PM
Hi,everyone. Nobody knows how Arillas gets under peoples` skin - It just does. Ive stopped trying to work it out. Basically, `we`re all Arillas freaks`.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: The Tootells on July 19, 2008, 03:18:30 PM
In 1992, as a then single parent, i was looking for a cheap holiday in Corfu for myself and my son. It was a choice between San Stefanos and Arillas, Arrilas won! Unfortunately, i can't remember why i chose Arillas,but i haven't looked back since! My son grew up and i re-married. I talked my husband into going to Arillas, taking our 21month old with us. It took him about 3-4 days to get used to the slower pace of life and by the time the holiday was over, Brian couldn't wait to return! we've been 'returning' to Arrilas every 2 years and stayed in several apartments (all very nice!). It's a very friendly place and every one knows us now, it's like our second home. Hopefully one day we can retire to Arillas!
We're due to go in 2 weeks time on the 1st August, staying at the Mirage!
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: darren-jane on July 20, 2008, 09:11:10 PM
We also found Arillas by accident. Me and Jane meet in december 2001. In july we decided to book a holiday. Jane suggested trying a greek island, she had been to kefelonia, lesbos and crete. I looked on teletext for a last minute deal  and we were offered corfu. It was in the thompson small and friendly brochure we were told, a place called bardis sun studios in Arillas. Was unable to find a brochure in our local travel agents so i was a little apprehensive. Jane assured me it would be fine everywere she had been in greece was lovely, accommodation was usually basic but the people were really friendly.
Two weeks later we take off from our local airport we land in corfu just after 11pm, just after midnight we get on our coach and do our tour of corfu dropping off most of our passengers. At just after 1.30am we see a road sign in the headlights, 2km to arillas. we twist and turn down the road until we hit the village we drive past two well light bars on our left then we can see the sea and we turn left for roughly 100yds. The rep asks if we had brought our torch as suggested in the brochure and the coach stops. Our cases are taken from the coach and put on the back of a battered old pick up which then drives off round the corner and out of view. I must have had a look of shock on my face as the rep said dont worry follow her and she would show us to our accommodation. As we walk round the unlit corner into the backend of beyond as far as i was concerned i was thinking home was such a nice place. we walked around another bend and there was the red pick up and our cases. the rep introduced us to poppy our host for the next two weeks and said goodbye. poppy took us to our room and said she would see us in the morning. i managed about 4 hours sleep and decided at 6am to go and explore our strange surroundings. i opened the patio doors to our apartment to find it was still dark but in front of me was a lovely looking pool area with the pool 10 ft from my ground floor balcony.  i  retraced my steps from the night before and was down by the beach.  walked past the resturants and shops and walked onto the jetty where i sat and watched the sun come up over what i know know is afionas. i have never felt so....... to many words come to mind but i think 'at peace' sums it up best. i rushed back to our apartment and woke Jane. we had the best first holiday a couple could ever wish for. our hosts poppy and spiros made us so welcome and everyone we spoke with at bardis seemed to have been going there for years.
the next year when the adds came on at xmas for holidays we both lokked at each other and arillas it was for a second year. on our 4th visit in 2005  we took our 4 boys for two weeks(they loved it too) and then we stayed for a further two weeks.
In 2006 we decided we were being boring and needed to try somewhere different and booked croatia. we hated it. why?....... it wasn't Arillas. So in 2007 we were back at the bardis and while there purchased our own bit of corfu land(just need to build a home now).
its now 2008 and we arrive next monday the 28th from manchester airport with the 4 boys in tow for their annual two week hols before we put them on a plane back and we enjoy our two weeks of paradise that is Arillas.
 

Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Sandy x on July 21, 2008, 01:18:24 AM
Another piece of magic......
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: MicK-G on July 21, 2008, 12:10:37 PM
My brother in-law and I found Arillas by accident, we were staying with our families is San Stephanos and one day we decided to explore the hill as we could see a cross at the top of it. We walk up the hill and found the little chapel. we then walked a little further and looked down on Arillas from the hill. It looked beautiful so when we returned we asked what the name of it was. on return we looked in the brochures for it. At first we were in two minds about going there as the first thing we noticed was the nudist part of the beach and were worried the whole town was nude! Fair play if someoe else wants to do that but I didn't want to get my wobbly bits out. Anyway we've sort of fell in love with the place and I can't wait to visit again.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Elliott on July 26, 2008, 12:39:25 PM
It was all my mum's fault. Her and my dad had been to Arillas before and when they asked if my girlfriend and I would like to go with them for 10 days in June we jumped at the chance (it had been 2 years since I had last been abroad so I needed the break, and Lara had never been on a 'proper' foreign holiday).
It was difficult to wait the 7 months or so from the date of booking to the holiday itself, but it was well worth it.
Arillas will also always be a special place for Lara and I, as its where I decided to pop, the question. Luckily she said yes. :)
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: bmw1106 on July 26, 2008, 03:58:27 PM
Congratulations to you both. Have the wedding in Arillas will be heaven, reception at Brouklis. Now there something to think about. I hope you have a really happy life together. XX JILL
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: mike kelly on July 27, 2008, 07:29:10 PM
It was 2003 and as usual my wife Joy was on teletext booking our holiday.Small and friendly was the advert , so we booked and the rest is, as they say ,history.This will be our 8th visit in sept and so many people ask us why we keep going back.As all you Arillas Veterens out there know, it just seems to get better with each visit. Roll on the 8th sept.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on July 27, 2008, 07:51:24 PM
So true mike

Quote
As all you Arillas Veterens out there know, it just seems to get better with each visit.

And we are lucky enough to be back for all of September. Hope to see you - just say hello...

Phil
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: buzz17 on July 30, 2008, 11:38:23 AM
Just got back 2 days ago (pants), and would recomend Arillas to anyone.  We went with family who recomended it to us (there 3rd time).  We stayed at Leonidas, but next time will stay at tria adellphia as the atmosphere there is fantastic.  Helen and Phill the owners are great.  Phills dad's spit roast lamb meals are cracking.
Had some fantastic meals and managed about 50 sunset photo's as it's extremely pretty, and loved that the Sidari scene has not crept around the coast!!!!
All the residents of Arilas are extremely proud and rightly so!
Have always claimed that there are too many places in the world to see, to go somewhere twice.  Well i've just changed my tune.  Will certainly return
GREAT!!!!
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Corfusoon on July 30, 2008, 03:26:08 PM
Glad to see we have another Arillas fan!!!!!!!!!

regards Mandy
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: ianh on August 18, 2008, 04:06:55 PM
we found arrilas in 1984. a very good friend of ours had just died and her daughter said her dad needed a holiday ,so me and steve daughters husband went of to the travel agents,we were there for more than two hours tryingto book a holiday for the dates that we could go on,last place to come up was a villa in arrilas,so we booked it.we live in somerset and had to drive to gatwick what a journey baking hot traffic jams and a puncture unload five lots of luggage change wheel repack car. got to airport checked in only to be told we had a two hour delay on the flight . we arrived at corfu aiport to be confronted by armed guards,and a horrible smell,found the rep and she directed us to a coach it was the oldest and most beat up in the park.the journey to arillas was a nightmare as the driver must have thought he was in a race car.poor old don was complianing all the way.we stayed for our holiday and all had a great time.since then don has died and jo and steve have divorced,but my wife mary and myself keep coming back to arrilas,we have tried spain portugal and this year kos but allways wished we were in arillas so we will be back next year for sure
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: BBB on August 18, 2008, 06:17:14 PM
Welcome to the site Ianh.
I and I'm sure other members would love to hear more about your holiday in 1984. Where did you stay and what can you remember about Arillas then. Did you take any photos?

Look forward to reading your posts.

Regards BBB
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: amy0611 on August 26, 2008, 11:18:32 PM
We found Arillas as our accommodation in Sidari had been overbooked.  We only found out three days before we were due to fly out so I was really annoyed to say the least... BUT I'm so glad it happened. The Akti was fantastic and the resort had everything we needed for a relaxing and well deserved holiday (being the original headless chickens in our ordinary everyday life!).  We certainly hope to become regulars...
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Erja on August 27, 2008, 07:59:35 AM
Welcome to the forum amy0611 :)

Happy accident then ending up in Arillas? It is so good to hear that you had relaxing time.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: amy0611 on August 28, 2008, 07:26:10 PM
Very happy accident!  Am now just waiting for some money back from Thomas Cook as the other holiday we had booked was more expensive and, wait for it, COMPENSATION (lol) for the late change - will put it towards my next Arillas holiday!  Brilliant!
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: PaulnMaria on August 28, 2008, 10:39:01 PM
What a result Amy !! Holiday moved from Blackpool to Heaven and compensation due aswell. As we say up North..........Jackpot :) :)
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: markydil on September 01, 2008, 10:37:21 PM
We found Arillas in the mid eighties after looking for a quiet relaxed spot and ended up staying at Marina Apartment 1 - the one opposite the Hotel where the new pool has been built....think it was a Thomson place at the time?
From that day we have always felt a big attachment to Arillas. The 1st visit was with the oldest of our 5 kids  (Kerry is now 29 - Gavin 27)...been back many times but a few more wouldnt hurt.
Our youngest Alina who's now 4 had her first stay at Nikos when she was just over 3 months old. The other two, Travis 11 and Ellice 13 are also addicts. To leave the laptop at home with the "out of office" on and the company mobile in the car boot at Gatwick is the start of heaven. Arrive in Arillas and its life how it should be.

ARILLAS  - PLEASE DONT CHANGE
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Diane x on September 02, 2008, 05:09:18 PM
We found Arillas in 2005 when we went to San Stef. We went through there as we arrived to drop some people at some accomadation, that Thomson place at the end of the beach can't remember the name.

We didn't pay much attention then as we were tired after travelling and just wanted to get to our accomadation. Different story on the way back, we were the first to be picked up from San Stef. So all of you that think you are hard done by being the last drop in Arillas think about them in San Stef.

Anyway we were just so impressed how quiet it was but there was something about the atmosphere of the place, it seemed to be buzzing ! The people that got picked up there had some right stories to tell, seemed like they had  a really good time.

So as soon as we started to think about a hoiday the following year Arillas was the only place we had in mind, our daugter Hannah came with us and she was sixteen then but thoroughly enjoyed it, she felt safe when we left her to go walking or places she didn't want to go. She was quite happy reading around the pool and loved it at the Rainbow.

