Since launching this website, visitors have contacted Zante Guru
with an amazing variety of questions. You'll find answers to some
of the common questions about Zante below:-
1. Can you tell me about x apartment in y
resort?
2. Can you provide me with e-mail addresses for
hotels and apartments?
3.
How much does it cost to hire a car?
4. How much does it cost to hire a moped?
5. How old do I have to be to hire a car/moped?
6. How much does an island cruise cost?
7. What is the weather like?
8. I need to check my e-mail, where can I find a cyber-cafe
on the island?
9. Where can I buy property on Zante?
10. Is Kalamaki noisy due to the aircraft flight path?
11. How do I get to the shipwreck/smugglers cover/navagio
beach?
12. Where can I go scuba diving?
13. What's the difference between Zante and Zakynthos?
14. Zante is in an earthquake zone. Is it safe to
travel there?
15. Where can I find out more about Caretta Caretta?
16. Where can I get information on chartering a Yacht?
17. How much is a taxi from the airport?
18. Where are naturist beaches on Zante?
19. Can I have a street map of Laganas please?
20. How do I get married in Zante?
21. I've heard some stories about the airport! Can you tell me more?
22. I'm a vegetarian. What is the vegetarian food
like?
23. I'd like to go island hopping. How do I start?
24. What are the medical facilities like on Zante?
25. How long does it take to drive around the island?
26. What is the international dialling code for Zakynthos
Island?
27. Tell me about Greek toilets?
28. Can I drink tap water in Greece?
29. Can I use my mobile phone on Zante?
30. Where is "Ektos City"?
31. Where can I find a post box?
32. What is the time zone in Greece?
33. Tell me about the creepy crawlies and other unpleasant
creatures that may affect my visit?
34. Tell me about tipping in Greece?
35. Can you give me the latest information on exchange
rates for the Euro?
36. What is the electricity supply in Greece?
37. Where is Zante/Zakynthos?
38. Is Zakynthos safe for vistors?
39. How long does the transfer take from the airport?
40. I'm an EU citizen. What travel documents do I
need?
41. I'm a non-EU citizen. What travel documents do
I need?
42. Can you tell me about cash and currency?
43. Can I bring my pet to Greece?
44. Can you tell me about the Tourism Police?
45. What are the dates of the National Holidays?
46. I'm going to visit a monastery - how should I
dress?
47. I'm on a budget - can you give me some typical
prices?
48. Why are place names spelt differently on this
website?
49. Can you tell me about the new water park?
Zante FAQ
1. Can you tell me about x apartment in y
resort?
PLEASE NOTE! ZANTE GURU DOES NOT COMMENT ON, OR OFFER
OPINIONS ON ACCOMMODATION.
If you would like to read reviews of Zante accommodation
by visitors to the island, please click here.
You'll
find a listing of some hotels and apartments in the Accommodation
section of the website. Accommodation is generally of a very high
standard on the island but I cannot comment on individual businesses.
If you have any concerns, check with your travel agency or alternatively
the Greek National Tourist
Office. The standards body, The Business Federation of Rented
Rooms and Apartments of Greece, can be contacted by phone on +30
1 6801 035 or you can fax on +30 1 6859 491.
Back to top
2.
Can you provide me with e-mail addresses for hotels and apartments?
If
you want to book direct, it's probably better to telephone. Most
hotels on Zakynthos prefer fax confirmation of your request. You
can find the telephone numbers here.
Back
to top
3.
How much does it cost to hire a car?
A
very open question! Of course it depends on the time of year and
the type of vehicle you rent, along with the prevailing exchange
rate. You'll find details of the major car hire companies operating
on Zante here. Car Hire is not
expensive on Zante and generally you'll get a 15-30% discount on
rental over three days. The best deals are to be found booking direct
with the rental companies rather than through the travel agents.
Back
to top
4.
How much does it cost to hire a moped?
This
is generally easier to answer. Most rental companies have a range
of mopeds and small engined bikes (50cc to 250cc) and rental prices
(per day) range from 20 to 30 euros. Click here
for more information.
