From inside out (Zante (Zakynthos))

Member Name: hsiboy

Product:	Zante (Zakynthos)
Date:	30/05/03 (6920 review reads)
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Before i start, i should let you know that i am slightly biased towards Zante, but then i did have the pleasure of living there for four years.

I lived in the resorts of vassilikos, kalamaki and argassi.

Many people often ask me what zante is like, and its here that I have to be careful not to get carried away.

The airport is terrible. Its possibly the worst airport I know. Before I returned to the UK they had been awarded a large chunk of European funding to renovate the facilities at the airport. They squandered all the money on a couple of shuttle busses to take you the 100 yards or so the terminal building. On your return journey home, take a drink and something to eat with you to the airport. You wont be sorry.

There are several large resorts in zante.

** Laganas ** (lagg anne ah) Think Blackpool. During the height of the season they close the main road to traffic to prevent accidents. This is due to the sheer number of people falling out of one bar straight into another. It has a long beach that wraps round the cove. The water is warm and clear, and the beach is mostly clean. The sand is not that great. Laganas attracts people who like to party.

** Argassi ** (arg ass ee) This used to be the number two resort after Lagana. For people who wanted a nightlife, but in moderation. It has a beach that changes every year. Depending on the weather through the winter, the beach can grow or shrink. The water is a little cooler here. Its not the best beach on the island, but it does have watersports. Argassi is just a short ride by taxi into zante town.
Argassi has since been surpassed by Tsilivi. Argassi is chosen by families and couples.

** Tsilivi (chill ee vee)**
This is a fairly new resort compared to the other two. There has been a massive expansion program over the last 8 years. This has really brought new life to what used to be a quiet resort. Its popular with people of all ages. It has a wi
de selection of bars and restaurants.

** Alikes (al ee kez)**
This used to be one of the grandma resorts. But it has seen a lot of development in the last 5 years (I could hardly believe my eyes). Its now popular with families. The beach is nice if small.

** Kalamaki.**
Kalamaki has boomed a few times. It almost stretches as far as laganas these days. Its beach is better than that of laganas although it shares the same shore line. Your sunbathing can be interrupted by the sound of a 737 thundering just 100ft above your head as the land and take off. There are a lot of bars and reaturants in kalaki, but they spread out. There isnt much of a pavement, so I wouldn?t recomened it for pople with small children. It has a main road running through part of it. Its always been popular with families wanting a beach holiday.

** Zante town **

If you want to go native, then this isn?t the place. Zante town (or just plain zante) is a typical greek town, with fishmongers, veg stalls, butchers, clothes shops etc. There are a few bars, but none (except those on the water front) are aimed at tourists.

** vasillikos **
This is a beautiful place, mostly unspoilt. Here you will be living native, as there a few bars and restaurants. The beaches are very different here, but you may have to ask a local directions. It?s a quiet and romantic place. Its now popular with German tourists, as they have a huge purpose built complex there.

** Lets dispel a few myths **

There are few german tourists on the island, mostly English and sweedish. During the high season flocks of greeks and Italians visit the island.

The turtles are not bobbing around all season. They only arrive at the island after a long journey. The only reason they come back is to lay eggs, and re populate the dwindling numbers. Its because of this that some beaches on the island have been designated for environmental protection.. This action saw th
e removal of a thriving watersports business from there. The islands only airport, has its runway pointing out into lagana / kalamaki beach, so they no longer operate night flights.
If you want to see turtles, you will need to hirer a pedaloe and trundle around the tiny islands in the laganas bay. However the turtles return to which ever beach they were spawned from

The ship wreck was an insurance job, and not a smuggler. Despite the picture postcards the beach is all but inaccessible by road, and is very shaley.

Greece is no longer cheap. Since conversion to the euro, there is little difference between English prices and greek. Try to eat at the smaller tavernas that are tucked off the beaten track. They may look a little imposing, but you can bet your life your not the first tourist they have seen, and they will give you a good meal. Two people should be able to have a good meal with drinks for about £20.

Putting toilet paper down the loo doesn?t block the pipes. It blocks up the septic tank, which then gives something for the mossies to breed in.

** must see **

There are a few places you must go, stop of at kampi for a coffee and watch the sun go down, amazing.

Visit gerekas beach (this is the official turtle beach) the sand is good, and the water beautiful for swimming.

Find the old Zante town (Byzantium) above the current zante town.

If you stay in argassi get Nikos in the Target bar to come pick you up, and take you to his taverna over looking argassi and Zante town.

** Finally **

Greece now uses the euro. You find loads of places in the resort to change your money travellers? cheques.

Greece uses the same electricity we use (although they do suffer with power cuts at the height of season) so you can pack your hairdryer.

During august Zante can get very hot indeed.

Don?t drink the tap water.

Zakynthos is a still very much stuck in a
strange time. Many of the islands inhabitants are poor. They live in tiny houses, and may not have central heating, but they will have a mobile phone. There is little crime on the island, but unfortunately crime does happen, and sadly its often caused by immigrant workers. Make sure you use a safety deposit box.

A good website is www.justzante.com its full of feedback from loads of people just returned from zante.


** Quick Greek **

Good morning: kali mera
Good evening: kali spera
Good night: kali nichhta
Hello or Goodbye: yassas
Cheers (when drinking): yammass
Yes: ney
No: oiy key
Thank you: eff haris to
Please: para kalo
I want: thelo
beer: beera
one: ena
two: deo
three: tria

i want two beers please: thelo deo berra para kalo

Have a great time.

HSIBOY.

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