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Post by Bev on Jul 13, 2010 19:58:10 GMT 2
John(Johnboy) and I returned from our 2 week pilgrimage to Roda last night. I am fully expecting some very nasty comments but I have to apologise to a previous guest for his holiday review earlier this year. I was a little disappointed. I put it down to the economic crisis but the empty shops, the abundance of British style pubs and the lack of authentic Greek food left me very sad. The locals are stuggling and it shows. We stayed at the Kosmas for the 4th year. The family and Christiane(the cleaner), are as lovely as ever but our room was cleaned on a hit and miss basis. John emptied the toilet bucket 3 times and the lock on our door was very fiddly. The Greek night was not as good as previous years, the food was, it was the dancers. Yiannis at the Opa has lost interest in cooking and it shows. First time I had a bad meal, I couldn't eat it. They are now doing English fish and chips, chilli Con Carne and Risottos. Some afraid I think are frozen products(not risotto). We didn't eat them as I love Greek food. We had some lovely food at Golden Sands. John tried grilled Cuttlefish and I had grilled Octopus. So tender it was delicious. We went to Nikos Family Taverna twice, once with a Greek friend. Lovely meals and good service. The new pavement is a delight. We don't do tributes, karaoke and definitely not BINGO. We had a delightful trip to Erikousa with Helen and George. Being a Sunday we got to see real Greek life in a village. We hired a car and explored the interior. Found some amazing little villages and roads through the mountains. We used NSK as same price as Dromeas but bigger car and same insurance. Best food we had was at Three Brothers in Astrakeri, a la palea at Strinilas, Maistro at Acharavi, we had a lovely dinner at the Old Perithia Grill Room but the drive was even better as we saw the wild life. An Owl and what I can only guess as the Pine Martens. I love Roda but if Sidari is Blackpool, to me this year Roda was Ingoldmells. I'm sorry to say it. Will we come back to Corfu? Probably. Will it be Roda? A matter of debate. Though we will visit our wonderful friends . I wish them a wonderful busy summer and hope they all survive.
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Post by b1 on Jul 13, 2010 21:07:41 GMT 2
Yes its ok but not the best of greek places is it !.
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Post by artisans on Jul 13, 2010 22:46:46 GMT 2
Thanks for your review Bev - sorry I missed you & John. Businesses in the village are trying to work out what the visitors want most and a changing clientele is difficult to cater for. I think it is inevitable that things will change and mistakes will be made. The one thing I will say for sure is that the insurance at Dromeas is not the same as NSK. Only Dromeas covers wheels, tyres and underside without question. I know of no other car-hire company on the island who does this and these are the most common of all problems.
Steve
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Post by johnofish on Jul 14, 2010 14:11:06 GMT 2
Sorry to hear you and John were disappointed with Roda. No nasty comments should come your way as your review was clearly an honest account of your experiences whilst on holiday. If all we get on the Forum is reviews 'through rose tinted glasses' then it's time to shut up shop. ''Warts and all'' has to be the norm and not an exception or people who have never been to Roda will be expecting Nirvana and not Roda as it is. Hopefully the present trend will reverse itself and Roda will become more 'Greek' once again. Please don't give up on Roda, stay with the Forum and future Reviews may show a change. I certainly hope so !! I'm going back (again) in September so I'll get the fingers going and write a review myself. Watch this space !!
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Post by lisydaly on Jul 14, 2010 14:40:54 GMT 2
Just for interest - there is an article in the UK paper today about travel preferences - and it appears that the METT has well overtaken the MED (METT - Morocco, Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia) because of better prices, value for money (no euro to contend with) but more importantly upgraded and comfortable accommodation. As the last was my main bugbear in May and one of the reasons we won't be going back to the same place I can understand that. Corfiot owners have to upgrade - plastic/hard wicker chairs are no longer acceptable, nor are concrete pillows, permanently dripping taps, rusty fridges, kettles having to be stood on the floor to be boiled as no work surface near plug - my list was quite long although I didn't say too much at the time I will speak with my feet next time. And before anyone says apartments are meant only for sleeping in - the weather we had in May was horrendous and mooching about in the pouring rain I can do at home thank you. And there are times when going out gets too much - a quiet night in with wine, a meal and a good book - sitting in a half decent chair watching the world go by - would be good. I still enjoyed the visit, don't go for the sun but to see friends, but won't compromise on comfort any longer either. The thing is, many owners have left it too late and now haven't the money to upgrade - I know from speaking to Greek friends, so it's a vicious circle. The wonderfully helpful British tour operators -NOT - don't help much either - telling people Roda is full or they 'don't do Roda' when the opposite is true - they just can't be bothered and want to put you where they want you to go. Maybe Roda should go back to its roots - it is a Greek village, not an overflow for Blackpool.
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Post by guest on Jul 14, 2010 15:35:01 GMT 2
Lissydaly----at last someone whom has spoken sense,the good years in Roda and elsewhere gave good incomes----but the money was never reinvested in the properties--apart from very few.A lot of apartments are still the same as 30years ago.Travellers today want more comfort and unfortunately in Corfu that is few and far between.Roda could do with looking back to the good times when there was not any bingo and so called artists and other silly attractions!!!!!!!!!!! Go back to when impromtu dancing in the streets by the bar owners and locals were the norm and all enjoyed--also being able to talk without some music blasting down your ear.For my part having lived there for many years i find it now very sad what Roda has become.
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jacks
Roda Anorak
Posts: 3,853
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Post by jacks on Jul 14, 2010 16:08:03 GMT 2
Can I ask WHY you stay, if you don't like the place much?
Just curious....