Wish we had booked again this year !
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Mark and Jo on September 04, 2008, 03:06:28 PM
Hi All
DIscovered Arillas as a last minute deal for this year. Going 15th Sept for 2 weeks, staying at Christos. We have been to Parga every year at least once for last 10 years but 16 month old means we need somewhere more suitable with 17 month old and another on the way. We got married in Parga in 2005 and will miss it this year but Arillas sounds good from what you are all telling me.
Only 6 working days to go - cant wait
We are struggling to get Olympic to oragnise a cot so I hope we can sort something out when we get there
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: georgia on September 14, 2008, 01:19:40 AM
Hello everyone.
We discovered Arillas in 2003, 3 visits in total. My husband bless him just didn't do abroad.. so sunshine holidays were always myself and a pal..in 2003 I put my foot down ans booked with Small and friendly to Arillas.
We arrived at Bardis Sun Hotel at 2am. pitch black after long transfer and very tired.
I awoke at 8am to look over at twin bed..empty, himself was sat out on balcony, just enjoying the totally gorgeous view over the island listening to hens clucking and cockerels crowing..[and as he told me later just itching for me to wake up and enjoy it too!!] We live in Norfolk and keep chickens so this was a sound of home with bonus of sea view and glorious sunshine!!
We have had the best holidays ever in Arillas, very relaxed routine, morning walk around the village, viewing veggies and flowers in gardens, looking for terrapins under the bridge, orange juice and Telegraph crossword for him Daily Mail for me at Graziella... I lied sometimes it is coffee and brandy...how illicit does that feel at 11am...or is that just my Catholic guilt complex??!!
We are visiting again on Sept 19th, after 3 year absence, my husband has been fighting cancer, now in remissionand things looking much better and so looking forward to being in the place that we love so much. I log onto this website every night, wow it is amazing! Thank u Dimitris for setting it up. It is great to know there are so many like minded Arillas addicts out there. x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Lindypops on September 14, 2008, 01:59:45 AM
Hi geogia. That was a lovely post. I am glad that your husband is in remission, and hope you both have a great holiday. Dimitris has done a good job, and so many of us enjoy this site. Maybe see you in Arillas. Bfn.xx
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: bobandjoyce on September 17, 2008, 05:38:05 PM
We found Arillas by chance.  After many years of holidaying in Greece we had seen our old favourite places turn into 18-30's until we stumbled on an XL holiday to the Horizon where we spent the most relaxing 2 weeks ever, it was pure bliss.  After a prolonged recover from an op we felt  I could face the airports and flights again so we have booked up for May 2009 - fortunately we were not able to get the holiday we wanted through XL this time around.
It has been 3 long years waiting to go back and we are counting down the days.  Thankfully this forum has given us the "fix" we need, just to log in and drool over the photos, day dream for a while and now patiently wait for May to come around!
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: elainehaines on October 09, 2008, 02:02:13 PM
We went to Kassiopi first then Arillas this year, we loved it so much as soon as we got home we booked again for June next year for 2 weeks. We have also booked 2 weeks in Zante in September
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: blondegirl on October 09, 2008, 05:25:16 PM
Where did you stay this year Elaine?
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: garythebike on January 17, 2009, 06:07:58 PM
I discovered Arillas completely by accident. About 8-9 years ago my partner and i booked a [very expensive] fortnights holiday in Crete at the begining of their season, when we arrived we found there was no water in the pool and building work was still going on. We complained, and were moved to another hotel. When we got back to England i wrote to the travel company and recieved 2 weeks free accomodation only in the Alexander appts in Arillas as compensation. I took my 2 children and had the most wonderful time, feeling safe enough to let my children [now adults] play at being grown ups.
                         The following year we moved to Tenerife, where we stayed for 5 years, having just returned last year. Booking our first holiday with our new son, i immediately thought of Arillas, and last june i took my partner and new son for the first time. We return this june for what will be the second of many more visits.
                                Enough said !!!!!
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on January 17, 2009, 06:34:33 PM
Hi Gary. Jen and me discovered Arillas by accident, but what a lucky one. It changed our lives. Enjoy.
Phil
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: kevin.g on January 17, 2009, 09:51:06 PM
well done gary...
our first time in arillas was in the alexandra apts 11 years ago.. on a last minute deal........yammas
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: steve p on March 15, 2009, 02:07:28 PM
we found arillas about twelve years ago and what a beautiful place it is. After many years of travelling to Malta we needed a change. we booked at the kaloudis and have been back 14 times since then.we love it there and will be back at whitsun.
Title: How I found Arillas
Post by: maddy on April 15, 2009, 05:57:05 PM
We needed a place for our four children/teenagers really plus ourselves. 10 Kaloudis appartmts. We were welcomed by Billy (Vasilios), Helena,Christiana and George and the lovely Rula and Christos.  Been on Billy's boat,did the sight seeing etc. etc.  Been to Albania and done the horse riding.  Brilliant!.
I also got eaten by mosquitos and was wrapped up in bandages for a week covered in iodine.  Brilliant doctor who shook his head when he saw the bites.(Don't wrap yourself in a damp sheet to keep cool). Two of our children had their 20th and 16th birthday out there.  Fresh flowers were delivered from the garden by Rula un beknown to us.  What a fantastic place.  Sunsets, glorious food, nudist beach,try it! Friendly people and always smiling.  I love it. See you there.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Paul on April 24, 2009, 01:18:32 PM
We visited Sidari about 10 years ago, yes I realised it was a mistake when we got there. Got friendly with one of the head waiters in a restaurant, who lived in Arillas, who told us what a wonderful place it was and a complete contrast to Sidari.
Hired a car and visited, and he was right, been three times since and going again this June, cant wait.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: holliepos on May 01, 2009, 06:15:15 PM
My Mum and Dad took first took me when I was 9 months old. Mum says I also went before that when I was   -2 months (she was 7 months pregnant) but I dont think that counts really. I cant remember the first time but I have been every year since then and I LOVE ARILLAS!!!!! I am 13 now and going again in July, CANT WAIT :D :D
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Janis on May 07, 2009, 11:05:12 AM
What wonderful posts have been written on this subject! Definitely, a book could be produced from all the comments!

We have two very good friends,Joan and John, and we were having dinner with them one night at their house and I just happened to ask them - of all the places they'd been on holiday, what was their favourite?    Arillas was the reply.  So we looked online at Thomson, found Kaloudis, and booked for May/June 2007. We always wanted to come back, and we are - TOMORROW!  Flying from Leeds Bradford, but also managed to get a good deal from Manchester for Joan and John!    A fitting tribute to their recommendation!

Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Island Girl on May 10, 2009, 12:33:53 AM
We found Arillas in 2002 - after going through many travel brochures looking for a quiet resort in the sun.  We felt Corfu would give us real value for money  and we ruled out all the options for bustling family resorts or lively nightlife.  Like many folk, we work hard all year and want a good chance to unwind-  with good weather, good food and good company.  The friendliness we find in Arillas is the icing on the cake.  We originally came on a package deal and for the last 4 years  travelled and reserved accommodation independently (Irene's Lux Villa!).    We cannot believe how fortunate we have been to find Arillas and swither between telling everyone how much we love it and spreading the word (for the good of Arillas!) and keeping it secret (for our sakes).  Family and friends have also been on our recommendations. It is now such fantastic and special place for us; the holiday starts as soon as we reach the airport because we know we don't have to worry about anything when we get there.  Looking forward to our 2009 trip...it can't come soon enough but we know is always over far too soon.

The Scottish Girls aka the Laughing Ladies
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: georgia on May 10, 2009, 01:53:13 AM
I can identify with this one totally Island Girl. You just know when you are heading to Arillas that you are going to have a wonderful time. I swear it whenever I have a bad time at work, I just jolly myself along by telling myself..remember what you earn today goes towards the Arillas fund..lol! x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Sandy x on May 10, 2009, 02:01:26 AM
So true georgia...
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on May 10, 2009, 02:09:29 AM
Moi aussi - me too. Jen and me sat at a neighbour's birthday party tonight working out July's visit to heaven, while all around got drunk and partied. In the Nut I would have been the life and soul...

Island girl, to quote the Boss (Dimitris) "don't worry, you're amongst friends...." You laughing ladies clearly need to keep posting on our forum. It keeps you sane. Well, my version of sane

Phil




 
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Sandy x on May 10, 2009, 02:15:21 AM
I love it that now the season has started, the amount of posts on the forum has increased dramatically....you can feel the excitement mounting as people get near their holidays. Bet Janis and Viv are having a great time.....yammas!
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on May 10, 2009, 02:47:38 AM
They must be Sandy.

But isn't it great to share it with them in this virtual way on the forum?  It ain't the same as being there with them, but it's all you've got when you are back abroad.

I just loved watching Janis share her excitement growing as it got nearer. Mainly because I totally understand that. Jen and me were heading the same way today, and it is 8 weeks till we go home

Phil
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Sandy x on May 10, 2009, 02:52:34 AM
Janis was wonderful...I have justloved her posts the last few days...hope she's going for it....
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justlynn on May 10, 2009, 03:03:50 AM
I'm sure she must be, Sandy!

4 weeks Monday, and I am feeling like that already!!
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: kevin.g on May 17, 2009, 04:14:23 PM
im right there with you lyn........yammas
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Val on May 23, 2009, 10:54:39 PM
Booked a last minute holiday with Thomas Cook about 15 years ago, and had absolutely no idea where we were staying until the coach pulled up outside the Marina Hotel.   We were thrilled that we were so near the sea!   And loved our stay so much that we returned twice more!
Unfortunately it's too long since our last visit (10 years), and we couldn't stay away any longer!   Counting the days to our return - 19!
Especially looking forward to seeing Dimitris again and enjoying our evening meals at the Brouklis Taverna!
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Alan and Jan on June 06, 2009, 01:18:26 PM
Because of the collapse of XL in a way. In July 2008 we booked our hols for 2009 in Pefkos (again) in May and southwest Crete in September (Kosmar). So whilst in Tingaki, Kos last September we started discussing the change of plan for September 2009. Got our money back incidentally.
Jan said what about Corfu. On return from Kos we started doing the usual research. We are happy to do long transfers from airport to resort as you get to see quite a bit of the island, so this narrowed our choice down to NW Corfu. Did more research on the resorts and decided that Arillas looked the type of place for us. So we booked the Kaloudis with Thomson on the good old tinternet. As an aside the same holiday flying from Doncaster is still available but £312 more than what we paid.
So that's how we found Arillas. Having spent some time looking at the various parts of this website we are more and more convinced that we made the right choice. Roll on September 11th. No doubt airport security will be that bit more intense on that day but hey we don't mind.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on June 06, 2009, 08:04:32 PM
Loved reading your post rothers1946. Is this your first visit? Pefkos is often compared with Arillas, and always seems to lose out, but then it would on this forum I guess. Arillas is not ancient and historical. It is a fishing village turned tourist centre from the seventies onwards.

It has an amazing beach which is always under threat from her indoors (mother nature.) Many Corfiot people spend their precious holidays in Arillas. The beach is vital and why the residents work so hard to look after it.

The buildings in Arillas vary enormously, but there is no high rise, no ostentation. The akti achieved the impossible in 2008 by integrating their pool and outdoor lift. So many congratulations to them. Jen and me have had a few Mythos in your bar dears but will take us a few years to stay with everyone. You're on the list. It's Dimitris and Brouklis this year... 

The roof and ceiling in Thalassa is unique and should get an award.

