We are staying at the Elpida in the two bedroom apartment in a couple of weeks time. Some of the comments suggest the stairs are steep and one mentions step ladders and loft ladders. Could anyone give me more details on this apartment? Also could someone tell me exactly where the Elpida is, which road is it on, what is the nearest hotel or bar so I canlocate it on a map? Also, what is the cost of drinks (beer and pop) and food so that I have an idea how much money to take? thanks Mark

We fly to Zante on Sun 30th - have hired a car from the Friday 5th to Monday 8th and have booked Zakfari via Frances for the following Wednesday (10th July). If you read this before Sunday, could you let me know roughly the route you go during the trip and places you visit as we will then be able to plan to go and see different places while we have the car. Thanks.

The mossies were a problem for a number of people, however last week when we were there it was so hot we slept with the windows and shutters open and did not get bitten at all. It depends on your skin type, if you are plae, take precautions.

There are very few taxis around, you have to ring for them and they I think come from out of town. However, there are loads of horse drawn buggies which charge 10 euros to go from just up from the Elpida to the main street in Alykes.

We booked up in advance to ensure a seat. When we got there, our travel company, Kosmar did not have the trip listed and I did not see if advertised in Alykanas so we would have been stuck otherwise. Suggest you book in advance by emailing Frances at Tsilivi travel and then ring her withyour card details when she replies. Must say, it was a great day out. My youngest (age 9) enjoyed the wine tasting, he had had seven small glasses before we noticed him helping himself. The off road driving is the best part!.

We ate a couple of times here and found the food, like everywhere else in Alykes/Alykanas to be of a fairly high quality (I did not think it was too expensive). Please note - They are going to open a restaurant in Dronfield, Derbyshire atthe end of the season with all the staff from Zante working in it over the winter to get it off the ground. We will certainly give it a try when it opens.

Drive on the coast road heading south towards St Nicholas' bay and a few miles after Argassi you come to a road sign marked Dafni taverna, ignore the first sign and take the second which is further down the road , we took the first and although the first few hundred yards are a good surface it starts to deteriate when it starts to go down hill. This bit is narrow, very steep and bendy with just dirt and gravel and covered with pot holes. The sweat was dripping off me as I inched my way down it in my Corsa, it did not help with my youngest telling me he did not want to die that day - so be warned. When you get to the bottom, it is worth it, the sea is calm and warm and the restaurant is nice.

Last week, my wife and I took our two lads paragliding and although it was very enjoyable, the time in the air was only around 5 mins per pair and cost us 90 euros (£60) which I thought was a bit steep compared with last time I did it in Cyprus when we got around 15 mins each for a lot less money.

Dennis, for info... Beer - draught Mythos is around 2.5 euros a pint, Stella 3.5 euros a pint. Bottles a bit cheaper. Cocktails are around 3 euros each in most places during happy hours. Milkshakes for the kids around 3 euros, large bottles of water for the hangover between .5 and 1 euro. The local wine is palatable, bit like Sherry in taste and is also cheap - ps the Kosmar welcome drink wine is not typical in taste of what is served elsewhere.

We stayed in the Elpida in July and had a wonderful time, so much that we are returning to Alykanas again next year. The only criticism we had was that some days the pool was too crowded so we went to the Millenium pool instead. I can't belive all the fuss about toilet bins and dirty premises - we found our room and the complex clean and reasonable quiet in an evening (have you tried Malia in Crete - then you'll know what noise is). I have been to many Greek Islands and I can not recall ever having my toilet bin emptied daily (perhaps I stay too down market!). - I find its not too much trouble to take the plastic bag and drop it in the bins outside the Elpida when you go out in the evening. I believe that when you are away you relax and chill out and take things as they come and don't spend your hard earned vacation moaning. Kosmar are probably the cheapest tour operator to Greece and you get what you pay for (ie some things you have to do yourself!), if you want luxury and extras you choose a different company and pay for the privilege. To some up, the Elpida is like most Greek places, if you like Greece and its way of life, you will enjoy this. If as in Shirley Valentine , you keep thinking its not Spain then you won't.

We stayed at the Elpida in Alykanas last summer and when we go this summer want to try other restaurants etc and so was wondering how do you get to the Lemon Tree or even Old Alykanas.

We stayed at the Elpida in Alykanas last summer and when we go to Alykanas this summer want to try other restaurants etc and so was wondering how do you get to Amoudi from Alykanas and once there to the Clear Horizon

Rimmer - On the Zakfari 'JMC Reps Day' trip last year we stopped off to sample some bottles of wine and ended up buying a few. When we are in Zante again this summer we would not mind picking up a few more when we have our hire car. What is the name of the village?.

Also, when do you start booking the Zakfari, what day of the week will the trips be and how much will it be?, Do those of us who went last year get a discount!!!!

Thanks Rimmer,

we have booked a flight only this year and so won't be tied to a travel company. Does this affect anything, or do we just contact Frances nearer the time.

Brian, Yes I am the one from alykes.com, I now know from that website how to get to Amoudi, we had actually walked down the road from Alykanas the first night but must have missed the turn as we ended up at the main alykes beach and subsequently reached The Mill bar so we will give it a try again this year and hopefully get to Amoudi/Old Alykanas. I presume coming from Amoudi, you head for Alykes and turn left when you get to the fork in the road, if you turn right you will be on the beach as well.

Rimmer - Got back from Zante yesterday and while wew were there we went to see the wine man in Anafonitria and I thought I should write to ask you to say thanks to him and to say thanks to you for introducing us to him.

We mentioned we had been there before with you last year and when we bought a number of lace items and rugs he knocked 5 euros of each item and then when we bought some wine and honey he gave us a number of free bottles of both and threw in a few bags of herbs.

Thanks

We were there on Sunday (13th July) and it was lovely in the morning but by the afternoon I thought the Athens Olympics had started. There were hundreds of mostly Greeks playing tennis or volleyball in the shallows near where we were sunbathing, you could not relax as every few minutes a ball narrowly missed us.

We went again on the Wednesday and although a few played ball in the afternoon it was a lot quieter.

Most Reps make commission on the trips they sell so they will push their trips at the welcome party. As the company they work for also will want a cut then the price will be higher booking with them. We use the welcome party to find out about a trip and then go down the road and book the trip for usually a lot less.

With regards to the Kefalonia trip, what bugged me was the stop for the Saint, the caves and the lake was only a few minutes and we had to then rush back on board so we stayed ahead of the other coaches and then for the restaurants and Agastolli stops we had about 90 minutes in each (I presume the tour guide/company make commision on the restaurant stops and so encourage you to stay longer there).

Personlly, I would rather have sat on the coach at the docks for ten minutes and let the other coaches get ahead and then spend a bit longer at each of the main places of interest.

We went on a thursday night when they had a lady singing english and greek songs whilst playing a guitar.

A very enjoyable evening along with a lovely meal.

The restaurant also have a horse and cart which will bring you from Alykes/Alykanas and return you later for free.

Greedy Greek is run by Dennis (who's Greek), his wife Helen lives in England so I don't see what the comment about 'you can see its English run' means.

We have been to both the restuarant in Alykanas and Dronfield. the Dronfield one being smaller, is more frindly and the food seemed better but the Alykanas one is on a par with most other restaurants in the area, as someone said, it depends what you order.

Dennis himself, flies home each weekend so I suppose while he's away the standard may drop but I have not noticed it.

For info...

Tom's Place does not exist anymore, its now the 'original pie shack'.

The OPS has moved from by the river, its old premises are still called the Pie Shack.

Confused!!

We took our two boys last year (12 and 9 at the time) and they loved it. Specially the off road driving.