Monday newsletters always feature top 10 travel lists to inspire.
Today: Top 10 best hotels & resorts in Zakynthos
Although not as famous as its siblings Mykonos and Santorini, Zakynthos has long been regarded as one of the most beautiful Greek islands. It is the southernmost and third largest of the Ionian Islands (after Corfu and Kefalonia). The island has a wealth of history and tradition, as for many centuries it was the crossroads for numerous nations and cultures. The Venetians, who ruled the island in the Middle Ages, named it “Flower of the East”. Zakynthos is an island full of contrasts and attract visitors with incredible turquoise waters, breathtaking blue caves, nesting spots of endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtles, and idyllic beaches such as famous Shipwreck or Navagio Beach (one of the world’s most beautiful beaches). Zakynthos is also home to several upscale resorts and here’s my selection of the top 10 best hotels on the island (with the top 4 hotels clearly being a few levels above the others mentioned in this list as the luxury tourism market in Zakynthos is still very much in its infancy).
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10. GOLDEN SUN RESORT & SPA
With over five miles (8 km) of beach on its doorstep, Golden Sun Resort promises a relaxing adults-only getaway. The boutique hotel is just a minutes’ walk away from Kalamaki’s long sandy strip, and the laidback tavernas and restaurants in the center of town can be reached within five minutes on foot, too. The property has 20 modern rooms: 16 luxury rooms with a private pool and four high floor rooms with a private Jacuzzi (each room accommodating two adults). The onsite restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner, and snacks are served throughout the day at the pool bar. The pool itself has a whirlpool bath by its side, and there’s also another swimming spot indoors at the spa, which also features a haman and Jacuzzi.
- Hotel website: Golden Sun Resort & Spa
9. LESANTE CLASSIC
Within the idyllic surroundings of the beach resort of Tsilivi, amid nature’s vibrant green and the calming blue of the sky and the sea, lies Lesante Classic. Located a short stroll from the beach, the hotel captures the island’s spirit and rhythm, welcoming guests seeking natural beauty and a high quality of service. There are 107 guestrooms and suites, all featuring balconies or terraces with pool, garden, or sea views. A wide variety of entertainment and leisure facilities is on offer, including a spa and wellness center, three swimming pools and several restaurants. Lesante Cape also offers private chauffeur & butler service, security protection, a personal chef, arrangements for private jets & helicopters, private excursions, and sailing trips to the most secluded spots on the island.
- Hotel website: Lesante Classic
8. ZANTE MARIS SUITES
With a small selection of suites, stylish Zante Maris Suites has an intimate, boutique feel. Located under a mile (1.6 km) from the beach, the hotel is set in Tsivili, a lively resort town on Zakynthos’ north eastern coast. Zante Maris Suites enjoys a quiet position into a hillside, but it’s still within walking distance from local bars and restaurants. The adults-only property offers attractive accommodation with a clean, minimalist aesthetic embracing natural materials and textures. Each of the hotel’s 45 suites pay homage to relaxed, outdoor living, while at the same time offering guests the quality pampering of a boutique hotel. Some suites have shared or private pools. The luxurious Honeymoon Suite is the hotel’s most spacious accommodation and comes with a private pool, in addition to an indoor and outdoor shower.
- Hotel website: Zante Maris Suites
7. CONTESSINA HOTEL
Contessina Hotel provides elegant accommodation for the discerning traveler who seeks a sophisticated holiday in Zakynthos. The hotel’s 160 rooms have just been renovated to provide a comfortable stay in a relaxed family atmosphere. A lovey fresh water outdoor swimming pool, separate children’s pool, poolside snack bar and green surroundings flaunt a vast selection of high-end services and facilities. A short stroll from Contessina Hotel and just steps from the beach is its sister hotel Contessina Suites & Spa, a luxury boutique hotel and adults-only getaway designed to provide the idyll backdrop for a romantic Zante holiday. The suites have a sleek finish and there’s a swanky wine cellar, a rooftop garden and a modern pool-centered patio. The intimate spa looks like a contoured cave and has a tranquil pool edged by hanging basket seats.
- Hotel website: Contessina Hotel (family friendly) and Contessina Suites & Spa (adults only)
6. YOMA COVE SUITES
Brand new Yoma Cove Suites is located near the mountainous village of Volimes in the northern part of Zakynthos. In close proximity to the renowned Shipwreck Beach and conveniently separated from the vibrant nightlife of the Town of Zakynthos, Yoma Cove Suites, is a serene place for relaxation and rejuvenation. Each one of the five, newly built, independent, caved suites is surrounded by a unique Mediterranean terrain which culminates with the endless blue of the Ionian Sea. The five suites – two superior (sleeping five) and three junior (sleeping three) – are all decorated with soothing neutral tones and come with private infinity pools. There is no on-site restaurant, but Yoma has partnered with nearby Mooring Café: guests can order via WhatsApp and the food is delivered directly to their private villa.