Back
to top
5.
How old do I have to be to hire a car/moped?
Age
restrictions are at the discretion of the rental companies but the
legal minimum age is 21 although some companies insist on a minimum
age of 23. There are addition restrictions for high-powered or luxury
vehicles (for example convertibles or sports coupes).
Back to top
6. How much does an island cruise cost?
Prices
are around 50 euros for an all-day cruise round the island which
incorporates a couple of swimming beach stops and the usual itinerary
of Blue Caves, Keri,
Shipwreck and Turtle
spotting. All day means literally nine hours in the sun, so be warned!
Back
to top
7. What is the weather like?
You
can get a real-time weather report from Zante by visiting the Weather
section. I've also produced a table of average weather conditions
if you are planning your trip in advance.
Back
to top
8.
I need to check my e-mail, where can I find a cyber-cafe on the
island?
You'll
find the Cyberzone internet cafe on main strip out of Laganas
about 1km from the beach past Zeros nightclub. In Argassi
you'll find the Mouse
House, on the main road heading north towards Zante
Town (tel 49510).
Back
to top
9.
Where can I buy property on Zante?
Try
Delta Real Estate in Zante Town
tel 23336 fax 44822.
Back to top
10.
Is Kalamaki noisy due to the aircraft flight path?
The
volume of flights has doubled over the last twelve months at Zante
airport. However, night flights are rare as the flight path is over
the Bay of Laganas so your stay in Kalamaki
should be restful.
Back
to top
11.
How do I get to the shipwreck/smugglers cover/navagio beach?
Most
island cruises inevitably stop at the cove (it's only accessible
by sea). If you don't want to sit on a boat all day, drive down
to Porto Vromi on the north west coast and catch a boat from there.
Back
to top
12.
Where can I go scuba diving?
For detailed information, visit
the Zante Guru diving section.
Back to top
13.
What's the difference between Zante and Zakynthos?
Zante
is the Venetian name, Zakynthos the Greek name. Zakynthos is named
after an ancient Arcadian chief.
Back
to top
14.
Zante is in an earthquake zone. Is it safe to travel there?
Zante
is generally safe but still continues to suffer from tremors on
a regular basis.
Back
to top
15.
Where can I find out more about Caretta Caretta?
Visit
Caretta.org,
site of the Sea Turtle Protection Society.
Back to top
16. Where can I get information on chartering
a Yacht?
The
most extensive list of Yachtbrokers can be found at the Greek National
Tourist Office website.
Here are some direct links to charter companies in the Ionian Islands:-
* Sailing
Holidays
* Activity
Holidays
* Sunsail
* Stardust
Platinum
Back to top
17. How much is a taxi from the airport?
Here
are approximate costs, but make sure you agree a price in advance.
(prices are in euros)
Argasi - 20
Alikes - 40
Laganas - 30
Tsilivi - 30
Vassilikos - 25
Back to top
18. Where are naturist beaches on Zante?
The long and short answer is there aren't any. However, if you
go to the southern end of Gerakas
beach you will meet some kindred spirits! Topless and nude sunbathing
is still against the law, though there is general tolerance in the
resorts. In remote areas, topless sunbathing may cause offence to
the locals, so you do it at your own risk.
Back to top
19. Can I have a street map of Laganas please?
You won't need one. The resort essentially consists of one main
road leading to the beach. You'll find all the main nightclubs
here as well as amusements and amenities.
Back to top
20. How do I get married in Zante?
It's better to arrange this through a travel agent who can advise
on red tape and arrange for the Zakynthos authorities to be well
prepared. Here are the main places to get married on Zakynthos ...
Zante Town Hall
Vanato Mayor's Office (near Tsilivi)
Back to top
21. I've heard some stories about the airport!
Can you tell me more?
