Atlantica Akti Zeus

We had a week at Atlantica Akti Zeus with two families, four adults and five kids aged 9 to 17. The warm weather helped, and there was enough to keep everyone busy. The staff were friendly and helpful throughout, and we had plenty of space by the beach and main pool. The splash park was a real highlight, especially the kamikaze and wave rider for anyone after a thrill. There were also slides and splash areas for younger children. The activity team offered beach volleyball, water polo, yoga, pilates and darts, and you could pay extra for jet skis, boat hire, the banana or the crazy sofa. The rooms were a good size, cleaned daily, with beds made each day and fresh towels every two days. We barely spent time in them, though. The food was the standout. The main restaurant had lots of freshly prepared choices for breakfast and dinner, from local dishes to children’s options, plus themed evenings with plenty of alternatives. Food was topped up regularly, so there was no need to rush. Lunch at the snack bar was the best we’ve come across in ten years of family all-inclusive trips, with a smaller buffet and different choices each day. There were also made-to-order crepes and waffles near reception, though the wait could be a bit long. We found bars around the resort, including the pool bar, the two-sided reception bar, an evening bar by the entertainment veranda and a wine bar with a lovely outdoor area. Christina at the wine bar was especially friendly. It served drinks from the all-inclusive list, and bottles were 25% off if you wanted to upgrade your wine. We first stayed at an Atlantica hotel in Kos ten years ago, and the food and staff there stood out too. It seems that’s a pattern across Atlantica Hotels, and we won’t wait so long before visiting another one.

We were a big family group with six toddlers, and the water park had something for everyone, from adult slides to a baby area. The free cocktail choices were nice, the food was excellent, and the team were friendly and efficient. It’s only a 15-minute drive from the airport. Our room faced the nearby power plant, though, and it was noisy and ugly. Even so, we had a perfect vacation.

The beach and its equipment were nice. Getting into the sea was rocky, though farther out the bottom turned to fine sand. The hotel has two main pool areas. Near the main restaurant there are pools for swimming, water polo and water dancing. They were neither great nor terrible. The slides on the other side, by the busy main road and its car fumes, were in poor shape. Everything seemed rusty, dirty or broken, and the lifeguard was arrogant and couldn’t speak any national language. I wouldn’t use that water park if you want to avoid getting hurt. The apartments with “private” pools are also right by the bus stop on the main street, where people can stare at you while you bathe. Brilliant idea. The rooms were comfortable and nice, but cleaning was very slow. We kept running into cleaners in the room at different times of day, before and after breakfast or after lunch, so there was no privacy. Maybe they were understaffed. The food was very average and seemed repetitive after a couple of days, though restaurant staff were kind. Reception and other staff seemed exhausted, and asking for help made it feel like we were bothering them. The hotel is right by the main power plant, and there were power outages every ten minutes in the evening. This place was a waste of money.

The kids had such a good time, and the staff were amazing, patient and pleasant. They helped with everything from the moment we arrived until we left, and we felt like they were family. One of the best hotels we’ve visited as a family. We’ll definitely be back next year.