Excellent 3* hotel. Very modern looking and rooms first class, new bathroom with shower screen.

Cleanliness was second to none, breakfast was good for a Greek hotel with some hot choices which kept you going till evening.

Location was spot on, and although central it is off the main road so is quiet.

Lovely pool area. Pool bar open until around 1am. Friendly staff. Overall highly recommended.

This was our second visit to the Contessina and we had another fantastic holiday. I read the report before mine and couldn't believe we were talking about the same place.

All I can say is you can't please all of the people all of the time but I couldn't disagree more with the review. We stayed at the hotel the same time last year and there were three other families there that were there the same time as us from last year. If you want a nice relaxed holiday in a beautiful setting with friendly helpful staff and rooms that are cleaned everyday and have plenty of space this is the place to go. Yes the breakfasts aren't the same as at home but you're in Greece!! If you want English food stay in England! I would definitely go back as would all the people we traveled with. Fab hotel and resort for families.

My daughter (21) and I have just returned from 11 days at the Contessina Hotel (bed and breakfast) in Tsilivi - our first trip to Zakynthos.
I read all the 'wonderful', 'fantastic', 'best holiday I've ever had' reviews before we went and thought we were in for a really great time ... it was 'OK', 'fine', 'clean' - but not really worth all the raving!
The good points: The hotel is very clean and the refurbished parts are very nice. The breakfast is OK for Greece, there is the usual cheese, ham, toast etc, but they do try and give at least a small selection of hot dishes (sometimes bacon, sometimes sausages - although of the Greek variety, which are fine if you like them). The coffee is good, the 'orange juice' is very watered down orange squash. The staff are very helpful and friendly.
The downside: If, like us, you want air-conditioning, a fridge and safe deposit box, then beware. Take extra Euros, because for 11 days it will set you back 140 Euros, which is far too expensive. The fridge is absolutely tiny - only enough room for a couple of bottles of water. This should be added into your spending calculations, because it does take quite a chunk of money on your first day!
The hotel is off a side road with no views (sea or otherwise) whatsoever - unless you include the rather attractive electricity pylon and derelict building that we 'enjoyed' for eleven days!! That was after we had been offered a ground floor, old-style room which was extremely dark, shabby (80s style)and with a view of two large trees completely blocking any view from the balcony other than a children's plastic slide and a bit of scrub land to the side! I asked to change and was offered a refurbished room with a balcony 3ft from a very large concrete staircase - again, no view (unless you like concrete!). Had to go back to reception again and was offered a room with a 4'6" cranky iron bed. My daughter loves me, but not enough to share a small bed for 11 days!! By this time the receptionist was clearly fed up with me and I was told I could not keep complaining(!) and so settled for a double bed and a pull-out bed for my daughter, who is 5'8" and not a small child, which is obviously what the pull-out bed was designed for!
The room was at the front of the hotel overlooking the street, the electricity pylon (large), a tacky gift shop and a derelict building. It was obviously noisy as it overlooked the road and even the double-glazed patio doors didn't block off the noise - thank God for earplugs!
I spoke to quite a few people who had all experienced the same thing. They had also seen the lovely photos of the rooms on the web sites and were very disappointed and had asked to be changed - so it wasn't only us!
Was the hotel as wonderful as described? Not really, there are far nicer hotels/self-catering in far nicer places.

The Contessina is the nicest hotel we have ever stayed in. We normally stay in appartments so are used to lots of room but we had a double bed and a single bed in our room and we still had loads of space so you didn't feel closed in. The rooms were bright and airey and were cleaned every day with fresh towels and bedding. The cleanliness throughout the hotel was excellent and the staff are the best, so friendly and willing to help. Nicos and Ilias who work on the bar are both great. We went with our friends and there children and neither of us can fault this hotel in any way.

Have just csme back from the contessina and must say it was a fantastic hotel, the staff were very nice, the rooms were immaculate, the resort is 1st class, the only downside was we were robbed on the beach of our watches, purse etc. it did not spoil our holiday though. We will definately be going back.

This is a lovely hotel probably the best in the area, we cannot fault, would not hesitate to recommend. All the staff work extremely hard, yet always have a smile. Spacious refurbished rooms, a good breakfast which is much more than a the usual continental. Near to beach, entertainment, yet in quiet location, we didn't want to come home. You won't be dissappointed but book early or else you won't get in. You do however have to pay extra for air conditioning which is a bit pricey

The Contessina is fabulous, brilliant, wonderful and my favourite place. I've stayed there for 5 years in a row and am so disappointed I won't be there in 2009 owing to the "credit crunch". The staff are wonderful, especially Nick, Ilias and Jenny, although Nick won't be there this year as he's at Uni in America. They all make you feel so welcome and each time it's like going back home. We usually e-mail the hotel a week before our visit to request a particular room and they do everything they can to accommodate us. The rooms are cleaned everyday and the beds every other day. The maids are very nice and very professional. I wouldn't stay anywhere else. My favourite restaurant is Georgios (say hi to Andreas and Billy for me) and the Asian Feast next door is fabulous too.