I don't believe in going
on holiday to the same place more than once. Or that was the case until I went to
the RC Hotel for the first time in 2001. We're lucky enough to be able to get away
to other places as well but we couldn't do without our annual couple of weeks relaxation
with Spiros and his merry crew each year.
Since those early days the
accommodation and facilities have taken huge strides forward, largely as a result of
moving from general hotel accommodation rented by the proprietor, Spiros Tsellas, to a
site chosen and purpose designed by Spiros for the enjoyment of aeromodellers and their
families.
The location at Poulades
is an inspired choice. It's beautifully quiet, just a few frogs riveting away in the
nearby lake, yet is within a few minutes drive of the thriving resorts of Gouvia, Dassia
and Ipsos. Indeed, we normally walk to Gouvia once or twice during our stay.
It takes about 50 minutes and is downhill all the way; we always get a taxi back
though! Head to the other side of the island and the picturesque delights of
Paleokastritsa are around quarter of an hour away. If you don't fancy renting a car
Spiros arranges daily minibus rides to pretty much wherever you want.
The accommodation is
deliberately limited to 20 or so air-conditioned rooms so that the flying site doesn't get
overloaded and you are guaranteed a sun bed around the splendid pool. All the rooms have a
great view of the flying site but aren't so close that the noise is intrusive - have a
look at the aerial photos I took in 2007 to get a
better idea of the layout.
The flying site is a
decent sized grass strip with a large hangar/workshop. There are a couple of trees to keep
the concentration up, but nothing to give you sleepless nights. There are too many planes
in the hotel's fleet to list, ranging from IC, to electric, to helicopters to the odd
glider. But for me the RC Hotel is about the people and the environment rather than
the flying. I've flown the hotel planes, I've flown my own electrics and I've
taken a Pike to a great DS spot above the stunning beach at Agios Gordis but rarely have I
flown more than a couple of hours per holiday. Many people fly much more, indeed for
some the whole purpose is to learn to fly or perfect certain manoeuvres with the help of
the hotel's instructors.
Will the hotel and set up
suit you and your family? Only you can decide but of those that take the plunge well
over 60% come back, useually year after year, which is a quite amazing rate of repeat
business. Personally I can't remember how I ever coped without my annual complete
de-stress in Corfu. If you're socially inclined in the slightest I'd wager it will
suit you. Even my wife, who at best tolerates aeromodelling, loves the tranquillity
and camaraderie of the RC Hotel. Having a common interest means much more than just
liking toy aeroplanes (or being married to an idiot who likes toy aeroplanes), it often
means you'll find a similar general outlook on life, humour and more humour. Surprisingly
enough the conversation only turns to toy aeroplanes now and again - most modellers have
plenty of bizarre anecdotes without having to resort to their airborne exploits.
Every day, from breakfast to the time the last beer is sunk it's like you're one of the
cast in the American comedy 'Cheers'.
Since the fire over the
winter a lot of work has been done to make things better than ever. There's a pond,
more flowers, new sun beds and the like. The bar area got a new wooden floor and
some really clever clear blinds than can either keep the place warm at night, keep the
wind out during the day (if needs be) or roll up out of harms way altogether.
There's a new pet dog - Harry. And the free wifi now makes it as far as the
first row of accommodation. In the bar there is an internet connected laptop for
guests who didin't bring their own and a big LCD TV on the wall to choose the music of the
day.
