Alamis Apartments - (Accommodation in Tsilivi)

Pat H

Has anyone stayed at the Bella Vista aparments before. We have booked the Studio and are going in September. Any details would be good .. their website looked OK.

Bouka Beach - (Beaches in Zante)

Pat H           

Had apartments overlooking this beach and it was lovely. Within walking distance of Tsilivi beach and yes there are fish but only around the seaweed and rocks. You can venture out quite far as well which is good for the short variety of human - kids I mean!! Sun beds are at a premium at the busiest times but plenty of space to throw your towel down and just laze around. Volleyball net up at one end of the beach as well for those fitness freaks out there. Handy bar though for those who are not! Came back two weeks ago and had brilliant time.

Mango Beach Bar - (Bars in Tsilivi)

Pat H  (16 June 2003)         

Spent most of our time in the other bar - Mambo - had one visit down to the Beach Bar but that was late on and the chorus of frogs was quite relaxing!! Along with the free vodka! Cheers Takis and Stakis from Patsy and Kellie! Give my regards to your barman with the Whistle!! xx

McDonalds - (Restaurants in Tsilivi)

Pat H  (16 June 2003)         

Was GUTTED to see that the American Trash Food empire has stamped its foot in such a beautiful place. Please anyone who visits Tsilivi avoid it if only in the hope that it may go away. Plus the only rubbish that I saw in Tsilivi consisted mainly of McDonalds wrappers .. does that answer any questions as why it should remain. Surely there is enough employment and I am sure better wages to be had than in McDonalds!! If you want trash stay at home and go down to your local Golden Arches or KFC.

Marios Grill - (Restaurants in Tsilivi)

Pat H           

My friend's first experience of Gyros ... she loved it .. why can't they do these in English Kebab shops?? Always eat where the locals eat thats what I say ... very good food, company and wine.

Airtours (MyTravel) - (Tour Operators in Zante)

Pat H  (16 June 2003)         

Made my flight only booking via the internet and was completely satisfied with everything. Enquired about buying a meal during our outward flight as we didn't have one included with our ticket (£5.00 for an inflight meal) we just bought some sarnies and juice for the return trip and got by. We flew on a brand new Airbus from Manchester so if they are going under they are splashing they're money about! My Travel did us a pretty good deal with our flights, tickets arrived on time and check in no probs. Staff very nice on the plane.

Glass Bottomed Boat Trip - (Zante Excursions)

Pat H           

WE DID THE HALF DAY TURTLE TREK RUN BY DIONISOS TOURS - EXCELLENT ... the Guide Graham was fantastic and tried his best to get the idiots in pedalos to stop crashing into Turtles. THIS IS THE ONLY TURTLE TRIP I WOULD RECOMMEND it cost 15 euros and was totally worth every cent. He is passionate about the little critters and you do get an education! Also the chance to swim off the boat round the back of Turtle Island (Marathonisi Island) then a quick stop in Limni harbour whilst you have some chips in the Taverna and he gives a chat about how the turtles came to be and why they are now extremely endangered ... he has had his life threatend by locals who think he is trying to stop their business of taking innocent tourists down to the beaches to watch the turtles hatch. Not advisable .. anyone who gets offered the chance to go and view this PLEASE PLEASE say no and give the little ladies some peace to lay their eggs and the little fellas a chance to get to safety of the sea so they can grow up and come back and be looked at by people on Graham's tour, from the safety of a great boat, knowledgable captain, We saw three and he always at least spotting one. The wardens on the Island do it for free and if you do stop on the Island please watch were you walk and keep only to within 5 to 10 feet of the waters edge ... Little Mrs Turtle may have come up the night before to lay her eggs and you could be tramping all over them!? I only got this knowledge from Graham and would like to thank him for an excellent afternoon and KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ... this trip can only be booked through DIONISOS TOURS. Happy Turtle Spotting!!

EuroAlfa Car Rental - (Car Rental in Zante)

Pat H           

We enquired about the smallest car to rent and arranged to have on for the Friday of our weeks holiday. We turned up a little late for the collection and they had hired it out to a couple that wanted it for the week. The only vehicle left was a 4x4 Jeep AND they let us have that for the same price. Excellent people, car hire excellent, very good service and everything explained to you and NO HIDDEN extras. Will definitely use them next year when I go for two weeks. Use no one else when in Tsilivi. They gave me an excellent quote and prompt reply via the internet before we left for our hols as well!

Marios Grill - (Restaurants in Tsilivi)

Pat H           

The mixed grill was HUGE and well value for money if you have room finish it with greek yoghurt and honey .... to die for!! Also a shot of Ouzo and a greek coffee! Excellent if you just want a snack and a beer and watch the people go by or if you fancy a big feed but I suggest a long lazy walk after so you dont go to bed with a full tummy! Eat where the locals eat you CANNOT go wrong!

Olive Tree - (Restaurants in Tsilivi)

Pat H           

First vist to the Olive Tree, 2nd visit to Tsilivi ... will be going again the Beef Stifado excellent. WILL be going again next year.

