Anyone used Simply Travel?

[Willow2]

We're on verge of booking holiday with Simply Travel to Periyali villas in Zakynthos. Anyone got any info to share?

yes we went last May...the creche and childcare facilities are very high quality ...book ahead the places get filled...we put our 2 year old in for 1/2 days in the afternoon...whichc broke the day up in the heat. The accomodation was very good...we stayed at the lemon houses which are beautiful and we were allowed to use the creche...if you want babaysitting youo need to book on site and it is a bit of a scramble for places so get there early...you will probabaly only get one eve in the week....beachsea re wonderful ...the restaurants great ...it is very rural, green authentic etc...most of the restaurants have childrens play areas ...our favourite was Gallini

Knakered - thanks for getting back to me. Have booked to go in early May with our two year old. What was the weather like for you? Also, any more advice on restaurants, tavernas, where to go for a "stocking up" shop etc greatfully appreciated. Did you post a review in the recent summer sun survey - or are there more Mumsnetters out there who have been too? If so would love to hear any tips you might have.

We were at Periyali the summer before last and had a superb time. We stayed at Periyali itself and found the accommodation great - plenty of room inside, enough space between villas so you don't get on top each other and very good childcare. The pool is good too, and there's a snack bar where you can get beers for the grown-ups and pizzas, chips etc for the kids' tea. (You can tell I'm a fan of healthy living). There are plenty of good beaches to go to within easy driving distance, and I can remember particularly liking Daphne beach, and another one I think was called Porta Roma. Or I may have just made that up. Doesn't sound very Greek, does it? Gerakas, the turtle beach, was usually crowded, but it's easy to escape the crowds otherwise. There are some interesting places to visit on the west coast, too, but I can't remember any names at the minute. I really rate Simply as an operator and have travelled with them again since. Look in the comments book in your villa and it will give you plenty of other ideas about where to go. Have a good time....

Grizzler, is the snack bar actually on site? It doesn't mention it in the brochure. Hope so as i'm for anything that makes life as easy as possible. We are in Periyali too - I think the house is called Erato.

Yeah, the snack bar is just by the pool, which means parents can get on with the important activity of drinking while their little dears have fun in the water. You can get beer, wine, coffee, juice, crisps, pizzas, chicken nuggets, chips, omelette, ice cream - all that kind of stuff.

I also seem to remember that the year we were there, the nannies helpfully ran a film club one night a week. You paid a fiver I think, and the kids were taken off to watch a couple of Disney videos and eat popcorn, while the parents went out to dinner.

Another good thing to do is to take the boat trip which you can buy tickets for in the local supermarket. It's a speedboat rather than one of those huge galleon type things, and you get to visit various coves etc, swim in quiet waters and go turtle spotting. Don't take your kids unless they're older though, otherwise you'll spend all your time trying to ensure that they don't fall out the boat.

Thanks Grizzler - will let you know how we get on.

Grizzler - just realised that hadn't reported back. Had one of the best holidays ever. Cottage was lovely, rep and creche girlies were brilliant, location fab, local tavernas good, beaches wonderful etc etc. They also now do a laundry service (which made me a very happy bunny). Couldn't fault it - and the owner and Sandre who runs the pool bar were great too and let my ds water the flowers every time he fancied getting the hose out. Loved it so much have already reserved next year - and friends coming too.