Island Guide

justZante.co.uk - Island Guide

Zakynthos
If you've never been to Greece before then Zante is a good choice. Although not as typically Greek or as scenic as some of the other islands, Zante offers better than average standards of food, service and accommodation. Many people come here year after year, and the main reason they give is the friendliness of the local people.

Zante Town
The capital of Zante, this is the only place on the island where local residents outnumber tourists. Most of the island's population of 35,000 live here. It's an interesting mix of houses, shops, bars and tavernas surrounding a large harbour. Most of the town was destroyed by an earthquake in 1953 and the buildings have been rebuilt in the traditional Venetian style. Although it is never listed in the main holiday brochures, it would make a good alternative destination for the independent traveller. There are a good variety of hotels along the main road surrounding the harbour. There is local beach, but it is small and rocky. Location: At the centre of the east coast of the island. All the main roads lead here so you can't miss it.

Zante Town

The capital of Zante, this is the only place on the island where local residents outnumber tourists. Most of the island's population of 35,000 live here. It's an interesting mix of houses, shops, bars and tavernas surrounding a large harbour. Most of the town was destroyed by an earthquake in 1953 and the buildings have been rebuilt in the traditional Venetian style. Although it is never listed in the main holiday brochures, it would make a good alternative destination for the independent traveller. There are a good variety of hotels along the main road surrounding the harbour. There is local beach, but it is small and rocky.

Location:

At the centre of the east coast of the island. All the main roads lead here so you can't miss it.

Money Matters
If you're travelling to Zante on a package holiday, don't bother taking any Greek currency. Most local shops can exchange UK cash and offer a better rate than you will get back home. Taking some cash with you is convenient and is safer than taking your passport when going for a night out. Many shops and most hotels will also exchange travellers cheques although you will need your passport. Laganas and Tsilivi also have 24-hour cash machines which accept virtually any type of card. They are a convenient way of getting extra cash if you run short towards the end of your holiday, although they frequently run out of money. There are also at least two cash machines in Zante town near to Solomos Square. Most tourist shops will accept credit cards. Your credit card company will offer an excellent rate of exchange, but will charge you approximately 1.5% as a handling fee. Avoid using your credit card at the bank or currency exchange to obtain cash as you will pay a minimum of 6% commission. The best solution is to take a combination of cash, travellers cheques, credit card and bank cash card, but don't keep them all in the same place. If you have a money problem then the British consulate in Zante town can help you transfer money from the UK.

Money Matters

If you're travelling to Zante on a package holiday, don't bother taking any Greek currency. Most local shops can exchange UK cash and offer a better rate than you will get back home. Taking some cash with you is convenient and is safer than taking your passport when going for a night out. Many shops and most hotels will also exchange travellers cheques although you will need your passport. Laganas and Tsilivi also have 24-hour cash machines which accept virtually any type of card. They are a convenient way of getting extra cash if you run short towards the end of your holiday, although they frequently run out of money. There are also at least two cash machines in Zante town near to Solomos Square. Most tourist shops will accept credit cards. Your credit card company will offer an excellent rate of exchange, but will charge you approximately 1.5% as a handling fee. Avoid using your credit card at the bank or currency exchange to obtain cash as you will pay a minimum of 6% commission.
The best solution is to take a combination of cash, travellers cheques, credit card and bank cash card, but don't keep them all in the same place. If you have a money problem then the British consulate in Zante town can help you transfer money from the UK.

Taxis
As there is only a limited bus service on the island, taxis are easily available, and there is a taxi rank in most resorts. They are usually good value and a bit cheaper than in the UK. Get a map of the island and see how far your journey is and ask how much it will cost before getting in. There is normally a fixed rate for the popular journeys. If it sounds too much then you are probably being ripped off. Go back ten minutes later and ask a different taxi driver. Be positive about where you want to go and don't let the taxi driver persuade you that you want to go somewhere else. Every taxi driver has a relative who runs a taverna, apartments or car rental business, and some will try their best to get you there, even if it's in a different place to where you want to go.

