Tapestry Holidays - A game of two Halves (Tapestry Holidays)

Member Name: mbbolton

Product:	Tapestry Holidays
Date:	24/01/05 (1563 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great Locations, Superb Accomodation, Helpful Reps

Disadvantages: Poor Charter Flights, Hire Cars could be of better standard = Class B was a Hyundai Getz - is there a smaller car?

We travelled with Tapestry Holidays inb both 2003 & 2004, on both occasions from Manchester to Volos. To explain the review title away a little, this refers to the way Tapestry seem to get so many things right, yet fail in one major respect, their charter flight operator.

We visited a self catering accomodation at Lefocastro in 2003, an idyllic greek fishing village, we must have numbered 2 of the total headcount of tourists there of about 15, it was a great place, tranquil, unpretentious and with reasonable access to the town of Affisos for a choice of restaurants. The accomodation was of a high standard with air-con, a brilliant sea view, all mod-cons and some provisions, erm provided! We enjoyed our stay immensely and Tapestry found us a real treat of a location, fantastic beaches, great countryside and though it sounds jaded a chance to see the `real' rural Greece.

We went back with Tapestry in 2004 to the bigger resort of Agios Ioannis to a larger complex of Apartments above Papa Nero beach. Even though this is the `big smoke' in terms of the resorts on Pelion it is positively comatose when you compare it to resorts in places like Lesvos and Cephalonia. We had a great time there, had good access to superb beaches and had a fantastic and relaxing time. Accomodation was again excellent and of a good standard. Reps werent pushy about excursions, and we did what we wanted to at our own pace.

So where did they get it wrong? EAL their charter airline, use ancient aircraft (737-200s) that seem like they havent had a refit since Laker Atlantic ruled the skies, the toilets were unpleasant and old, and on our flight back in 2003 we were told not to use the tolilets unless absolutely necessary, I generally follow this axiom anyway? But in short this meant dont use the toilets and went down like a lead balloon - I see another reviewer had the same a year later - so no improvement there.

For a 4 Hour flight these days you might expect something more in terms of in-flight entertainment - there was none, and no facility to start this on such an old plane. A year later myself and my partner said to one another - Surely they've started using BMI for their Northern flights - and as we enjoyed the Holiday so much decided to take a chance, only to find ourselves on the identical plane from last time. It was on time, fair play to them this is something of a rarety at manchester airport in my experience but I cannot recommend this airline at all. Having written to Tapestry about it and asked them for something coming close to an explanation of why they use them we have had a fairly dismissive repsonse along the lines of thank you for your comments and that's your lot.

Tapestry, If you can get the diffcult stuff right like resort, location, acomodation, why not apply the same to choosing an charter company like BMI for your Manchester clients - the love affair may end soon judging by another dissatisfied `group'.

Summary: