Just back from a week in the Zante Maris. This hotel is situated right on the beach which is excellent - sunbeds can be hired for 3 euros a day. The rooms are cleaned every day and you cannot fault the service. We didnt realise that the hotel provides beach towels - so there is no need to pack your own. Also on arrival there's tea and coffee which is replenished daily. I cannot comment on the food as we only ate breakfast in the hotel. We booked for half board but we love eating out in different places so didnt make the most of the eating facilities. Other people said the food was very good. We didnt have a bad meal in the whole week we were there and there are certainly enough tavernas to cater for all = even my fussy son who lived on nuggets and chips! All in all I would honestly recommend this hotel - and I am a fussy person! The only downside I think was the fact that - as with alot of hotels - people get up at some unearthly hour of the morning and lay out their towels and not use the sunbed until after lunch - one guy used to take his towels down at about midnight and sit by the pool for ten mins and then walk off - and then he was no where to be seen until about noon. Very selfish! (Sorry, I only happen to notice this on the several occasions I was on the balcony - I was not stalking him!!!!). We ate in lots of different places and would highly recommend all including Georgios, Stamnes, Nemesis. We also found a great bar called the "CRAZY" bar which is along the main drag - down by the laser arena - great guys working there - Ernie & Barbie! They look after you and are genuine guys. This area also keeps the kids amused as there's a bouncy castle, climbing, laser/paintball arena, rides and arcade games.

Booked this hotel through First Choice via the internet. Initial impressions were good. Check-in was speedy even though there were a fair amount of people arriving with us. We booked a superior sea view room and on arrival, received just that. The view was spectacular, with a view of the whole of Tsilivi bay from one end to the other. We had a very nice four poster king size bed and the air conditioning system was first rate. I have to say though, it was then that the problems started.

On closer inspection, the jaccusi was operated by a tube which was sticking out of the side of the grate on the bath, there were stains on the walls where people had "swatted" flies and the tiles in the bathroom were badly cracked and the last redecoration of the room must have been in the 1980's. That said, the maid service was extremily efficient, with the superior rooms being serviced first in the morning.

The food quality in the hotel, I have to say is the worst I have ever experienced in a hotel of ANY star rating. We were on a bed and breakfast rating, so only had to experience one meal per day but towards the end of the holiday prefered not to dine there. The buffet breakfast consisted of varying degrees of either over or underkooked bacon and sausage, a tired arrangement of salami and cheese and beans and tomatoes that really had seen better days. All this with the plethora of guests fingerimg through it with queues forming to "ooh and aahh" over it...Where do they GET these people from!!!

Unless you book a FULL sea view Superior room, you will be disappointed by the view! If you book either/or, you will end up either in the basement with a head height view of the sea through the sun loungers or a fabulous pool view room which will be used by other guests to park themselves on to keep out of the sun allowing you no privacy at all.

I have to say all in all, my partner and I had a great time there, despite the problems with the accomodation, but as a four star hotel advertised by First Choice Holidays and a clasification at "B" class rating in Greece, I feel the hotel is slightly over-rated. I would class it as a bordering three star, possibly a really good two star...

We had an excellent holiday staying at the Zante Maris. The hotel is lovely and the staff are very friendly. The hotel is in an excellent location, right on the beach and only a short walk from restaurants and bars. We were a bit concerned about going half board after reading previous reviews about the food. We had no need to worry as we found the food excellent. It was the best buffet-style hotel food we have had in Europe! The breakfast was also great (especially the pancakes) although if you book an early breakfast don't expect a lot! The evening entertainment was good. The hotel has very popular acts performing 4 out of 7 nights. Some were particularly good.

The rooms were nice. The fridge and slippers were very handy. Clean but maybe not 4* clean! Air conditioning is free if you are given a remote control. We did not realise this as it states in the hotel information pack that they charge before 15th June. Luckily it wasn't unbearable! Wish we had asked sooner (you get the control when you arrive)!

Overall, we has a fantastic time and would highly recommend Zante Maris and Tsilivi.

Just arrived back from our second visit to the Zante Maris, third time in Tsillivi and had a brilliant holiday. One of the highlights of this holiday was taking a trip on Captain Spiros speedboat 40euros but well worth the money. In the hotel itself the rooms are kept clean,towels changed daily. Did half board last year but decided on B&B this year, plenty of choice at breakfast but you do get fed up with it. True you have to be up early to get a sunbed, no problem as we're early risers. We tried Sweet Revenge for eating, very disappointed the food was cold, they did'nt ask if the food was ok, in the party of six there was 3 with upset stomachs. Manos Grill had plenty of choice from their menu and Maria who served us both times we went in was so friendly. The Red Lion for a good sized meal was always busy and also had a good variey. The Summer Time Bar although tucked away was good for snacks and at night for a drink again staff so friendly. Plenty of restaraunts and bars in this resort so there is always something to suit. There was a lot of stray dogs in the resort this year, they were harmless but it was quite distressing to know that they had been abandoned.

We thoroughly enjoyed our two weeks at the Zante Maris Hotel. We had a first floor room overlooking the pool, fresh sheets and towels every day. Kettle in the room with coffee and tea replenished daily. White toweling bathrobes and slippers supplied to all guests, lovely to get out of the shower, put on your bathrobe and sit out on the balcony with a coffee in the morning and a glass of wine last thing at night. Safes in all the rooms, 10 Euro,s a week. Small fridge in all rooms, so you can buy your bottled water and keep it nice and cold. We had a very lazy holiday only taking one trip to see the island. The rest of the time we spent lazing around the pool, most people do reserve sunbeds from around breakfast time and I am afraid that you can't beat them so if you want a good spot you have to join them. Pool icy cold but people do brave it. We went on the beach a couple of times 6 Euro's for 2 sunbeds and a parasol. We went bed and breakfast, plenty of variety so no one would starve, evenings we walked down the road, many restaurants to choose from, we tried quite a few and if we were not impressed then we didn't go back. We quite enjoyed the Majestic and went there 3 times, funny waiters, will always remember Micheal. The Athena was quite good as was Florentenos, must be good as people queue to get in. The bakery was lovely, good place to go at lunch time, lovely cakes and coffee. Weather was lovely all the time we were there, first two weeks in September, one morning of heavy rain plus a big downfall one afternoon but the rest of the time wonderful. We were not really into the hotel entertainment, the only show that we did see was the Greek dancers and that was the evening before we had to leave. They were very entertaining although having been to the Greek Islands before we knew what to expect. Zante airport is very small and busy, a lot of people do complain about it, but the staff do their very best to get people through as quickly as possible. The country is not a wealthy one, the airport is being improved bit by bit, as they can afford it. Remember the tourist season is short, May - October, outside this time the hotels and restaurants close down and apparently the hotel and restaurant staff leave and go and work on the farms and in the factories. Our flight was delayed two hours so we spent quite a time queing outside because obviously they were letting everyone else who's flight was not delayed get through first. Home now and all seems a distant memory but thank you Zante Maris for giving us a lovely holiday, one that we will always remember.