Zakynthos airport is very small and has to cope with high volumes
of charter passengers in the summer. Because of the restrictions
on night flights in order to preserve the loggerhead
turtle flights arrive in waves. So, when you arrive, you can
be waiting for up to an hour for your baggage, and more importantly
when leaving, you can be queuing outside the terminal building for
several hours in the hot sunshine. Take plenty of water and some
games for the kids!
Back to top
22. I'm a vegetarian. What is the vegetarian
food like?
It's difficult to avoid meat but just order lots of starters,
the greek salads are really good. It's also difficult to avoid chips
but at least they're cooked in olive oil.
Back to top
23. I'd like to go island hopping. How
do I start?
You can charter a yacht (see above) or can
pop over to visiting Kefalonia on one of the regular ferries from
Zante Town. Some car rental
companys will permit you to take a rental car across, but you will
need to advise and indemnify them first.
Back to top
24. What are the medical facilities like
on Zante?
Zante has a very high standard of healthcare with a modern hospital
based in the capital, Zante Town.
Each resort has a number of pharmacies farmakio (look
out for the green cross sign). Perhaps the most common ailment for
visitors to Zante is the mosquito bite as most accommodation is
not air conditioned.
Back to top
25. How long does it take to drive around the
island?
Zakynthos is a relatively small island so you can drive round
it in one day, if you make an early start. Although the roads are
generally not very busy, many roads in the north and west of the
island are in a poor state of repair. A typically loop round the
island is about 200km.
Back to top
26. What is the international dialling code
for Zakynthos Island?
The code is 30 then 2695 for Zante , so you either dial 00 30 or
+30, removing the first "0" from the telephone number
if dialling from outside Greece.
Back
to top
27.
Tell me about Greek toilets?
Due to the size of standard bore sewerage pipes used, Greek toilets
cannot fully flush paper or non-natural waste material. In order
to avoid blockages paper, nappies and sanitary towels have to be
placed in the adjacent bin, which is emptied and cleaned regularly.
Back to top
28. Can I drink tap water in Greece?
Although tap water is generally purified, it can upset stomachs
and so it is better to drink bottled water which is available in
all local shops and tavernas. To avoid dehydration and sunstroke,
it is advisable to drink at least three litres of water each day,
in addition to any other drinks consumed.
Back to top
29. Can I use my mobile phone on Zante?
Check with your network provider if "roaming" is activated.
Your phone will then choose one of the local networks (Panafon,
Cosmote, Telestet) when you switch it on when you arrive.
Back to top
30. Where is "Ektos City"?
On the Telestet mobile phone network, your handset may display "Ektos
City". This isn't a real place, it just means "Outside
the city" i.e. away from one of the metropolitan areas. They
use the English word "City" because it sounds cool.
Back to top
31. Where can I find a post box?
Look for a yellow metal box, usually fixed to a wall with the lettering
"EATA Hellenic Post". Postcards are not classed as priority
post and can taken several weeks to arrive. You can speed things
up by placing the postcard in an envelope.
Back to top
32. What is the time zone in Greece?
Greek time is:
GMT +2 or BST +2.
Central European Time +1
Eastern Standard Time +7
Back to top
33. Tell me about the creepy crawlies and other
unpleasant creatures that may affect my visit?
Ants, spiders, cockroaches and mosquitos are prevalent here, as
with the rest of the Mediterranean. To prevent mosquito bites:-
* Use a mosquito net at night (You can buy these at your local camping
store).
* Avoid sweet scented toiletries and perfume.
* Use an effective repellent - often the Greek formulas are more
effective.
* Use a plug-in Mosquito killer in your room at night.
Back to top
34. Tell me about tipping in Greece?
Waiters normally receive a percentage of the takings as a service
reward, so you don't need to feel obliged to tip unless the service
is exceptional.
Back to top
35. Can you give me the latest information on
exchange rates for the Euro?
Yes, you can find real-time data here.
Back to top
36. What is the electricity supply in Greece?
220 volts AC via 2 pin plugs is the standard in Greece. You'll need
a three to two pin converter.
