Koukounaria Hotel

stayed at the koukounaria 4 times and i absolutely love it. been twice with family and twice with friends. im only 19 and its everything you could ask for. love all the staff jimmy,nikos,leo and charlotte. alykes town is about 5 minutes away and has a variety of restaurants and bars. i love relax for eating and the magic mushroom(spikeys place) and the red lemon for late night drinking. both bars have really friendly staff and both make you feel so welcome and with all the free shots you can guarantee a good night.
the weather has been fantastic aswel and iv been in may june july and october in all the times i have been.
overall the hotel and staff are fantastic
the food is great
and the bars are the best around
cant wait to return next year hopefully to live and work

beautiful hotel. clean rooms, lovely trees and surroundings,staff cheerful and chatty (especially Leo) Nikos is a great cocktail maker! and Jimmys always smiling! Greek night recommended.Safe kiddy pools and main pool fab for swimmers - would go back in the morning. 5 mins from beach and 2 mins from grocery shops please check out Iris Bar on way home from beach best in Alykes, barman Chris is really funny and quite the mover, never mind his cocktails! music ace. so happy we chose alykes over any other resort. Can't wait to go back.

Have just returned from 2 weeks in Alykes , Zante.This was the third time in Zante but the first in Alykes.
We flew out from Glasgow which as always was great with no hastle.We arrived in Zante with a blast of beautiful hot air and bursting sunshine.The new Zante airport is like any other European mickey mouse airport with the shortest landing strip in europe .
The Koukounaria Hotel is well located and one of the biggest in the area with 3 great pools.(if not a bit over poluted with clorene).
Within 10 mins of entering the hotel we were charged 80 euro deposit , 80 euro for air conditioning and 45 euro for safety deposit box.
We stayed in a studio for 4 which I was not too keen on but after hearing that the 1 bedroom is a studio with plastic screen felt a bit better.We stayed on the 3rd floor just above bar and next to what felt like 300 hens,ducks geese and roosters,which every morning around sunrise went bananas.(great fun)this is why you must get the air conditioning,apart from we had 2 weeks of perfect weather ranging from 35 to 37 degrees you have to shut the patio doors to cut out the noise from the roosters.
As you have read from other reviews the rooms are very sparse but I would say dont waste weight in your case carrying a kettle just boil water in sauce pan.
There is a new Resteraunt open and coffee house attached to hotel which looked nice if not expensive.the pool bar is just the same prices as the rest but the ice cream cones are great and for 1.3 euro with over 10 flavours is a must for kids.
The pool is great with 3m at the deep end but you are charged 1.5 euro for a pad for the sun bed.We bought lilos for 4 euros which we just left at pool.
The hotel is a short 5 min. walk for all your needs and the beach is one of the best beaches we have been to.Again 7euro for 2 beds and a parasol I think is a bit steep.
On the crossroads is the Relax which does the best breakfasts anywhere (try the relax breakfast roll)We also dined there at night which was just as good as anywhere.The Maestro is also a great place for eating and on Wed. and Sun. the old locals sing and play the guitars.Picadilly is just down the road from the hotel and has a huge bouncy play area for the kids and the food is excellent.Our fav. pub was the Palm tree which was across from the Maestro and has a free pool table.
If you are looking for a cheap holiday now beware the prices havent went up,we went to Zante 4 years ago and a pint was 3 euro.Its still 3 euro but because of our poor nation and its useless pound you feel you are being ripped off everywhere so here is some prices for you.
Methos beer 3 euro
strongbow 4 euro
Magners 5 euro
coke fanta 1.5 to 2 euro
half caraft wine 3 euro (still good value)
average meal at night for 4 with wine , beer and soft drinks 35 to 45 euro
average breakfast for 4 was 21 euro
when you work out we are only getting 83p to the euro its not as cheap as it used to be
When talking to the people who work in the pubs and tavernas they were saying that they are just not getting the tourists because of the poor exchange rate.
We rented 2 quad bikes from dennis which was 50 euro for 3 days which I think was a great deal and great fun to jump about and visit the neighbouring resorts for a change.
We also went to the water village which is a must for all you water lovers.this was only 60 euros from Mamfreddas for 2 adults and 2 kids(travel rep was charging 80euro)
As you may have read in other reviews the supermarkets are a complete rip off charging over the odd prices so self catering is not an option.
Suprisingly the area is very green and lush with lemon trees grapes tomatoes oranges and cucumbers growing everywhere you look.there is also a huge amount of cats around.which I think between them and the lemon trees accounts for the lack of mosquitos.First time none of us were bitten!
All and all we did have a great holiday and love greece and there people and have booked up to go to Crete next year.

