Koukounaria Hotel

We have just come back from the Koukounaria. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. The apartment we had for 2 adults, 3 children was ideal. We were on a bit of a budget so we ate in/ate out alternate nights, and it was manageable using the kitchenette. We didnt take the air con/safety box package as it was 220 euros, which seemed steep, but found out from the hotel that if you book independently the air con and all the extras tv etc are free, and breakfast is included. We will be doing this if we go back! Pools are clean and plenty of space for everyone. It is a quiet resort, our kids were a bit restless and so we hired a car. Go to Best Choice in the town and you can hire a small car for 30 euros a day. Best restaurant we ate in was Paradisako on the road between Alykes and Alykanas. Great chilled holiday (well apart from the lack of air con and the 40 degree heat!). Would go back to Koukounaria, can't give higher praise than that.

We have just got back from a 2 week stay at The Koukounaria Hotel in Alykes. We have been to Greece many times and this was our best experience ever! The hotel is in a beautiful location, the staff are very friendly and the standard of accomodation is very high. The swimming pools are amazing and everything is well maintained and clean. We have 2 children aged 6 and 9 and it was such a safe environment for them to play in. There were some negative comments from people about the "so called" extra charges for things like air con, toaster, kettles etc... but this was all clearly stated in the brochure which we read beforehand so we budgeted for it, and in the event it was all quite reasonable anyway, we will definitely be returning to this beautiful hotel next year. The Best Family

1 reader found this review helpful

Brillant holiday, owners and staff really friendly and helpfull. Will certainly book this hotel again.

We just had a brilliant week in the Koukouranis appartments (June 2011). This Family run complex is just about the best we have seen in the area. The rooms are very clean and well serviced. The pool area is good witha large pool and two smaller pools for children. There is a snack bar which does a nice full english breakfast for under £4 including Tea. This place has everything a family might without wandering far. in the basment there is an electronic games for the teenagers , and 2 snooker tabless , 2 pool tables etc. The Resteraunt on site is really excellent and a cut above the rest of the Tavernas in the Town, we tried several but came back to the Lino Bistro in the end, which was just about the same price as in town. You will not be dissappointed coming here. I would reccomend booking half board when you get here it cuts the food cost by £2 each per day. The place also has its own hire car for £45 a day. I rarely go back to the same place but I am already considering a return visit.

This was our first time to Zante, I was a bit apprehensive as Zante tends to have a bit of a reputation as being a Party island but Alykes was perfect chill. The hotel ideally situated in lovely surroundings, only about 5 mins walk to the beach and the tavernas and shops. The restaurant at the hotel is excellent value and the service was also excellent. Didn't need any air con as we travelled last two weeks in May so I don't know what the charge is for that. The pool and pool area was kept spotless, beds and towels changed plenty of times and the cleaner came just about everyday. We were self catering, to keep the costs down I took a travel kettle as I had read that they will charge you. I don't use a hairdrier on holiday, so didn't need to hire one. Really Friendly place, staff vey helpful, nothing to much trouble.

1 reader found this review helpful

This was our 2nd visit to the Koukounaria having gone in Aug '09 and Aug '10 with our 3 children. The hotel and staff (Leo and the owners) were so welcoming and can not do enough to ensure you have a wonderful stay. The hotel is kept clean and tidy. Being a family of 5 we were so pleased to have a very large (almost 2 apartments) for the amount of space. On our 2nd time we were disappointed not be overlooking the pool but once we asked for assistance and explained we needed to be able to watch our children from our room (ages 10 - 14 years), Elena, the owner did her utmost to accommodate us. It is a 5 min walk (up hill on way back, not too steep) to the beach and bars etc. Would highly recommend a restaurant called Paradisio (not sure on spelling) on the way to Alykanas by the canal on the right hand side (opposite The Best Bar). Best restaurant in Alykes; you will find this out, as you usually can only be seated if you have a prior booking or are willing to wait 15 - 30 mins to be seated. Very reasonably priced, if not cheaper or the same as most of the other restaurants. Only down side to hotel is that the bar has become very expensive for example Euro 1.80 for a diet coke and Euro 4.85 for coke and vodka! Pool table is Euro 1.50 ago, whereas most bars it is Euro 0.50 and some free. We have tried the hotel restaurant twice but I'm afraid we cannot recommend it unfortunately. Air con is expensive, in our case as we had technically a double room, it was with a toaster, and use of safe/tv Euro 223.00. The pool is lovely and large although quiet deep for most of it. It had a tendancy to cloud some days and was a little warm but I guess with 40 degrees heat, that may be understandable. That aside, we are booking up again for Aug 2011 and will be bringing more family with us!