Back to top
37. Where is Zante/Zakynthos?
Have a look at the maps page for Zante's
location in context.
Back to top
38. Is Zakynthos safe for vistors?
Zante and the Greek islands are generally very safe and friendly
places to visit. If you want to obtain the latest information before
you travel, the United
Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office offer useful, up-to-date
information here.
Back to top
39. How long does the transfer take from the
airport?
Alikanas - Coach 1 hour, taxi 40 minutes.
Alikes - Coach 1 hour 15 minutes, taxi 45 minutes.
Argasi - Coach 30 minutes, taxi 15 minutes.
Kalamaki - Coach 15 minutes, taxi 10 minutes.
Laganas - Coach 25 minutes, taxi 15 minutes.
Tsilivi - Coach 45 minutes, taxi 20 minutes.
Vassilkos - Coach 1h 30 minutes, taxi 45 minutes.
Note - these timing are conditional on local traffic conditions
and the number of stops for coach drop-offs.
Back to top
40. I'm an EU citizen. What travel documents
do I need?
A passport is not compulsory for E.U. citizens travelling from or
to Schengen countries. (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria,
France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal). Other EU citizens
require a full EU passport with a minimum of 6 months validity.
Back to top
41. I'm a non-EU citizen. What travel documents
do I need?
For non-EU citizens a valid passport if required. Visas maybe required
depending on the citizen's home country. Please contact your local
Greek Embassy or Consulate for up-to-date requirements.
Back to top
42. Can you tell me about cash and currency?
Greek currency is the Euro. Major debit and credit cards (Visa,
Mastercard, Delta, Solo, American Express) are accepted in larger
hotels and shops. Many smaller shops accept cash only. Travellers
cheques in Euro, Sterling and US dollars can be cashed at most banks
on the island at at the reception of larger hotels.
Back to top
43. Can I bring my pet to Greece?
Please check with your local Greek Embassy or consulate for
up-to-date regulations.
Health and Rabies vaccination certificates issued in the home country
country of origin before being allowed into Greece. This document
must have been issued as follows:
Last 12 months for dogs
Last 6 months for cats
In addition, the certificate must have been issued at least six
days before the arrival date.
Back to top
44. Can you tell me about the Tourism Police?
Greek Tourism Police are there to provide help to tourists and resolve
problems that may arise between tourists and local. They are very
helpful and are multi-lingual. You can contact them 24 hours a day
by dialling 171.
Back to top
45. What are the dates of the National Holidays?
New Year's Day: January 1st
Epiphany: January 6th
Ash Monday: 41 days before Easter. Lent begins.
March 25th: Military parade.
Easter: Good Friday-Easter Monday.
Labour Day: May 1st .
21st May: Union of the Ionian Islands to Greece
Whit Monday: 50 days after Easter.
19th June: Pentecost
Asumption of The Virgin: August 15th.
October 28th: Military parade.
Christmas: December 25th
Back to top
46. I'm going to visit a monastery - how should
I dress?
When visiting places of religious importance, such as churches or
monasteries, please respect the following dress code: long trousers
for men: long skirts and covered shoulders and arms for women.
Back to top
47. I'm on a budget - can you give me some typical
prices?
500ml Beer €3
Soft Drinks €0.8
Chips €1
Alcholic Drinks €4
Two-course meal and wine €25 (per person)
Back to top
48. Why are place names spelt differently on
this website?
Places are spelt differently due to the long and complicated territorial
ownership of greece and it islands. The foundations of the spelling
may be Latin, Greek, Turkish or Venetian.
The Greek language also has three forms Demotic (spoken) Katharevousa
(literary) and Kathamiloumeni (composite) for example the prefix
saint St. is variously written as Agios, Ayios
Ag or Ai
Back to top
49. Can you tell me about the new water park?
The new water park opened in summer 2003. You can find it in Sarakinada
about 10kms from Laganas on the road to Zante Town. You can get
there by bus. At the moment, there is no website but you can get
more information by phoning 65150.
Back to top
| 
