Zante recommendations

[AryaUnderfoot]

So, flight schedules for summer 2015 are released at the end of April, and I'm starting to have a think about where would be best to go.

I have always loved Ionian islands, particularly Kefalonia. However, the kids are water-slide mad, and I don't think there are any water parks on the island. I know there are a couple on Zante (attached to hotels but open to the public), so I think it could be an ideal destination for us.

Does anyone have any recommendations for best resorts and apartments/villas to rent? If possible, I'd like to avoid a package tour. The only essentails would be a separate room for the kids to sleep in, air-con and a pool (shared is fine).

Thanks.

is gerakas the one with the nests and the healing mud?
that charity has its work cut out that is for sure.

Not sure about healing mud (that rings a faint bell but can't remember where it is!), but it does have nests. 2012 it had loads, 2013 fewer but then Dafni had more in 2013 than 2012. They are a great little charity but they have pretty much had to write off the Laganas/Kalamaki area which were the best nesting sites. Uncontrolled tourist development causes so much havoc - another reason to boycott those resorts really. These two beaches are better managed - no distracting lights, Gerakas definitely closed to the public at night (not sure about Dafni but so remote I expect it de facto is), nesting areas fenced off and tourist umbrellas and loungers put away at night.

If you decide to head to Vasilikos I can give lots of restaurant recommendations

Vasilikos sounds lovely. I'll have to look into it...

our favourite place was Porto Roma, but watch out for pink jellyfish, do not go into the water if they are there.
and Banana Beach was lovely there was a really cool caff there with hammocks and cushions.
also there are some good boat trips around the island.
Catholic church in the town square with service in English if you are interested
(spent too long on Zante)

really good bus service down to the vassilikos peninsula as i recall, you would not necesserily need a car, you just jump on the v reliable bus and the bus driver shouts out the names of the beaches at each stop. ahh happy days.,

Vasilikos is definitely a fantastic place to stay, providing you're happy with a quiet area with just a few hotels, apartments, tavernas and mini-markets dotted around. We stayed here.

We stayed in the Alykanas village last year and really enjoyed it.

We only had dd (2yo at the time) with us so didn't go out much apart from meals but everywhere we ate was lovely.

I absolutely hated the airport coming home. It felt like they collected every tourist on the island at 8am and took them to the airport irrelevant of what time they flight was. And there were no seats. Everyone sat on the floor.

I'm puzzled by the comment above about the food in Alykanas. I only saw Greek restaurants and those little kebab type kiosks. No international food at all.

Do agree about the main street having a grubby feel. It wasn't dirty, just looked a bit worn out.