Some of the staff members here at Economy Car Hire have very kindly written a post about their recent travel experience. Today’s post is from Vicki, one of our Customer Advisors, about her recent holiday to Laganas, Zante.
After much discussion, my boyfriend and I decided we wanted to go to Zante for a very long-awaited holiday. We decided to visit Laganas. It’s a popular clubbing destination as well as being the home of the Caretta Sea Turtle. We eventually left it to two weeks before we were due to depart to actually book the holiday. We wanted to bag a last minute deal on the internet after booking the same week off work, but that fell through the next day! This then sent us into mass panic!
We eventually found a flight and hotel a week before we were due to depart with Last Minute Holidays and flights from Thomas Cook. If you worry as much as me, don’t leave it until the last minute. When booking deals over the internet, when you’re travelling out of peak season it’s likely that they won’t fill up and the deal will then fall through!
Getting there
We had a very early flight from Gatwick at 01.40 am. This went as expected, falling asleep in the terminal and endlessly wandering around duty free until we finally boarded the plane. Following take off, we experienced a lot of turbulence, once this calmed down we both fell asleep until it was announced that we had arrived in Zakynthos. After reading a lot of reviews and guides on Zante we decided that it was in fact cheaper to get a taxi from the airport to our hotel, instead of opting for a transfer. We actually arrived at our hotel and checked in well before the transfers started to arrive!
Our accommodation
We stayed at the Hotel Pallas which came highly recommended via online reviews. The rooms were spacious and clean and we even had a balcony with a stunning view of Laganas. Breakfast came included however it was a continental breakfast. Overall the customer service was second to none and they were happy to assist us with any of our enquiries. The facilities were great and we would stay there again in a heartbeat.
Exploring Laganas
Laganas is the largest resort in Zante and attracts a lot of the 18-30 year olds holiday crowd especially from June to August. We were advised by a local that during this period you can’t move on the beach or the clubs as it is packed! We went in mid-September, so it was still shockingly hot. You could easily find a table in the restaurant or a sun lounger on the beach. If you’re looking for an authentic Greek experience I would not recommend Laganas. It’s mainly focused on the nightlife and catering to tourists. It can be quite hard to find traditional Greek cuisine, but you will easily find English, Chinese or Mexican food. You can still find some Greek restaurants should you fancy something a little more traditional.
Heading down the main strip, although very exciting at first, quickly becomes a chore. There were staff from each establishment offering you deals trying to entice you in. They become pushy and are constantly on the lookout for a sale! Certain places are a lot more respectful and you can get a good deal for meals and drinks if you look carefully. Look around as prices can vary. Generally the drinks are very cheap and the main focus is beer and cocktails.
Hitting the beach
The beach is focused on selling, with vendors coming up and down the beach with various other items for sale. This can get annoying when you are trying to sunbath, and they do push for a sale! Most of the restaurants and bars offer sun loungers for a couple of Euros a day and will provide you with drinks and snacks. We became friends with two of the locals and they looked after us all week providing us with drinks and meals (sometimes for free!) and advised us on all of the best places to visit. The beach is beautiful, with the water being so clear you can see all of the little fish near your feet!
Boat tours
I highly recommend taking an excursion on a glass bottom boat to see the Caretta Turtles and the Keri caves. Most excursions will give you your money back if you don’t see any turtles. They will take you to turtle island where the turtle eggs are buried on the beach, protected by wooden frames. You’re only allowed 5m from the sea so you don’t disturb the nests.
I would highly recommend Zante and indeed the resort of Laganas. But be warned, with the boiling hot sun and the exciting night and beach life you will indeed have a very bad case of post-holiday blues when you return back home!
Have you been to the Greek Island of Zante? Planning to go or is it on your travel bucket list? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
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