Hope these help newcomers to the island

Tourist Tips for 2006 by Chris Chadwick

ZANTE AIRPORT

Yes, DEPARTURES is small and nasty, but remember it is a tiny fraction of your holiday. The new ARRIVALS LOUNGE is open and running. On your return journey, take water,hat and sunblock in high season as you do have to queue outside to avoid crowding inside. Avoid the FOOD KIOSKS, they are extortionate and the food appalling. The Duty Free shop has a fridge at the back selling cold beer and pop at normal prices, buy from there.
Please be courteous, allow people with kids, older people or ladies to have your seat!
Regarding AIRPORT NOISE in the hotels, I have never been disturbed by it, in fact it`s enjoyable watching the planes coming in and out!

TRANSFERS, TOURS and REPS

A taxi is very little to any of the resorts if you haven`t a transfer or don`t want to wait for the bus. I normally advise to book tours locally rather than the reps as they are cheaper by far, HOWEVER this year many cut price tours locally have been poor quality and so it may be best to book these via your rep, especially if it is a trip with any risk eg 4x4 tours, watersports etc, as there may be problems on insurance if you use a local company.
I would NOT recommend a full day boat trip, the potential to burn and be seasick is very high!

CAR HIRE

I use Hermes (next to Mermaids) or Merlis (see Julie who is very helpful). Always get the DAMAGE WAIVER and check it covers everything including underside damage (there are a lot of pot holes!!). I would never recommend hiring mopeds or Quads.I would advise anyone to hire a 4x4 and drive wherever you feel like it, it is a small island and you will find breathtaking views, traditional shops and tavernas and beautiful beaches, it is a fantastic experience to get out of the resort and do this!

TAXIS and HORSE and CART RIDES

There is a recommended price for any taxi journey, and here is the link

http://www.zantetaxi.gr/en_prices.php

The Horse and Cart rides are, to be honest, a rip off.
With taxis or horse and carts, agree the fare BEFORE you set off

GENERAL HEALTH

Don`t drink the WATER, it has a very high mineral content, and I don`t even brush my teeth with it. Mineral water is very cheap, stock up from the shops. I avoid ice in drinks, and anything like fruit salad etc that is prepackaged.

The best MOSQUITO KILLER I have found is the Boots own brand Liquid plug in, very effective and essential.

Please avoid HENNA TATTOOS, people have been poisoned and in some cases permanently burned by the ink.

Make sure you have TRAVEL INSURANCE and also the new E111 CARD, you can apply for the E111 and it is free, at your Post Office.

You don`t need and particular vaccinations to travel to Greece.

In the main summer months it is well worth paying for the airconditioning to cool your rooms.

EATING OUT and NIGHTLIFE

The beauty of Kalamaki is there is a bar and restaurant for everyone`s tastes. Everyone has their own favourites, and you will see the better restaurants as they are busy, people go back for quality and service. My favourite is MERMAID`S where I eat every night,400 dishes on the menu from Traditional Greek to French and English cuisine, but you can choose quiet places in secluded spots, a light snack or a takeaway if you wish anywhere in the resort.
There is a cover charge of about 80 cents in EVERY restaurant, it includes bread.
Many places now have INTERNET ACCESS and XBOXes for the kids!

My favourite bar is PLUS SODA, which has Kalamaki`s only nightclub experience inside, and the CAVO D`ORO HOTEL BAR is excellent too, again, there is a bar for everyone`s taste and age group!

Please IGNORE some of the reviews on the main JUSTZANTE site, they are put on in many cases by certain businesses who wish to slander their competition. I have spoken this year to several business people who have been hurt badly by this unfair practice. If you have a problem with your hotel, meal, drinks or whatever please ASK TO SEE THE MANAGER, Greek people want you to enjoy your holiday and will do their utmost to solve any problems.Also the odd review that says Kalamaki is tacky, these people obviously didn`t get out and about and try different places!

