Keep it a Secret (Zante (Zakynthos))

Member Name: HS28

Product:	Zante (Zakynthos)
Date:	16/04/09 (533 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good for sunseekers, sightseers and for seeing the turtles

Disadvantages: getting a bit too commercialised

**Yiassou (hello)**


Zakynthos is also known as Zante but to the Greeks it is Zaknythos and best kept that way! This was one of my favourite haunts as a holiday destination and so much so that I have been over 10 times. I have stayed in most of the resorts, done the island tours, found the hidden beaches and delights and yes I got the tshirt! I first went on holiday here back in 1994 and have revisited most years up until 2003 but I'm looking to make a return trip to it this summer hopefully. There is something captivating about the island and it has a charm to it. Even though now it has become a bit too commercialised in certain resorts there are still some quieter resorts to stay. It is truly a Mediterranean delight and I have a soft spot of Greece and Italy so up my street. I always find Greece and Italy similar but Greece is that little bit cheaper and has more beaches!


**Where is it?**

Zakynthos is a Greek Island to the bottom left of the Greece mainland towards the west. It is part of the Ionian Islands group which include Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Ithica, Lefkas, Paxos and the well-known Corfu. If you ever see a holiday brochure for Zakynthos it will normally have the famous shipwreck cove which shows a beautiful indigo sea and golden sanded beach. (I have it as a screen saver) This picture is often used in advertising Greece as destination. It is also famous for turtles that nest up in the resorts of Kalamaki and Laganas and are well worth trying to see.


**About the Island**

Zakynthos used to be one of the lesser known Greek islands in the Ionian group as the average tourist would visit Corfu. I have been to Kefalonia too which is a bigger and quiet island but found that quite a windy destination. Zakynthos doesn't suffer from this wind and is a sheltered island that certainly holds up the heat. If you are a sunseeker it is the place to go as it has endless beaches to catch the rays and there are plenty of hidden beaches if you seek them out. The temperatures get pretty hot here in summer though and we used to always go in June and get hit by heat waves getting into the 90s or more (can't do Celsius figures!) It is a smallish island and you can easily get around it in a hire car which is well worth doing as there is some exploring to do.

**Getting there**

All the major tour companies go to Zakynthos and Excel used to be one of the cheaper ones with good quality accommodation. Such a shame they went into administration as that pushed out a lot of the good deals. But you can get to Zakynthos on a package deal form virtually any airport in the UK and stay half board, B&B, self catering or even All Inclusive. I would strongly recommend self catering as then you can sample all the gorgeous restaurants which are so cheap anyway! You could pay for a flight and find your own accommodation but for some reason it doesn't work out that much cheaper. Back in the 90s we used to get out here for two weeks for under £150 each but today its double or treble that now! I last paid around £250 for two weeks in June but I know booking again for this summer in the peak will cost me double that!

**The Airport**

There is only one Airport and this is situated near to Laganas and Kalamaki. The airport used to be so small there were only two check in desks and you queued up outside. This has improved somewhat with them tourism boost and now you queue under cover from the sun with more check in desks. The airport is little but does the job and isn't the place you want to be stuck in if your flight is delayed as they push the passengers through like herding cows and its jam packed. One year I had a run in with the luggage belt as on a Sunday only one man seems to operate it and my poor case got somewhat battered and bruised. i was livid thought my clothes were going to end up going round the conveyer belt which would have been so embarrassing! (but funny for my friend at the time)

**The Resorts**

There are lots of choices to staying here and unfortunately I am disappointed with the commercialism that has overtaken Zakynthos in recent years as its nothing like it was 14 years ago. Over the years it has become bigger and bigger and I have gradually stopped wanting to go to certain resorts. The good thing about Zante is the resort transfer times as all are not far away from the airport.

Laganas is the biggest resort and the first resort we went to and not far from the airport. I used to love it here when we went as a family when I was teenager as the beach is long and lovely and there are so many shops to browse and restaurants to eat at. It is fab for families wanting fun as lots of beach fun and activities up the main streets aimed at families. The darker side of Laganas is the club 18-30 brigade. Now I have been here with my friends and enjoyed the clubs and bars side of it. It was always fun and friendly and you didn't feel unsafe. But when I revisited a little older and wiser I realised how much this side of Laganas had taken over and I feel the place has gone a little down hill.

