Zante Village Hotel

We had breakfast at the hotel each morning, and it was fresh, tasty, and very enjoyable. The staff were professional and welcoming, and our room was serviced daily to a high standard. It was spacious and spotlessly clean. In the evenings it was cool enough that we didn’t need air conditioning, but be aware there’s an extra charge if you’re sensitive to heat. We didn’t get to use the pool or bar because we were out early and back late. The area is peaceful and quiet. Although the hotel isn’t right by the beach, the morning walk suited us, with plenty of shops along the way. It’s about a 15-minute walk to the beach.

The pool area and bar were lovely, the hotel felt safe, and the cleaning staff were friendly. Towels were changed every other day. Our room was spacious and clean, though a little dated, and had a large balcony overlooking the pool. There were some downsides: it took 5-10 minutes to walk into town along the main road without a pavement, and the WiFi in our room was poor because we were quite far from reception. The air conditioning was installed but didn’t circulate well around the room. Hot water was limited at peak evening time, around 5pm-7pm. We were bed and breakfast but didn’t eat in the restaurant, so can’t comment on the food. The saying ‘don't expect champagne on a lemonade budget’ fits here.

The rooms were clean, the beds were comfortable, and we had a nice balcony. But warm water was almost nonexistent: in seven nights, we only had it once or twice. The food was edible, though not enjoyable, with much the same meals each day and only slight changes. Most of the meat was dry, and the purees were powdered, as were the eggs. The air conditioning also stopped working after about three days. It wasn’t awful, given how close we were to town and the beach, but next time I’d probably look for a different hotel.

The pool area was a highlight: the pool was clean and large compared with others nearby, and there were always sunbeds free, even when it was quiet enough for the pool to be empty at times. There’s a separate splash area for little kids, plus a play area with slides, swings, and a roundabout. The location is peaceful, yet just a 5-10 minute walk to the centre’s restaurants, bars, and shops. The beach is about 20 minutes away on foot, though the hotel runs a complimentary bus there and back three times a day. We were a little worried after reading reviews, but in the end it wasn’t bad. It’s a 3* budget hotel with pros and cons. Breakfast was okay, fresh, and filling, with the same choices each day: coffee, tea, squash for kids, toast, sausage, bacon, eggs, mushrooms, baked beans, cereals, granola, honey, jam, and chocolate spread. We didn’t try other meals because the menu looked repetitive. The rooms are dated but decent, spacious, with lots of storage and a huge furnished balcony. They were cleaned daily except Sunday, which is understandable. Beds and toilet were okay. Hot water was a problem, usually cold in the evening, though sometimes warm at other times. Air conditioning worked well, but cost 5 euros a day, and the safe was another 10 euros. For about two mornings there was a bad sewage smell in the corridors, though it was gone by the time we got back and never reached our room. The Greek staff were brilliant: the reception ladies were always smiling, helpful, and happy to answer questions or make recommendations, and the bartender was great too. We were disappointed by some other staff, including the girl at the bar and the so-called "animation team". They were Polish, as were about 50% of the guests. If you don’t speak Polish, you may be served last, after Polish-speaking guests have been served and chatted with. My kids were ignored when they went to buy ice cream, with the lady pretending not to understand them. The kids’ club and activities, including games and aqua aerobics, were all in Polish, and the other children were rudely ignored. This didn’t bother us much because we only spent about two days at the hotel and mostly used the pool, but it’s worth knowing if your kids like clubs and activities. The one activity they could join was the weekly Greek night, with live music and dancers showing traditional Greek dancing and inviting everyone to join in. A really nice touch. We don’t regret booking. It worked well as a place to sleep and have breakfast while exploring this wonderful island.