Vatia Villas

We stayed at Villa 2 for five days, and my only regret was not booking it for longer. The view of the sea is beautiful and stays with you all day, and the villa was very clean and had everything we needed for our holiday. The host was extremely kind and replied very quickly. The washing machine stopped working one morning, but it was fixed before lunchtime that same day. When we asked how to get the BBQ going outside, they brought more wood and straw to the BBQ area, so we could really enjoy it. The host at Vatia Villas said Villa2 had been renovated just before our August 2023 arrival. I was surprised by how nice it was. It looks much better than their homepage at the moment, so I hope my photo helps. I can't compare it with other places in Zakynthos since I didn't stay anywhere else, but I know I'll come back to this villa and hope to stay longer.

The villa's owner, Vaso, is such a lovely woman. She welcomed us with a full basket for a hearty breakfast and was always available when we needed anything. We stayed seven nights in the white three-bedroom villa, and it was the best choice. Every bedroom has its own bathroom, the kitchen is fully equipped, and the pool is just what you need. A lady came to clean the villa every day, which really impressed me. It's ideally placed, very close to Tsilivi and its supermarket, pharmacy and other essentials. Zante Town is also close, about 15-20 minutes away. I wholeheartedly recommend this villa!

Vaso made our stay easy from the start. Before we arrived, she helped with an issue caused by Easyjet cancelling our return flight. I won't go into the details, but she didn't have to honour something and did anyway, saving us hundreds of pounds. She met us in the drive, showed us around and suggested a brilliant place for dinner. She had left basic food for us: cheese, meat, bread, juice, milk, cake and a huge basket of fruit, so we could go straight to dinner and not worry about finding breakfast. The kitchen also had oil, herbs, salt and pepper, plus washing-up liquid, sponges and dishwasher tablets. Everything had been thought of, which isn't usual in the villas I've rented. The villa itself is beautiful, especially the outside space, and Villa 2 has a lovely view. The gardens are beautifully maintained, and we had a super comfortable week. The children were treated so sweetly, with a cot, high chair, children's bedding and towels provided. They loved the play area. The lovely cleaning lady came once a day to make the beds and clean, a real treat for a villa holiday. Vaso was friendly, welcoming and checked in regularly, always available if we needed her. She and her lovely Mum Maria brought us little gifts daily, including fresh eggs and oranges, and gave the children t-shirts too. I'd recommend this place 100%. I won't stay anywhere else in Zakynthos and can't wait to return. I suspect the secret gem will soon be fully booked with return visitors. Thank you so much, Vaso!

Vaso, Spyros and their son Harry were the other half of what made this villa special. Their hospitality was the most genuine and generous I've experienced in any villa, anywhere. Spyros and Harry met us on arrival and showed us around. They'd stocked the essentials so we didn't need to shop straight away: fruit, bread, pastries, cheese, ham, milk, juice, cleaning products, some beers and even sparkling wine on ice, though it wasn't our wedding anniversary. It must have cost them over 50-60 Euros. A couple of days later they brought fresh cakes from the local bakery and pointed out the best beaches and restaurants. If you want to stay in, there's online food delivery through a simple QR code. Their English is very good, so communicating was easy. The three-bedroom villa is brand new for the 2022 holiday season, and for once the pictures actually show what you get. I've stayed in many villas and been disappointed by outdated photos, but this one was exactly as shown. It's a great size, with everything the owners could think to provide. Downstairs, the well-designed open-plan kitchen is fully equipped, right down to dishwasher tablets and washing-up liquid. It connects to a comfortable family room with sofas, chairs and a smart TV with Netflix, Prime, Apple TV and other streaming services. Both areas look over the pool, which is lit up in the evening. Electric blinds can shade the inside when the sun sets over that area. Outside is gorgeous: a private, good-sized pool with hydro-massage jacuzzi and a sitting spot by the steps, eight excellent sun loungers, a separate BBQ seating area with another smart TV, and an outdoor shower. The villa is fully private behind an electric gate, with parking for up to three cars. Upstairs, each of the three bedrooms has a comfortable bed, wardrobe, cupboard space, hangers, a smart TV and its own bathroom with a walk-in shower. One bathroom is en-suite; the other two are next door to their rooms. My wife and I have found a new favourite place and will definitely come back. I don't usually write long reviews, but this villa deserves it. It's a secret gem, though I doubt it'll stay available for long.