Kalamaki is the main resort for families and older people wanting a calm and quiet holiday. I have never stopped here but visited several times as we always get a hire car. I have been out on the pedalo on the beach and this is where you can meet turtles. I saw a few here and they really do come up close to you. This is nice friendly resort but not quite small.

Argassi is another family fun resort although has less of a beach. I always found it to be a bit more of an upmarket resort but there is a fab pancake bar to get sweet and savoury crepes from. There is also a lovely fish restaurant in the middle of the resort.

Alikes and Alykanas- these resorts are to the north of the island and can get a little windy but they are more family orientated and well away from the hustle and bustle of Laganas. I stopped here in a lovely 4star hotel with a pool but we had a car then too as like to be out and about and visiting other resorts. In this region you can find some beautiful empty beaches that seem to be hidden away. It's like having your own personal beach.

Tsilivi -this is on the same side as Alikes but nearer to Zakynthos town. Tsiliv was always aimed as a family resort and again had fab beaches. You can do lots of sports activities on the beaches as they are not restricted due to the turtles who nest up in Laganas and Kalamaki. Sadly Tsilivi is getting a bit bigger and getting a few more bar so some of the Laganas crowd moved this way. But we have been here quite a few times and I used to love going up to a restaurant up on the hill in Tsilivi where it had fantastic views of the island. Sadly this has gone but it is still a little café and worth a visit.

The Keri Caves- this is a fab place and the views are stunning from the beach. Although the beach is pebbly so not easy on the feet. You need to wear your flip flops to go in the see. You need to get here by car and can stay in this resort too. It's a little windy getting down here but worth the treck. One year I took a speed boat which was quite scary as me and a friend drove it (no clue about boats so they shouldn't have let us really). But the trip was super and we got near to the caves and it was a great experience.

Zakynthos town- this is worth a visit to especially to see the shops and remember they have a snooze mid afternoon so go in the morning or the evening. There are some nice restaurants along the front too and a market on some days. Zakynthos had an earthquake in the 50s which ruined a lot of the houses here which was a shame. In fact there have been some tremors whilst we have been which are harmless but when you're asleep you don't know what is going on!

There are other resorts hidden in this island that I haven't mentioned but it is worth checking in the brochure should you go what your cup of tea is as Zakynthos can tick the boxes for us all.

**A little bit of history and charm**

You can off course see the sights of Zakynthos by Car or scooter or take an island boat trip or bus trip. The island boat trip takes you around the caves and points out all the tourist traps and stops at the smugglers caves (that I was on about in the picture). This is worth doing for a first time visit to the island to get to know it. You can get boats out to see the turtles but the pedalo option is cheaper and gets near to the turtles anyway!

You can visit Campi which is in the north and quite tragic as the Greeks threw themselves off the cliff in the war when the Turks invaded. It does make you feel sad and is nice to see at sunset times. I could add more as I think there are so many hidden gems on this island. We found most of them accidentally whilst going around in our little hire car. I


**Final Word**

What I love about Zakynthos is that it can appeal to all and even though it is getting too commercialised if you get a hire car you can find those hidden beaches and sightsee away from the usual tourist traps.

It is an island of charm and the indigo colours of the sea hook me in. The islanders are friendly and in certain resorts they remember you year after year! It is a warm and welcoming island that I will always want to return to. I normally like to visit new places but for some reason I always fitted Zakynthos back in and have been there over 10 times.

I thoroughly recommend this as an island and suggest a package deal self catering to ensure you can then eat out at all the delightful restaurants or tavernas on offer! Greek yoghurt and honey is divine as a breakfast treat and on an evening Mousakka or Lamb Kelvtiko always go down well!

Sorry my review was long, I maybe should buy some shares in the island!

**Antio (goodbye)**

Summary: This is a captivating little island that will charm all of its visitors