The culture of good food - there isn't any bad in Arillas - is part of the psyche. Using fabulous local ingredients, learning recipes from the past, dishing them up at affordable prices. I always put on 5kg (12 pounds) in 2 weeks there.

I guess I am saying is what all my friends feel.  Arillas will work for yous and another Arillas Addict is born.

Welcome to my world....
Phil





























Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: GaryS on June 07, 2009, 12:46:54 PM
Are people talking about Pefkos Rhodes? If so I agree the two resorts have a lot in common, except Pefkos is a bigger resort and more English than Greek. We were there in 2006 and apart from a penelty loss to Portugal in the quarter finals had a lovely time. Arillas wins though, not because Pefkos isn't nice, just Arillas is how you imagine Greece should be. We will be back in Arillas before we are back in Pefkos, but we will return to Pefkos one day.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: jester on June 23, 2009, 12:43:24 AM
This was our first holiday minus the kids (4 of them) back in 2005 and i found a small place called Arillas, showed my hubby (Glenn) who was pleased to know it also had a nudie beach! it seemed to be offering all we were looking for small hotels/ apartments, close to the beach and not @ all commercialised..............heaven. When we arrived we were greeted warmly by the owners (Spiros & Kostas - Marvel) and this continued throughout the hols. we met up with other folk some had been going to Arillas for 23 years! Wow dedication we thought but during day 2 we realised the special qualities that this little place held for so many, us now included. this year will be our 4th visit and yes we have thought as have many shall we try somewhere new.........and thats were it stops just thinking about it cos when we get home generally the day after we have returned we book to go again same time (company shutdown) same place. what can i say heavy going jobs, kids, grand kids and we look forward to our 2 weeks for a  complete meltdown of chilling mode in Arillas with familiar faces n places. i liked it very much (then)but Arillas well what can i say that everyone on this forum hasn't already.............. bliss
we feel that we cannot sacrifice 2 weeks somewhere else @ the expense of not going back to Arillas, so if we are to go somewhere else we will have to holiday twice a year! currently not poss so Arillas it is no Q's.
Pefkos, Rhodes was a lovely place (2004) but it had changed from 2002 and was in '04 more commercialised and very busy. my kids have fond memories of it and vow to return there.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: heatherberriman on June 26, 2009, 10:42:49 AM
hi everyone,first let me say that im new to this so i dont know if im doing it right so please let me know where im going wrong.we went to arillas in may 2009 for the first time,we stayed at the kaloudis village and we fell in love with arillas so much so that we have booked another two weeks in may 2010.what a wonderful place.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Erja on June 26, 2009, 01:00:08 PM
hi everyone,first let me say that im new to this so i dont know if im doing it right so please let me know where im going wrong.

Hello heatherberriman,

Welcome and there are wrongs or rights here in the forum :)
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: wetty on June 26, 2009, 02:22:49 PM
I first found Arillas in 1986. Some friends & I were looking for a last minute holiday in early October, a last chance to get some sun before winter set in. I remember sitting in the travel agents one Saturday afternoon trying to get something booked (anywhere warm) and after a bit of a struggle we were offered Corfu, allocation on arrival. We snapped it up & ended up in Arillas.
I have very fond memories of that quickie week away. We stayed behind Gratsiella in what were probably the Arillas Bay Apartments There wasn't a pool then, but we hired a car & toured the island. Ipsos, Paleo, Corfu Town, & even Benitses (the Kavos of its day). The weather was kind & most nights we ate at Gratsiella. On the final night
 we went mad, Lobster, Metaxa 7 star, & still struggled to break the £50 mark for 4 of us. I remember there being a small disco! which was very quiet the night we went in. I also remember thinking that the gently shelving beach would be ideal for kids, god knows why as I was young free & single & kids were the last thing on my mind.
Nearly 20 years later things had changed a bit! I was married to Annie, we had two lovely kids & we were looking through holiday brochures. In previous years we had been to Florida, Minorca 3 times as well as to the Algarve but we fancied somewhere different.
Then I spotted the Kaloudis in a Skytours brochure & my mind went back to that little resort I had stayed in all those years ago. After some gentle persuasion (and bribery)
we booked. I promised the kids that if they humoured me this time they could go back to Florida the following year! The resort hadn't changed much at all, the disco had gone (thankfully) & the people were just as friendly as I remembered. On day 1 the kids struggled to give it a 1 out of ten but by the end of the holiday it was 10 out of 10 & they were hooked. We never did get back to Florida. We have been back to Arillas every year since & my youngest still cries when it's time to go home. Roll on July 17th.

Wetty
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justlynn on June 26, 2009, 06:05:48 PM
What a lovely story, wetty.........

And afraid to say, I am like your youngest when it's time to go home!

lynn xx
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: 4x4 on July 05, 2009, 02:34:03 AM
Well, I did not find Arillas It seems that Arillas found me!!
I was born in Arillas
I sometines ask my guests in the Taverna how did they found our little Arillas.
Was it recommended? By a last minute deal? etc.
It will be interesting  for me and for other people to know your story don't you think so?
Kalispera every one!

Dimitris



Prompted by an earlier posting which referred to past entries. I have looked back to see what has been said in the past. ( something I am not inclined to do ).

Can you imagine what it would have been like to be borne in Arillas in 1949. 

If we had known better !  we would probably have thought we had been put in the back of beyond. The place the world had forgot.

I was borne into a post war, world of cars, washing machines ( with mangles ), Televisions, transistor radios,  but you still had to scrape the ice off the bathroom window on a cold winters morning. Lighting the fire in the front room and the Smog.. We where hard done by. The road I lived in had maybe one car an hour pass through. And there where fields within 100 yards. You gave one “Ting” on the bell to stop the bus and two “tings” to start it. The conductor let me pull the cord on one occasion ( I pulled it twice and the bus did not stop )
 Today the same place is a “Red Route “ so you cant even stop your car. ( fortunately I don’t live there any more ). The area has been swallowed up by London and traffic is full on 24 / 7. and houses have been built on every opening between the older houses.

If I had been borne in Arrillas I would have missed all these things.
I would even probably think the development there has been is a bit too much.

So now WE ( the Royal we again) have the money to come to Arillas ( although not as much as in the past years ). WE spend days, weeks and months, getting ready for a few brief days. To spend in a place we enjoy.  ( When you should enjoy where you are now : Its cost enough to be there)

So who has had the better life?

If I had been born in Arillas I might have thought living in Chislehurst was beyond my dreams.

However If I had known about Arillas I may have thought the same.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: riggers on July 05, 2009, 02:48:43 AM
All i can say is "LUXURIES" 
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Lindypops on July 05, 2009, 02:51:20 AM
True.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: 4x4 on July 05, 2009, 02:53:22 AM
LOL

Withdrawal symptoms making me morbid.  

If anyone can post me something, a Kg of Mud, A crate of Beer. It might cheer me up ))
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: 4x4 on July 05, 2009, 03:11:08 AM
PS.
How I found Arillas.

Having been to Skala in Kefelonia for about 5 years ( WE ) decided to have a change. Times where difficult so we booked a week in Pelecustratis  ( Ok I know that’s not how you spool it)
It rained for most of the week in May.
Armed with a map and a handy set of pages printed from a website called “ Captain Barefoot”  (we) started a tour of local beaches.  ( or not local as it turned out ) 
We had to drive through “Bandit country”  ( on the top of a hill outside the pace we where staying , some local residents had positioned themselves at across road. If you stopped to ask directions you had fallen into the trap and ended up buying bottles of Olive oil and fruit juice.
So, Laden  with Olive oil we finally made our way to Arillas.

Nuf said.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Ian C on July 28, 2009, 05:40:58 PM
My wife and I honeymooned in Corfu 15 years ago this week, in a place called Kaiser Bridge Hotel.
  We have always said we would come back to Corfu ever since but have somehow holidayed everywhere but.
  Last year I decided the time had come to return, so I sat at my computer and looked for somewhere, a fantastic deal for two weeks in the Makris in Arillas September - October 2009 was booked and we started our countdown.
 An oppurtunity arose for my wife and I to have a small break away from our children ( we have five ) and after a trip to the travel agent we came away for  a three night / four day break allocated on arrival. Imagine our surprise when we were told at the Airport that we were to go to Arillas.
   We stayed at the Akti and had the most amazingly chilled out time. We felt like we had known everyone for years and Arillas was such a friendly place we knew that we had made an excellent choice for this September.....so see you all soon. ...Ian.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: 4x4 on July 30, 2009, 01:50:04 AM
   We stayed at the Akti and had the most amazingly chilled out time. We felt like we had known everyone for years and Arillas was such a friendly place we knew that we had made an excellent choice for this September.....so see you all soon. ...Ian.

And you will return again, and again.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Tres Jolie Margarita on August 24, 2009, 03:00:17 AM
I found Arillas  through my very good friends Phyllis and John Ridley.  They had told me it was a place right up my street, but I was worried that I might look obvious, being a solo traveller.  I can honestly day that it was the best advice I was ever  given, and it is now my second home.  I have made so many Greek friends, real friends, and so many English , Irish, Scottish and Welsh, and also many German, Check (forgive the spelling) and other nationalitys.
I first went to arillas in 2000, in May, and it was so wonderful, I went back in the September.  Since then, I have have carried on doing the same.  Arillas is a drug, and I am not going into rehab.  I will feed my little problem, and enjoy it by keep coming back.    In May we have Fire flies, better than Christmas lights, and so magical.   The frogs and toads, I am not so sure about, damned if I will kiss a frog, don't know what I might end up with.  Thank God Charlie is now spoken for.
This is the first time I have ever written anything like this, but I have such a love of Arillas, and I look at other people's comments, I feel it's time for me to add my little bit.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on August 24, 2009, 03:07:07 AM
Margarita thanks for your post.

Quote
Arillas is a drug, and I am not going into rehab.

In those few words you expressed exactly how Jen and I feel.

Phil
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justlynn on August 24, 2009, 09:15:43 AM
Yes Phil, and Colin and me!

Great post, Margarita, thanks.

lynn xx
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: sharonF on August 24, 2009, 11:05:06 AM
Thanks for posting that Margarita, we go may and sept as well, the fireflies are a sight to see arent they.

We go back on the 11th sept, so give me a shout if you see me.

Sharon x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: VIC358 on September 28, 2009, 04:21:40 PM
As most people do, we were looking for a bargain holiday and found upon the Leonidas in Arillas via Thomas Cook. I couldn't believe what a bargain we had got especially for bank holiday week, 31.08.09.
I had been to Acharavi 20 years ago and remebered enjoying Corfu way back then. When Chris and I arrived in Arillas we didn't really know what to expect. The first thing we did was get our shorts on and go for a beer across the road at the Tria Adelphia. Wow - ice cold bottles of Mythos and very welcoming owners.
Well it just got better by the minute. We had the most relaxing holiday ever. Great food, fantastic weather and extremely friendly locals.
Even though I got eaten alive by mosquitos, with the plug in's, sprays etc I still had the best time. So much so, that as soon as we got back home, we booked immediately for the same time next year and with our friends too.

