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MrsMcS
Symi Visitor
157 Posts |
 Posted - 16 October 2009 : 13:55:28
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Can't believe we have been home over two weeks now. Had a wonderful holiday and it just felt like coming home as we sailed into the harbour. It was lovely to meet up with old friends and to meet so many, hopefully, new friends. Managed to put some more faces to names from the website participants, one of which is a weel kent face anyway, but nice to eventually meet Kojak . It was also nice to meet Willie and Margaret.
Ah well that is it over for another year and alas doubtful if we will be seeing Symi again next year due to the rubbish Scottish flights . Until they get them sorted out might be a wee while before we are back, but then again the pull might just be too great.
Having said that the prices might just keep us away also. Found it to be very expensive this year even taking into account the state of the pound. Thought we had taken plenty of money, but really had to budget to get through the holiday. Felt 3 to 3.50 Euros for a cappuccino and 2 to 2.50 for a spoonful or two of Nescafe in a cup a bit steep Also 4.50 to 6.50 for a Greek salad Methinks Symi might have to watch as could just be pricing themselves out of the market. Weren't the only ones who felt that way either.
Still love it though and will be back!!
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Gemma1
Starting Visitor
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
Posted - 16 October 2009 : 17:43:19
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After recently returning from Plakias in Crete I was pleasantly surprised by how cheap it still is - cheaper than prices were on Symi a year ago. You could get a small Greek salad (starter size) for only 2 euros and a glass of wine was only one euro in several tavernas. Didn't buy any coffees so can't compare the prices for that but out of interest how much is a glass of wine in Symi these days?
Glad you had such a great holiday. I'm looking forward to going back next year even if I do have to save up a bit more spending money. |
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Adriana
Persistent Visitor
1430 Posts |
Posted - 17 October 2009 : 06:40:51
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One the big reasons why eating in Crete is cheap is because it is one of the major food producing areas in Greece so all the ingredients for your Greek salad are local and probably came from a field round the corner.
Unfortunately here on Symi that is not the case. I don't normally buy veg as I grow my own and if it isn't in the garden it isn't on the menu. However, as an exercise I have just bought the basic ingredients for a Greek salad for 1-2 people. The tomato came from Poland, the cucumbers from Rhodes, the onion from the north of Greece and the pepper's origin was unspecified.
1 large tomato - 90 cents
2 small cucumbers - 1.00 euro
1 onion - 30 cents
1 green pepper - 30 cents
1 small slice of feta cheese - 2.80 euros
And that's not including the olives and oregano... 
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The secret to survival is a well developed sense of the ridiculous. |
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Buzzy
Regular Visitor
54 Posts |
Posted - 17 October 2009 : 10:44:53
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| I have to say I don't think that 4-6 euro for a Greek salad is expensive as we all have to accept when eating out that you are also paying the overheads of the restaurant staff, electic, gas, taxes etc. All of that is factored into your meal so the mark up on the ingredients for the Greek salad in this case is actually not so big. Taken with a glass of wine and some bread it can be a filling meal. You would struggle to get anything for that price in the UK that was so well made and delicious. |
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benedetti
Super Visitor
473 Posts |
Posted - 17 October 2009 : 11:27:41
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| I agree with Mrs McSporran. Its not the cost or value of the meals that I was surprised about but the enormous rise in prices. A few years ago a bottle of sparkling Rhodes wine cost us 3.4 Euros this year we were charged over 12 although when we checked in Rhodes they were selling for between 5 and 7 euros.. a massive markup. That said we have already booked up for next year as there is only one Symi and we love it. |
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Kojak
Inveterate Visitor
United Kingdom
2419 Posts |
Posted - 17 October 2009 : 11:40:15
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| Symi has never been a cheap island, but I agree that this year, prices have gone up. It's not just tourists who are affected as Adriana has pointed out. Michelle, who manages the Anastasoula where I stay, says that she has found the cost of living this year has rocketed. |
Who loves ya baby! |
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Colette
Symi Visitor
United Kingdom
134 Posts |
Posted - 17 October 2009 : 19:18:21
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The wine that us girlies drink on our weekly meet up is £11 a bottle in the pub but in Sainsbury's it's £6.50, so the mark up is everywhere  I don't think that prices have gone up so much in Symi, it's just that the pound's gone down But like everyone else I've booked for next year already so that must say something about our favourite island Luckily I've got a cunning plan to save money, Muppet's culinary skills will take care of one night for myself and Eleanor |
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Adriana
Persistent Visitor
1430 Posts |
Posted - 19 October 2009 : 06:39:41
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At this time of the year those who are resident on the island during the winter start doing 'market research' on which of the cheap local box wines are drinkable and whose got the best prices on which staples.   |
The secret to survival is a well developed sense of the ridiculous. |
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muppet
Symi Visitor
United Kingdom
128 Posts |
Posted - 19 October 2009 : 08:56:04
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Good plan Colette. Consider it date. Just remember to factor in the cost of indigestion pills  |
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Eleanor
Super Visitor
United Kingdom
335 Posts |
Posted - 19 October 2009 : 13:08:49
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| Muppet, having done the climb up to your balcony , next year I plan to bring a case purely for medication |
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muppet
Symi Visitor
United Kingdom
128 Posts |
Posted - 19 October 2009 : 20:16:54
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Bit of a hike isn't it ... better go into training now
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ALMOST A DISTANT MEMORY!
