We’ve been to Zante 4 times now, each time staying in Kalamaki. I’ve never before spent so many trips to the same destination before. There is just something about Kalamaki that pulls at me and makes it feel like home. This is the Kalamaki guide that you need to make the most of your trip
If you were to ask any of our kids where their favourite place is, I would put money on them saying Kalamaki! It’s the first place we think of when we think of Greece now, forget the blue dome buildings you see, Kalamaki is where it’s at!
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Here are the 4 things I learned about Kalamaki…
Transfer time to Kalamaki
One of the first things you notice about Kalamaki is the distance from the airport… It takes minutes to get there in a taxi. It’s so close that you can see the runway from some parts of the resort! Don’t let this put you off, it’s not a hugely busy airport and the flights are subject to a curfew. As Zante is home to Loggerhead turtles (Caretta Caretta) and they nest on the beaches, the flights cannot disturb them.
Kalamaki main road
Kalamaki is mostly set back from the beach, again this is down to the turtles. The main resort strip is a 5-10 min walk away from the beach and this is where you will find most of the bars, restaurants and hotels.
Kalamaki Beach
Kalamaki Beach is lovely and sandy, the water is shallow for a long way out and perfect for families. The water sports available on the beach are non-motorised, like pedalos and kayaks. During high season the turtles lay their eggs on the beach and the nests are all marked, so please stay away from these and do not disturb them.
Parasols and sunbed hire
Parasols and sunbeds are available to hire on the beach but can be quite pricey if you are going to be going every day. We were very lucky that someone had left a parasol in the apartment we were renting so this saved a lot of money. I noticed in the gift shops that a parasol was under €15 so just 2 uses would be cheaper than hiring beds at the beach.
plane spotting from gorgeous Kalamaki Beach!
Hotel Vanessa
We stayed in the Vanessa Hotel right in the middle of the Kalamaki strip. It isn’t a 5* hotel but it is a great 3* self-catering apartment. Our apartment was great, it had two rooms – one with 3 beds for the kids, a dining area and a small kitchenette. The other bedroom opened onto the balcony and looked over the pool. The bathroom didn’t have a bath but it did have a shower which always had hot water no matter what time of day and was kept clean by the brilliant cleaning staff.
There is a great pool with a kid’s section that has a small slide. Both are kept very clean, I watched them being cleaned each morning. There were plenty of sun beds by the pool too. We didn’t struggle to get a bed at all, no matter what time we decided to go down. The pool is open to everyone and not just guests but this didn’t make it overcrowded.
The hotel bar was brilliant, and great value – a sandwich with chips for €1.60. A pint of lager for €2 or €2.50 if you wanted Mythos. The staff were great, very helpful and attentive even when rushed off their feet!
Airport transfers… as I said it takes minutes from the airport to Kalamaki. About 5 minutes to be exact, so if you aren’t travelling on a package holiday or they are charging extra for your package I’d recommend getting a taxi. Registered taxis are waiting at the airport all the time and the price is €15 each way.
Day trips
Zante Town
As for day trips, we’ve been to Zante town, which again in a taxi was €10 each way. It has a lovely port to walk around and lots of history to see. I love going for the day, for a wander around the shops and grabbing something to eat and drink while we are there too. There are lots of choices when it comes to shops and restaurants.
Turtle Island
Turtle Island is another great day trip too. We’ve done this a few times now. The first time we did it was on a glass-bottom boat on a turtle spotting tour. There are lots of these tours available at the height of the season. You will easily find a vendor on the main strip selling trips. The last time we visited we did it by water taxi. This was a lot more cost-effective and time-efficient. We knew what we wanted to do and we spent all of our time exploring Turtle Island instead of the 45 minutes you get when you do a tour. The highlight for me is grabbing food and drinks to have on the beach from the ice cream boat moored up and listening to the Bob Marley tunes they play all day long!
Kalamaki is ideal for families, there are lots to see and do. The restaurants are excellent, have a read of Kalamaki is home to the best restaurants to find out which one will be your favourite. There are many family-friendly bars too, I have a list of the best bars in Kalamaki check it out.
Becky
Turtle Island from Kalamaki… named so because if you look closely it’s shaped like a turtle!
I hope this Kalamaki guide has been helpful. Have a wonderful time there, you lucky thing!
Becky