Can't wait for another week of heaven...
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: gaye on September 29, 2009, 12:01:21 AM
I am sure that I have posted this before so apologies if you have read this!
August 2001 and we love Corfu so much that we go into the travel agent for a last minute deal.
This is extra special as we are taking our daughters' friend Maria with us. My daughters are 14 and twelve and Maria is 13 so a good friend to both girls.
We book San Stefanos for a week and had such a great time...Maria had never been abroad before and loved everything about the holiday.
We arrived home on August 21st and on August 31st Maria died....sudden adolescent death syndrome....we were all devastated.
We thought that we would NEVER visit Corfu again, but something drew us to that travel agent again the following year.
"What do you have in Corfu?" we asked,"Preferably on the North side or even down South?"
They mentioned Arillas and having visited Corfu on and off for many years we did have to ask,"Where?"
We were assured that it was nowhere near San Stef so booked it!
It became apparent very quickly after our arrival that we were indeed VERY close to San Stef!
We felt totally at peace at this realisation and totally fell in love with Arillas!
Indeed we felt that Maria was with us and has been ever since. R.I.P.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Sandy x on September 29, 2009, 12:09:18 AM
I do remember that story Gaye. I am sure your return to Arillas was meant to be and in some ways, going back there is another way of paying your respects to Maria......a place where you were all so happy together.

My best friend died at the beginning of this year. She was meant to come with me to Arillas in the spring. Instead, I have some of her paintings in my house so I always feel a little bit of her is there with me even though she never got to see it herself.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Jo Wissett on September 29, 2009, 11:56:51 PM
What moving stories, thanks for sharing xx
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: gaye on September 30, 2009, 12:36:35 AM
Sandy.... XXXX
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Sandy x on September 30, 2009, 12:49:19 AM
Thanks Gaye xxx
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on September 30, 2009, 12:52:15 AM
Gaygo and Sandy dears, we have had our share too. The worst were two nephews - Jen's sister's youngest and my sister's only child died at age 31 and 26. Both from "natural causes."

Much of who I am comes from that. These years down the line, I encourage our two to make everything possible out of every day. I do it myself.

It never leaves you does it? But at least we can remember all the best bits.

Phil
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: paula on October 09, 2009, 01:44:02 AM
I found Arillas by accident I was booking a holiday with my aunt an she was messin me about with times and dates and where she wanted to go, so I went into travel agents and picked up first book I saw and just flicked through the pages to find a cheap holiday I saw price for £199 (it was a few years ago) so I just looked up and saw it was Corfu and just booked it. I then rang my aunt told her the  book and page no to book it too. When we got there it was very late at night so in the morning my aunt came to my door and was gushing about it she was sayin god look at the view from my room i can see the sea it lovely. We never looked back from there I went back 6 times and am planning to go again next year with friends so I can show the place off to them. I have always told them when I go to Arillas  I feel like I am going home.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: sharonF on October 09, 2009, 10:04:24 AM
Hi Paula, that view is the icing on the cake isnt it.  Where did you stay?

Sharon x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: DAVEnFRANCES on January 27, 2010, 05:07:40 PM
My wife Frances and I, discovered Arillas back in 2000.
We booked through Thomson on a cheap allocation on arrival, and arrived at around midnight to a pitch black town.
We were moved into better accomodation (Nikos) after a couple of days and started exploring and making friends. We really liked Vasilis and Anita, who have since married and had a family of course.

We loved the sea breeze taverna and made friends with Yianni and his sister Lula.

Hired out a motorbike and toured the island...loved this. If you are into biking give this a try. Just follow the coastal road and you will find out what places you like (Kassiopi/Paleokastritsa are our favourite) and what you dont (that place in the south that begins with a K.... you know the one)

We went again in 2001 and stayed in Marina apartments which was brilliantt because they are right on the beach.

We love the place...love the people....love the food, so, having been to other places (Lake Garda / Nile Cruise and the Algarve) we decided we miss Arillas so much that we are going again this year, which will be our third time. (Marina Hotel)





Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Janis on January 27, 2010, 11:34:43 PM
I've just enjoyed reading all these posts again - what wonderful words from lovely people about a heavenly place!

Janis x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Sandy x on January 28, 2010, 02:07:39 AM
I'm the same Janis....I love reading about people's first visit to Arillas and always enjoy a new post on this thread.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on January 28, 2010, 02:45:27 AM
Like yous two Janis and Sandy, I have followed this thread since the beginning. I really love to read how others have shared Jen and my experiences, and let's face it, without the forum we might never have met each other (still on our list Janis.)

love to both
Phil
 
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Janis on January 28, 2010, 11:00:16 AM
Oh, don't worry Phil - we intend to keep going to Arillas for many, many more years to come and will no doubt get the opportunity to meet you and Jen and EVERYONE else from this forum!  Arillas just binds us all to meet - it's our destiny!
Janis x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: DAVEnFRANCES on January 28, 2010, 02:47:23 PM
Oh, don't worry Phil - we intend to keep going to Arillas for many, many more years to come and will no doubt get the opportunity to meet you and Jen and EVERYONE else from this forum!  Arillas just binds us all to meet - it's our destiny!
Janis x
Hi janis & co.
I posted for the first time yesterday, but we reckon that there will be many more, as we would like to meet you guys as well!

We will be at Arillias this year from 3rd Sept - 17thSept, and staying in the Marina Hotel.

Hoping to bump into at least someone from this forum during our visit.

Lol DAVEnFRANCES
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on January 28, 2010, 07:33:52 PM
Dave and Francis, welcome to our forum. Keep posting!

We will be there in mid July this year so sadly will miss you unless things change - in which case we will repeat our month of September 2008. Our report is in Tell Us Your Story:
http://www.arillas.com/page/option,com_smf/Itemid,165/topic,4134.0/lang,en (http://www.arillas.com/page/option,com_smf/Itemid,165/topic,4134.0/lang,en)

Many of the forum go in September, it is a lovely time of year there. You will find it difficult not to meet some of us!

Many put our holiday bookings on the calendar that TerryW started. Here's the link
http://my.calendars.net/arillas (http://my.calendars.net/arillas)

Have a great time at Marina.
Phil


Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: ger on January 31, 2010, 12:50:37 PM
just read through this again, how it cheers me up, i have been off work for 10 weeks after having an operation on my foot, this forum has kept me from going insane!! we have just booked up to go in june again, so something to look forward too, and hopefully i will be walking well enough to do the usual circit of the village,  the stroll along to graziellas, the walk to the beach....
you get the picture guys?!!
ger x
p.s back to work next week, part time to start with, start saving the pennies (although as i couldnt get out to the jaunary sales i am quids in ha ha


Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justlynn on January 31, 2010, 02:11:28 PM
Hi Ger, great to read that you are recovering from that foot op and will soon be back to work. 

And well done in booking Arillas for June.  What are your exact dates?  We may see you there..... 

lynn xx
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Sarah OFlaherty on January 31, 2010, 04:50:13 PM
Hi All

We found Arillas 8 years ago when our daughter Eleanor was just 4 years old. We were looking for a quiet friendly holiday with just the right number of tavernas and bars and a perfect sandy beach. We returned last year with another addition to our family - Joe, uncertain of how time would have changed Arillas and to our joy it was pretty much the same. We have booked again to come in June, just for a week this time and can hardly wait. This site is great for keeping the holiday mood going, I can almost smell the sea and the delicious spit roasted lamb.

So glad we found Arillas and this site - sunshine on a rainy day

Best wishes

Sarah xxx
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Eileen on January 31, 2010, 05:40:44 PM
Hello Sarah,

We too are so glad you found Arillas and the forum :-)

Enjoy your Arillas memories - and look forward to those you have still to make.

Eileen.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Sara on January 31, 2010, 05:41:59 PM
Welcome to the forum Sarah. You're right, this certainly is a great site which keeps us sane through the long winter months & as you say keeps the holiday mood going.

We discovered Arillas 10 years ago & I'm pleased that it has'nt changed too much. Like yourselves we kept returning. We've holidayed in several other places in Europe, including other places in Greece, but nowhere else came close to Arillas.

Where are you staying in June?

Sara
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on January 31, 2010, 07:39:48 PM
And welcome from the Forum Anorak Sarah. Dimitris coined that title one night when we were eating at Brouklis. But Eileen trumped him with the Arillas Hippies title. She is so right! We have been known as that ever since....

Arillas will never change much. Most of its tourist business is made up of people like you who find it and keep going back. And we are guilty as charged....

Just being nosey, but with O'Flaherty as your surname, you must have as many Irish connections as me. Would love to know more. We have Dorothy from the north - met her outside the Coconut early morning one day (1 pm!) and held up the traffic for ages just nattering.

Keep in touch with us all. You would be amazed how many true friends we have made just being on this forum

Phil
 




 
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: c.donald2@ntlworld.com on January 31, 2010, 10:44:10 PM
We found Arillas in 2001, fortunately, after years of camping holidays in uk with a brood of kids and their friends.
The choice at the traval agents was Ibiza in a high rise apt or chancing our luck in Corfu.
I'd been to Corfu about 15 years earlier, staying at Akaravi and enjoyed it very much.
Now with Steve, who'd never been to Greece in his life and hardly ever had time away from his business, I booked the flights for 7 of us and 2 weeks accommodation through a website "Bridge to Corfu" staying at Ina's apartments. just off the beach. I couldnt wait. Flying from Manchester that day, the minibus was on time, everything going to plan, then the plane was delayed 9 hours!! OMG! everyone was going up the wall.
Finally got the bags together at Corfu and went to find the "Taxi"! What "Taxi"? Noone there! OMG! Don't these people check arrivals? It's 2001, the new millenium!
Internet etc, etc!
I could sense another divorce looming! Hee Hee!
Found 2 taxis and bundled them all in and set off on the final leg arriving at 5.30am.
The cars came slowly through the village past Coconut and there, right ahead.......was the most fabulous sight I can remember.
It took 4 days for Himself to relax(after i threatened to catch the next plane home),a brisk Mid day march over to San Stef( with no hat, shades or water) from then on weve never been anywhere else and cant wait for the day we say tara to UK.


Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Jo Wissett on February 01, 2010, 01:30:18 PM
Hi C donald! What a great upbeat tale! It sounds just like I felt when I came to that crossroad and saw the sea! Bliss!
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: sharonF on February 01, 2010, 01:39:25 PM
Hi C Donald,

Know exactly what you mean, the first time we arrived, we stayed at Tria Adelphia, and walked down the road to the village, when we came down that road and stood there at the end with that view, we were speechless, I said I am never going anywhere else!  (and we havent!). 

Sharon x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: VIC358 on February 01, 2010, 02:30:14 PM
Hi All,
This is definately what keeps us all going throughout the year. We have to wait until August bank holiday week, but it will be well worth.
We loved Arillas so much when we went for the first time last August, that we booked up as soon as we got back. We are taking our friends this year, as we are convinced they will feel the same way.

