airports are expensive everywhere, We have been to turkey twice both times we found it more expensive thane Greece, but again may have been a wrong choice for us [we definitely wont be going back] next month we are off to Cyprus for a week ...Now thats what i call expensive [even keeping away from resort bars and eateries] but OH decided a change from Greece was needed

as for hotel and resort reports, is this an excuse not to do one ??? just because you felt it may have been expensive you can still rate the hotel accommodation and staff, and, comment on the quality of the resort [even if you finish with "i thought it expensive"

Hang on a bit Wiz! Only got back this morning. Been washing and ironing most of the day. I will post a report soon.

Hang on a bit Wiz! Only got back this morning. Been washing and ironing most of the day.

come on get your priorities right . .. forget the washing your suppose to be glued to HT like the rest of the members

no seriously many members don't post reports which is a shame when others have helped by supplying supplementary information to help them

wiz

I've got a couple of reviews to do. Will try and do them this week, promise!

i know you will..... as a brief interlude.. How did it go.....and would you return to the same place

wiz

Would not return to Nidri if the holiday was free! I thought it was the worst place I have ever visited (in Greece). We were there from the 16 August for 2 weeks which is when the Greeks and Italians visit so it was extremely busy. We hired a car but I can't say the driving was a pleasure because I have never seen so many cars on the roads and in the places we visited. There is nice harbour area and behind that the road that runs through Nidri - it has been likened to the M6 which is no exaggeration. The shops and bars mainly have entrances on the harbour and the main road. I love Greece and the people but I thought the place lacked soul and the people, in my opinion, were not very warm. Of course, there were exceptions. Perhaps it was because it was so busy that we felt some of them thought 'empty your pockets and go'. Me and OH have both said it has put us off visiting Greece next year but my niece might be getting married in Rhodes so who knows?

dosn't sound like what i would expect from the locals in any of the smaller resorts either, sorry this one didnt work out, but it hapens to us all ocasionaly, hopefully you will find a better dream for next year..

yasus
wizard

I had been leaning tentatively towards Skiathos for next summer. Having seen the prices in Lefkas, I think its going to be a no go before I start.

Hi Helen. That was our experience of Nidri. Other resorts on Lefkas and other Greek islands may be cheaper? In Nidri, on the harbour, they were asking 6 euros for yoghurt and honey in some places but in Sivota, a nice little resort, it was less than 3 euros. Still expensive though . I think a lot of the bars/restaurants in Nidri were greedy this year and it might be their downfall next year although perhaps the Italians and Greeks will still be able to afford to go. My friend is due back from Corfu today so I will get an idea of prices this week and let you know.

My friend says the prices in Corfu weren't much different to Nidri; 2.5 euros for a glass of coke, draught, at least ours was bottled, 3 euros a pint of Mythos in most places, mains courses averaging around 8.5 euros. Went out yesterday for lunch and England is far cheaper. £7.00 for 2 meals, one chicken curry with rice and nan, large fish/chips/peas and it was lovely (OK I know it probably doesn't compete with Greek cuisine). In the evening 2 double G&T's, 1 large wine and 1 double Malibu and coke; £11.50. We would have paid around 18-20 euros for that in the bars in Greece. Looks like tent in Skeggy next year .

I can see what you are saying about the prices in Greece having just returned from Kardamena. However, food and drink prices are still on a par with what we paid last time we visited 3 years ago i.e Lamb Kleftico at Pelagos on the seafront was e8.50, give or take 0.50 cents this is the same as we were paying in September 2006. However, where as three years ago the price of a main course in sterling equated to around the £5.00 mark it is now around the £7.50 mark. Having said that I would still prefer to pay £7.50 for Lamb Kleftico in Greece than pay £3.50 for some of the rubbish they serve in pubs around our way!

I thought it was the price of everything else that was scandalous. Example being my step daughter recently returned from Bulgaria where she bought her mum a "Prada" handbag for £15.00. The same, and I mean exactly the same, handbag in Kardamena was £70, it is likely they are trying to make up for the lack of tourists be fleecing the ones that do go there.

I normally bring back a number of leather wallets, last time I visited these were around the e10 mark for a decent quality wallet, this year the average price was e20 with some places trying to charge e25. Luckily a visit to Zia found some around the e12 mark which I promptly snapped up.

