Louros Beach Hotel Spa

2 readers found this review helpful

Stayed in Louros Beach hotel in September this year and can't fault the hotel. Pool area lovely, staff helpful esp. Katerina, spa is very relaxing and the hotel gardens are fab! Please note that my rating is of hotel and not the resort.
However Zante itself was none to pleasurable. More the people that it attracts than the island itself. It is definitely not a traditional Greek island any more and has been taken over by tourists and people that harass you every second of the day and night trying to sell things. These people harass you to go to restaurants, bars, book excursions etc... but the most annoying thing is that people selling cd's, dvd's and just cheap tat really are allowed to enter hotels and restaurants at every opportunity and try to sell you things! If you decide to go to the beach then you will get someone harassing you at least every 15-20 mins and they don't take no for an answer and please note the majority of these people aren't Greek.
We stayed in Kalamaki, which was ok in the old part but the new part was just tacky!!! No traditional restaurants, they have mexican, chinese, indian and even a chinese/indian in one, needless to say we did not eat at any of these places. Two good restaurants in Kalamaki, these are, Aias and Zepos which are off the main strip.
Hired a car and found no beautiful beaches although some of the other resorts such as Tsillivi were a lot nicer than Kalamaki.
Do not do Thompsons Champagne cruise because you do not get to do what it advertises and there is no champagne nor a photographer on board the old fishing boat!
I have saved the best resort till last, please do not stay in Laganas under any circumstances as there really aren't any nice words to say about it. It stinks for a start and the beach is covered with dirty condoms, cigarette butts and rubbish. The bars are very tacky and there is a mac Donalds, KFC, Pizza hut, Burger King etc... all in one street. This is the sort of place to go if you are about 18 and have little money to spend. No classy establishments here.
If you are looking for a beautiful, classy yet traditional island then try Kefalonia as it is stunning, especially Fiscardo, Lassi and Scala. I went to Zante thinking it would be similar but do not let the pictures in the broachures fool you as Smugglers cove is the only decent scenery to look at and if you compare it to Myrtos Beach in Kefalonia, it really isn't all that special either!

Hotel was nice, breakfast was ok but no space to put your tray down. Gardens were beautiful, pool was nice but went to the beach as it was close by and lovely and you had to grab a bed without a towel on round the pool. Entertainment was good. Drinks were expensive £7 for 2 milkshakes. Ignore everyone who says the planes dont bother you. You are woke up at 6am every day but Thursday when you get a lie in until 7am. They also fly every 10 minutes. I actually knew the time by the planes that went over. Noisy isnt in it. Its ok when you are round the pool etc they dont bother you but when it sounds like the hotel roof is coming off at 6am it is no joke - I was tired the whole holiday. Rooms are clean. Girl behind bar at lunch time is very very good but miserable as sin. No atmosphere. Still one of the nicer hotels in Kalamaki even though its sounds like I am slating it. Food in Kalamaki was exceptional. Mermaids and the County Lamb at Parthanon were out of this world. I actually ate the same meal 3 times in 2 weeks it was that good and only 7 euros. Waiters are excellent everywhere you go. Olive Grove and Heavens Kitchen were also very nice. Didnt like Dias or Zakanthea at all. Beach ace, turtle hunted almost everyday on a pedalo. Bars - You have to go to P 'N' P - lovely staff also Appollon lovely staff and very strong cocktails. Enjoy

4 readers found this review helpful

This was my first visit to Zante with my boyfriend; both of us are 20 and were looking for somewhere relaxing but with some restaurants, bars, and things to do at night... But nothing too mad!
Kalamaki is perfect for young an older couples as the resort caters for both. It consists of a main strip with numerous restaurants and pleasant bars. There are a couple of clubs but the resort is quiet.
The beach is nice and really long, however due to the turtles being protected you can' go there after 7pm and when you are there you can't lie on the dry sand. Luckily if you take a pedelo out quite deep you may see a turtle, we saw two, and it really made me realise why keeping them protected is so important!
We stayed at Louros Beach which is a lovely hotel, definitely under rated. The planes did not really cause us any problems. They don't fly at night and only 1 day during our stay I heard one in the morning at 6am but I fell back asleep.
At the most I saw/heard about 5 a day but it was quite a novelty seeing them and didn't bother me.
The gardens and pool at the hotel were lovely, the little turtles are really sweet and there are plenty of sunbeds and it's nice and quiet.
The rooms are basic but cleaned everyday and were nice, I do wish there had been kitchen facilities but luckily the shop sold travel kettles! Breakfast was lovely too, traditionally Greek with cereal, yogurt, honey, cake, croissants, bread, toast, jam, eggs, cheeses, meat....
Recommendations:
Olive Tree Restaurant, Mermaids, Lazy Day Cruise, Island Tour, Cave Bar, Safari Bar.
I wouldn't recommend Laganas, unless you are really into a really wild and scary night - being careful there!

