April sees the beginning of the ‘Sun bed wars’. Many visitors to Corfu simply walk down to the beach each morning, select a place and sun bed to spend their day and then grumble when a local person asks for a few Euros. They would be surprised to learn that each beach is in fact ‘auctioned’. Today (April 7th) those who make their living via renting sun beds, congregated at the local ‘mayor’s office’. A list of the beaches for the NE coast was presented, and in front of a lawyer and judge the biding commenced. This biding is for a seasonal license to operate sun beds (and umbrellas) for the said beach. Bids start at 1,000 Euros. Today, one beach in Kassiopi went for 21,000 Euros (yes thousand!) Most though go for a few thousand. The local mayor uses the profits from the auction to pay for: a daily beach clean, the provision of toilets, showers and other facilities. So next time you are asked for money for a sun bed, you now know where most of the money is going.
Nathan
Message posted by peggy on 07 April 2004 at 9:40pm - IP Logged
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That is very interesting, I knew that the licences to operate these site's had to be paid for., but did not realise that they were auctioned off, ...Now you see why we always come to Agni early just to get the free sunbeds, ..lol,
PEGGY
Message posted by sixpackpieman on 07 April 2004 at 9:51pm - IP Logged
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sixpackpieman
I have noticed that no matter what beach I go to, the sunbeds seem to be e6 for two.
I wonder, how much they are likely to be on that particular beach in Kassiopi?
Does Nathan have to bid for the beach in Agni?
Message posted by markyh on 08 April 2004 at 12:22am - IP Logged
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I had never even considered this when going to the beaches. Now i know why the operators look disapprovingly when i plonk my own chairs on the beach. It wont stop me though!!!!!
Mark
Message posted by Bongo on 08 April 2004 at 1:44am - IP Logged
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Peggy, as you say, at Nathans you don't pay for sunbeds. When people mention the prices in Agni they dont take this into account, E3 for the sunbed (each)and E3 for the umberella. Thats a lot of Mythos!! At all the Tavernas on Agni beach, they are free!!
Also, what most people in the UK don't realise is that anyone can bid for everything, every year,so people like Harris and Louise who do the watersports in Kalami have to bid every year just to keep their own business
Nathan, did Spiros get the Agni beach sunbeds again?
Message posted by peggy on 08 April 2004 at 9:46pm - IP Logged
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Well I never knew that Graham, That does'nt seem very fair, That you can run a successful business and somebody can come along and outbid you and you are left with nothing, but you know the old saying "beware the Greek bearing gifts", only joking !!
PEGGY
Message posted by steved on 09 April 2004 at 8:49am - IP Logged
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steved
I attended such an auction some years ago in Kato Garuna near Agios Gordios. The auction was for the rights to the Ag. Gordios plots.
It was a fascinating morning (Sunday). A sheet of paper representing each plot was placed on a table, and the prospective bidders had to write their name and the amount bid. Others would then come along and scratch out that bid and insert their own. This lasted for about three hours. The noise and 'animated' conversation, some would say arguing reach fever pitch, until at 1 p.m. the town hall bell was rung and the bidding was over.
I asked my friend what the outcome was, and he smiled and said. "Well it appears that those who had the plots last year, have them this year and for the same price"
But Hey!! what a good day out.
Message posted by Sailor on 09 April 2004 at 1:30pm - IP Logged
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Sailor
Perhaps they should try that system over here, and relieve the Local Councils and Governements from jobs they cannot do, like looking after beaches, parks, footpaths, etc.
Dare I say it might reduce some of the Council Tax we pay (For nothing done).
Regards
Message posted by planetolivewood on 09 April 2004 at 2:24pm - IP Logged
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planetolivewood
Nathan
Great bit of info, I will use that in the bar when folk "grumble" about the cost of the beds. It is therefore be true to say that the hire cost ensures that the beaches are kept in good order". Nice way of smoothing out a contraversial issue. Howz about some kind of "hire" charge for glass beer bottles in bars ? It might off-set some of the TAX we have to pay on sale of the stuff LOL
Message posted by Dave & Judi on 10 April 2004 at 12:09am - IP Logged
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Dave & Judi
Hi Nathan,
Knew about the beach /boat hire auctions, are some of them auctioned off for more than one season? Could ,say Harris, bid for a three year period of boat hire for example?