Vicki :-)
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Janis on February 01, 2010, 07:37:40 PM
Hi Vic358 - you've got the Arillas bug! Once bitten, always return (or something like that, lol!)
The forum will keep you going until August (and beyond)!
Janis x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: suzieQ on February 20, 2010, 04:45:53 PM
I found this site last year and on the strength of everyone's comments we booked a villa, only to learn that the builders hadn't quite finished it a few weeks before we were to arrive!

We ended up in Paxos instead, which was lovely, but hoping finally to spend a week in Arillas in September (at Villa Linakis, which looks and sounds beautiful) - should know in a couple of days if we can get the time off work - fingers crossed!
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on February 20, 2010, 05:26:57 PM
They're crossed suzieQ. Villa Linakis is fabulous, nearly as fabulous as its owners. It always gets rave reviews on here. And the villa and its visitors get looked after by other fabulous people.

You will have a wonderful time if you get the time off....

Phil
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Janis on February 21, 2010, 01:17:03 AM
Oh yes, SuzieQ - Villa Linakis looks absolutely wonderful, we hope to go there some day, but are booked twice to Arillas already this year. 
Janis x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: sharonF on February 22, 2010, 05:34:27 PM
HI Suzie,

Am so jealous your staying at Villa Linakis, you will not be disappointed, its a beautiful villa in a gorgeous area.  Hope you get the time off work!

Sharon x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: suzieQ on February 25, 2010, 01:15:52 AM
Great news - my husband's got the time off work and we've booked! I just can't wait - Arillas looks fantastic and the villa sounds (and looks in the photos) gorgeous. We're pretty sure we're not going to bother hiring a car, but instead hire a small boat for a few days (we did that in Paxos last year and it was great fun) and then perhaps try quad bikes (??!!) Never tried them before - any thoughts on that? we're both early 50s, not amazingly agile but not too bad - it sounds like the roads around Arillas are quite quiet... any feedback welcome!
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: VIC358 on February 25, 2010, 12:24:16 PM
Hi Suzie, when are you going in September?
Chris and I are going on 27th August for a week. We are going to hire quad bikes this time, as is looked such great fun when we went last year!
I dont think age matters, it's how you feel yourself. Let your hair down and go for it.
Have a fantastic time, I know we will.

Vicki X
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: suzieQ on February 25, 2010, 12:46:53 PM
HI Vicki, We're going the week after that - hoping second week of September will still be warm (and dry!) Yes, I agree, age doesn't matter - we're going to give it a try!
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: ger on February 25, 2010, 03:35:50 PM
hi suzie, go for it!! we always hire a motorbike, last year we manged to get a 250cc trail bike, it was brilliant, took us back to our youth, martin has always had motorbikes (still has but doesnt ride at home they now live in the garage haha) we are in our 50's but act like we're in our 20's according to my 30 year old son!!!!!!
ger x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Janis on February 25, 2010, 11:31:00 PM
I'm really pleased for you, Suzie - you'll LOVE Arillas and Villa Linakis!
We've never tried quad bikes but have seen many people on them, and as long as you don't go too mad I'm sure they're great fun! Age doesn't matter - do what you want. Us? We just walk (too tight to hire any vehicle, but that's Yorkshire folk for you!)
Actually it's the only exercise we get all year....

Janis x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: tonynglenda on February 26, 2010, 10:00:58 AM
Go for it suzie q. We hire a quad for a few days every holiday and love it. We're not young either but young at heart. We even go up to the top of pantocractor on it. Its well worth the journey. You'll love it.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: kevin.g on February 26, 2010, 08:30:14 PM
tony/glenda
i can vouch ,that you are young at heart .....yammas
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: sueroy on March 07, 2010, 11:16:58 AM
we found heaven in 1984 have been back 7 times return in july 2010 cant wait staying at the mirage love to you all
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: TONYNEW on March 07, 2010, 12:00:12 PM
What was  Arillas like in 1984 Sueroy it must have been very different from today
Dimitris would have only been 11 years old and the internet hadn't really been born then
Do you have any pics from those days you could post on the site i'm sure a lot of the members would love to see them happy days eh :-)
                                 Tony
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: dimitris on March 07, 2010, 12:18:16 PM
What was  Arillas like in 1984 Sueroy it must have been very different from today
Dimitris would have only been 11 years old and the internet hadn't really been born then
Do you have any pics from those days you could post on the site i'm sure a lot of the members would love to see them happy days eh :-)
                                 Tony

http://www.arillas.com/page/option,com_rsgallery2/Itemid,120/catid,5/lang,en/
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on March 07, 2010, 12:24:16 PM
Have often browsed through these old pictures, but was nice to do so again. Thanks for the "prod" Dimitris.

Phil
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: dicky mint on March 07, 2010, 12:34:08 PM
My Wife and I first walked to Arillas from San Stephanos (then always called Agios Stephanos) some 26 years ago, it was very quiet and we only saw about 10 people, we are coming to stay in Arillas this July for the first time, can't wait!
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on March 07, 2010, 12:37:53 PM
Another addict in the making....

We are in Arillas from 13th July. If you see us about, please come up and say hello...
Phil
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Paul D on March 07, 2010, 12:39:18 PM
Wise choice, dicky mint.  Where are you staying? Wherever it is, you`ll enjoy.
Then when you get back, just tell us all about it.

     Yammas   Paul D
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: dicky mint on March 07, 2010, 12:46:07 PM
We are staying at the Mathraki apts, arriving on the early hours of 17th July (03:10 landing at Corfu).

Any bars open at that time, I might need a drink.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: TONYNEW on March 07, 2010, 01:33:46 PM
Brilliant photographs Dimitris things have certainly changed in 25 years it was about 11 years ago we first visited Arillas we came over from San Stef for a couple of days when we stayed at Voula
Infact it was Spiros that first introduced me to Mythos ;-)
Myself 25 years ago i was tearing around the racing circuits in Britain the Isle of Man TT and a few times over to Belgium to race at a road circuit called Chimay and loved every minute of being a sidecar passenger which i did for 10 years i still keep yearning for anothe bash on 1 but i dont think i will bounce as well now lol
                               Tony
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on March 07, 2010, 02:19:45 PM
After leaving the airport and your transfer, it will be too late for anywhere to be open sadly. What Jen and I do in these circumstances is take something in the hold luggage in case we're "thirsty on arrival...." We usually are, and far too excited to sleep!

We will be around till 26th July, so please feel free to say hello if you want to. (Most take fright and run away...lol)

Phil

Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: dicky mint on March 07, 2010, 02:36:51 PM
I'm not easily scared, i've been married for 20 something years, and have twin girls of seventeen, so if you see us, run as fast as you can!!!!
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: sueroy on March 07, 2010, 04:08:29 PM
hi all in 1984 cant rember any street lights stayed down by the jetty on the corner by the cocnut bar we were told the mayor of arillas owned the apparment old dimitris had the coconut bar we were told he was the local police man we went to the old old night owl his son has the night owl now last year we talked about the old car and his mum and dad thanks for the lift back down the hill in the thunder storm have got some old photos will try to post them soon love to you all
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on March 07, 2010, 05:15:45 PM
Hello sueroy - what a lovely heartfelt post. Obviously have some great memories of Arillas in past times. Truth is it hasn't changed much, thank heaven. Life is slow, happy and friendly still. Wish we had found it in 1984.....

And dicky mint, our twins are 28, we've been together for 40 years, married for most of them, and we can't run very fast these days. Obviously older than yous.... Still mean it - you can't miss the "Arillas Hippies." Just come up and say hello. That is unless we do first....

Phil
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: dicky mint on March 08, 2010, 05:50:48 PM
Hi Phil

Will post a photo of us when I get one that the police aren't using for their enquiries.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: rockchick792k7 on April 15, 2010, 07:11:55 PM
My life was finally picking up, and for the first time since their births, my mum felt ready to look after my 2 daughters, so I planned the "Shirley Valentine".....
However, by the time I had a budget, I was also in a new relationship, so the runaway turned into a romantic getaway, I didn't care where, I hadn't been abroad for years.
We would have been happy,( and on a budget of £400 for the 2 of us EXPECTED!) to end up with a grotty little room, as we intended to spend as litle time in it as possible-who said romance was dead?lol
The travel agent arranged everything, i handed over the cash and we flew off, my partner was SO unconcerned by where we went, it wasn't until the bus journey to Arillas that he turned to me and said:- "Corfu???? I thought we were goig to Kos!"
The plane landed at 2am, and by the time we arrived at our apartments it was so dark outside we could make out nothing other than the fact that we were fairly high on a hill, and my heart sank, imagining the miles of cross country hiking to a beach.
The apartments however were unbelievable! I sat up for an hour waiting to be told that we'd been given the wrong accomodation and evicted into the grotty room i had imagined. On split levels, the tiled floors immaculate, every need catered for, I decided that I preferred the Anna Studios to my own home!
Finally we crashed to sleep, excited in a strange place, and I slept until I was awoken by a giddy squeal from Chris that would have put a horror movie scream-queen to shame!
Panicking I leapt from the bed.
He'd had only 2 wishes from this holiday, 1)being close enough to walk to the sea and 2) that the sea be warm enough to splash helplessly about in.
Two fast facts about my beloved are that he had never been to a resort with warm sea, and also, he cannot swim to save his life!
I found him on the balcony with a huge grin on his face i joined him and saw the desert-island -blue sea with Gravia Island on centre stage. Chris instantly declared this to be Tracey Island like Columbus claiming land his own, and the name has stuck!
We had such a wonderful time that the following year we brought my two girls, and the year after were even joined by our little "surprise" our third daughter Sydney-who i fought to name Iona in homage to the sea there. I lost on a technicality that Chris wanted to name her for his grandfather.
And now....we have 18 days until we return again,this time wth the whle family, including my mum, sister and nephew, who will be new to Arillas, but guaranteed to fall in love with the perfect beaches, the unbeatable food and the wonderful people lucky enough to call Arillas home, because we may only have to joy of visiting, but home is where the heart is, and we lost ours to Arillas 5 years ago.

