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Original poster

So disappointed in Corfu holiday

63 replies

Hotchpotch6 · 27/05/2023 01:59

Arrived yesterday at a hotel in Sidari, Corfu. I’m so disappointed. I just feel miserable that we’re here. It cost a lot of money for a week with husband and 3 children. The hotel is tired, I’m sleeping in a basement room that feels like a cell with one child, whilst my husband sleeps upstairs with my son. We’ve got a duplex apartment and the stairs are horrendous. They are really steep and the treads are really narrow in places. It’s just not safe or easy to get up and down (one of my ds has autism and a LD and with that is very wobbly). The showers are just a trickle. The hotel is full of sunburnt elderly folk, there aren’t any other families and I hate Sidari itself. I’ve been all over Greece but Sidari just isn’t nice and it’s not really been helped by how bad the hotel is. Our 16 year old is with us too and is also disappointed. We’ve complained to TUI about the stairs but they aren’t being helpful. The hotel are saying they can’t see what our problem is. They haven’t other rooms to change to. How am I going to turn this holiday around? Despite getting up at 1.30 last night to fly here I’m lying awake now listening to the mozzies over my head wondering how we’re going to turn this around. I left my lovely comfortable home, spent a load of money for somewhere I just want to get out of 🙈.

OP posts:
Lottie4 · 27/05/2023 07:58

Hope you feel better this morning, OP. Do hotel have another room you could move to? If not, certainly email tui and put eveything in writing, that way it's clear if you can to make a claim on your return.

Hope you can enjoy some nice days out and you'll feel better about the apartment and area once you get to know it a bit better - ie you might find one or two spots you like, whether a nicer part of beach, favourite cafe etc.

SmallbutMighty1 · 27/05/2023 08:00

Kassiopi is lovely and not far from where you are. I'd try and switch hotels to there. Sidari is probably the worst place you could pick on the island 🫣 Aqualand definitely worth a visit and there are loads of nice boat trips too that take a full day!

PinkPondQueen · 27/05/2023 08:01

Is it the Akron Seascape Resort? If Tui can't find you another hotel can you utilise the two sofa beds in the living room so you can all sleep upstairs?

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Holidays
MiniCooperLover · 27/05/2023 08:05

I've been to Sidari and quite liked it, we had a lovely meal in one of the beach restaurants, The Greek Village. Having been to Corfu a few times yes it's not the best area but it's ok honestly. We did have a fab hotel though so if the hotel is stressing you is there any capacity to move hotels?

AngelsWithSilverWings · 27/05/2023 08:11

Oh this is a shame as Corfu is beautiful. We did drive to Sidari once and didn't even bother to get out of the car.

If Tui can move you elsewhere Kassiopi is nice and I know they have hotels and apartments there. Kalami Bay is stunning for a day at the beach and the Durrells old family home is there ( a restaurant and hotel now)

Paleokastriza is a beautiful place too.

The best thing to do in Corfu is to hire a boat and spend the day exploring , snorkelling and stopping off at a restaurant for lunch. Agni bay is a perfect lunch spot. You can hire boats from Kassiopi.

I hope it gets better for you.

Thisbastardcomputer · 27/05/2023 08:12

Don't expect TUI to do anything, we had similar in Gran Canaria they did nothing. I vowed never to use them again and haven't.

Crunchymum · 27/05/2023 08:12

Keep on at tour operator.

Is your DS diagnosed? Send them DLA letter etc.

Hire a car and get out of Sidari. Explore. Make it a week of day trips if you have to.

If you don't drive the use a local taxi driver. Many years ago we went to Protaris (Cyprus) which was down the way from Ayia Napa - and you could tell. The resort wasn't for us at all. We got talking to the owners and nicely expressed our wish to see a more authentic Cyprus and they hooked us up with a family friend who was our driver for the whole 2 week stay.

