Sarakina Hotel

We walked to the Olive oil factory from the hotel, a pleasant route that took around 40 minutes. Laganas is also walkable in about 20 minutes, though the family runs a free shuttle bus there. Our two weeks at Hotel Sarakina were wonderful, with no negatives from us. We were welcomed when we arrived, and the family were amazing, fun, and attentive. Nothing seemed too much trouble. Our room was cleaned daily, and she even washed the dishes left in the kitchen sink. The pool was lovely and clean, and the whole site was pleasant and well kept.

I've never had an experience like this, and it ruined our first family holiday. My autistic children were terrified. I was so upset and angry that I had to write a review, even though I never usually leave them. Police are involved, and I'll be taking this further. We checked out early because of the lack of cleanliness. Our apartment was filthy and had no toilet roll, and the bedding was stained and dirty. My mother says her Pandora bracelet, worth over 1k, was stolen. When we complained, we felt abused, and staff screamed in my mother's face. There were so many problems I could go on all day. Please don't book this place.

There are only 14 rooms, cleaned every day, and it was peaceful, with no fighting for sunloungers or loud holidaymakers. I've been to Mexico and Punta Cana this year, but this family-run hotel was by far the best. My two daughters and their families stayed for two weeks, then my mum's friend and I joined them for the second week. We just got home after a fabulous week there, and we'll definitely return, like the other guests we met who go year after year. It's up a hill, but a free minibus drops you at the main strip and collects you again. We ate at the hotel several times; the meals cost the same as or less than in town, and I could honestly have eaten every meal there. We couldn't find Pistitsio anywhere, so Mama made us her own recipe, which was amazing. Husband Nickolai, his wife, and their two sons Costos and Harris work constantly to make your holiday special. Nothing is too much trouble.

We expected something special after reading reviews from people who'd been coming for years, but our stay is memorable for all the wrong reasons. The family were pleasant enough and said hello, but we hoped for a much warmer welcome and standout service because it was family-run. We didn't find them particularly friendly, and we wouldn't return to Zante or this hotel. The place felt dated and unloved, and needs a major overhaul. The resorts were shabby, with litter everywhere. Basic supermarkets were within walking distance, but you'd need a car for more choice. We knew Laganas was a party resort and it wasn't our choice, but we hoped the other resorts would be nicer. They weren't.