Anna, Chris, Lili, Bonny & Syd
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: rockchick792k7 on April 15, 2010, 07:15:04 PM
My life was finally picking up, and for the first time since their births, my mum felt ready to look after my 2 daughters, so I planned the "Shirley Valentine".....
However, by the time I had a budget, I was also in a new relationship, so the runaway turned into a romantic getaway, I didn't care where, I hadn't been abroad for years.
We would have been happy,( and on a budget of £400 for the 2 of us EXPECTED!) to end up with a grotty little room, as we intended to spend as litle time in it as possible-who said romance was dead?lol
The travel agent arranged everything, i handed over the cash and we flew off, my partner was SO unconcerned by where we went, it wasn't until the bus journey to Arillas that he turned to me and said:- "Corfu???? I thought we were goig to Kos!"
The plane landed at 2am, and by the time we arrived at our apartments it was so dark outside we could make out nothing other than the fact that we were fairly high on a hill, and my heart sank, imagining the miles of cross country hiking to a beach.
The apartments however were unbelievable! I sat up for an hour waiting to be told that we'd been given the wrong accomodation and evicted into the grotty room i had imagined. On split levels, the tiled floors immaculate, every need catered for, I decided that I preferred the Anna Studios to my own home!
Finally we crashed to sleep, excited in a strange place, and I slept until I was awoken by a giddy squeal from Chris that would have put a horror movie scream-queen to shame!
Panicking I leapt from the bed.
He'd had only 2 wishes from this holiday, 1)being close enough to walk to the sea and 2) that the sea be warm enough to splash helplessly about in.
Two fast facts about my beloved are that he had never been to a resort with warm sea, and also, he cannot swim to save his life!
I found him on the balcony with a huge grin on his face i joined him and saw the desert-island -blue sea with Gravia Island on centre stage. Chris instantly declared this to be Tracey Island like Columbus claiming land his own, and the name has stuck!
We had such a wonderful time that the following year we brought my two girls, and the year after were even joined by our little "surprise" our third daughter Sydney-who i fought to name Iona in homage to the sea there. I lost on a technicality that Chris wanted to name her for his grandfather.
And now....we have 18 days until we return again,this time wth the whle family, including my mum, sister and nephew, who will be new to Arillas, but guaranteed to fall in love with the perfect beaches, the unbeatable food and the wonderful people lucky enough to call Arillas home, because we may only have to joy of visiting, but home is where the heart is, and we lost ours to Arillas 5 years ago.

Anna, Chris, Lili, Bonny & Syd
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: rockchick792k7 on April 15, 2010, 07:16:48 PM
just for the record-yes, i AM so dense that i posted th same thing twice! :S lol
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Jo Wissett on April 15, 2010, 07:18:20 PM
Aw anna what a truly lovely story! I love this topic, it's so nice reading about everyone first impressions isn't it. Not long till your back eh you lucky things! Welcome to the forum!
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Eileen on April 15, 2010, 07:41:39 PM
Anna, 2005 was a truly memorable year for you...you fell in love twice! :-)

Thank you for sharing your story with us.

I will look out for you all. :-)

Eileen.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on April 15, 2010, 07:45:08 PM
And welcome from me too Anna. We fell in love with Arillas within hours of our first vsit in 2002. have now spent 16 weeks there in total. We stayed at Anna Studios once, and have to agree. Immaculate, spotless and run by such a warm and friendly family. so glad you'll be getting back this year. We'll be there in July,  but sadly only for two weeks.

Phil
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Sandy x on April 15, 2010, 08:27:47 PM
Welcome to the forum Anna. Four posts but already a regualr visitor. May see you there....I arrive on 5 May.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: JohnTheRef&Dot on April 16, 2010, 12:11:19 AM
rockchick792k7
Wish we could be with you in 18 days time but that's not possible.
Will have to wait till July.
Enjoyed your post.
Wishing you a fabulous time in our favorite place
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: mally on April 20, 2010, 01:11:16 AM
Hello everyone. I am new on here. have been reading how you all found Arillas. My sister & i will be making our first visit here in june. it will be our first time to corfu. we visit greece alot but wanted to try a new place. Arillas looked so relaxing in the brochure so we thought "give it a try". from what i have read , we wont be dissapointed.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Erja on April 20, 2010, 08:22:48 AM
Hello Mally and welcome to the forum! :)

All of us can vouch for our favorite  little village and I hope you will like it too!

Anna/rockchick792k7,

What a lovely story! Welcome to the forum and keep posting :)
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: JohnTheRef&Dot on April 21, 2010, 02:58:12 PM
Hi mally
Welcome to the forum

Arillas don’t go there.
YOU WONT WANT TO RETURN HOME

Have a fantastic time in the best place on the planet
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: mally on April 24, 2010, 12:32:03 AM
hi there, thanks for your comments. am really looking forward to my hols now.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: suhimarti on July 17, 2010, 01:02:49 AM
hello there ,nice arillas people ! :))))

as we planned to go for holiday to Corfu i started to search for hotels on the internet. the very first one what jumped up the Marina was...  :)  i just kept see the pictures with opened mouth :))) and my heart beated faster. "this is it"  i told to myself, but tried to find other ones too,just to be sure. after seeing some hotels i went back to Hotel Marina and i decided we go there. thats all. :)) it was love at the first sight. and we had a perfect wonderful holiday in Arillas ,in the Marina. we all want to go back one day, very soon.
about the village... we went to see around the island and we saw some towns but we didnt find any place what has that radiation as Arillas has. we simply love it !!  :))  we love it cos quiet but we could find places for fun still, it is clean and pretty, it is very -very friendly!
thank you for our super holiday Arillas and all of people there. but very first special thanks for all the people who work in the Hotel Marina.  kissssssssssssssssssssss  :))))))
with love : suhajda márti from hungary
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Sandy x on July 17, 2010, 01:06:36 AM
Welcome to the forum Suhajda Marti....another addict. Glad you had such a lovely holiday.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: suhimarti on July 17, 2010, 01:19:53 AM
yes Sandy x, i am addicted to Arillas. and to Corfu island. it is a great place and i wish every good for it.
kalispera  :)
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: LauraB on August 13, 2010, 12:20:26 PM
Arillas will always bring me fond memories!!
Being 27, my first visit to Arillas was at the age of 6/7.  We first came to know about Arillas as my Fathers friend had a villa there which we used for 2 years on the trot... We went back year after year but stayed at different villas around the resort...
My childhood memories of family holidays have always been in Arillas and have got to know the island very well over the years..

We now have an extended family and we all go together, staying at the Rainbow! There are 14 of us, What used to be my parents, myself, sister and brother is now my parents being Grandparents and ourselves with partners and children.. yet we always return to Arillas!!! We are all going again a week on Monday!! Cant wait!!

:-)
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Eileen on August 13, 2010, 12:24:24 PM
It sounds as though you are in the position to call Arillas your second home!

Have another fantastic holiday at the Rainbow :-)

Eileen.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on August 13, 2010, 01:40:03 PM
Welcome to the forum LauraB. Great choice for an extended family - the Rainbow will be ideal for you all. Have a(nother) wonderful time like Eileen said, in your second home. It is Jen's and my second home, too.

Phil
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: jones on August 13, 2010, 08:49:03 PM
Hi everyone,
I am new to this website.  I first visited Arillas last year having been recommended to go by friends.  We have visited many Greek islands and I ddn't think I would love anywhere more than Kefalonia.......but Arillas is just such a magical place.  I am going again tonight and cannot wait........Arillas here I come.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on August 13, 2010, 09:18:37 PM
Have a safe trip jones, and enjoy Arillas like we all do. Welcome to the forum

Phil
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: jones on August 13, 2010, 09:39:40 PM
Thank you justphil
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Lindypops on August 14, 2010, 02:34:49 AM
Look forward to your post jones. You`ll have some good ones, no doubt.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: JohnTheRef&Dot on March 23, 2011, 04:26:07 PM
Quote
Warning: this topic has not been posted in for at least 120 days.
Unless you're sure you want to reply, please consider starting a new topic

Yes I do want to reply

Have just spent the best part of my day off reading through this Topic and it still continues to grow.
Although it may be a little slower at the moment I'm sure that come the end of October additions will have been made and more stories will be posted for us all to enjoy.

HOW I FOUND ARILLAS
It has brought us numerous stories about how people came upon our sleepy little village and it's wonderful people.
The holidays they have enjoyed and the pleasure they get from being BACK HOME
Home is where the heart is and this heart is in Arillas
LONG MAY THIS TOPIC CONTINUE
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Paul D on March 24, 2011, 05:54:58 PM
John, thanks for giving this thread a nudge.  I also hope that many others will post here of how they found paradise.  The stories make for good reading.
  So for all you new Ariliacs out there, get posting please.

   Yammas    Paul
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: martin-w on March 24, 2011, 06:35:16 PM
Hi All!
How did I find Arillas?
I posted this quite a time ago, 2007 in fact:-

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote:-

Hi all!
This is my first posting on this website.
I was last in Arillas in May 1999, when my wife Ann and I stayed for our 25th. wedding anniversary at The Bardis Sun Hotel. We had the most fantastic time and got to know so many people. Thomas at the fish taverna and his daughter Spirarula (3yrs. old at that time), Dimitris, your famous Sunday lamb dinners, Poppy and all at the BardisSun Appartments and all the folks 'on the sea front'.
We loved the place, the beautiful peaceful relaxing surroundings, the great walks, and most of all, the friendliness of the residents and other holidaymakers. Reading the postings on this site, it seems the place is still very much the same now!
Sadly I lost my wife three years ago, and have been feeling very down since.
The other day I was going through some old paperwork and found the holiday brochure we had used to book the holiday and inside were all the 'memories' in the form of tickets, and maps etc. of the holiday. I then went to my photographs and found all the ones taken on our last visit. They brought back so many vivid recollections and cheered me up no end.
I have been reluctant to go anywhere on my own on holiday, but feel that I could do with a good break to get away from it all and have a good time! I can't think of a better place to go than Arillas. How many other members on this site 'go it alone'? I would like to hear from you and your experiences. Maybe I'll pluck up the courage to re-visit!      
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pluck up courage I did, and haven't looked back since. It's a truly magical place, full of friends, good food, tranquil and stunning scenery, great walks, wonderful memories, and for me remains that unique 'home away from home' which I look forward to every May and September.
Yammas,
Martin.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: PMC on March 25, 2011, 02:13:04 AM
Some great stories on here - I have been through and read them all.  I first went to Arillas with my fella (now my hubbie) in 1995. We ended up on one of those placed on arrival holidays so didnt have a clue where we were going in Corfu.  Well, we ended up in Arillas at 4 in the morning went to bed, and when we got up - well wow - what a place.  I think we stayed at the new Bardis studios, although there wasn't a pool there then.  We met some fab people and had a wonderful holiday in this lovely small resort.  Couldn't figure out where to go for our holidays this year until I typed Arillas into Google and found this website, and by the looks of it the resort hasnt changed much at all.  We are coming in August with our 8 year old daughter andI am truly counting the days already.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: JohnTheRef&Dot on March 25, 2011, 11:07:29 PM
paulamc69

Welcome to the forum
After 16 years you are returning to Arillas
Once in the blood always in the blood

Arillas will welcome you as it welcomes all its return visitors
WELCOME HOME
Let us know how you found it second time round
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Val n Bill on March 26, 2011, 05:35:15 PM
Welcome to the forum Paula.

We too rediscovered Arillas after a long absence and realized this was what we were always looking for in all the years in between.

You and your family will have a wonderful holiday with lovely memories that will bring you back again and again, as John said... Once in the blood always in the blood.

 When are you going in August? and where are you staying?

