Alexander Hotel - (Accommodation in Laganas)

David M           

Having read the other report on this hotel we were dreading our 2 weeks. But in the end we were pleasantly surprised. The Alexander contains hotel and apartments and is big and sprawly (over 700 rooms). It has obviously been adapted and added to over a number of years so that even the ground floor is not all one level across the whole complex. What few lifts there are seem to go nowhere useful and you will end up walking up and down a rabbit warren of corridors and stairs. It also attempts to cover all bases with a full board tariff which is really “all Inclusive” (hence the wrist bands) by a different name, Half board and self-catering. As a result it does have the standard naff ‘British’ entertainment in the main bar at night and an attached amusement arcade for kids. Not really our scene, but the bar always appeared busy. Both Pools and pool areas were clean and looked after daily and caught the sun all day. The sun loungers and umbrellas were also in good condition and the pool bar was not too expensive. We stayed in a 1 bedroom apartment. The rooms/apartments are best described as basic but functional and the furniture cheap and, well functional. It’s very cosy as the “bedroom” we had had a wall which did not reach the ceiling so that air could flow into the central room (which had no window) with the camp/bunk beds. If your kids are with you then they either get educated in their parents sex life or you go without. Maid service was every day (inc Sundays) and the rooms were very clean with all things provided working. We were at the end of a corridor so didn’t suffer from that sort of noise, but the road noise, dustbin carts at 5:00am etc really was intrusive. Not the Hotels fault I hasten to add. This is not 5-star accommodation, but it was OK. The JMC rep was absolutely crap. She seemed to know nothing about the resort, island or anything else for that matter. If you want a car, then the JMC/Avis hook up is very very expensive. The cars are good and they bring and collect the car, but you pay through the nose for it. The impression I got was that you could be lucky and get rooms in a good place like we did, but if you get a room in a bad location the hotel noise could be a real problem

Fanari - (Restaurants in Laganas)

David M  (29 August 2002)         

We ate here 2 or 3 times in our 2 week holiday. Each time the food was good, the service was good and the price reasonable. Their greek dishes (especially Kleftiko) were really good. According to the other half the waiters were the best looking of all the restaurants we ate in, though our daughter thinks the Ionian Sea's were cuter. The cover charge was cheaper than most (and EVERY real restaurant had a cover charge in Laganas) and was on the menu easiliy visible

Ionian Sea - (Restaurants in Laganas)

David M           

Having read the comments I am astounded. The food was absolutely brilliant, by far and away the best we had on the island. It was so good we went back 3 times. Service was a bit rushed as they were ALWAYS busy (which tells you quite a lot about the food straight away) but always polite and attentive. This not a fast food joint so don't expect the food 3 seconds after ordering it, but we never waited too long. Go there and decide for yourselves, you wont be dissappointed I am sure

Dolphins Snack Bar - (Restaurants in Laganas)

David M  (30 August 2002)         

If you want a drink or reasonable breakfast/lunchtime or snack food you could do a lot worse than go here. Staff are friendly and the service was good. They also hire sunbeds which were about 1euro higher than some others, but were more comfortable with decent sponge pads on them.

Garden of Eden - (Restaurants in Laganas)

David M           

On other greek islands we have been on this would probably have been a good restaurant. There was nothing wrong with it, the food or the service, but there are better near by.

Georgios - (Restaurants in Laganas)

David M  (30 August 2002)         

We kept being told this place was brilliant so we went and were very disappointed. The service was appalling - wrong orders and so slow we thought it would be time for breakfast before we got our main dinner. The food was barely OK and the unanmous decision was we wont go back.

Kostas Taverna - (Restaurants in Laganas)

David M  (30 August 2002)         

We ate lunch and breakfasts here, but never made it for dinner. The salads and breakfasts were brilliant. Good qulaity well cooked or prepared. The service was even better with lots of useful information coming from the chap running it. A good place to start the day orhave lunch. It was always busy in th eevenings, so I assume the evening food was as good.

Olympic Flame - (Restaurants in Laganas)

David M           

Good looking frontage and well laid out. The food was quite good and the service OK. Prices were slightly higher but not much than other places, but it is on the main drag and supply and demand tends in that direction. We only ate here once, but if we had been close by we may have gone again.

Wobblers - (Bars in Laganas)

David M  (30 August 2002)         

For basic food - particularly British oriented this is one of the best.

Laganas Resort - (Resorts in Zante)

David M           

Best resort on the island. There is plenty of life if you want it and lots of chill out as well. All ages could enjoy a holiday here. Food in Ionian Sea on corner of main strip and Kalimaki road was the best. Just opposite on the other corner Fanari was pretty good and according to the other half had the best looking waiters. Garden of Eden, Olympic Flame were OK. Hot Lips was the worst food I have had the misfortune to eat, the staff were slow rude and unhelpful, just don’t go there. Strangely, the rather unusual combination of Chinese and Indian restaurant a couple of doors up, though staffed by some of the same people as Hot lips was pretty good, but more expensive than UK. Kostas Taverna was excellent for breakfast and lunchtime and OK for the evening. If you want lively bars, the main strip has plenty and they’re all fairly similar, but pretty good none the less. For the best cappuccino a good range of cocktail at reasonable prices, Cream down the Kalimaki road is worth stopping at. It’s quite mellow and the service was great. The beach is good sand and slopes gently into the sea. Safe for kids and fun for adults. Plenty of beach bars and sunbeds even in high season. We'd certainly go back.

Zante Town - (Places to Visit in Zante)

David M           

I would waste any effort in going to Zante Town unless you like harbours or architecture. The harbour area is nice, one of the squares is pleasant and though a little run down the town has some good looking buildings. But the shopping street is pretty poor (Laganas, Kalimaki well almost anywhere was better), and the few restaurants were fairly expensive for what you got. We went a couple of times at different times of the day to give it a chance, and frankly we wished we hadn’t bothered.

Vassilikos Region - (Resorts in Zante)

David M           

Plenty of good beaches here, though some of the less crowded ones are cleaner and cheaper for sunbeds.

Laganas Beach - (Beaches in Zante)

David M           

Plenty of beach bars and sunbeds. Good sand, sloping gently into the sea. Safe for kids, fun for adults