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

Has Thomsons dropped Tsaros Apartments ?

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tonyco1:
Georgie, I certainly wasn't having a dig at you, in person, or Rover either, please don't think so, because everyone's viewpoint is valid and adds sides to the debate.
You actually make some lovely posts and I am sure that they are appreciated by all who read them - I do!

No, I was referring to how "I" felt on this subject and the general synopsis of how Big companies can screw down the local people.
I have been "Stiffed" a few times by Thomsons in the past, (only once in San Stef), in various different ways, and it was entirely Thomsons (or their rep's) fault.

The problem is, they have such a hold on the industry here, that there are times when I have no choice but to use them,
this may be because they are the holders of the accommodation I specifically need or want, or because of price on that occasion etc..etc..

I certainly wouldn't refuse to use them because I don't like them, as I am not in the business of cutting off my nose to spite my face.
For that reason I would disagree with Rover, on that particular point only, but I certainly do agree with Rover that trying to get any satisfaction from:
Thomsons, Easyjet, Ryanair and the like, when unhappy, is almost impossible.

Look - - - we all know that most of the time you get what you pay for and we are all usually happy with a reasonable level of service that they provide.
However, I was referring to the odd bad days when through no fault of your own you as the customer suffers in some way.
Sometimes a bad employee or circumstances cause you an inconvenience, or money on a minor or major issue.
The other thing I dislike is silly cost-cutting causing great inconvenience, like doing a round the Island tour on a transfer, (it happens occasionally).

I sent many letters to Thomson over a bit of sharp practice that cost me money and spoilt my final day in Side, Turkey on a holiday in 2006.
I wanted to be compensated, but even I gave up in the end, after months tracking down the Directors names and addresses and sending them personal letters of complaint.
They simply referred them back to the department I started with and I got more standard letters.
These companies simply don't care if they fail the customer unless it receives a lot of bad publicity, and not always then.

Sorry if this is getting boring and I will rest my case here, but it has always been a bug-bear of mine to see the local people lose out to the big companies.
All they ask for is a fair deal, not to suffer from the tactics of business or to be bullied into submission and struggle.

I will always therefore, as my first option, go privately - and only if the sums don't add up,
I have to then look to Thomsons as I, (and most people do), have a budget as well.

Anyway - whenever we have a serious debate here, there will always be two sides and differing views - in the end we all move on.
Life is too short
Yammas!

Georgie2002:
Thanks Tony  :)

Rover:
Lets say amen to that then!

debra:
Phew - this has provoked some debate.  In a perfect world it would be wonderful for everyone to be fair but business can be definitely not so -  I try to book private and pass my money directly to the hotel owners now but would I do so if this cost me a lot more?  An ethical dilemma..............

Jimbo:
Sitting as I am on our balcony at Nafsika, the sea glassy-calm and heat-haze over Albania, the best comment I can make to this is "get here somehow - but just get here!"

Briefly (hate typing on netbooks):

* TUI (Thomson) world-wide are cutting down on low-margin package holidays. In six or seven years you may not be able to get here with them at all. The era of the small companies may come back.

* "One room only" is 99% of the time a lie.

* For many of us, who don't live near a hub airport, Thomson is the only serious option without a lot of additional costs, wearying travel times or over-nights in hotels.

* In an ideal world I would be able to pedalo from Hull to Ag Stef and give loads of money to the local economy - but this ain't an ideal world.

* If you're staying at Barras or Thomas Bay, bring ear-plugs. The frogs are in full song, apparently.

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