Tsivili, Zante Christina Studios

Although the Zante Christina Studios has a very plush marble reception area, with a decent pool area with enough loungers and a snack/drinks bar, the rest of what we have to say here will give you the actual picture of how it was in September 2008.

The brochure will not tell you that the apartments are on a steep slope. There is an old and new block (new in the brochure), but both get the considerable road noise at all hours, plus the eye popping sound of air wrenches and male shouting in Greek at most passing traffic from the family ' s garage located snugly between the road below and the apartments. We ' d recommend you take earplugs too as the apartments are also directly below the flight path for Zante airport, so you ' ll be surrounded by noise. There are sliding double glazing doors which keep the noise out, but you will need to pay the extra 35 Euros to be given the aircon remote to do this.

Each apartment has own balcony but there is no privacy from the adjacent balconies. The beds are not very good with their 'wafer thin 'mattresses, and are thick with dust underneath, as well as on top of the wobbly wardrobe (we knew as our suitcases and shoes were heaving with dust from these places). The lighting in the apartment is poor throughout, and there are no readings or side lights. The bathroom was like the black hole of Calcutta.

Self catering ' well, there ' s no toaster, just two plug in electric rings, a fridge and kettle.

Single toilet paper roll provided. If you do any food you can ' t eat it anywhere in the complex outside of your room " all food and drinks around the pool have to be bought from the bar (hardly self catering then, we thought).

Greek night " sorry but very poor; small food portions, music is not live as advised (CD player) and the sporadic dancing is by a lady and a chap dressed in black " no traditional dress, smashing plates, etc, as you would expect.

I would advise anyone going on holiday to make sure you don't pay a lot for these apartments and only use them solely as a base to go elsewhere.

I ' d go back to Zante, but not to Tsivili and certainly not the Christina Studio Apartments!

Tsivili

Far more commercial than led to expect ' Lots of resturants/Tarveners mostly doing English menus, Sunday roasts, and has a McDonalds. Walk the length of the village in 15 mins. Best food was from 'The Med 'on the main street.

Flights

Beware taking any flights in the early morning " if you arrive in the morning Olympic will count this as your first night ' s accommodation, even though you have not had the room or slept there. This bites twice though, as if you have an early morning flight out you will be asked to leave the room at midday the day before " we were facing 16 hours without a room and nobody there was all that bothered, Olympic Rep included.

The insult is that they will have 'extended 'the previous occupant before you for 25 Euros to use the room before you arrive, effectively double selling the room for that period before you arrive whilst the present occupant waits for a flight out, and you ' re still travelling in the UK. You will know this has happened by the still wet floors, and what your neighbours will tell you. Only do day flights!!!!!!!!

Olympic reps

The most expensive way to arrange car hire or any trips is to book through the rep. The trips you can get direct for just over half the prices in Tsivili and the car hire a lot less. The reps are on a commission and will sell you anything and everything they can, but once you ' ve paid they will not follow up on anything at all.

Car Hire

One tip " the majority of the roads are narrow and bendy " don ' t go for a larger car than you need to, and road tyres are a better choice than 4x4 tyres if you need to brake on a steep descent or narrow passing point (we slid 20 feet on chunky 4x4 tyres when braking and slowing coming down a steep gradient from the mountains " hot tarmac and chunky tyres not the best mix!).

Zante Airport

No tannoy announcements for boarding or delays ' the check in staff shout from the desk by the door; people in the duty free shop or upstairs did not hear the call. Once through departures you can buy food and something to drink, as well as duty free shopping. If you ' re after cigarettes get them on the island as they ' re actually cheaper then the duty free shop. On that point everything is equal to UK prices in the duty free shop.