Zakynthos Greece

Zakynthos or Zante as this island is known locally is perfect for couples, singles and families looking for a brilliant holiday without having to take a too long of a flight. Less than 4 hours direct from Dublin. I holidayed in Zakynthos in July 2006 and we had a great week. Weather was typical at that time of year – HOT!! Just how I like it but its cooler in May and June, also Sept for Oct if you cant handle the high 30’s. We stayed in the friendly resort of Kalamaki, only 15 minutes from the airport so another plus for families or those who hate to travel but love their holidays away. Kalamaki has plenty of lovely restaurants and a varied choice of bars and shops. It’s a fairly relaxed place and probably would not suit those who want to party 24/7. Alternatively, for those looking for a WILD time, the resort of Laganas is only a short taxi ride away. Here its possible to party until dawn. This resort is heaving with clubs, bars, discos, restaurants and shops. Its possible to walk into Laganas from Kalamaki along the wide but dark sandy beach and at night you may even get to spot a Loggerhead Turtle. We hired a moped for a few days but quickly exchanged it for a quad bike when we discovered that a moped isn’t the greatest for discovering this hilly island. We got to stop and enjoy many beautiful beaches whilst meandering through the varied resorts up the East coast. Argassi would be about 45 minutes from Kalamaki or 30 minutes from the airport. It’s a compact resort with a wide choice of restaurants and bars along its main street. The beach here would be quite narrow and is shingly in parts. Next resort on up the coast that we visited was Tsilvi. This is a very popular resort with many Irish & British holidaymakers. It has a great beach and even though its feels quite villagey there are loads of bars and restaurants to keep you entertained. This resort is about 45 minutes from the airport. Finally there are the quieter resorts of Alikanes and Alikes. These areas are very popular with families, looking for good sandy beaches and safe waters. Again plenty of restaurants, both international and Greek traditional tavernas. One of the highlights of this trip for us was the boat trip around the island and stopping at the idyllic Shipwreck Beach and the Blue Caves. It’s the islands main tourist attraction and is a must do. So whether you simply want to lie back and enjoy the sunshine or fancy hiring a bike and exploring the countryside Zante will suit everyones needs. I loved it!!