Keri Village & Spa by Zante Plaza

Firstly the positives ... The hotel and grounds are very clean, the staff are friendly and the views from the pool out over the Ionian Sea are simply stunning. The food at lunch and dinner is good too ... don't expect the huge choice often available at all inclusive hotels or chicken & chips but there was always a decent salad bar and 6 hot options of good, tasty food which is more local style rather than english food abroad, which I liked. We tried dishes that we wouldn't have chosen before and enjoyed the majority of them. The pool area is well maintained with plenty of sunbeds (some good, some seen better days!), with plenty of parasols and tables. The pool itself is a decent size but was so cold that we didn't use it. Now the negatives ... The hotel needs a LOT if work to bring it up to a standard of the 4 stars it is billed at. Due to the 4 star rating, the visitor tax was 70€ which seemed excessive. The communal area is soul-less with the entertainment corner consisting of a massage chair and BMI machine! The seating is extremely low (especially considering the general age of guests) and you were lucky if you found a seat that didn't have a spring poking in your bottom or the foam falling out the base of the seat! Unfortunately the weather was awful throughout our stay which meant we spent the majority of our week in this area. You pay a 10€ deposit for pool towels (which is pretty standard) but also have to pay a 3€ laundry fee for each towel which I have never seen before. The hotel is extremely isolated up in the hills. This would have been fine if the weather was good as we would have been happy by the pool but if the weather turns (as it did with us) you are literally stuck in the hotel with nothing to do and without even a comfortable seat. It is so far out that taxis even for a short distance are really expensive. A lot of people ended up hiring a car to escape out - I just wasn't confident enough to do the same! There are a LOT of mosquitoes! I have never been bitten so much! Lots of wasps around too. The rooms are very basic. We moved rooms twice. The first time because we were given a small double bed instead of twin beds as requested. The second move was because the twin room we were give (106) could only be likened to a prison cell! It had very little natural light with a single small window facing a wall. The outside seating space was a plastic chair the walkway. The shower was good though! I asked if we could be moved as I knew the weather forcast was not good and I couldn't face spending any time awake in this room. We had to wait a day but did get moved to a better room with a bit more space and an outside seating space. In all honesty if we hadn't have been moved, I would have gone home rather than stay. I am not someone who usually causes a fuss or complains but this almost broke me. Looking at videos on social media of the rooms since returning home, I have seen no resemblence of any of the three rooms I saw. Maybe they only show off their suites and more expensive rooms? They provide a shuttle bus down to Keri beach but it is not as frequent as advertised. It runs at 10am, 1pm, 3pm & 5pm meaning if you go down to the beach (where there is only so much to do) you are there until the next bus comes down. This hotel definitely needs a lot of work doing to bring it up to the standard it is billed at. If you want any kind of nightlife or places to visit, it probably isn't for you. if you want peace and quiet and don't mind VERY basic, it might be for you! The average age of guest is pretty old! I am 51 and felt like I was one of the youngest there! My first call home decribing our hotel was its like a retirement home with a pool! Definitely not one on my list to return too but hasn't put me off visiting the island again! Just maybe not in October!!!

Hotel definitely NOT 4 stars I would be pushed to say 3 Stars. Nothing to do in the day there is limited entertainment at night. There was a good band on I think Sunday night. The hotel is full of wasps so you’re either fighting off mosquitoes or wasps inside and outside. For basic but tasty. Breakfast is Luke warm temperature. Staff are lovely. At times I felt like I was in a nursing home and I’m old but this hotel is totally just sitting around the one pool.