Throwaway0912 · 27/05/2023 08:17

I knew this would be Sidari before I opened the thread! We booked a last minute, minimal research trip there and it was the worst holiday we've had. You have my full sympathies! It's a run down, Brits abroad, dump of a place.

Get out and about literally anywhere else, sounds like you've had some brilliant suggestions so far.

Don't take no for an answer with your rep. It's still not high season, neither the English nor Scottish schools have stopped yet so there will be availability in other hotels. Make a complete nuisance of yourself- politely - and move hotel.

Hope it improves for you, it's a horrible feeling getting there and realising where you've ended up.

SwedishDeathClearance · 27/05/2023 08:23

Throwaway0912 · 27/05/2023 08:17

I knew this would be Sidari before I opened the thread! We booked a last minute, minimal research trip there and it was the worst holiday we've had. You have my full sympathies! It's a run down, Brits abroad, dump of a place.

Get out and about literally anywhere else, sounds like you've had some brilliant suggestions so far.

Don't take no for an answer with your rep. It's still not high season, neither the English nor Scottish schools have stopped yet so there will be availability in other hotels. Make a complete nuisance of yourself- politely - and move hotel.

Hope it improves for you, it's a horrible feeling getting there and realising where you've ended up.

It is English school holidays- a bank holiday week and typically one of the most in demand weeks of the year?

openstop · 27/05/2023 08:26

Won't be long till you can come home. Try to put a brave face on it for the kids.

Octomingo · 27/05/2023 08:29

I get like this on pretty much every first night of a holiday.
We've been to sidari twice, mainly because we're restricted by cost, and it's really not that bad. We go in August and I don't recognise the lager lout filled place some people are describing. Yes, the main street is pretty generic, but we liked how so many restaurants opened on to the beach.

We spent our week alternating between pool for dc2 and the beach/cliffs. We liked having the 3 different beaches to go to.

EssexCat · 27/05/2023 08:29

We did similar a few years ago in Crete. I LOVE Crete so thought we’d try a new resort and it wasn’t great. At all.

We hired a car and went to much nicer beaches for the day. Spent two days at a really nice water park which the kids loved and we enjoyed. Went on a boat trip.

Basically left the resort and hotel for as long and as often as possible!

Nothingisblackandwhite · 27/05/2023 08:30

Find a Airbnb , make sure you tell fui you are refusing to use the hotel . Get a car if you need go to get around and visit other areas . Corfu is oniy juve if you are a student looking for cheap drinks . It’s a pit

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 27/05/2023 08:38

,@Nothingisblackandwhite you are thinking of Kavos which is on the other side of the island. Sidari is mainly pensioners, it is very quiet.

GiveupHQ · 27/05/2023 08:39

What’s the hotel?

presumably you did extensive research before booking, not just trip advisor (although TA a great resource)

Firstshoes · 27/05/2023 08:46

EssexCat · 27/05/2023 08:29

We did similar a few years ago in Crete. I LOVE Crete so thought we’d try a new resort and it wasn’t great. At all.

We hired a car and went to much nicer beaches for the day. Spent two days at a really nice water park which the kids loved and we enjoyed. Went on a boat trip.

Basically left the resort and hotel for as long and as often as possible!

Which resort was it please?

whattodo87 · 27/05/2023 09:08

Come on Mum - you've got this ....
You're the head of this family and they are relying on you to make this an amazing holiday !

If you're worried then the kids with sense that so dig deep, paint on that smile, laugh about it ... and then tell the kids that 'Dad booked this shit hole' ☺️

Ask for a different hotel but don't let it consume you if it doesn't happen.
Find a few lovely restaurants and stay out as long as possible - go to the beach, play games, swim in the sea and you'll be back home before you know it.