As you read through the many topics on the forum you will find as we did that Arillas is still the most welcoming place in all of Greece.

Also you may remember the beach is great for children so your daughter will have a wonderful time.

                         Hope to read your future posts,       Val x 
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on March 26, 2011, 06:25:14 PM
And welcome from me and Jen, Paula.

We didn't find Arillas until 2002, when we actually booked specifically because it was cheap. Or so I remember. But down-market it wasn't, and Arillas has dominated our lives ever since.

It is a little time-warp with wonderful values but tolerance as well. It is a place you can feel at home, mainly because those who live there are real people who don't have a Tour Operator's script to read. Or if they do, they say it truthfuly in spite of any script.

Changes are happening of course, but Faliraki on Rhodes and Kavos in South Corfu can deal with that. Arillas is still unspoiled and beautiful. And if Dimitris gets his will, that's how it will stay. I suport him completely.

Phil
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: paula on April 06, 2011, 07:34:21 PM
Hi Paula, that view is the icing on the cake isnt it.  Where did you stay?

Sharon x
    god only just seen reply didnt realise been so long since i been on the site i stayed at kaloudis village we always stay there keep tryin to get billy to adopt us lol i have not managed to get back there yet as i been ill but hopefully this year fingers crossed x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on May 26, 2013, 09:11:20 PM
Just hit this by accident on the website front page.

It must be about time for all the newer devotees of Arillas to update it. "How I found Arillas!" asked the Boss 2008. And five years later it is time to go around again. Come on folks - we love reading the stories...

Phil
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: adairsl on May 27, 2013, 12:59:29 AM
Ok Phil
I will start off!
Nine years ago my good lady Catriona decided we should look for a new holiday destination.
Without going in to too much detail I had lost my ex partner but my daughter and I had been going to a small town in Ibiza for many years as it had family memories.
Meghan(my daughter) was by then out on her own.
Catriona said one night she had seen this nice looking place in Corfu which we should try.
I took a look and it seemed a good bet.Quiet and serene(not too much whirl Phil!) and we decided to go for it.
The best decision we have ever made.
We have now introduced Catrionas family and I am hoping Meghan and her partner might join us next year.
Over to the rest of you!
Oliver.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: justphil on June 06, 2013, 12:57:50 AM
I would love, LOVE to read about those who just discovered my favourite place on earth.

Phil
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: adairsl on June 06, 2013, 10:13:39 PM
Phil
So far we seem to have no takers!
Surely there must be some out there who are first timers to Arillas or at least like us had not previously shared how that experience came about?
We are waiting!
Oliver.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Val 57 on June 07, 2013, 12:41:59 AM
Well, feel as though I must set the "Ball" rolling again then!

I first came to Arillas 12 years ago......  That would make it 2001 I think.....  Well, Geoff, (My OH) & I were staying at a very popular (Thomson's) hotel in San Stephanos, but to be honest, we weren't that keen, it was a bit too busy & commercialised for us unfortunately.....  (We're quite boring to be honest!)

We decided to walk across the headland and came across Arillas and to me, it seemed to be the ideal holiday resort!  We had coffee at the Marina Hotel and sat for a while just watching the world go by.  After that, we hired a car for a week & visited a few more times because it was so peaceful & laid back.....

Well, in 2009, I decided to pay Arillas another visit - but this time with my daughter.  It was completely by chance - the holiday popped up on a last minute deal and because I had briefly visited a few times, it seemed to be the right thing to do!  What can I say?  There were several changes but overall, the "feeling," or ambience of Arillas was just the same!

Lee & I have now been visiting Arillas every year since 2009, last 3 years at the Mathraki Studios, soon to be out 4th year, God willing!  (I'm rather superstitious & just have to add that!) We've always enjoyed our 2 weeks in Arillas - actually, that's an understatement!  We have absolutely loved every single minute of it!

This year will have to be slightly different because I'm recovering from a shoulder fracture & dislocation, so we will be hiring a car to get us about....  I don't think I will be up to scrambling over the headland to San Stephanos this year!  (To be fair, I struggled last year in good health. ;-) )

I'm so glad that back in 2001, we walked over to Arillas and felt so relaxed and dare I say, relieved!  To me, this was the place that I had been hoping for....

Val
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Steve & Carole on June 07, 2013, 11:32:31 AM
In 2011, we fancied squeezing in another holiday. Searched the web, and decided on a place called Arillas for 2 weeks.  Yes, it was love at first sight/experience. In 2012, we returned for 4 weeks, loved Arillas even more!  This year we are there for 5 weeks! (Why not!). We will probably seek out a longer term rental next year.

Due to my constant raving about beautiful Arillas and its' beautiful people, my mother in law + 4 friends fly out there today, my daughter, hubby and their 2 children fly out in August, as do my daughters in laws.
Carole & I feel truly privileged to have found this gem.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Ann K on June 07, 2013, 07:39:35 PM
1998 was the year Paul decided he'd had enough of flying (as he had flown long haul for many years with work) and we were looking for coach holidays to Europe.  I was upset to say the least. :(  However, coach holidays usually mean at least one night spent on the coach.  Eventually, in selfish desperation I went to a travel agent and asked for a short flight to somewhere nice.  They suggested Arillas.  "OK" I said  "We'll do it".  Then I had to tell Paul.  He was not best pleased but came round to it and when we arrived the coach journey was horrendous and when we went through what we now know is Sidari we were mortified and prayed the coach didn't put us off there!  It was like a bank holiday Monday in Blackpool/Great Yarmouth, no offence, anyway we live near Great Yarmouth! :)

We were last off the coach.  The Marina was in darkness and the rep took us to our room, unlocked it and showed us in then disappeared.  It was hot, we were tired and not best pleased.  The only place open was the Malibu where we were made very welcome and that helped relieve some of the stress!

When we woke up the following morning to the view over the sea to Gravia and the views both north and south we were hooked.  How could such a rotten journey turn into such a superb end?

Well, over the course of the holiday we drank in the happiness, kindness and the feeling that we were the only special people there.  Nothing was too much trouble and of course we went home eager to return as soon as possible, although that wasn't to be until the following year, but we have now been every year since and can't imagine holidaying anywhere else, (except Miami where our daughter lives, but that doesn't count)!! :)  With only two exceptions we have stayed at the Marina every time.  They have to be some of the nicest people in the world - along with all the other people of Arillas of course.

That's how we got there.

Ann x :)
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Jo Wissett on June 07, 2013, 11:15:37 PM
Just loving all these fabulous reads! Thanks folks!
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: momo on June 08, 2013, 03:07:14 AM
I'm often surprised by threads on this forum I hadn't noticed before but this is the best so far!
In 2012 David and I wanted a cheap, hot holiday to Corfu, having been to Sidari (luckily we were in Canal D'Amour, which is relatively quiet and allowed us to discover lovely walks to Peroulades etc) and Ypsos (not so keen). Coop travel came up with The Rainbow, Arillas for 2 weeks.  What a stroke of luck.
Spiros and Dimitris  in Rainbow were amazing and of course we fell in love with Arillas. Never had such a relaxing holiday before. We love to walk and were happy to stroll in a sweat to Afionas, Porto Timoni,San Stefanos and Kouvadades.
Returned in 2012, this time to Tria Adelphia and loved it there. Philip and Eleni and Yannis are so lovely.
This year we're due at The Rainbow again on 30th August.  Watch out Eggy!! What a guy. We had to buy a dartboard when we got home. Can't wait to play in Rainbow again, and at Tria, and Amourada, and Night Owl. This probably makes the reader think we play good darts. No! We're rubbish but nobody minds in Arillas, as long as we try. We hadn't played darts for years until we got to Arillas and met Neil.
Can't wait to see all the familiar, warm and genuine faces again. We are hooked.
This forum feeds the addiction, keeping us in touch with Arilliacs we've met there and love. Wonderful.

Mo

 
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Rachel B on August 07, 2013, 03:25:28 AM
I found Arillas on May 13th 2013 - whoever said the number 13 was unlucky?!
:-)

Waiting in the post office queue that Monday morning so i could get my ebay parcels posted then get myself straight off to bed after my nightshift. I heard someone mention something about a passport form and i thought 'ooh i should get one as well, mine's just expired' - so i did.
Then on the way out, i noticed the ladies in the Co-op Travel opening up, so called in and picked up a couple of brochures and went for a coffee.

I returned half hour later. As it turned out, nothing in the 3 brochures had caught my eye but they had set something off - i was determined i was going to get a holiday booked that day.

And that i did.. about 2 & half hours later, i left the travel agents with a big smile on my face (& an empty purse! lol).

Arillas was booked!! :D

It has only been in recent weeks, especially since joining this forum that i have come to realise what a gem i have picked! ..and purely by chance.
I had a few options but picked Arillas because the flight times suited me better than the others!!

I always pick holidays that have flights that leave after lunch time... a few people have said to me in the past that i shouldn't have things set in mind all the time and that i should be more flexible - well had i done that, i wouldn't be going to Arillas next week! :-)

Rachel x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: daisyday on August 07, 2013, 10:25:19 AM
Haha Rachel - you wouldn't want to be on our 0550 hrs flight from Gatwick then!  We did ponder on the afternoon flight but we arrive on the day of the wine festival so thought we could get a few zzzzz in before it!

PS: My husband came up with Arillas.  We were looking for somewhere near tavernas but not Sidari like, near the beach and reasonably priced.  Came up with Arillas and on arrival just LOVED it - felt so homey (in a good way!).  This Sept is our third trip and already thinking of next year's.  We do have a 2nd longer haul flight in March/April that we vary, but for our Sept break Arillas keeps calling us back!   
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Rachel B on August 07, 2013, 05:31:00 PM
If i could drive, i would be happy with any flight time. I only choose afternoon/later flights because i have to rely on public transport to get me to the airport.
My flight is at 15:55, i got a cheap first class train ticket so have to be on the train at 5 past 10 -  gives me plenty of (shopping) time once in the airport.  :-)
I don't like rushing when it comes to travelling, and as i won't need to leave home till about 9am, it'll be a pretty easy day really.. just how i like it :-)

Rachel x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: daisyday on August 07, 2013, 05:35:41 PM
Ah, when the kids were younger we used to have to taxi to the airport and request a big car.... as our little Fiesta wouldn't take the 4 of us and luggage.  Since we've been on our own, we used to drive and park our car at one of those "off site car park" places so you get coach transport in but now our youngest son (who is 23 and still lives with us) offers to take time off work to drop/pick us up.    Think he wants to be sure we've gone so he can have the house to himself!!!  Although our army (older) son has hampered this a bit as he comes back at weekends from his base in Rutland and his girlfriend stays over too.... hopefully the flat they are buying near us will go through soon!!  Then younger son can sit and watch repeats of Top Gear etc all evening to his heart's content. 
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Steph ~ on August 07, 2013, 09:01:54 PM
I first found Arillas in 1999 whilst staying in San Stefanos (which was about a quarter of the size it is now - thank goodness Arillas hasn't gone the same way!!) - was on hols with an ex-boyfriend and we walked over the hill (or rather route marched!!) and had a lovely day on the beach which, I recall, was tiny!