This was our second visit to Louros Beach and we were so very happy with our first visit that we brought along friends this time! Yet again we had a wonderful holiday.
The hotel is beautiful and well maintained. The pool is lovely and refreshing on hot days. The pool bar serves fabulous iced coffees and milk-shakes as well as the usual cold beers in frozen glasses.
I'd recommend a visit to the Wellness Centre something which all 4 adults in our party really enjoyed. The beach is only a few minutes’ walk away and the taverna right on the beach serves great grab and go lunches.
Talking of food, I've never found Greece to be especially great on the dining front but would say that the traditional Greek restaurants have the edge over the 'Indian/Chinese/Thai' combo type restaurants - Give Dias a go, just by the Pharmacy their King Prawns in shells are to die for.
Have fun taking the little mini moke up to The Cave for a cocktail or two and don't miss out on a trip into Zante Town one night, a cold beer in the square followed by a stroll along the harbour and a meal in a fish restaurant makes a nice change.
All in all, Louros Beach is one hotel you really shouldn't miss out staying at - you'll end up going more than once, I promise!

1 reader found this review helpful

First proper review of this hotel for the season and what a hotel, we went out on Tuesday 1st May and returned a week later. To put it straight 7 days was not long enough to do everything we wanted to do.
The hotel itself is without a doubt a 5* experience, the layout of the hotel is out of this world and the gardens are beautiful.
The pool was a bit cold but they are not heated with anything bar the sun, and it’s not hot enough over there to change it yet (was high 20’s to low 30’s all week). The spa is well worth the 10 Euro entrance fee for the day very very relaxing.
The staff within the hotel are amongst the best people in the world, both Wendy and Gogo provided quality service and friendship. We arrived at the hotel and we shown to our room and around the hotel and checked in very quickly.
Yes the hotel is on a flight path but we saw maybe 10 flights in a week all around 11am so not too early.
The area of Kalamaki itself is very close to Laganas (The famous loud bit) only 6km but this does not affect the town of Kalamaki, the town is so nice with a long strip of restaurants and bars.
The best locations to eat are without a doubt; Vaqos Marias which is at the other end of the strip from where Louros Beach is and a restaurant called ‘Zakanthi’ which to us English people is written as follows: Zakanoe (the Greek O has a line through it and then the e are pronounced ‘thi’).
Be aware that any restaurant will put chips on your plate as soon as they realize you’re English it’s a typical stereotype I think, any restaurants Greek Roast Potatoes are to die for. The pool bar within the hotel also has some good food dishes cooked in front of you and taste great.
The beaches are superb make sure you turn left out of the hotel and when you get on the beach turn left and around the rocks it’s even better called ‘the Crystal Beach’. We saw one turtle from a distance but other people were virtually swimming with them so they can be seen.
Be careful at night as you will be asked if not chased from the beach after 7 as it becomes a nature reserve for the turtles.
Overall one great experience and we will be going back to Louros Beach.

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What a joy it was to stay here. Excellent presentation and very clean. Staff all bar one were very polite and helpful, make a point of getting to know the domestic staff, they were a joy and a pleasure to meet.
The resort of Kalamaki is not the greatest on earth, if you enjoy eating and drinking. Then this is ideal, found it all rather boring after the first week with little choice. The beach is well maintained, more so due to visiting turtles at night (you have to be off the beach by 1900hrs), limited sun beds etc, so you will need to get down early to claim your lounger.
Again I can only recommend the hotel, it was by far the best in the area of Kalamaki, and we would not hesitate to go again should we return to Zante.