Roda Review
by Jean Pugh
Corfu Holiday Resort Review: Roda by Jean Pugh
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RODA
Roda used to be a quiet little fishing village, but gradually over the years, tourism has made a huge
difference.
It is a delightful resort with many bars, tavernas and restaurants and caters for every taste and every age. Children adore it, as do their Grandparents, and the people who live there are second to none. Everybody is made welcome and most people return year after year and are treated like old friends.
My first visit was in 1988 and now 18 years later, I still love it… Although it has changed greatly, it is still the same.
Roda itself is only small, and you can walk around the resort in a short space of time if that is your wish…but most people just stroll along browsing in the many gift shops and taking in the atmosphere.
There is a nice beach, which is mostly sandy. Sun beds and umbrellas can be hired on a daily basis, and there are the normal water sports, bananas, biscuits etc., also pedalos and canoes can be hired and there is a harbour where many moor their boats, and come ashore for a drink, bite to eat or just to look around. Right by the harbour is a smashing taverna on the beach, called…(you’ve guessed it!!) The Harbour Bar. They serve great food, and Spiros, who runs it,
is quite a joker and lots of fun.
Just a little way along is Pirates Bar, a family run taverna (as are most). They serve an amazing English Breakfast, and are all very friendly people. On Sunday night they have Greek Dancing, which is lots of fun and a great atmosphere.
Crusoes is great for quiz nights, and fun with Sarah and Alex. The food is good, too.
As for places to eat, they are numerous. There is Mexican, Italian, Chinese, as well as the wonderful Greek restaurants. Some of my favourites are: The Kind Hearted Place (they make the best Saginaki in Roda) and serve some great fish dishes; Smiley’s is another great place to eat, especially in the evening, as there is a roof top restaurant where you can enjoy your meal looking at the beautiful sea and watching the liners and ferries sailing to Italy and back, with Albania in the background; Maggie’s is good if you like massive fish and chips; the Drossia also serve big portions (their beef chop is enormous); and The Panorama serves a great variety of wonderful Greek dishes, as does the Newport along the front next to Smileys. There are many, many more, which I have tried, and only a few I haven’t.
The Tropicana at the crossroads is a great fun place, especially for families: good food, quizzes, bingo, music, and three big screens for the sport. The DJ Tim is a great guy and works hard to entertain. There is also a playground for children, with a bouncy castle, small roundabouts, cars and swings. Further down the road to the beach there is also a car track for the little ones, and a trampoline. Just past, you come to the Drunken Sailor, which is a lively bar for the young ones, quite like a nightclub. Opposite is the British Bulldog, a family bar, run by a nice English couple. There is plenty going on here for the children, loads of games to play, and they also show all the ‘soaps’ incase anybody is in need of a ‘fix’. Later they have live entertainment.
There are plenty more bars/tavernas, whatever your taste there will be something you will enjoy. There are films, sport, karaoke, quizzes, fun games and much, much more, and they all serve a wondrous array of drinks, and even non-alcoholic ones for the children. Also quite a number of these have Internet access.
A lot of the apartment complexes have pools now, and everybody is welcome at these, sun beds are free. They all have a bar of some sort, so you can purchase a drink and some food if desired. It is always best not to take your own food along out of respect for the owner who is just trying to make a living.
Most of the accommodation in Greece is rather basic, but for the amount of time spent in them, they are quite adequate. There are usually single beds, a wardrobe with drawers and maybe a dresser. In self-catering apartments, there will be a little kitchenette; some have a full size cooker and some just have two rings. There is also a shower, and again some will have a curtain and some won't.
I have stayed in many different apartments/studios; my favourite is Makis (I've stayed three times). It is situated just behind the Harbour Bar and has a pool, which is spotless, and cleaned every night. The owner (Makis) just cannot do enough for you; he and his wife are just so nice (as are the Greek people). They are so laid back. I have also stayed at the Fiona, Panorama, Spingos, Irene’s, Elenitsas, Nikos, and Spiros Banos’ villas many times, when we booked privately.
There are also a few hotels in the resort: the Coral, the Roda Inn and the Aphrodite are along the beachfront, and there are others around the resort. Only the Roda Inn is three stories high; all other buildings are two stories. This adds to the charm of the place. As does the pretty little church along the old road, facing Maggie’s.
The numerous mini markets/cavas stock all kinds of food and drink; English and Greek. There are shops selling toys, clothes, jewellery and lilos, etc., as well as a butcher and a bakery.
Take a leisurely stroll along the beach and you will come to Acharavi, which is nice to visit. Also a bus ride away is Kassiopi and Sidari.
If you feel like getting out and about there are many trips to be had; it is always best to book these privately with a local travel shop rather than with the reps. Car hire is also a great way to see a bit of the Island, and get to some of the unspoiled villages.
All in all I can almost guarantee that after one holiday in Roda, you will be back!
© 2005-2006 Happy Holidays Corfu
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