I then returned to Corfu in 2006 on honeymoon, staying in St George South.  When looking to book for either summer 2007 or 2008, I found the accomodation had ceased to be with Thomson so I had to find somewhere else to stay. It was a given that the destination was to be Corfu, so went for Kaloudis Village as the reviews were fab and I recalled Arillas being a lovely village....and the rest is history.

So Arillas became my second home in 2007 or 2008.   After staying in the studios at Kaloudis for a couple of years I then moved on to Roula's apartments. Since then I've introduced my mum & her partner to Arillas and they are now addicts, having booked for 2014 before finishing this year's holiday.   All that remains is to bring my new partner to Arillas  (ex-husband still goes - we just negotiate times to avoid clashing. Arillas addicts are very civilised, even in divorce!) and I'm sure he will become an addict too.  Afterall, what's not to love about Arillas?!  :)
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Anne on February 16, 2014, 01:29:52 PM
How on earth have I missed this post! I have spent a very pleasant Sunday morning reading all 18 pages of posts and enjoyed all of your stories. It is amazing how many people have stumbled upon Arillas by accident and were hooked on her magic.
We needed a very cheap holiday in May 1996 as our business was floundering and we were under a lot of stress. I went to the travel agents and found a very good deal - Corfu - allocated on arrival. That is all we knew - after a longish coach transfer we were asked to alight outside Gratziella and walk up the hill to Bardis Sun Studios. We were made to feel very welcome, as we have been every time since. Spiros and Poppy are perfect hosts and the then very young Bobby and George were very friendly waving at us on their way to and from school. We fell in love with Arillas and its people and booked to come back in the October of the same year for Phils birthday. The rest is history - we stayed at Bardis Sun Studios for the next 7 or 8 years at least once sometimes twice a year. We decided we would like a change after that, so we have stayed at Kaloudis, Portofino and Marvel. This year we are doing something different as we have now retired - we are driving over in our Campervan with our dog Poppy. We have booked a North Sea ferry for 30th March and then will take 4 days to drive down to Bari in Italy before taking another ferry to Igoumenitsa then another one to Corfu. We have booked an apartment, next to the Marvel for 3 months. We are looking forward to meeting a lot more Forum friends this year! Dont be a stranger please say hello to us. ;-)
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Jez on February 16, 2014, 01:59:29 PM
I first visited Arillas in a van with 3 other guys, building kit and tools, going to renovate Bob and Nicky's house in Armenades. From England, 3 days drive and 6 countries later we arrived in Corfu and pulled up on the seafront in front of the Horizon, out of season. A walk to the end of the jetty and then checked into our hotel. We all stayed at The Marvel; a fantastic week, great food and drink and lots of work done (amazingly).

A year later we finished renovating the house on a second trip but it proved to be a bit expensive, as I ended up buying a house myself in Rachtades! Now that project is underway. I can heartily recommend the road trip, fabulous fun. Beware of property hunting though, its just too hot to work between May and September. I guess that's why they have Mythos...

Jez
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Paul D on February 16, 2014, 03:03:27 PM
All these stories about discovering Arillas, would make an excellent travel book, I think.   You can tell just by reading them, the delight at having found paradise.   Loved reading all of them.

    yammas,   Paul
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Jo Wissett on February 17, 2014, 02:04:13 AM
Well what a small world Jez. I presume by bob you mean Robert White aka Neil diamond? We love watching him at the Coconut. Turns out that he lives near us in the UK and we are trying to get him a gig at our local. And then get some tips on living the dream in Corfu ;)
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Jez on February 17, 2014, 11:58:39 AM
Hi Jo,

Yes, the very same Robert White, musician and author. Bob lives down the road from me in Leyland and down the hill from me in Corfu!

Nicky was telling me that you live near Accrington, is that correct? I will tell Bob to message you, I'm sure he can arrange to come over and play at the pub sometime. I guess the usual "rent a crowd" will come along in support as well.

Bob and Nicky will be in Arillas at Easter, not exactly sure of the dates though. A week or two after Viv and I.

Might see you soon?

Jez
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Wayne Evans on February 17, 2014, 03:37:11 PM
Hi all, we normally go to Sidari but reading the reviews etc  from lots of people we decided that this year will be our first stay at Arillas. We arrive 1st September 2014 for 14 nights & cant wait. We are staying at the Tria Adelphia I think & reviews of this place & the owners etc sold us straight away.
So if you've any suggestions of where to go, eat & drink etc it would be greatly appreciated & if you happen to be their the same dates well, hello to you & hopefully see you their.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Jo Wissett on February 17, 2014, 03:52:29 PM
Hi Wayne, and a warm welcome to the forum! You have made an excellent choice with the Tria, guests return year after year. A 15 minute stroll will take you to the resort centre and beach front where you will be tempted my many different tavernas all offering mouthwatering home-cooked specialities, you will also be privy to an amazing sunset each evening. The food at the tria is also excellent and philip's father's sunday lamb are supposed to be amazing. We can all advise on where you go but that is for you to discover. I know that a short distance is a lovely fish restaurant and also the renowned brouklis taverna, you simply must try the lamb chops!! There are a couple of tourist information shops where you can plan some lovely excursions but if you are anything like us you will walk down to the beach and think you are already in heaven! Enjoy x
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: cypress on February 17, 2014, 06:29:43 PM
I've just cried like a baby at your discovering Arillas stories, I also hadn't spotted this topic before, don't know how, I thought I'd read every post on every topic!

Got a day off and I'm supposed to be cleaning and I thought 'I'll just have 10 minutes on the Arillas Forum', an hour later I'm still here....

Back in June 2011 two of my best friends and I wanted a couple of weeks in a quiet, typically Greek resort. We knew we wanted Corfu and booked San Stefanos - Tsaros apartments, they were really good. Round about the fourth or fifth day we went up the hill to see what was at the other side and came across the Akrotiri, stopped for a drink and couldn't close our mouths at the view. While looking down on Arillas I felt drawn to walk down there, my friends weren't too happy about it, it looked a fair distance in that heat.

As we came to the village, I swear my heart was beating faster but I didn't know why. Walking past Yiotas and seeing the pier and the sea felt like coming home. We laid on the beach, my friends looking out to Gravia and me looking inland, thinking 'what is this place, I have to be here?'. Wandering off on
my own to explore I felt a growing sense of peace and when I went back I suggested the Horizon for lunch. Sat there chatting together I couldn't stop saying 'what do you think to it here, I'd love to come back?' They weren't as impressed, thought it too quiet, and I never did convince them to go back with me that holiday. Well....we did walk there and back the road way in 30 degrees...I didn't know about the donkey track back then!

San Stephanos was fine, but the little village over the hill was calling me, so much so that the following year I went with another friend, her for one week and me for two,(being there on my own turned out to be great, not scary at all, I made lots of new Arillas friends) and the rest is history and history in the making. 







 
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Jo Wissett on February 17, 2014, 07:49:11 PM
Thats a lovely story Cypress.  Com'on you lot there must be some more tales to be told!
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Paul D on February 17, 2014, 07:51:58 PM
Great story, cypress, of how you discovered Arillas.  Loved reading it.  Our contribution is here, somewhere.  Like many, we found it by chance.  Talk about lucky.  Pity you couldn't convince your friends but each to their own.

   Yammas,   Paul
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: prince123 on February 18, 2014, 01:56:56 PM
Booked holiday
with olyimpic holidays, and being new took coach transfer to Arillas,nightmare journey ,after a 3 hour plus journey arrived in Arillas at Christos APARTMENTS, met Phillipos and his mum ,been friends ever since, not forgetting Kostas who has a supermarket and apartments across the road nice PEOPLE, spent many hours talking to them both.

Been back to Arillas many times and over the years many great times and peaceful holidays ,
now my second home love the peace , people ,and the way it stays the same , not ruined by tourists,
Fantastic beach, great memories,

IF I ever come into money would leave broken Britain in a heartbeat and move to Arillas paradise and bliss

regards Michael
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Meg on June 03, 2014, 01:58:13 PM
we found arillas in 2000 and return every june when possible even twice in2008 with our family and grandchildren 5 &3 at the time who still talk about it today. 7 june we will {all being well} there again.every year we say we should go somewhere different but then ask ourselves why it has all that we want and people are lovely besides we like familiarity so very excited and roll on friday.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: rob49uk on February 15, 2015, 11:27:26 AM
We found out about Arillas from our friends Jez and Viv and their son Will. We went there last September 2014 and had the most brilliant time and the weather was perfectand the sea so warm. I used to go the the Elisito Bakery at Dafni near Armindes early morning so I could see the the most fantastic sunrise whilst sitting having a coffee. The cakes and pastries they make are to die for!!! Arillas for ever.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Jez on February 16, 2015, 01:38:21 PM
Glad you enjoyed it Robert, I knew you would! Perfect for Rita too. I think you will find that the Horizon only makes you want to stay longer. Wave at me on the webcam.

Jez
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: wetty on June 13, 2022, 03:14:52 PM
Hi, thought it worth refreshing this topic for any new visitors to the site. There are some lovely stories on here & some of you may want to add some new one's.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Eggy on June 13, 2022, 06:30:56 PM
and why not???
I find Arillas every day as , when I leave Kavaddades, I close my eyes and the Punto does the rest!!
(It gets me home , as well, but I never remember that bit!)
Negg

Looking forward to many fresh replies on this post.
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: vivian on June 14, 2022, 06:51:31 PM
and why not???
I find Arillas every day as , when I leave Kavaddades, I close my eyes and the Punto does the rest!!
(It gets me home , as well, but I never remember that bit!)
Negg

Looking forward to many fresh replies on this post.
Just looked at my comments on this post. It says I met a young lad called Dimitris, cant remember what year it was but can hardly believe that young man will be 50 yrs old in November. LOL X
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: kevin-beverly on June 14, 2022, 07:02:50 PM


Hi Vivian
So you like Younger men a sugar daddy haha

Kev
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Jo Wissett on June 14, 2022, 11:43:00 PM
It really is the most magical place isn’t it? Roll on August xx
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Truth on June 15, 2022, 11:42:10 AM
I'll need my Arillas updates more than ever this year Jo  🙁
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: kevin-beverly on June 15, 2022, 12:19:23 PM


Hi Truth

I be here with pics with Neil strimming or playing darts with his bad hip. The Bin men hanging on the side of the lorry
A very COLD Mythos. Taverns at night all the food being dished up OH and the swimming pools

I text u later

kev
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: Eggy on June 15, 2022, 05:45:55 PM


Hi Truth

Bin men hanging on the side of the lorry
kev

Kevin , I have told you before. - Stop amusing yerself this way and try another hobby!
Negg
Title: Re: How I found Arillas!
Post by: vivian on June 15, 2022, 06:12:20 PM
Neil, do you actually him to listen. lol