We have travelled with Kosmar for years and they have always been great, the flight times often get changed but their service once the flights are confirmed has always been good in our experience

We've travelled with Kosmar several times now. Like a lot of people, our flights got changed, but only once. Apartments generally seem to be average (don't expect much more than a hob, kettle and fridge for food). Kosmar reps are much better than with other tour operators though, really helpful and friendly.

We have three trips to Greece booked with Kosmar this year and we had three last year. We have been travelling with Kosmar for longer than I can remember and have no complaint.

Kosmar?? NEVER again. Only found the rep once and even then she couldn't confirm our flight time home--------------which turned out to be 6a.m. instead of the 5p.m. we'd looked forward to when booking.

Excellent. Never had a problem with them

Kosmar are the reason I keep returning to Greece, i am going with a 6/7 year old in a few weeks and never had a problem, basic but more than you need anyway, I mean your going on holiday so just enjoy.

Most Kosmar properties have reviews on various sites on the net to just check it out, not seen any really bad ones so far for Kosmar places.

Can I ask where your intending to go to?? Might be able to offer some advice

Thanks for all the replies and advice.

Sally- i was looking at either, Sivota / Kos (Tingaki in particular) or Lefkas
I've only been to Zakynthos before so have nothing really to compare to other than we chose Alykanas which was quiet and low key. Probably not typically greek as a bit purpose built but we like quiet holidays for families. Certainly not anywhere like Falaraki or Malia. Would rather avoid the football shirt brigades. Any ideas? Kosmar do seem to be a little cheaper but also more selective in their properties.
Cheers Laurence.

I worked out the other day that we'd been to Greece at least 14 times, all but 2 with Kosmar - that must say something! Most properties are simple but clean but many have been lovely. The brochure descriptions are generally pretty accurate if you read them carefully, i.e. we usually avoid ones that say "basic", "on a main road", etc and look for ones that say "recommended", "well maintained", etc.

We were in Kefalos in Kos with Kosmar last year, apartment and resort lovely, the only thing I'd say against it, particularly with a young child was the night flight was not great. Particularly coming back where we queued outside the airport for an hour and a half in the early hours of the morning. We visited Sivota from Parga, it's a lovely small and quiet resort and I would definitely visit myself. I have heard that Kosmar's Panorama apartments there are actually very good. We also toured Lefkas and thought Vassiliki looked a lovely place to stay.

Laurence can i STROGNLY advice against going to Kos with young kids and Kosmar, not a problem really more that the flights home are really early in the morning like 1-3am and you vacate your room earlier that day, a lot of waiting around and big cues outside airport in middle of the night really, try and opt for somewhere with better flights that Kos,

just my tuppence worth

Kos is alovely place though, beent here three times now

Flights to Preveza for Sivota and Lefkas are Sunday day flights with Kosmar, much more civilised! You might also look at Manos for similar accommodation in Greece.

http://www.manos.co.uk/

You might also try Stoupa - a lovely resort for families and Sunday day flights too. See the Stoupa camboard for lots of information on Stoupa and area.

http://zorbas.de/scripts/phpBB2/index.php

Great thanks i'll have a look. I find Greece a bit of a nightmare simply from the point that there's so much to pick from. Don't really fancy anything too over-developed. I did this a few years ago and ended up going to the Canaries because there was too much to pick from. Does that sound stupid?
Laurence

Sivota, Vassiliki and Stoupa are nothing like the canaries, low key, low rise and small family owned apartment blocks. If this is what you fancy, stick with the likes of Kosmar rather than the big tour operators who often use new purpose built places, more like the Canarian complexes which are starting to appear in some of the more commercialised parts of Greece.

Hi Laurence
You ought to try Direct Greece (completely separate to Direct holidays!) and not available through travel agents. They are a specialist Greek Operator and have some fab well-equipped properties in some of the more refined locations! They are excellent value for money and you are more or less guaranteed a free child place with them. If their apartments happen to be on 2 or 3 floors then they have separate prices for top, first or ground floor so you know exactly which apartment you are having. We have travelled with them for the last 4 years and apart from going independantly we wouldn't travel with anyone else now!

Have a look at the prices on their website you'll be amazed!

Good luck
Diane

http://www.directgreece.co.uk

- or if you want to go a bit upmarket, you could try INVALID URL they specialise in uncommercial areas, though the choice of resort is more limited. Can be pricey but you can get good late or early deals. Their web site has some stunning photos.

We have used Tapestry on several occasions and they are an excellent company. This year their holidays are available through Thomas Cook for the first time.
Duffi,
We have been considering Direct Greece but as part of Airtours/My Travel were concerned about their reputation. Nice to read such a good report.

Thanks again for the tips I'll start doing some research.
Laurence

Hi rdv

We were also very concerned when we realised that Direct Greece were part of Mytravel but apart from the fact that they do use a lot of Mytravel flights (not our favourite airline!) they have retained their own identity and Jenny May is still in control. They provide a great service and can tell you all you need to know about the Islands and accomodation they offer as most of them have been to these resorts to check them out.
Their prices are so good as well, we could have gone back to Marathi beach in Crete this July, 3 of us in a 1 bedroom apartment for 2 weeks with car hire included for less them £1000!!

Because of their fab locations, friendly staff and excellent service I certainly won't be booking with any of the big Companies again!

I second everything Duffi has to say about Direct Greece. We've had over 10 holidays with them now, always great accommodation in lovely places and we've booked to travel with them for another two holidays this summer. The staff they have both in Glasgow and in the resorts are excellent.
Only one moan... they don't go to enough places in Greece and their portfolio of resorts for 2005 is smaller than I think it's ever been.

Can highly recommend both Kosmar and Kefalonia. We took 2 children aged 8 and 11, who were used to much livelier holidays, but they loved it! The Marina Bay Studios at Mounda Beach, near Skala, are very nice, basic, but who wants to cook up a storm on holiday, especially when it`s so hot. They are right on the beach, well, about 100yds away, and what a beach! Lovely golden sand, and the sea is quite shallow till you get a good way out, so great for children.