Yes the sunbeds are for free at the Tavernas on Agni Beach BUT don't just pop in for a quick Mythos/Retsina/water or whatever you like to drink and then use them for the rest of the day, they are for clients of these Tavernas who are going to have lunch/evening meal and have been provided for their use.[It is most annoying if someone has popped in for a quick drink and then takes up a load of sunbeds for the rest of the day when you've had a leisurely lunch and then have to sit on the pebbles!! not that it's ever happened to us as we are always early birds and have one of Spiros sunbeds.]They are also only allowed these 'free' sunbeds infront of their property, which is why Agni/NiKolas and Toula don't have sunbeds scattered all over the beach.
Judi.
Message posted by Sailor on 10 April 2004 at 1:35am - IP Logged
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Yes the sunbeds are for free at the Tavernas on Agni Beach BUT don't just pop in for a quick Mythos/Retsina/water or whatever you like to drink and then use them for the rest of the day, they are for clients of these Tavernas who are going to have lunch/evening meal and have been provided for their use
Correct me if I am wrong, but does that mean if a table for four is booked for an evening meal, do four sunbeds go unused for the whole day.
Regards
Message posted by steved on 10 April 2004 at 2:04am - IP Logged
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steved
Just going on a bit further, my friend Nikolas at Agios Gordios has a great little ploy. He obviously knows the changeover days at the Thompson hotel, and has small tables that fit between the sunbeds, on these he places a small vase with a bloom in it. What a way to woo the ladies and get repeat business.
Nice one Nikolas
Message posted by sixpackpieman on 10 April 2004 at 2:19am - IP Logged
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sixpackpieman
How much do you have to eat/drink to enable you to use the sunbeds all day?
Will two glasses of Mythos surfice?
Anyhoo I don't care if I sit on the pebbles or on a sunbed.
"It is most annoying if someone has popped in for a quick drink and then takes up a load of sunbeds for the rest of the day when you've had a leisurely lunch and then have to sit on the pebbles!! "
A good way to make sure you get on a bed is to eat faster!!!!
Annoyed is one thing I never get while on holiday, go with the flow man!
Message posted by Judie on 10 April 2004 at 6:41pm - IP Logged
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I've never minded paying - can't stand sand all over my towel or stones digging in my back LOL
Message posted by Dave & Judi on 10 April 2004 at 7:21pm - IP Logged
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Dave & Judi
Hi Sailor,
It does say lunch/evening meal, and sixpack,no I don't get annoyed when on holiday,[ was generalising from friends who have expierienced that problem][except maybe at impatient customers that click their fingers and expect immiediate service]We dont mind the pebbles either, years ago there wasn't a sunbed for hire on Agni ,the kids used to search for large flat stones to make a smooth surface to lie on.Judie, I actually prefer stones to sand, it gets everywhere lol.
But the Taverna owners do need to get some recompence for providing the sunbeds which are not cheap and a glass of Mythos/water hardly covers a days use.If you were running a Taverna on the beach and a family of four had 2 mythos and 2 ice creams and took up four of the sunbeds and a family booked lunch/evening meal and couldn't get a sunbed cos they were all full and were unhappy about it and cancelled their booking,its lost revenue.If we are not eating at a Taverna ,lunch or evening meal we do not use their sunbeds even if we've bought a drink.
Anyway why miss out on all that lovely food that Elani cooks,the smell of those garlic prawns is enough to get most folks mouths watering!
Judi
Message posted by sixpackpieman on 10 April 2004 at 7:50pm - IP Logged
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sixpackpieman
Sooooo unless you have a full meal, your not allowed to use the sunbeds? Is that what your saying? LOL
This holiday i intend to go to agni bay nearly every morning for a dip, hopefully I might get permission to use a sunbed for an hour or two
I think we should agree to dissagree on this one, cos as I see it what your saying is you MUST have a full meal or you can't have a sunbed! LOL
Message posted by Vicki_Ent on 10 April 2004 at 9:16pm - IP Logged
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I think i'll just be extra careful and take a towel to the beach as not to offend anyone lol... haha x
Message posted by Corfoitbabe on 12 April 2004 at 8:34pm - IP Logged
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Corfoitbabe
Hay were on holiday whats $3 or woteva you wont spend it on your own comfort but you'll spend it on booze that nite or a hideos present for some college who really doesn't want it in the first place!!!!
Corfoitbabe
Message posted by sixpackpieman on 12 April 2004 at 8:41pm - IP Logged
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sixpackpieman
ok, look at it this way corfiot babe, 2 people 14 days thats 3x2x14=84euros
Not so cheap anymore is it?
anyhoo, we're not complaining about the price!, well I'm not anyway, i can never get comfy on one of them sunbeds! LOL
If you read all the previous posts you'll know what were on about
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