Stunning hotel, staff incredibly friendly and helpful, rooms and common areas always clean. Pool lovely (bit chilly since its a freshwater pool and October). A few storm days but when the sun was out it was glorious. Views area amazing with a large range of cocktails or if you want just the liqueurs, they can do that too. Food always a variety every day, lovely selection including a small show cooking area. Entertainment on alternative nights was brilliant each time with some traditional Greek dancing. Shuttle service (8 seater) to local beach great and always a guarantee pick up if too many guests at one time. Lovely hotel receptionist helped us book taxis to go to different areas with pick up since its in a semi remote location. Lots of bugs, (mosquitoes incl.) but the local beach shop sells repellent. Would love to come back again

We booked within 48hrs, with flights from our local UK airport and got an amazing deal for 1 week. October in Zakynthos is a little risky for a sun holiday but we enjoyed 5 beautiful sunny days with 23c. The location is exactly as we wanted - very quiet with beautiful views down to the sea. First Impressions - a shared taxi provided by TUI took only 30 mins and we were checking in 1hr 10 mins after we had landed. The restaurant had just closed but they kindly gave us a plated meal before we checked in. Don’t forget you’ll need to pay the Greek €10 per night Climate charge. Accommodation - we were a little disappointed when we arrived in our room - a Superior ground floor twin. It was simply decorated but we felt it did not meet the 4 star rating. The rooms are in 5 different villas set around the pool. We were in Villa 4 and had a terrace facing North, so no direct sunshine at all. However we did overlook the lovely countryside with a lateral view to the sea. I’m guessing the villas were built to mimic local Greek properties so the rooms do not have much privacy with many overlooking the walkways or car park. There was no Wi-Fi or mobile signal in the room which gave us a mini digital detox at night . The beds were firm but relatively comfortable and we had a large walk-in shower, albeit with a shower curtain that was pretty useless. As well as Wi-Fi, some pictures, USB outlets, a smart TV, rugs and clothes hooks in the bathroom could easily elevate the room to 4 star. The wardrobe/drawer unit was insufficient for a week’s stay for 2 people. Towels were old and scratchy but the place was spotlessly clean and very well serviced daily. We used the air conditioning as we couldn’t really leave the French windows open - it was quiet and included. Restaurant and Bar. The main building is elevated - if you have mobility challenges there are 8 steps via the terrace and more via reception, but there is a steep ramp for wheeling your luggage. There is a single toilet on this floor. The other facilities are down in the Spa area but the staircase down does not have a handrail. Everywhere else was easily accessible across the compact site but there are only stairs to the first floor rooms/suites. The terrace was lovely but too cold to use at night. Unfortunately it was challenging eating here in the day due to the wasps. There was entertainment from 10pm on a couple of nights. The 80s mix tapes played were nostalgic. Food and drinks. Buffet service is not our favourite, but this one was pretty good for the size of property. I’d describe the food as rustic, local and home cooked and was really tasty with the heavy use of local herbs and ingredients. There was a cooked breakfast as well as cold meats, cheese and fresh bread. Also cereals and canned fruit with yoghurts - cut fresh fruit was normally available at main meals. The “show cooking” area always had warm pastries and cheese pies. The 2 coffee machines provided ok hot drinks. The fruit juices were sugary from concentrate. Lunch always had salads including a different special option (one day it was octopus), homemade pies, pasta, meat dishes and fries. Dinner always had a special from the show cooking area - we had huge shell-on prawns and mussels on a couple of nights. There was also a good homemade soup in the evening. The desserts were surprisingly varied - wide selection of fresh pastries . The self-service Cretan wine and beer were drinkable. The local spirits and cocktails were not to our taste but we brought our own duty free gin and just ordered tonic. Pool and Bar - looks like the sunbeds have been replaced and the area was relaxing with stunning views. Pool towels incur a €10 deposit which is fine, but then a €3 laundry charge seemed a bit penny- pinching. You could change them daily if you wished. Final impressions. This place really grew on us over the week. All the staff are so friendly and hard working. The other guests were also unbelievably nice, leading to a lovely atmosphere. The small size and beautiful setting added to the enjoyment. We loved the local food and the minibus service to the small beach is available if you need a change of scene. I think the tour operators should grade this as 3 star plus and a few ongoing improvements could easily make the 4 star rating. Of course we got incredible value at this time of year. Those guests who don’t do any research (and of course won’t be reading this) are the only ones who may not enjoy this location and fabulous Greek hospitality.