Welcome to San Stefanos (NW Corfu) > Where to stay

Portland Hols Next Year

(1/6) > >>

Jules:
Next Years brochures are now available and Portland will now just go under the Thomsons name. I had a look earlier and it just looks to me that it is an excuse to charge more for the Portland properties than before. For instance we have booked Teresa for this year at a price o £818 for the fortnight and next year the same time will be £1004. Maybe it is time that we will look to book independant.

LILOLIL:
Been checking out flight prices for next year and also this year and so far looking good.I would look around at various propertys whilst youre there in August.Get the owners to show you around.You will be able to get a good deal.Plus you can choose where you stay.Cut out the middle man.You can always go to see your'e friends at Terezas.Noula is excellent at sorting this out for you.There are lots of people who were nervous about doing this for the first time, and there are lots of good friendly people on here who will give you good advice.Even if you save just £100.00 it can be your Taxi fare.Portland was always part of the Thomson group easier for them now.

Mikee:
Difficult to book independant flights less than 6 months or so in advance though (Easyjet etc) !

Bristle Boy:

--- Quote from: JULES T on May 03, 2010, 02:40:09 PM ---Next Years brochures are now available and Portland will now just go under the Thomsons name. I had a look earlier and it just looks to me that it is an excuse to charge more for the Portland properties than before. For instance we have booked Teresa for this year at a price o £818 for the fortnight and next year the same time will be £1004. Maybe it is time that we will look to book independant.

--- End quote ---

This is what we had to do for this year.
Although we stayed at Teresa's in June 2009, we found the Portland prices for June this year were too expensive, so booked Fedre Mare + easyjet - but i noticed in about March this year, Portland had brought them down to a reasonable price for June. Maybe worth waiting til early next year to book for 2011.

Having said that what will happen with early booking prices for 2011 now, is that the holiday co.s will be looking to quickly recuperate losses from the volcano issue.
Plus San Stef is fast becoming a Thomson resort (even more so than previous years) and we all know what a monopoly brings - higher prices - the small independents will be squeezed out.

tonyco1:
We always go for best value, but in places we are happy to stay in.
I have lost count of how many times we have travelled independantly to S S,
and we have stayed in countless apartments all over the village, since we have been going there!
Getting Private apartments has always been no problem, even if not your first choice.

Apartments have to fit in with travel days - so be aware of this.
Some will only rent Mon-Mon for example. Tip - - - Noula can be more flexible than most.

I check all the Airlines first, because if you can't get a cheap flight - it may still be cheaper to fly with the Tour Companies.
I check Easyjet, Monach, Thomas Cook, Thomson, - in fact every airline that goes to Corfu, google it!!
If you book a flight with Thomsons, you may also get a free transfer to Sidari at the least - cost this in!!

When I find a reasonable price, I then find the apartment and the prices - checking that travel days are OK
Add to that approx £100 for return transfers. 
Compare the prices with Thomsons etc, book it if worthwhile.

Remember: You have to play the game with companies like Thomson's -
we all know what is a reasonable market price for a holiday!
Thomsons won't get lots of bookings at the high price.
They will always do a sale, so in order to do this, they first advertise very early on with OTT prices.
The sale price offered later on reflects what they really want, and we think we have done well!! - That's marketing!!

I would always prefer to travel independantly from companies like Thomson, supporting the locals, but I like the best price as well!
Some years it's much cheaper to travel independantly, others  - it's Thomsons or the like.
Don't rush into booking a holiday, until around November at least and the prices will fall!

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page