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2010 17:56:29 GMT 2
It also works the other way in the "METT v MED" (The fact they are all linked to the Med in one way or another). My sister and her family booked to go to Turkey in August. My sister was not too keen to go in the first place, and had a niggly feeling about the resort and country. I told here to ask to see the Gazzetter at the Travel Agents, which she was refused at first, but I told them we had the right to see.
Reviewing this, and reputable websites, we found that their accommodation was well below standard, the resort overall had bad reviews, and to top it all, a lot of what they were meant to have was not available for various excuses and reasons.
Wanting to go to Turkey for a change, the persevered and chose some where else, at another resort. In short, they got the same reviews, and addition, found that a lot of things in the tourist sections of resorts were very costly and over expensive.
Although they wanted to keep away from the Euro, I suggested they have a look at Corfu. They did, with a lot of help from me, and eventually, after much negotiations decided to visit Corfu. Sadly it is not Roda, because hubby wanted to go on the east coast, but they are hiring a car, and intend to travel.
Having invited them to visit many Corfu websites, including this one, they realised that with planning, it can be no more expensive than elsewhere. Both myself, and another sister who have visited Corfu and other islands recommended to eat locally where the locals eat, and in short keep away from Little Britain so to speak.
Hopefully they will return having had a great time. The morale I am trying to get across is this. Do not leave it to the Travel Agents, Tour Operators etc. Use your own mind, search things out yourself, there is enough information around and available, that no one need to have a bad holiday, regardless of when you go, if you want sun or not. The only thing I would recommend, is not buy a £199 holiday, and expect a £999 one. My thoughts.
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Post by johnboy on Jul 14, 2010 18:42:14 GMT 2
Re:- Dromeas versus NSK for car hire. Both are different companies and in turn use a different Insurance company for their vehicles, Dromeas do state that wheels - Tyres - Underside are included in the cover but only on established roads so exclude any minor roads. Hired a car from Dromeas last year for 3 days they expected the car to be returned 15 hours before our car hire expired as it was booked out again to go to the airport so not too impressed with the service. Hired a car this year from NSK for 3 days and advised vehicle is fully coverered and only no off road driving allowed, We got to keep the vehicle for the full hire period, In fact we were told if for some reason we could not return it on time it could be collected the following day from the apartment.
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Post by Bev on Jul 14, 2010 19:34:28 GMT 2
Sorry to have missed you too Steve, we did see you out on your bike a couple of times. I forgot to put on review a couple of young friends of mine were in Roda at the same time. They were staying at Roda Garden Village. Although all-inclusive they spent a lot of time in Roda itself. Ate in the restaurants and went to the bars. They wanted a beach holiday and they LOVED the place. Chris, we might have gone to Roda because it was cheap our first year but we kept returning because we loved the place. I would pay double if Roda became Greek again.
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Post by sthelenssaint on Jul 14, 2010 19:39:55 GMT 2
hi bev njohn enjoyed your company the few hours we were with you ,lisydaly i have been to tunisia and turkey your right superior accom odation but was overwhelmed by touts .but i must agree with you re .refurbishment stayed in the makis in 88 first time in roda , makis has done a lot of work on his complex but apart from air -con very little to his studios but they are still better than most .had a long conversation with a greek friend and he said the same, very little refurbishment done on a vast majority of appts.
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Post by guest on Jul 14, 2010 19:43:13 GMT 2
Jacks----would you move from your home because someone opened a bar next to you?The moral of my comments are revert back to what Roda used to be not Blackpool!!To say why do you stay is a comment that is not deserved by any means of imagination.
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Post by Bev on Jul 14, 2010 20:02:27 GMT 2
Hi John(sthelensaint). It was lovely seeing you too and your lovely wife Jackie and family. We will be putting photos on facebook as this defeats me on here. If we can we will help you find two lost shopalcoholics in the future. John had plenty of his FIX too, thanks to you.
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Post by johnofish on Jul 14, 2010 20:06:16 GMT 2
Hi lisydaly, for many years the Holiday Companies have held a monopoly for the 'average joe ' visiting the small holiday resorts such as Roda. The 'cut' paid by them to the owners of the Hotels/Apartments was, and still is, an absolute minimum they could get away with. I haven't seen any of these owners driving around in new cars or living in palatial houses, so perhaps the money they earn during the season just keeps them going from year to year with little 'surplus' cash to pay for up-grading/modernisation of their accommodation. This brings back the old vicious circle of choice for us....location vs price vs luxury vs availability. Even now, with more choice of Independant Airlines/accommodation to choose from, we ( the holidaymakers ) are left with the legacy of the Travel Companies. I, for one, will sacrifice quite a bit to go where I want to, but Roda as an 'overflow' from Blackpool leaves me between a rock and a hard place. if the present trend continues I may have to find another haven and just visit Roda for a short stay to see friends ( a long weekend perhaps ). I sincerely hope i never have to make this choice.
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Post by artisans on Jul 14, 2010 20:22:58 GMT 2
Carol & Ray came to today's FGT and they are visiting Roda for the first time, staying at Nino's. They are the ones who were looking for a short break, the first on their own for many years, and somehow discovered rodaonline while looking for a B&B in the UK. Carol said the deal they got on accommodation and flights, at one of Roda's leading independent venues, could not be equalled by staying in the UK.
I am hoping Carol will tell you more when they return next week, but, like the rest of us, they already adore Roda. They normally go to the south of Spain and the village has surprised them a little. They are trying a different restaurant every night and thoroughly enjoying the food. I will let Carol continue soon.
I guess that all resorts respond to changes in the marketplace - if the didn't, they would quickly die. I think Roda's independent operators survive on repeat business and that encourages a balanced mix of new & traditional. Places like Sidari have more fully embraced the modern markets and they have changed beyond recognition. If you were a business owner in Roda, what would you do to secure a fair slice of the cake?
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