Arion Resort

Arion Resort is a four-star resort in Ano Vasilikos, with 50 rooms and the sort of layout that suits a holiday where the practical details matter. You have a restaurant, a bar, pools, a sandy beach and space to sit down properly between outings. No need to turn every evening into a logistical exercise.

The hotel’s website is available in English, which is useful when you are checking the basics before travelling. On site, the resort combines family facilities with a more grown-up side: an adults-only outdoor pool, the Elia spa and a fitness room sit alongside the children’s pool, kids’ club and play area. That makes it workable for couples travelling alone, as well as for families who need a little structure around the day.

The resort has been open since 1989 and was renovated in 2024. Its atmosphere is built around the usual holiday essentials rather than a long list of clever concepts: air conditioning, free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, a garden, a beach within the property and somewhere to eat when you would rather not go hunting for dinner.

You are in Ano Vasilikos, in the Vassilikos area of Zakynthos, Greece. The resort sits in the centre of the village, so a short walk can take you towards local points of interest rather than leaving you marooned behind a hotel gate. Banana Beach, Zakynthos Port and the port of Kyllini are among the nearby places associated with the location.

The beach is directly accessible from the resort and is sandy, with sun loungers and parasols available. That is the useful bit: you can choose between the sea and the pool without turning beach time into a separate excursion. There is also an outdoor adult pool and a separate outdoor children’s pool, giving the property two distinct places for a swim.

For getting around the island, the resort offers car hire and assistance with excursions. St Nicholas Beach, Banana Beach and Gerakas Beach are excursions available through the hotel, so the surrounding coastline is not limited to the sand directly outside.

The room choice is straightforward, with Standard and Premium categories, plus double-room versions with a double bed. The double rooms are designed for two people, while the family-room option gives travelling families a category to look for when booking. Each room has a private bathroom, and the whole property has air conditioning — a practical advantage when a warm island day has left you ready for a shower and a cool, dark room.

If you are travelling as a couple, the double-room categories are the natural starting point. The real decision is whether you want the simpler Standard option or the Premium category, rather than a maze of room names that require a spreadsheet to decode. For families, check the room configuration carefully against the people travelling; the hotel also has a children’s pool, a kids’ club for children aged four to twelve and a play area.

A safe is available, and the resort has accessible facilities and a lift, which can make the difference when you are carrying bags, dealing with tired knees or simply refusing to treat stairs as an evening activity. The property is non-smoking, and free Wi-Fi extends throughout the hotel.

The main restaurant is Psatha, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast is a buffet starting at 7.00, which gives early risers something more useful than a biscuit before heading out for the day. A packed lunch is also available for excursions, handy when the island’s beaches and viewpoints have made a proper sit-down meal impractical.

The food approach follows five principles attributed to Archestratos: pure ingredients, harmony between ingredients, light sauces and moderation with seasoning. That is a fairly sensible direction after a long day outside — food with enough substance to restore you, without turning dinner into a second endurance event.

Meal plans include half board and all-inclusive, with the exact arrangement linked to the booking you choose. There is also 24-hour room service. The resort has a bar, a snack bar and a restaurant, so you can keep the evening simple when all you want is a drink, something quick and a chair that does not move.

The adults-only outdoor pool is the obvious place for a quiet swim, while the sandy beach provides the more natural option, with loungers, parasols and beach or pool towels available. A spa called Elia offers massages and facials, and the fitness room is there if you still have energy left after the day’s main occupation. This is one area where nobody needs to pretend that exercise is compulsory.

For something less horizontal, the resort has mini-golf, table tennis, cycling, hiking, a library and barbecue facilities. Karaoke is also available for evenings when the day has not quite exhausted you — or when the microphone has clearly been left unattended. The hotel can arrange excursions to St Nicholas Beach, Banana Beach and Gerakas Beach.

Families have a kids’ club for children aged four to twelve, children’s activities, a play area and a children’s pool. Babysitting is available through the resort’s facilities. Couples, meanwhile, can use the adult pool, spa, beach and garden as the quieter side of the property, without needing to leave the resort every time they want a change of scene.

Check-in starts at 14.00 and check-out is by 12.00. Early arrival and late departure can be arranged on request and may carry an additional charge. Reception is open around the clock, with express and private check-in and check-out available, so arrival does not have to become an administrative performance after a long journey.

The resort provides free parking, free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, luggage storage, a cash machine, currency exchange and a lift. Car hire is available, and airport transfers can be arranged on request as a paid service. The hotel also offers laundry services, which are particularly useful when beach days have made the contents of your case look as though they have spent the week outdoors.

Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted, alongside cash. A local tourism tax applies per room and night. The property has accessible facilities, air conditioning and a safe, while smoking areas are provided. Pets are not admitted.