VDisappointing · 27/05/2023 09:23

I personally would go through all their reviews on tripadvisor and see if anyone was in the same boat and how they handled it and whether they had success. I don't know your hotel but this would be a starting point to finding it.
THE 10 BEST Hotels in Sidari 2023 (from £25) - Tripadvisor

mcmooberry · 27/05/2023 09:44

In this situation I would throw some money at it and try and upgrade as already suggested. Obvs if I could afford to. So sorry you are in this situation, we arrived at a hotel in Crete last year and I initially thought I had made a huge mistake (not helped by arriving in a downpour and dreadful music blasting out at the pool bar) and felt sick that we had spent so much money and I had chosen so badly, but things improved and in fact we have booked to go back this year as I can't face re-researching hotels. Good luck!

Zonder · 27/05/2023 09:45

Your problem isn't with Corfu, it's with your holiday company and your choice of destination. Corfu is beautiful and we have had gorgeous holidays there. I hope this thread doesn't put people off Corfu.

Keep pushing with your travel company.

continentallentil · 27/05/2023 09:52

lakesummer · 27/05/2023 02:07

My first instinct would be to be really clear that you have a child with disabilities and need to be in a safer environment with the travel agency.
I would push the h&s and child disability angle. Keep asking to speak to a more senior decision maker.

100% this is what I would do with Tui, and be clear you’ve taken photos of everything.

Offering to pay for a small upgrade for a move is also a good idea.

But if nothing comes of it, get out of the area and enjoy your holiday. It’s a bugger but it doesn’t have to ruin it.

There are a few holiday horror websites that feature Tui so you can add your stories and photos to them when you get home if you want.

continentallentil · 27/05/2023 09:54

whattodo87 · 27/05/2023 09:08

Come on Mum - you've got this ....
You're the head of this family and they are relying on you to make this an amazing holiday !

If you're worried then the kids with sense that so dig deep, paint on that smile, laugh about it ... and then tell the kids that 'Dad booked this shit hole' ☺️

Ask for a different hotel but don't let it consume you if it doesn't happen.
Find a few lovely restaurants and stay out as long as possible - go to the beach, play games, swim in the sea and you'll be back home before you know it.

I know you are trying to be funny and I completely agree that if all else fails make the best of it.

But making the holiday a success is the OP and her husbands joint job, and no it isn’t a good idea to sexist stereotype each other in front of the kids.

shivawn · 27/05/2023 09:57

Give yourselves a chance to settle in and see the area OP! You have a car so that's great, get out of the accomodation and explore, find a beautiful beach somewhere to camp out for a few hours and have lunch. Hotel is just one part of your holiday. I hope it turns around for you.

Babdoc · 27/05/2023 10:03

The water park is lovely, and has lots of shade from weeping willows if you want some respite from the sun while the kids play.
Corfu town is pretty, and worth a visit. We watched an Orthodox baptism in the cathedral, where the priest fully immersed the baby, half drowned it, then literally threw it to the dad, who caught it in a towel! The kids were v amused to compare it with our own church at home.
If you’re a Gerald Durrell fan, you can see the mummified remains of St Spiridion, whose toe his sister Margot kissed!

You can get a ferry over to Albania - your DC might enjoy a boat ride - and see some stunning Roman ruins at Butrint by a turquoise lake.
Corfu is v beautiful and there are plenty of much more upmarket resorts and hotels, if you can wangle a transfer. TUI used to be very good and sympathetic to special needs (one of my DDs is autistic) when they were Thomson, but I don’t know if that’s still the case since the German takeover of the company.

Nitgel · 27/05/2023 10:26

we went to Sidari the beach is ok and the Canal D Amour Beach is nice to explore, there were a few weddings there when we went. We took a boat trip to Corfu town and that was really lovely. Especially a strange little animatronic musueum https://corfu-greece.com/casa-parlante-museum/(we didn't hire a car). How hot is it there at the moment?

I wouldn't go back as the Sidari town was quite geared towards brits abroad but we stayed in a little village apartment complex that had everything on base and we really just spent a lot of the time sun bathing and in the pool. It was about a 20 min walk from the town.