Alexandra Beach Resort & Spa

English and German are spoken by the hotel team, so you can sort out the practicalities without resorting to hand signals or a phrasebook. Alexandra Beach Resort & Spa is a sizeable beachfront resort in Tsilivi, with gardens, pools, restaurants and a spa arranged around the business of making the hours out of the water easy to fill.

The mood is relaxed but not remote. You have a proper choice of places to sit, eat and have a drink, while the beach is directly in front of the resort rather than requiring a shuttle or a determined march in flip-flops. Families are well catered for, but couples also have sea-view rooms, a spa and a choice of quieter corners once the day’s main exertion is safely behind you.

You are in Tsilivi, on Zakynthos, directly beside a sandy beach with golden sand. Bouka Beach is around 200 feet away, while Planos Beach and Gaidaros Beach are each within about a mile. Tsilivi Beach is also roughly a mile away, giving you several stretches of coast to investigate when the resort’s own shoreline has had enough of you for the day.

The setting is coastal rather than isolated. Cafés and bars are roughly half a mile away, and Zakynthos town’s squares, museums and historic sites are around three miles from the resort. The airport is approximately 4.3 miles away, with the drive taking around 11 minutes according to the listed route, so the transfer is not the sort of journey that requires a packed lunch and a strong sense of purpose.

Room choice here is mainly about the view and how much space you want around your dive bags and evening clothes. The Comfort Room with Sea View suits a couple who want the coast in sight from the private balcony, while the Premium and Deluxe options give families more room to spread out. The Junior Suite with Panoramic Sea View and the Premium Suite are the ones to look at when the view matters as much as the bed.

Swim-up rooms add direct access to the pool, with both inland and sea-view versions available. That is a useful distinction for anyone who likes to step outside for a quiet dip rather than negotiate the main pool after breakfast. Family rooms are available, and children of any age are welcome; cots are available for infants aged two and under.

Air conditioning is standard, and soundproof rooms are available for a better chance of sleeping through the resort’s more sociable moments. Rooms also come with a balcony, private bathroom, refrigerator, electric kettle, wardrobe, television and desk. The refrigerator is the practical detail you appreciate when you return warm, thirsty and not remotely interested in hunting for water. Daily housekeeping keeps the room in order while you concentrate on the important evening decision: shower first, or eat first.

Two restaurants cover the main meals. Alexandra Restaurant is indoors and air-conditioned, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with international dishes; the wider choice includes Greek, Italian and Mediterranean cooking. Aegean Blue Restaurant moves the meal outdoors onto a terrace with sea views, serving Mediterranean food at lunchtime and in the evening. Both use a relaxed dress code, so your post-dive wardrobe need not involve anything more ambitious than clean shorts and a shirt.

Breakfast is a buffet with continental, American and full English or Irish choices, alongside vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Half board is the stated arrangement, while room service runs around the clock for the occasion when the only table you can face is the one beside your bed.

There are two named bars. The Pool Bar handles cocktails, drinks and snacks beside the main pool, which has a swim-up section; the Lobby Bar is the place for a drink away from the water. A coffee house and snack bar are also on site, useful when lunch feels too close to breakfast but a full dinner is still several hours away.

The main outdoor pool is large, unheated and fitted with a swim-up bar, giving you the option of a pool day without giving up access to a cold drink. A separate children’s pool keeps the family facilities distinct, while the beachfront brings sunbeds, umbrellas and a beach bar within the same few steps. Pool and beach towels are available.

Alexandra Spa offers massages, facials, body treatments, a sauna and jacuzzi, with a relaxation lounge, steam room and spa packages also available. The gym is fully equipped, and fitness activities include aerobics; yoga classes are also available through the resort facilities. For a couple, a shared massage followed by an unhurried drink is a fairly sensible use of an afternoon when the sea has already had its turn.

When you want something more active, the resort offers snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding and boat excursions, with equipment hire available. Cultural excursions can be arranged, and the programme also includes a kids’ club, children’s activities, babysitting, a games room and evening entertainment. Live music and themed dinner nights provide a little structure after sunset, should you prefer not to make every decision from scratch.

Zakynthos International Airport is around 4.3 miles away. An airport shuttle is available, and car hire can be arranged through the resort. Free private parking is available on site, with no reservation needed, while a tour desk, concierge, luggage storage and a 24-hour reception cover the usual arrival and island-day logistics. WiFi is free throughout the hotel.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to 15:30 and check-out from 10:30 to 11:00. You need to provide photo identification and a credit card on arrival, and the resort needs your expected arrival time in advance. Children under 18 check in with a parent or official guardian. Visa, Mastercard and cash are accepted, and pets are not allowed.

Laundry and pressing services are available when salt, sunscreen and dinner have formed an unfortunate alliance with your clothes. Packed lunches can also be arranged, and the hotel has a safety deposit box at reception. Those are small details, but they matter more than another decorative cushion when you are staying for several days and spending most of them outdoors.