Taxis

As there is only a limited bus service on the island, taxis are easily available, and there is a taxi rank in most resorts. They are usually good value and a bit cheaper than in the UK. Get a map of the island and see how far your journey is and ask how much it will cost before getting in. There is normally a fixed rate for the popular journeys. If it sounds too much then you are probably being ripped off. Go back ten minutes later and ask a different taxi driver. Be positive about where you want to go and don't let the taxi driver persuade you that you want to go somewhere else. Every taxi driver has a relative who runs a taverna, apartments or car rental business, and some will try their best to get you there, even if it's in a different place to where you want to go.

Night Flights
Avoid night flights if you possibly can. It's not too much of the problem on the way out, it's on the return journey that you might regret it. The airport closes at night to protect the nesting sites of the turtles, so a night flight will result in flight back home at about 7.00 AM. The big problem is that you will be asked to leave your room at midday the day before as they need to clean it before the new guests arrive early the next morning. Your luggage will be taken to a nearby hotel. Unless you are a real party animal you will probably just end up hanging about in the hotel lobby until you get picked up about 4.30 AM.

Night Flights

Avoid night flights if you possibly can. It's not too much of the problem on the way out, it's on the return journey that you might regret it. The airport closes at night to protect the nesting sites of the turtles, so a night flight will result in flight back home at about 7.00 AM. The big problem is that you will be asked to leave your room at midday the day before as they need to clean it before the new guests arrive early the next morning. Your luggage will be taken to a nearby hotel. Unless you are a real party animal you will probably just end up hanging about in the hotel lobby until you get picked up about 4.30 AM.

The Airport
The airport is currently undergoing improvement, but unless they make it twice as big it will still be overcrowded. Anyone who has flown from there will remember the chaos as around 1,000 people queue up at three check-in desks. Trolleys are in great demand so you'll need to be quick to get one. You can expect to be stood outside for at least an hour before you get inside the terminal building. You can buy water inside at a reasonable price, but the sandwiches and other food are expensive. Don't bother rushing to be at the head of the queue as seats are allocated in a haphazard manner. I was last in the queue and ended up with a seat at the front of the plane with extra legroom!. Make sure your plane has landed before going through passport control. If your plane is delayed, the last place you want to be is in the overcrowded departure lounge. Although there is no duty free any more, the prices in the airport shop are attractive and there is a good selection of spirits and tobacco.

The Airport

The airport is currently undergoing improvement, but unless they make it twice as big it will still be overcrowded. Anyone who has flown from there will remember the chaos as around 1,000 people queue up at three check-in desks. Trolleys are in great demand so you'll need to be quick to get one. You can expect to be stood outside for at least an hour before you get inside the terminal building. You can buy water inside at a reasonable price, but the sandwiches and other food are expensive. Don't bother rushing to be at the head of the queue as seats are allocated in a haphazard manner. I was last in the queue and ended up with a seat at the front of the plane with extra legroom!. Make sure your plane has landed before going through passport control. If your plane is delayed, the last place you want to be is in the overcrowded departure lounge. Although there is no duty free any more, the prices in the airport shop are attractive and there is a good selection of spirits and tobacco.

Clubbing
If your idea of a night out begins at midnight and ends long after the sun comes up then Laganas is the only place for you. It's the only place that has a wide choice of late night entertainment. Clubs on Zante, and Greece generally, do not charge for entry, and make their money by charging more for drinks, so you have no excuse for not trying them all. Expect to pay between 800 and 1,000 Drs for a beer and 1,000 to 1,500 Drs for a cocktail. Some clubs will give you a free shot with every beer. Most bars have a happy hour which ends around 11.00 PM. Avoid going into a bar when there is an organised bar crawl inside. The bar prices will be inflated as the bar owner has to pay the holiday rep. The police keep a low profile and drunken behaviour is generally well tolerated provided it is good-humoured. Violent behaviour, vandalism, drug possession or theft on the other hand, will get you arrested, and may result in a surprisingly harsh prison sentence. You've seen 'Midnight Express' haven't you? Yes I know that was Turkey but the police look the same.