If you have good service, please tip well, the average Greek family income is only about £9,000 a year. To Greeks you are seen as a guest to be welcomed, if you offer friendliness back (or the courtesy of a tip) you will be remembered in years to come, I have never met friendlier people in my life, and can count many from Kalamaki as true friends.

SWIMMING POOLS

You can use any pool bar you wish, but please buy your drinks from the bar whose pool you are using. Also there will be a crackdown next year on towels being deposited to save sunloungers when people then go off for the day, as happens a lot!
Another tip, buy a LI-LO, you can use it if no sunbeds are available and when you go to the beach use it to lie on rather than pay 7 euros a day for a sunlounger!!!! I also buy beach towels in resort for about 4 euros, it saves a lot of suitcase weight if you`re going for 2 weeks and may be over limit!

MONEY

The rate is always higher in Greece, on a £600 budget per person for a fortnight you will save up to £30 by changing your money in resort rather than in England! I take Sterling in cash and change as required.
There is an ATM Machine outside Limnos Supermarket.

SHOPPING

Cigarette prices are set by the government, Embassy No1 were 28 euros (about £20) in September 2005, you are allowed 3200 (16 boxes) to take home. Spirits etc are also 30% cheaper than the UK. I buy my duty free from LIMNOS (near Mermaids) or SOFIA`S stores, they also tend to give the best exchange rates. You can also buy duty free on the airport. Remember you cannot buy spirits and tobacco on the plane!Get aftershaves on the airport, don`t waste money on fake rubbish in the shops!Zante Town is good for a shopping trip with some excellent jewellery and clothes if you hunt around, just remember they close for siesta!

LAGANAS

I have to include a bit about Laganas which has been a major news item in the press this year. Basically the tour operators shifted the organised `booze holidays` from Faliraki to Laganas in 2005. In 2006 it appears that Cancun is to be the next `recipient` of this. Basically it is a Party Resort which like in many UK towns involves yobbish behaviour, heavy drinking, stupid bar crawls for people who cannot formulate their own holiday and a fair bit of indecent behaviour. It basically is a British Town with sun. If you wouldn`t go into a town centre here at night or take your kids, then don`t go. If you want something a bit more wild then give it a try.Laganas is NOT Zakynthos, it is just one resort, and the irresponsible press must share some blame for fuelling the hysteria over this.

CRIME

There is the very occasional problem with crime, simply behave as you would in the UK ie lock your windows and doors on leaving your rooms, be watchful on unlit paths late ant night etc. The Rose Sellers are a nuisance, keep an eye on valuables when they are around. Some bars like PLUS SODA do not allow them in.

TELEPHONES

If someone phones or texts you you do pay part of the call, my advice is to use the payphones at SOFIA`S or LIMNOS shop, never use the hotel ones. If you are taking your mobile, ask people not to ring you unless essential, they can be quite sure you are having a great time! For big users, there are three options also to using your normal sim.

http://thomascooktv.sim4travel.com/
http://www.uk2abroad.co.uk/

or you can even get a Greek SIM if you have an unlocked phone

LUGGAGE ALLOWANCE

Tour ops have been a bit strict on this in 2005, check your allowance as some late deals cut the amount you can take.Leave any half used shampoos, shave foams etc for your maids in the rooms when leaving, they will be very appreciative, and you free up valuable baggage space.200 Cigs saves you £30 on UK price, a half bottle of shampoo is worth a quid for the same weight as the cigs! If you are over expect to pay about £4/kg.

ROOMS FOR EXTRA NIGHT

This is a very nasty scam pulled by Tour Ops if you have a night flight and arrive at say 9am at your hotel, that counts as your first night. If you have a late flight back on departure, pay NO MORE than 30 euros for the room for the extra night, and if it is to just shower and store your luggage why not pool the cost with friends you`ve made on holiday!

FAUNA and BUGS!

You will see cats and dogs which are stray but are totally harmless, they are only wanting fuss or some food! You will also see lizards which like to climb walls but they will flee before you get near. The wasps are large, just ignore them and they fly off.The turtles are best viewed towards evening, please be aware that the beach is a nesting area at night and as such is off limits