Zante Sun Resort

Zante Sun Resort gives you the sort of base that works for a mixed holiday: the sea and sandy beach are close, the pools are on site, and the evening does not depend entirely on finding a taverna. You can keep the day simple, which is often exactly what tired divers want.

The resort is spread across seven buildings and 120 rooms, on a 12,000-square-metre site. Families have children's facilities and a kids' club for ages 4 to 12, while couples can choose a sea-view room, eat on the terrace and leave the livelier nights to Laganas. English, German and Greek are spoken by the hotel team, so English-speaking guests can communicate easily from arrival onwards.

Your address is Lithakia, in the traditional village of Agios Sostis on Zakynthos. The resort sits by the sea, with direct access to a sandy beach described as 200 metres long, equipped with sun loungers and parasols. Agios Sostis Beach is within 200 metres, while Koukla Beach is roughly 500 metres away and Cameo Island Beach about 0.5 miles away.

Shops and restaurants are around 100 metres from the resort, so you can step out for a change of scene without turning the evening into an expedition. Laganas, known for its nightlife, is about 1.5 miles away. Keri Lake is roughly 2.7 miles away, while Zakynthos town and its museums are about 5 miles from the hotel.

The room choice matters here because the range runs from compact single and double rooms to a two-bedroom apartment. For a couple who wants a proper pause between dives, the King Suite with Sea View or Deluxe Suite with Sea View gives you the clearest reason to stay in rather than wander off again. The larger apartment is the practical choice for four people who want separate sleeping areas and two bathrooms.

Every room has air conditioning, a balcony, a private bathroom with shower, a mini fridge, a safe and a flat-screen television with satellite channels. The fridge earns its keep when you return warm, salty and more interested in cold water than conversation. Air conditioning does the less glamorous but equally useful work of helping you recover after a day in the heat.

Views vary between the pool, garden and sea, so choose according to what you want from the night. A balcony gives you somewhere to sit with a drink, while the private entrance available with some accommodation adds a little independence. Daily housekeeping, a wardrobe and a clothes rack keep the practical side under control; the two-bedroom apartment is the one to consider when spreading out matters more than keeping things compact.

The main restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in an air-conditioned indoor setting, with international dishes and a relaxed dress code. Breakfast is buffet-style from 07:00, and the choice includes Full English and Irish, American and buffet options. Dinner is also served as a buffet, making it straightforward to eat properly without waiting around after a long day outside.

For a change of pace, the à la carte restaurant serves Mediterranean food in the evening on a terrace with sea views. The dress code there is smart casual. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available, which is useful when your post-dive appetite has very specific requirements.

There are two bars. The Pool Bar handles cocktails, snacks and drinks beside the main pool, including the swim-up section; the Lobby Bar is the quieter place for a glass of wine indoors. The meal plan is half-board, and room service operates with limited hours, so late returns are worth planning around rather than leaving dinner to chance.

The main outdoor pool comes with a swim-up bar, while a separate children's pool keeps the family side of the resort clearly defined. Sun loungers and umbrellas surround the pool area, and the beach adds another place to lie down when your legs have had enough of being useful. Two pools for children are also part of the resort's facilities.

The 150-square-metre Wellness Center offers massages, facials and a Jacuzzi, with body treatments and beauty services also available. You can use the fitness centre or join a yoga session if you still have energy to spend; alternatively, the massage chair and a quiet balcony are perfectly respectable alternatives to athletic ambition.

When you want to leave the pool area, the resort can arrange cycling, hiking and cultural excursions, including an island tour and a Shipwreck Beach excursion. On the water, you can try snorkelling, kayaking or paddleboarding, take a boat excursion or hire equipment. Live music and themed nights give the evening some structure without requiring you to treat entertainment like another scheduled dive.

Zakynthos International Airport is about 3.2 miles away by road, with the transfer taking around 45 minutes according to the resort's location information. Airport transfers can be arranged privately or as a shared shuttle through the hotel. Car hire, excursions, concierge help, luggage storage and a 24-hour reception are available, and free parking is provided on site.

Check-in information gives a starting time of 14:00, while the booking policy states 15:00; confirm the applicable time before arrival, particularly if your flight lands early. Arrival is accepted until 23:00, check-out is listed until 12:00, and luggage storage helps when your flight and your room do not quite agree. Visa and Mastercard are accepted, as well as cash, and pets are not allowed.