Family Holidays: Zakynthos family holidays

Take the Family holiday rating 4½ stars out of 5

Why

One of the mythical Ionian islands, Zakynthos, (also known as Zante), is second only to Corfu in popularity and travel and accomodation is plentiful. Best to go though in spring when you can avoid the scorching sun and there are less people. It's a great holiday with kids, although you need to be careful where you pick as a quick buck was prioritised over quality when most development took place here.

There are lovely places though, and you'll find it a beautiful, lush island once you start exploring. Keep the kids happy with watersports and island hopping and keep yourselves happy too by sampling some of the great local cuisine. The island has been conquered by a dazzling number of civilisations, all of whom left something of their culture and architecture behind.

Top left: Blue Caves
Top middle: Zakynthos Starfish
Top right: Solomos Statue

Bottom left: Navagios Beach (Shipwreck Beach)
Bottom right: Turtle

When

Visit Zakynthos anytime from early May through to mid October. Note that the hottest and busiest Month is July, with temperatures in the mid-thirties, whilst earlier in the year during April and May temperatures are nudging the mid-twenties.

Many people comment on how green the island is; Well it does rain occasionally! High humidity during late July and the whole of August can cause storms, after weeks of sunshine. The storm will only last a short while though, often just a matter of hours.

How

Many airlines offer charter flights direct to Zakynthos, with many from regional UK airports, for example Excel Airways, who offer terrific deals. Some airlines also route via Athens. The international airport is around 4km from Zakynthos town.

Four daily car ferry sailings operate from Kyllini, on mainland Greece, with a journey time of around an hour, rising to six-a-day in July and August. A daily car ferry also goes from Pessada on Kefalonia to Agios Nikolaos in the summer season which also takes around an hour.

Stay

Zankynthos has a wide range of accommodation to suit any budget. Most visitors to the south of the island arrange accommodation as part of their package, whilst in the quieter north, with its central plain and mountainous regions, you can find some brilliant luxury villas and self catering apartments. Try a hotel or aparment from Thomson or a luxury villa from Simply Travel.

Do

Watersports are the main activities to keep the children happy, read up before you go on the cleanest beaches and best resorts, as they vary in quality. We particularly recommend Gerakas beach at the southernmost tip of Vassilikos peninsula, which has just been named the top beach for tots and toddlers in the Sunday Times Best Beaches in Europe: 'There are three things toddlers really need from a beach: clean, white sand to shovel into their mouths, gently shelving sea to supply their moats and, most important of all, a crèche close at hand so that mum and dad can sip mai tais and slip off back to their room. If ever a beach ticked those boxes with a big, fat marker pen, it’s the fabulously beautiful Gerakas.' For the more adventurous family, hire transport and explore the fertile interior. Once you get away from the tourist hotspots, there are quaint little villages and the remains of civilisations to discover. Try and take a trip to one of the world's most important breeding sites for the loggerhead turtle in Laganas Bay and create budding consevationists out of your kids.

Eat

In the resorts you can find a great variety of local and international >cuisine, but outside of the main tourist spots it's a bit more hit and miss. It's well worth searching out true local cuisine though, as Zakynthos is more fertile than the mainland and has some wonderful fresh local ingredients.

Cost

Depending where and when you go, prices start from around £150, (self catering or B & B board), to £700 per person for a seven nights, including flights. Check with Thomson Holidays, Expedia Holidays and Simply Travel for great deals on hotels and secluded villas..