Clubbing

If your idea of a night out begins at midnight and ends long after the sun comes up then Laganas is the only place for you. It's the only place that has a wide choice of late night entertainment. Clubs on Zante, and Greece generally, do not charge for entry, and make their money by charging more for drinks, so you have no excuse for not trying them all. Expect to pay between 800 and 1,000 Drs for a beer and 1,000 to 1,500 Drs for a cocktail. Some clubs will give you a free shot with every beer. Most bars have a happy hour which ends around 11.00 PM. Avoid going into a bar when there is an organised bar crawl inside. The bar prices will be inflated as the bar owner has to pay the holiday rep.
The police keep a low profile and drunken behaviour is generally well tolerated provided it is good-humoured. Violent behaviour, vandalism, drug possession or theft on the other hand, will get you arrested, and may result in a surprisingly harsh prison sentence. You've seen 'Midnight Express' haven't you? Yes I know that was Turkey but the police look the same.

Crime
Crime is much less of a problem than here in the UK. What crime there is is usually blamed on migrants from Kosovo and Albania. You'll see them selling roses around the bars and restaurants. Tourists make easy target for criminals so take sensible precautions but don't worry about it. If you've been a victim of crime on Zante tell us about it and we may run an article to help people avoid it in the future.

Crime

Crime is much less of a problem than here in the UK. What crime there is is usually blamed on migrants from Kosovo and Albania. You'll see them selling roses around the bars and restaurants. Tourists make easy target for criminals so take sensible precautions but don't worry about it.
If you've been a victim of crime on Zante tell us about it and we may run an article to help people avoid it in the future.

Disabled Access
Zante, in common with most other Greek destinations, is generally not suitable for anybody in a wheelchair. The larger hotels may make concessions to the disabled, but largely their needs are ignored. If you have any experience of travelling to Zante with a disability then tell us and we will help you to highlight the problem.

Festivals
All the major religious and folk festivals are celebrated. The major festival celebrated during the summer is St Dionysios' Day, the patron saint of the island. On 24 August his body is brought out of the church in Zante town and paraded around the streets in a glass coffin. Other festivals include, Labour Day in early May, Assumption in mid August, and Ochi Day in late October.

Turtles
Loggerhead Turtles nest and lay their eggs on the beaches along the southern shore of the island. In the evening, female turtles can, at times, be seen resting in the shallow coastal waters after their journey to the island. The survival of the loggerhead is becoming threatened. To help ensure their survival tnere are a number of important rules that you should adhere to. Carelessly discarded litter creates a major hazard as turtles can suffocate trying to eat plastic bags. Loud noise can disorientate female turtles and make them uncertain as to where to lay their eggs. Bright torch lights and flashing cameras of tourists seeking a glimpse of the turtles frighten them back into the sea. There are designated areas of the beaches set aside for the turtles, ensure you do not wander here and disturb the hatchlings. If you can make your contribution to the turtles' survival then you will help keep alive a 90 million year old species. Visit Euro-Turtle for a complete guide to Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Turtles

Loggerhead Turtles nest and lay their eggs on the beaches along the southern shore of the island. In the evening, female turtles can, at times, be seen resting in the shallow coastal waters after their journey to the island. The survival of the loggerhead is becoming threatened. To help ensure their survival tnere are a number of important rules that you should adhere to. Carelessly discarded litter creates a major hazard as turtles can suffocate trying to eat plastic bags. Loud noise can disorientate female turtles and make them uncertain as to where to lay their eggs. Bright torch lights and flashing cameras of tourists seeking a glimpse of the turtles frighten them back into the sea. There are designated areas of the beaches set aside for the turtles, ensure you do not wander here and disturb the hatchlings. If you can make your contribution to the turtles' survival then you will help keep alive a 90 million year old species. Visit Euro-Turtle for a complete guide to Loggerhead Sea Turtle