The twinkling lights of Zante Town dance around in the distance as dusk falls over the laid-back town of Argassi, in southern Zakynthos.
There is the soothing sound of the waves crashing below us at our seaside table in the exceptional Anadalis Restaurant, next door to where we stay at the Windmill Bay Hotel.
My husband and I enjoy the quiet vacation atmosphere, while our five-year-old daughter struggles to keep her eyes open after hours spent in the pool.
We feast on a delicious feast of Mediterranean delicacies à la carte, including gazpacho-baked sea bass, served as if they were works of art.
Carol Driver and her family check into the Windmill Bay Hotel, located in the laid-back town of Argassi on the Greek island of Zakynthos
During their stay, they dine one evening in the hotel’s ‘exceptional’ Anadalis Restaurant
The food at Anadalis Restaurant looks like works of art, Carol reveals. “This is Greek cuisine taken to another level – adult dining suitable for families,” she adds
This is Greek cuisine taken to another level – adult dining suitable for families.
We end the evening with a glass of local wine, take the very easy one minute walk back to our room and put our little girl to bed.
She’s asleep in seconds, so my husband and I enjoy a nightcap on our deck, knowing she’s only a few feet away.
We’re on the island nicknamed Zante – loved as the quiet side of Greece – as long as you avoid the party lane of Laganas (unless that’s what you’re interested in, of course).
It’s a week-long pool holiday in a destination that’s not only great for kids, but also perfect for adults.
Carol reveals Zakynthos is ‘loved as the quiet side of Greece’ – as long as you avoid the party strip of Laganas (pictured)
We are here to enjoy the sun, explore the island and the food and let our daughter swim to her heart’s content, which she does, while also making lots of new friends.
The recently refurbished 4-star Windmill Bay Hotel, in the quiet part of Argassi, is stylish and elegant, with apartments curving around the pool, meaning all rooms have stunning sea views.
Our room is a junior suite on the ground floor. The beautiful design combines traditional Greek and modern styles, with brilliant whites and blues throughout.
Newly refurbished 4-star Windmill Bay Hotel is ‘stylish and elegant’
The apartments at Windmill Bay Hotel are curved around the pool, meaning that all rooms have stunning sea views
It is a large space, with a living room with a mini fridge and a sofa bed, where our daughter sleeps, leading to a double bedroom and en-suite walk-in toilet and shower room with stone sinks, sea green tiles and lovely Greek toiletries. We enter our apartment through the terrace, which has sun loungers as well as a table and chairs – and a large hot tub.
With only 57 rooms, even though we are there in the middle of summer, the hotel doesn’t feel overly crowded. Indeed, the large swimming pool, with a separate pool for the little ones, is more than big enough for everyone to have a nice swim.
And when it gets busy, there are steps from the sun terrace that lead straight down to the sea (although there’s no beach here).
Guests of the hotel, which has only 57 rooms, can step out to sea from the sun terrace with sunbed
We get up early(ish) for a full breakfast buffet with every possible item you want to enjoy first – from pastries and cakes to eggs and cereal.
Then we’ll hop in our rental car – stopping at the brilliant Tranakas Bakery (acclaimed as the best on the island) for popsicles and baguettes for lunch – and go for a drive.
Our first stop is Damianos Cave, in Agalas, which we reach after passing traditional stone houses, along narrow streets and following a short path among pine trees and olive groves.
Carol pays a visit to Damianos Cave, a monument that according to local legend houses a ‘smitten dragon’
It’s worth the walk in the 30C heat – the views over the hills are incredible and we learn about the local legend of the slain dragon that now lives in the cave, which is filled with stalactites and stalagmites.
Back at the top we enjoy a drink in a taverna, looking out to sea – it’s breathtaking.
We then drive to Porto Limnionas, a lovely sheltered bay with rocks at the perfect height to jump into the shimmering blue waters. There are many sunbathers scattered on the rocks, catching the sun’s rays.
It’s a little too slippery for a little one, so we seek shade at Taverna Porto Limnionas, dining al fresco on the terrace overlooking the Ionian Sea – what’s not to love?
The food is divine and soon we’re brushing up on zucchini balls, Greek salad, olives, pasta and fried cheese. Delightful!
We’ll be in time for a quick swim and chill out on the sunbeds at our hotel, before taking a walk to Argassi, which is full of tavernas, shops, bakeries and cafes, to choose a restaurant for dinner. We really are spoiled for choice – choosing a different one every night.
Above is Porto Limnionas, a sheltered bay that looks like a postcard, with rocks at the perfect height for jumping into the shimmering blue water
Green Frog offers dishes using local ingredients where possible, including its own virgin olive oil.
The food is amazing – we order a selection from the main menu and our daughter happily feasts on ricotta cheese pie, hummus with pita chips, grilled halloumi (or squeaky cheese, as she calls it), as well as moussaka. With baklava and banana split on the menu, there was of course room for dessert. We dine outside, in a romantic setting, and there is a play area to keep the kids entertained.
There is also the Zorbas Greek Taverna, which is bustling, boisterous and full of merry guests. The night we dine here we discover traditional Greek food at its best. Huge portions of sautéed veggies, meatballs and a vegetarian mezze (with vine leaves, green beans, hummus, pita bread, stuffed tomatoes and chips, it was enough for two).
Carol admires the lights of Zante Town (pictured) in the distance as she dines at Kavo seaside restaurant in Argassi
And for those nights when you want to dress up, Kavo on the coast is the place to go. Amelia feels very grown up in a maxi dress and sipping mocktails.
Our table is on the waterfront, with the lights of Zante Town in the distance. We dine on smoked eggplant spread, beetroot carpaccio and avocado tzatziki, as well as burrata salad, seafood pasta and sweet potato patties. Dessert is a delicious cheesecake and traditional Greek custard tart.
We also enjoy the beach at Banana Baya. It is a stretch of golden sand, with sunbeds to rent and a very good modern restaurant that plays music and serves drinks and great food.
As it is high summer it is very busy but we manage to find a spot close to the edge and spend a few hours in and out of the warm water.
There is a sunbed service, or we walk along the wooden slats to the restaurant to get drinks or snacks. For lunch there is an extensive menu of sandwiches, baguettes, salads and fruit cocktails.
On our last night we make the 25 minute drive to the capital, Zante Town.
It is a bustling port city, where very expensive boats line the marina. We head to the center of town, which is bursting with tavernas, tourist shops, ice cream parlors and cafes.
The original town was destroyed by an earthquake in 1953, but the reconstructed Venetian style is beautiful.
We pass the evening, heading home when our daughter gets tired and before the city is brightened up by bar hoppers and night clubbers.
The twinkling lights get further away as we make our way to our beds. It was a great vacation – and I know my daughter will ask us (several times) to come again next year.