TSILIVI
Area: Zante
Country: Greece


Location:
Towards centre of N coast, 4 miles NW of Zakynthos and 6 miles NW of airport.

Telephone code from UK:
30 26950

Website:
http://www.justzante.com

Position:
On essentially flat ground set between a low cliff and jutting headland, with hills rising behind resort. Surrounded by countryside with olive groves.

Description:
A small resort, with the main accommodation positioned along a 1»-mile stretch, Tsilivi has grown in both popularity and area in recent years; as a result, it is beginning to lose its village feel, although it is still a genuinely friendly place, popular with families. There are two distinct areas: the resort centre and Planos. The centre _ with its abundance of shops, bars and restaurants lining the main road _ is set back a quarter of a mile from the beach, which has its own cluster of bars and snack bars. Planos, 1,100 yards away from the centre, has its own hub of hotels, a smaller choice of shops, bars and restaurants and narrow Bouka Beach.

Suitability:
A family-orientated resort, also suitable for couples. Predominantly British with a smattering of German and Dutch. Lots of Greek visitors in July and August.

Accommodation:
Small choice of budget and mid-range hotels and plenty of self-catering accommodation, much of which is family run. Nothing fancy _ just enough for fun in the sun. Hotels and some self-catering accommodation have their own pools (many of them open to the public), but if they don't, guests can generally use a pool nearby. The resort is on the flight path so most holidaymakers will hear planes coming over.

Shopping:
Plenty of minimarkets meeting all basic needs. A few gold shops which sell hand-made jewellery and plenty of tourist gift shops with the usual souvenirs as well as natural sea sponges. No bank but two cashpoint machines and many shops offer foreign exchange facilities.

Beach:
Tsilivi Beach with its fine dark sand is around half a mile long and slopes gently into a clear sea, making it ideal for children; part of it is backed by undeveloped fields although this may change given the pace of building work. Bouka Beach at Planos is a quarter-mile long narrow curved strip of sandy beach with a rocky shoreline. Both beaches are unswept and have a lot of bracken-type debris. Water sports available on Tsilivi Beach.

Entertainments:
Daytime: water sports on Tsilivi Beach; horse riding. Nothing in particular for children to do except enjoy pools and beaches. Nightlife: a few discos in resort centre plus an abundance of bars geared towards family evenings or a fun night out; many show recent films in the early evening and there are also karaoke and quiz nights. Evening horse and carriage rides around resort.

Eating:
Choice of restaurants serving British food (even roasts on Sundays!) or traditional Greek cuisine. A couple of Chinese restaurants and pizzerias. Generally inexpensive.

Public-transport:
Bus service into Zakynthos Town approximately five times daily; bus stops are few and far between but buses can be waved down. Taxi rank in resort centre but it may be difficult to find a taxi after midnight. Bike, moped and car rental available.

Local-excursions:
Full day: island tour visiting historic points of interest; boat trip to Kefalonia, taking in wreck of smugglers' ship; boat trip to Keri caves; visit to Olympia on the mainland to see where Olympic Games began. Two days: Athens on the mainland to see sights and get feel of ancient city. Greek night _ an evening trip to another resort for traditional Greek meal with dancers and singing.