It depends what you are looking for! (Pefkos)

Member Name: acbrown

Product:	Pefkos
Date:	19/07/02 (2185 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Sun, Food, Water fun

Disadvantages: Prices, Heat, Lack of variety

A week in Pefkos is not dissimilar to a week in a tandoori oven, what with temperatures climbing to 120 degrees in the direct sun and falling to a tortuous 93 degrees at night. It is possible to sunbathe half an hour after sunrise at 6.30 am, and that relentless heat will continue unabated throughout the day until nightfall at around half past nine. I'm sure there is no word in Greek for "cloud"! I saw many people who were uncomfortably burned after only an hour in the direct sunlight, so please be very careful about how much and for how long you let the sun on to your skin.

Pefkos is very much a resort for couples and families. Oddly enough, the three resorts in the district - Pefkos, Lardos and Lindos - seem to attract high percentages of certain nationalities. For examples, the majority of tourists in Lardos are Germans, it's mostly Italians in Lindos, while Pefkos is essentially British, at least 95% of all the holidaymakers who go there. Also, those wanting a good night life should look elsewhere, usually Faliraki, Afandou, Lindos or Rhodes Town itself. There is only one club of note in Pefkos, and that is "After Dark" at the Amphora Bar on the main street. It opens around midnight and will drain your wallet as speedily as if it had burst an artery.

On that point, remember to take a whole lot of money with you to Pefkos. A holiday in Greece is an exercise in cash extraction, not that we can blame the Greeks for this because they have only a relatively short time to make enough money to see them through the lean winter months. My primary budget of 200 pounds, along with the 100 pounds reserve, went in five days. In the end I was putting all of my meals on my Visa card and ekeing out what little sterling I had left to get me through the remainder of the week. Dealing in Euros is deceptive, and to be charged 12 Euros for a small fried breakfast plus coffee and orange squash sounds pretty cheap, until you reme
mber that 12 Euros is eight pounds. Two lads I met were seriously ripped off in a bar on the first night when they were charged 18 Euros (a princely twelve pounds) for two bottles of Smirnoff Ice. The golden rule here is, if you can't see a price list for what you want, ask how much you will be charged. The basic guide is that prices here are not that far from British prices plus 25% SAT (Sun Added Tax). Unscrupulous locals know when you are fresh out to the resort because your skin will probably be pale, so therefore you are fair game.

I stayed at Summer Memories with Cosmos, and the accommodation was good. There were no mosquitoes or other terrifying insects, the bar staff are jolly, and the pool is very nice. However, buying the air conditioning for a week is pretty expensive, but I learned that after four nights of waking up every few minutes and towelling off the sweat, it might have been a good investment after all. Also, if you are after Greek culture and history, Pefkos is not a good choice. It really suits those people who want to lay by the pool or on the beach all day, as there is very little else to do in Pefkos or on the entire island. It took me around four days to see what history there is in Rhodes, and after that I just got bored. Hiring a car or scooter is reasonably cheap, but take great care on the roads. I know of three accidents just from amongst the guests in my hotel during the week, thankfully none were serious. A lot of the Greek drivers are insane on the roads by our standards, and unless you are a skilled rider or driver on the continent, you are running real risks of injury, possibly serious, so please be careful.

The food was generally very good, and there are some tasty Greek dishes worth trying. Again, though, keep an eye on those prices. A meal for two with a starter and main course plus wine will probably clock up at 30 to 40 Euro, roughly 20 to 25 pounds in sterling. Add some drinks in a bar o
n top, and you will find the average round coming to four or five pounds for two people. The beer is pretty awful too. You can drink Amstel or Mythos all night and not feel tipsy! A night out in Pefkos can easily relieve you of forty pounds, and even then you might go to your bed pretty sober.

There was one restaurant that I can safely recommend, and that is "Nostalgia" right opposite the main road leading to the central beach. The food and service were both excellent. Directly opposite "Nostalgia" is "Enigma", and this is definitely one to avoid. The experiences of myself and others who ate there were universally grim. The food is mediocre, but the service is appalling. I waited a whole hour for a main course which arrived lukewarm and pretty tasteless. I guess it had been microwaved too, for it had the texture of something that had been laying around awhile.

The beach is good, but wear flipflops on the sand as it will blister your feet in the sun. You can get a sunbed for 3.50 Euro for a day, and the sea is beautiful to swim in. Mind the prices at Lee Beach Restaurant, though, as you can easily be fleeced there as well. You will probably be offered some excursions too. I bought "Rhodes By Boat" and the "Greek Night", costing around 50 pounds for the pair. The boat trip was fun, and you get around four hours to explore in Rhodes Town. The Greek Night consists of lots of inclusive wine (pretty foul, though), some athletic Greek dancers and a two course meal individually prepared for 200 people at a time :)

Overall, then, Pefkos is all right if you are primarily a sun-worshipper and ask for little else. Clubbers and culture vultures will be disappointed. My three golden rules are therefore:
1. Take plenty of money, at least 300 pounds per person.
2. Buy the air-conditioning at the accommodation if it's not included in the price you paid.
3. If something you wan
t is not clearly priced, ask first.

I myself shall not be returning to Rhodes, but that is no reflection on the Greeks, their hospitality, or the amenities to hand. It simply wasn't what I was looking for, but the lesson has been learnt. I met plenty of people who had a great time, so think carefully about what you want from your holiday before booking up.

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