Glass Bottomed Boat Trip - (Zante Excursions)

Pat H           

Saw no turtles (I went in May and saw three on the same trip) they had come early this year anyway! However, in September no turtles but was just as good and definitely worth the money 15 euros. Plucked up courage to jump off the boat this time ..  wonderful its gotta be done! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GRAHAM

Blue Caves and Shipwreck Cruise - (Zante Excursions)

Pat H           

Drive to the top of the Island .. to Skinari Lighthouse, lovely beaches Alikanas, Alykes, Katastari Cape and Zigia Caves all on the road there, make a day of it and there is a lovely taverna at Mikro Nisi too. Homemade wine and honey for sale at the road side (bought some of both and loved it!!) When you get to the lighthouse walk down to the steps and there is a boat trip there that costs only 7 euros and you get to go right inside the caves. FANTASTIC you can also jump off the boat for a swim in a small cove nearby and the sea is as blue as the caves. Loads of fun as it is on a smallish boat and it bounces back all the way to the steps. Not really good if you have small kids as they could bounce around a little too much if you are not keeping hold of them. It is a glass bottom boat too so you get to see the fish and wildlife in the caves too EXCELLENT. They also do the Shipwreck beach trip too but we didn't have time for that and we missed the last boat ... but next year definitely!!

May - (Best Time to Visit)

Pat H           

Beck Ryan ... it clicked off before I could finish my message!! I went for the first time last May and saw three turtles it was amazing .. DONT take one of the glass bottomed boat tours they harm the turtles by getting up too close and stressing them out also dont use a pedalo as they totally freak them out and they end up diving and getting too tired! I went on a tour organised by Dionisos tours and they have an English guide called Graham ask for that trip and it sooo worth the money, you get a chance to berth behind Marothonisi (Turtle) Island and jump off the boat for a swim and then they take you to Limni for food in the taverna there! ALL for 15 Euros!!! DONT TAKE ANY OTHER TOUR AS THEY HARM THE TURTLES and NO I'm not getting commission for this :)

Marathonisi Island - (Places to Visit in Zante)

Pat H           

The island is technically 'off limits' to tourists.  This should be made public as the during the months of May and June is when the Loggerhead Turtle is nesting.  No landings should be made on the Island and CERTAINLY no speedboats used during this period as the injuries received by the turtles on their return to the island to lay eggs can cause them to die very slowly and painfully.  Imagine being left to float in the water after having your leg ripped off by a powerboat rota blade, trying to reach land so you can lay your eggs but can't so you have to release them in the sea where they will ultimately die .  In turn this all happens after you have swum for thousands of miles to get back to where you were born only to die in the most horrific way possible. Any trips to view the turtle should be made on a large boat, quite high out of the water so you can see the turtles without having to make them dive, or NOT have the owner of the boat or guide who is with you lift them out of the water, which distresses them greatly. 

PLEASE take care when choosing which boat trip to take and think about what harm you may be causing to the Turtles .. it is down to us as tourists and responsible humans to look after something which has been here on this planet far longer than we have and we are managing to wipe them out without thinking!! 

PLEASE dispose of your plastic bags and water bottles when you get back to your apartments/hotels, Turtles see these floating in the sea and think they are Jellyfish which is what they feed on, grab one and then end up with it stuck in their mouths or in the stomach and again die a horrible, slow agonising death   I have made 5 trips to Zakynthos and I have seen turtles from a boat run from Dionysos Tours with Graham as the guide - very informative and passionate about saving Caretta Caretta - please help follow these simple rules and maybe our children and grandchildren will be able to enjoy these magnificent creatures in years to come.

Please show your support by visiting these sites:  www.medasset.gr  or  www.natureworldtravel.com 

IT IS DOWN TO US TO HELP SAVE THE TURTLE AS IT IS US THAT HAS INADVERTENTLY BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING TO DESTROY THEIR HABITAT

Glass Bottomed Boat Trip - (Zante Excursions)

Pat H           

PLEASE do NOT take one of these trips to view the Turtles.  Alot of  the owners run the risk of distressing the turtles in their eagerness to show us tourists a Turtle. They have even been known to lift the Turtles out of the water to show the people on the boat!!  The Turtles have to dive to get away from these boats and after having swum thousands of miles to get back to lay their eggs they have to keep out of the way of these boats.  Sometimes they even drop their eggs whilst still in the sea because they are so distressed and therefore we have managed to wipeout a brood of Turtles without even realising!!

DO NOT accept guided tours to see Turtles hatching - again this disturbs the babies and they get confused by the torchlights and people tramping around and end up not making it into the sea and dying before they have even got wet!!

Book with Dionysos tours who run a tour round the bay on a large boat which is high out of the water and you can see the turtles up close without distressing them or hurting them in any way.  You also get a trip round Marathonisi Island, a swim stop and a stop off at Limni for some chips in a local taverna.  The guide used to be a guy called Graham who I believe is now retired, he was very passionate about these little critters and shall be missed  - PLEASE do NOT take a pedalo or a speed boat as these can kill or injure the turtles - DISPOSE of your plastic bags/bottles when you get back to your hotel/apartment as if they end up in the sea these also kill the turtles in a very slow and painful way

Please help save the Caretta Caretta visit these sites: www.medasset.gr  OR  www.natureworldtravel.com 

Maryland Reptile House - (Places to Visit in Zante)

Pat H  (02 October 2006)         

Great place ... gonna visit again this year!!