- Hotel website: Yoma Cove Suites
5. DOMES AULUS ZANTE, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION
Designed by awarded Domes Resorts in an earthy, yet lively color palette inspired by the natural surroundings of the island, Domes Aulus Zante (member of Marriott‘s Autograph Collection) exudes relaxation, elegance, and casual comfort. Plentiful and all inclusive, this lifestyle hotel is set along the Ionian Sea on spacious grounds with soulful service. The hotel coexists with its natural environment through eco conscious living as the property enjoys and protects Zakynthos’ nesting ground of the loggerhead turtle. There’s an excellent selection of dining options at five restaurants, where Greek culinary legacy is combined with international cuisine. A laid back atmosphere awaits at four bars, showcasing exciting mixology and breathtaking sea views.
- Hotel website: Domes Aulus Zante
4. OLEA ALL SUITES HOTEL
On the northeastern coast of Zakynthos, Olea All Suite Hotel frames natural beauty from an elevated hillside location, with tropical-modernist structures that face the sea and the countryside. Sunset terraces, communal lounges, and 93 luxurious suites appear to float on streams that meander around a lake-like pool in the resort’s heart. Natural materials such as oak, bamboo, and rattan characterize the furnishings and interior design elements, contrasting the cool geometric form and smooth interior surfaces of the buildings. Throughout the suites and communal areas, earthtone colors abound while an ambient lighting concept encourages relaxation. Guests can expect such treats as Olea’s spa with hammam, deep relaxation treatments, and yoga pavilion, Mediterranean and modern Greek cuisine, and fine wines around every corner. This hotel is adults only, 13 years and older friendly.
- Hotel website: Olea All Suite Hotel
3. LESANTE BLU
True to its name, Lesante Blu – a member of The Leading Hotels of the World – is surrounded by spectacular views of the Ionian Sea offering privacy and peace of mind to the experienced traveler. At Lesante Blu, the defining premise is, “it’s all about you.” This attentive and caring approach is manifested through the adults-only concept, as much as it is through private pools and the state-of-the-art suites. Fine dining restaurants with Mediterranean flavors prepared by the Executive Chef Ispiroudis Nikos enhance the culinary offerings. Among the other memorable experiences and premium amenities to be savored: complete tranquility and rejuvenating moments in the Essence Spa with Germaine de Cappucini treatments and private yacht cruises to the Blue Caves and the world famous beaches of Zakynthos.
- Hotel website: Lesante Blu
- Review: read my review of Lesante Blu here.
2. PORTO ZANTE VILLAS & SPA
Standing majestically on a private sandy beach in a secluded bay, Porto Zante Villas & Spa is a boutique luxury hotel comprising world class luxury villas on the beach, all with private pools, exquisite Greek & Mediterranean cuisine at the Club House restaurant, a luxury Asian fusion restaurant offering delicious fresh Sushi, Sashimi and Thai options, a fabulous waterfront spa, 24-hour five-star hotel services, and an array of unique activities & experiences for families and couples alike. The luxury villas at Porto Zante are decorated and furnished with selected pieces of Armani Casa & Gervasoni, paintings of prominent Greek artists and are equipped with some of the best exclusive amenities including Christofle Paris cutlery & glasses, Bernardaud design porcelain & BVLGARI guest amenities.
- Hotel website: Porto Zante Villas & Spa
- Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, one 50-minute massage for up to two people, one lunch or dinner for up to two people, and VIP lounge access in all major European airports).
1. LESANTE CAPE RESORT & VILLAS
A modern island oasis that honors Zakynthian culture, Lesante Cape Resort & Villas is located in Akrotiri village, a place of great historic value that previously housed manors of the island’s noblemen. The new property – a member of The Leading Hotels of the World – is perfectly positioned on a secluded beach with extraordinary Ionian Sea views. Guests are welcomed into a traditional Greek village as soon as they step foot on the property. A center square was purposefully created for socializing and festivities and includes a café, taverna, shops, folklore museum and church. Traditional Zakynthian architecture is displayed throughout the property, and a range of villas and suites offer contemporary amenities and ample privacy. To reenergize the mind and body visit the Armonia Wellness & Spa, and savor local Mediterranean cuisine at the property’s many dining venues.
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