Review: Zakynthos / Zante / Laganas imparticular

nads

Hi,

Spent 2 weeks in the Laganas area of Zakynthos/Zante there recently.

Early May not everything had opened and kicked off but on leaving it was.

Pros:
- Nice beaches, particularly outside of Laganas like St. Nicholas Beach
- Weather obvisiously
- Pints 2.50 - 3 euros
- Cocktails at happy hour (once you watch them so they put alcohol in them)
- Food is cheap enough
- Lots of veggie options
- Veg over there was particularly good
- Very British-ised if you're a home bird and like your breakfasts and assorted Irish/British stuff - also in the Con section this!
- Car rental cheap also mopeds and quads
- taxi's cheap when bartered of course
- Waterpark was good enough, probably hit it when you rent a car so you can leave whenever you want.

Cons:
- Beach at night a complete no go area - rapes and stabbings certain but this is like lots of countries
- Near my apartments, dimly light, bag snatchings were common so women put bags at shop front shoulder and man on outside of you. One snatching included a woman being dragged with her bag from the snatchers on a motorbike.
- Menus have all the same stuff on them.
- Pizzas seemed to be either frozen or definately at least frozen bases
- Some suspicious non-fresh pasta also. This is compounded by the lust of the greeks for the Buck, wouldn't be surprised if there was some wholesaler company serving all the restaurants to make it cheaper ala Chinese restaurants over here...
- Loads of Brits
- Shipwreck tour was crap, boring, better to rent a car and get the view from above. the beach at the ship wreck is a pebal beach and there'll be 200 other Brits at the thing vandalising it. Class to look at but meh when you get there.



Final points:
Every other resort seemed to be quiet like Kalamaki and Argassi, but cheap taxis into Laganas you could get easily.

Defiantely rent a car not a quad or moped - too dangerous..

Gets extremely hot after May - in the 40s

Also coupled with loads of young English coming over past May - 9 Brit deaths last year due to fights and drink driving

BuffyBot

Thanks for the review - I'm sure it'll be useful to other boards.ie's

big b

Pretty fair review.

Was there quite a few years ago now, sounds like it hasn't changed much.
Great for groups/20's couples etc.
About as authentically Greek as Bray.
My least favourite Greek island visited so far.

But, like I said, pretty much guaranteed sun & fun for younger travellers.

Whispered

Considering getting married in Tsivili next year. Think it would be suitable for all ages?

sprigget

went to tsivili a few years ago. nicest part of the island by far - had a really romantic break with himself, Id recommend it to anyone. gorgeous boat trips available locally were well worth it too. Bigger resorts like laganas looked dodgy tho, just full of teenage engish(and maybe some irish) kids getting sick, and having puch ups - we stayed well clear of these places and had a lovely trip.

Dusty770

Rainbow apartments in kalamaki are among the best , small family run affair

beautifulmeath

i stayed in kalamaki too, in sophia apartments. Wasn't oo bad, anyone else stay there?

halfinch

I went to Zakynthos in July. Stayed in the Locanda Studios in Argassi. The apt themselves were basic but literally on the beach. The beach itself in Argassi is quiet small but shallow clear blue waters. The restaraunts there were gorgeous, in particular Peppermint and Papillon. Enough nightlife to keep you going for the week. Went into Laganas one night, good for a bit but thronger with leaving cert pupils....

Went on a few trips, did the day trip to Olympia, enjoyed walking around but it was very hot on the day so recomend bringing a hat. Went to the Greek night on the north of the Island, good food and a boat trip to the Blue Caves.

Weather was 35degrees+. Quiet windy on a few days...

Absolutely loved Zakynthos.... I suppose where you go and who you are with makes a big difference

RubyK

helena.ryan wrote: »

Considering getting married in Tsivili next year. Think it would be suitable for all ages?

Yes, it's a good resort to suit all ages. Weddings are quite popular in Tsilivi.

We spent a week in Kalamaki (lovely beach but that was about it for us) and a week in Alykanas/Alykes (lovely beach, great restaurants, nice bars, friendly relaxed atmosphere). We will definately return to Alyanas/Alykes.