Zante Maris Hotel - (Accommodation in Tsilivi)

June H           

 Have just returned from a great week at the Zante Maris.  We read lots of reviews before booking the hotel and must say it lived up to our expectations.

 
The location is fantastic, right on the beach and so close to all the restaurants and bars yet still far enough not to hear any noise.
 
The rooms were large, clean and comfortable.  The pool may not be the prettiest, but we never had a problem getting a sunbed - even though a few sad people insisted on getting up at 7am with their towels and then found they had to sit and watch the guys clean the pool or the guys would remove their towels!! And it was great being able to just walk onto the beach for a swim in the sea or relax in the beach bar.
 
One of the reasons we chose this hotel is because it is billed as mainly adult and we wanted to avoid children as much as possible (not an easy thing to do in August).  In comparison to other hotels, there were relatively few, but I'm not sure how long this will last as they are now offering free child places.
 
 

Blue Caves and Shipwreck Cruise - (Zante Excursions)

June H           

We did this trip with Captain Spiros, Levante Speedboat Excursions www.zantelevante.com and would thoroughly recommend it. Because it is a speed boat, you only need half a day and you can get into the caves themselves.

The shipwreck is, well a shipwreck, I have to say not that exciting, although the cove is really nice and the water amazingly blue and the caves are pretty, but Spiros is the highlight, extremely entertaining and very knowledgable about the area. Watch out, he does have an eye for the ladies, but he is very funny and not at all sleazy.
 
We booked with Ian on the beach, but the trips are very popular, and also they won't run them if the wind is too strong, so book early in your holiday or you may be disappointed.
 
Whatever you do, don't book on the large boats.  We saw several and they are packed in like sardines and you can't get near the caves. Everyone we spoke to who had done one of these trips said they were awful.