Both times we have had huge room,very clean & comfy(air con expensive but not needed as we had corner room with loads of windows,most places charge anyway)Rooms cleaned daily.Charge made for kettle/toaster etc so take own.Pool really clean,biggest we've had especially for Greece,deep as well which was great for my kids who are good swimmers.(inflatables left for all to use).Food & choice in restaurant amazing(only 10 euros for 3 courses+ complimentary ouzo & extra starter).Staff very friendly(Leo is great fun).Nice bar,coffee bar,games room,pool tables etc.Entertainment every night if you wish to stay(quizzes etc,low key)but we prefer to go to tavernas where atmosphere brill. Not had a bad meal-to many to praise but to name a few-Asteria(just thru arch on the beach where Vladimir will give you a good welcome),Relax,Fidelio,Ambrosia.The nearest supermarket is Levante(small but has everthing you need)and Spiros & his family have made us good friends.Very sorry to come home.Plenty to do but not rowdy resort.

It was our second visit to the Koukounaria Hotel - the first in 2008 was great although we only used the hotel as a base so cannot comment on food and bar facilities. On our first visit we had a lovely large apartment which overlooking the pool in I would say the newer part of the hotel. It did annoy us that we had to hire a kettle and if you brought one locally it could be confiscated ! Our second visit in July 2009 was a totally different experience room wise we were given a pokey room with a very noisey air con which needed attention as soon as we arrived and tried to turn it on - it rattled on and off throughout the week although drowned out the noise of the parrot next door !

What a lovely place to stay, it was wonderful and definatley didn't want to come home. There are hire charges for certain things which can be upto 200euros which includes air con,but that is because the hotel is a reasonable price to stay there to start with, most places have this included in the total price anyway. The people and staff were wonderful, really pleasant and friendly. Our son came down with chickenpox whilst we were there and stung by a wasp, they could'nt do enough for us, the owner even went to the chemist for us late at night to get calomine lotion for us.People we met staying at the appts also return each year, we most definatley would recommend anyone to stay at Koukounaria and will definately be going back ourselves.

5 readers found this review helpful

On arrival at the Koukounaria in the early hours of the morning we were greeted with a friendly warm welcome, and were offered tea/coffee, by the nightman who lived in Zante but was originally from the UK. He showed us to our apartment block and told us to come back after 9.00am to register when the owner would be on the reception to check us in. Checking in we were asked for 80 Euros deposit, (lot of money if you are on a budget). We always hire the safety deposit box, and as it was hot we decided to have the air con. We took the package, for air con, tv (which they gave you the ariel for) and the safety deposit box as a package for 2 weeks we paid 133 Euros, this was a package as it would have normally cost 217 Euros to take these on an individual basis. First day and we have handed over 213 Euros without stepping outside the hotel. (money money money)
Apartments were basic and clean. These were cleaned daily, towels every 3rd day, and bedding weekly. Nothing to complain about on that front. Room was comfortable enough, however no kettle or toaster for self catering apt. These could be hired at the cost of 10 euros per item per week. (money money money).
We decided to keep our room for an extra day as our flight was early hours of the morning, now you have guessed!! Money money money 50 Euros. They took the remote for the air con and the tv, I asked for the air con remote and they said money money money another 10 Euros, I politely declined this offer. We did receive our deposit of 80 Euros on the day of our departure without any problems.
The sunbeds around the pool were free no money money money, however if you wanted a mattress on the hard plastic it would have cost you 1.50 euros money money money
The staff were friendly, no wonder they must have been smiling all the way to the bank with money money money.
In itself Alykes was a nice little place and the sandy beach was beautiful with crystal clear water, and some nice restaurants. The people were very friendly. I would recommend it for a quiet relaxing holiday especially if you like the beach.