Just returned from a lovely holiday in Alykes, staying at the Koukounaria. To start of with the positives about the resort and apartments for all of you who have not yet stayed. We were a group of 8, two families of 4 with children aged 11 to 4. The resort itself has plenty to keep the children amused. Alykes Beach is just wonderful. Perfect for small children and non swimmers. The beds on the beach cost about 7 euro for 2 beds and a parasol but you can buy a parasol on the shops for 6 euro if you want to do that. There are many restaurants that line the beach and we would recommend Paporo for its pizza's which are homecooked, with very light pastry and lovely toppings and cost from 4 euro. Big enough to share 2 adults or 3 children. Over a 2 week period you could dine in a different restaurant everyday and still not go to all of them. In all we did not have a bad meal and we ate out everyday. We would recommend the Parasidako which is on the riverfront on the way out to Alykanas - very tasty and well presented (just remind the waiter to leave a gap between starters and main). The Relax restaurant on the cross roads of Alykes does a very good breakfast and the staff are very helpful and nice. As for bars, Jungle Bar was excellent and Dimitri made us all feel very welcome and we would also say the Iris Bar on the approach to Koukounaria was also very friendly. Also at this bar there was a wonderful 18 hole mini golf area for the kids. Alykanas is not far away, about 10 - 15 minute walk and also has some lovely resturants, our favourite was Dionisis, again very well presented and cooked, lovely staff, great kids area to play - well worth a visit. As for day trips, we only went to the Water Park and it cost 20 euro adult and 14 child, including transport. Although it was very busy there was not long queues and it was very safe and organised. They were happy for us to take our own food, which could have been expensive. Trips to the park are mondays, weds and fridays. We hired a care out and went past the waterpark on a Sunday and there were only a few cars parked outside. So if you would prefer it quiter hiring a car would be a better idea. We hired a car for 20 euros for the day - which was well worth it. Most restaurants have a kids playing area - but watch out as safety is not the top priority and some equipment may be old and unsafe. As for Koukounaria, the place as a whole was good. The pool was clean and the area around it was too. The whole place was fresh and well looked after and there were constantly people working to maintain the Koukounaria. If you just wanted to stay at the Koukounaria for the whole two weeks it would meet your needs. It has a lovely new restaurant, cafe, bar, games room. We did not eat in the new restaurant but it did look nice, unfortunately there was not enough to promote it so it never draw us in. The rooms were cleaned every day except Sunday, bed linen once a week and towels every 3 days. On the downside though the rooms are VERY BASIC. The fact that the rooms are self catering there really was not enough equipment to 'self cater'. If you do cook occasionally or make lunch you need cloths, washing liquid, tea towels, grater, etc you get - cutlery, bread knife, tin opener and thats about it. 2 saucepans and a frying pan - which is enough but no big bowls for salads etc. It was very basic for us but may not be for others. As mentioned in other reviews you dont get a kettle or toaster - so pick one up from Tesco's - Kettle £5 and Toaster £5 and save your money. I know I may sound like I go on about money but I am warning you all - it is Expensive. The supermarkets absolutely rip you off. £4 for a packet of weetabix, £3 for a bottle of robinsons juice, take my advice if you have space in your suitcase, take cereals and juice it is very expensive and if you run out of sun lotion it is very expensive - so stock up - you'll need it. Its almost cheaper to eat breakfast out than buy it in. However if you hire a car there is a Lidl and huge Spar in Zante Town which is much cheaper. It may sound as if we scrimped and saved but we didnt - we still managed to spend on average 120 euro a day! its easily done - but reading another persons review who said that the Greek's are ripping us off - I don't think that was a fair comment - its just that the Euro is strong at the moment and thats where the difference is. Yes they are charging for everything and a little more, but in a small resort like Alykes and Alykanas, its a captive market and they can do as they please and you only have to visit some of our resorts or attractions to see that we do the same. But don't let that put you off. The food and hospitality is great all over the resport and you will have a great time there. We would recommend the resort and Koukounaria to everyone but make them aware of the extras or downsides so there are no surprises, we checked the reviews like you are so was not too surprised.