Now to comment on the driving, having never hired a car before, it would be nice for the hire company to let you know that you are suppossed to give way to traffic ENTERING a roundabout in Greece. The greek driver that imparted this advice to me was non to pleasant in the way that he did it, having followed me all the way in Mastihari from the main roundabout to let me know!
P.S. Wizard, I have added my report on the Hotel Cleopatra Classic and the resort this morning. We got back on Thursday so my apologies for taking 5 days.

not a problem

thanks

Dougie,
we also feel food & drink prices have remained fairly static during the past couple of years (Peloponesse) with the exception of fish. Last year farmed bass & bream were 42e, this year 50e per kg. Re. the driving, we have driven thousands of miles in Greece over the last 25 years and frequently find driving standards poor, being polite here! Greece has the highest road accident fatality rate in W. Europe. I find it best to give way even when you have right of way, despite being generally laid back Greeks drivers are not patient and seldom courteous. Some overtaking moves rely heavily on luck and the capabilities of their ancient diesel pick-ups is very optimistic. We were fortunate to avoid disaster when a Greek lady crossed the centre of the road while attending to her child in the back!

A couple of examples; my son has an IPhone and in some of the bars/restaurants they provided it free (you had to ask them for the password). In one restaurant on the front me and my son ordered a drink (G&T 4.5, coke 2.5) and asked if we could have the password. His response was; sorry it's not working which was not the truth because the phone was connecting and just needed the password. Pehaps had we been spending 40 euros or so on our evening meal, it would have been working?? Our apartments did not have a pool and so we were able to use the pool next door (where our friends were staying). I asked about connection and a guy behind the bar (bit of a jobsworth) said it would be 3 euros per day, payable up front for all the time we were staying = 42 euros. No surprise, we declined and walked into town for our lunch to places were it was free. These are just a couple of instances where we weren't happy. On the front in Nidri, 14 euros for 4 grilled prawns with a few chips and salad. I am not saying that the meals we paid 7 quid for were comparable to some Greek food but it didn't stick in your throat with the thought of what you had paid :rofl. I think tourists are in abundance in Nidri, lucky for them, so perhaps they don't have to try.

Now our children no longer holiday with us we avoid school holidays like the plague. Last year in Nidri (early July) our meals for 2 averaged 30e inc 1ltr of house wine and a tip, mains only. The other problem here are the flotillas which seem to boost prices at some tavernas. Just avoid school holidays Gail and you will find its still a lot cheaper eating out in Greece than in the UK

Rob. We really didn't like Nidri at all. I I know it's not 'commercialised' but I really feel that 'Greek hospitality was not evident. Don't get me wrong, some were fine but I came home thinking it will be a long time before I return to Greece. I know they have got to make a living but they just did not seem to have the time of day for you. All I can say is I am so happy that Nidri/Lefkas was not my first Greek destination or I would never have gone back to Greece again and again and would not have experienced the genuine warmth and hospitality of the Greeks.

Where we live in Greece, on a beautiful island, coca cola is around 1.50 euros, coffee about 1.60 euros but on the harbour a little bit more. Excellent food, with drinks (only 1 drink each usually) pay around 26 - 30 euros but go where the Greeks go, and it is a lot cheaper. Even "on the beach" excellent souvlaki, crab salad and fried aubergines CAN be purchased for approx. 12/13 euros, so not all of Greece is on the make.

I agree. I don't think the prices have increased that much. its just that the exchange rate has made everything more expensive.

Naxos this year was so reasonable, the same price as UK but I felt reasonable for your surroundings/quality of food etc. Even Santorini, which is notoriously expensive, doesn't seem to have increased so much.

Having said that, I would never pay best part of £20 for breakfast, no way. I would get a loaf/jam/butter and some yoghurt and honey!

I think the way I holiday has changed so much. I used to go out for breakfast, lunch and dinner but now I have breakfast in the room (no doubt upsetting my hotel owner!) have maybe a snack from the supermarket for lunch and have dinner as per usual.

I seem to spend about the same as I always did and my holiday isnt actually affected that much. Going to Kefalos this week so we'll see what the prices are like there.

I have just returned from 2 weeks in Skiathos. Yes, the Euro has affected prices but from the locals point of view they have not changed much at all over the last few years. Prices can vary quite a bit in bars and restaurants depending on where you go. One place we ate we had 2 courses, a kilo of wine and a couple of beers for 26 euros. Excellent value.
It was the variation in the prices of house wine in Skiathos restaurants that astounded me most. The cheapest was 4 Euros for a Kilo, the most expensive was 13 euros!!
The cheapest Mythos i saw was 1.8 euros for a large and the dearest was 4.5 euros. The simple thing is to shop around a little and stay clear of the main tourist orientated bars and you can still have a decent holiday without spending a fortune.
I have been to Turkey too and i would say give e Greece anytime!

John