We've just spent a wonderful 2 weeks at the Koukounaria Villas. The rooms were basic but clean (daily maid service) with hot running water (apart from 1 day when their pump broke down)! We were lucky enough to be appointed a room which overlooked the bay... the view was gorgeous (the sunrise was worth waking up early for) but the majority of the rooms are in a larger block overlooking the pool and don't have a seaview. The pool was very nice. They have a large pool for swimmers, a 1m deep pool (which they call a jacuzzi because they set the bubbles going every hour or so!) and a kids pool. The kids pool is 0.6m deep so is quite deep for small children. There is a restaurant on site but we didn't eat there (I heard their Greek night was good though) and there is a pool side snack bar which caters from breakfast through to late afternoon. The Blues Bar opens in the evening and there is a games room which is open almost 24, 7. Beware that you have to pay for all the games in there though.
I would advise taking a kettle and toaster with you as it cost us 25 Euro's to hire a toaster for 2 weeks. We didn't bother with a kettle though - we just boiled the water in a pan. Other things you have to pay for are safes, tv, internet access and a 80 Euro room deposit which was returned on the last day.
The resort itself is small, quiet and friendly. Beware of the odd boyracer (particularly the idiot in the red Seat Ibiza!) and irresponsible moped riders... although this goes for the whole of Greece I believe! The beach is very child friendly with shallow water for quite a long way out. The wind tended to pick up in the afternoons there which is great for cooling you down!
For a decent meal, try Relax at the crossroads in the centre of Alykes, just down the road from Koukounaria... the service was excellent and you couldn't meet nicer people (thank you so much Charlotte, George, Yanis and, particularly, Maria if you read this)!
I would recommend taking a boat trip or two... the water there is so blue & clear you can't resist jumping in. We drove to the shipwreck, stood on a platform and looked down over the cliff to the wreck (stunning scenery) and then on to Kambi for the superb sunset (don't bother eating there though - our meal was so awful we left all of it).
Overall, we had a great, relaxing holiday and would go there again in the future (but probably only for a week).

this resort was really nice small and quiet but very child friendly and one of cleanest beach sea everything. The apartments were spacious and all staff friendly the swimming pool was second to none really long and great for doing lengths in morning.

we stayed at the koukounaria apart/hotel.having to pay a deposit of 80.euros,we then found that in self catering with them,we had to hire EVERYTHING that as far as i know,SHOULD be included in S/C holidays.
t/v,hairdryer/a/c,iron/sunloungers/kettle/toaster,the lot cost 15 eruos each per week exept a/c,that was 45 eruos p/w.
i have been to zante 4 times on a s/c holiday and never been charged all the extras the koukounaria charged us.it was a joke.as for the resort of alikes,they have put the prices up for everything.meals out/drinks/trips,they have charged well over the odds and hit the tourist hard.
we will not be going back to zante,we found everything there this time was all about making money,forget the old style greece,friendly people,this lot seen eruos when they seen the british.

This was our second time at Koukounaria apartments and we are booked to go again next year. We are only sad we didn’t go this year as our holiday was a nightmare, not the company I must add just the resort and apartments.
Our stays so far in Zante have been exceptional, the apartments and staff are outstanding at Koukounaria. We can’t wait to come again next year with my son and his fiancé and our 2 boys, age 9 and 10, who adore the place .
We even looked at places to buy during our stay last year. The staff in the shops and restaurants are so friendly and the pony express into the next village is a must too. Visit The Greedy Greek owned by Dennis, the lasagne is the best ever.

The Koukounaria apartments were very spacious and clean and the bar was very welcoming.
As I went in October, the resort was probably a little quieter than at other times of the year but the weather was fantastic; the pool was virtually empty as was the beach at Alikes.
I was a little surprised at being charged for a kettle. I know self catering in Greece is basic but I have always got a kettle in the past. I was also surprised that having booked an air-conditioned apartment I also had to pay extra to get the remote control to work the air conditioning.
I think I paid approx 70 Euros for kettle/air conditioning & TV remote... just be aware of extra costs before you travel.
All in all a very nice resort. I went with my partner, perfect for us and couples of all ages and those with children but not for anyone hoping to find lots of clubs and bars.

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Had to pay e80 for deposit, 22 for safe. The apartment was basic but very clean.
There was a double bed with bed settee with pull out bed under neath. 3 pools, watch out cause some are slippery as I fell in and hurt my back.
The rep had welcome meeting but she didn’t seem bother about us booking trips she gave us a book about Zante, there was 2 trip shops about a five min walk. We got shipwreck for 14e and waterpark for 17e, children was half price.
We went on 3rd Oct and places were slowing down for end of season. But can still get some good offers on trips and meals.
We booked a boat trip to shipwreck it took us 2 and half hours to get there just to spend a hour on land. But if you book trip with boat on beach they take you on a speed boat and you can take as long as you like on the beach.
Water Park had 8 big slides a lazy river and a children’s area.
Coming home went to Zante airport and it’s the pits dirty and the cafe I ordered 2 teas 3 cheese and ham cobs 2 slush drinks and a small tub of Pringles and the bill come to 42 Euros and the cobs had very little filling in so beware.
But all in all we had a good holiday there would recommend it to anyone.