Palm Tree Bar - (Bars in Alykes)

Mark S  (15 August 2005)         

We have just returned from Alykes (14 Aug 05) and said that we would give our views on some of the places we visited so here goes. We ate lunch at the Palm Tree II snack bare which is right on the beach and has brilliant views. We did try another place one lunchtime when we were on the beach but went back to the Palm Tree II. A choice of excellent snacks inclluding toasties etc. but the main plusses that we found superb were as follows:

1. Fantastic pannini's with very different fillings including mature cheese and pickle, bacon and brie and even tzatziki.
2. The hamburgers and cheesburgers were super and the bread rolls always fresh.
3. The best has to be the club sandwich. A toasted tripple decker with cheese, ham and chicken and mayonaise and mustard which came with chips and salad.
4. On our last day we succumbed to having a full english ( not our usual cuisine) which was fantastic and set us up for the journey home.
 
Having said all that the place would not be the good eating place it was without the superb staff, in fact I would go as far as to say that all the staff we encountered there were always polite, helpful, friendly and never seemed too rushed to be able to pass the time of day and were probably the best we encountered on the whole of the island.
 
If you like the beach and also like good lunches then this is the place.

Jungle Bar - (Bars in Alykes)

Mark S           

Just got back (14 Aug 05) and found the Jungle bar an excellent place for after dinner cocktails. Prices were good (the same as most other places) but the quality and selection of cocktails was excellent. I'm just glad that we didn't try the bar during our first week there or I think we will have spent all our cash on the whole list of cocktails. We were even allowed to watch the ashes cricket during the day. Ice cold beer, sunny corner, friendly staff and England beating Australia, what more could you want. Thanks Vicky and Demitri for an unforgettable experience that will no doubt be talked about on future trips. (PS the slippery nipples were great!!!)

 
Mark, Julie, Mick and Maggs

Paradosiako - (Restaurants in Alykes)

Mark S           

If you want excellent food (Greek) at good prices and a super location then this is the place. It's away from the main village but worth the extra effort (about 3 minutes from the Jungle Bar). We ate there 4 times and were never dissapointed. Go there late and it gets full with with locals and Greeks on holiday, a fantastic atmosphere. Brilliant

Olympic Holidays - (Tour Operators in Zante)

Mark S           

First (AND LAST) time with olympic. Room descriptions poor, information to travel agents poor, accomodation poor, reps too friendly with the accomodation owners (keep it on a professional basis), flight changes out going ( we were informed 2 weeks prior which was no problem) and on return - we found out the day before and had all the hassle of re-arranging airport pickups. Booked taxi transfers to aviod waiting in a hot bus, "a taxi shortage" ( when they have known for a year that we wanted a taxi!!!) was apparently the cause for having to wait! On the return flight we had to tell the rep that we had booked a taxi transfer and then only one taxi turned up for 4 people in our party and we had to sort the other one out with the taxi driver. Flew with Malta Airlines and the in flight entertainment consited of a small screen with a map of the planes progress, its airspeed, temperature outside the plane and the time, riveting for the kids!!! Lots of other companies, with much less experience, do much better.

Roula Studios - (Accommodation in Alykes)

Mark S           

These comments may fly in the face of others on this site but here goes. We booked the Roulla Appartments (The ones in Alykes by the Salt Plains, Panorama and Akis apartments - just to avoid confusion) in part based on comments from this site and we were very dissapointed. Rooms were supposed to be cleaned every day (according to our rep) they missed 4 days during the 2 weeks including the final 2 days. Even after cleaning we had to clean the bottoms of our feet after walking around the appartment before we put shoes on or got into bed. Sheets only changed once during our 2 week stay. We had to buy toilet paper ( apparently according to the rep this usual in Greece- but we have been self catering in Greece for 8 years and this is a first). Toilet (and toilet brush) cleanliness very poor. Toilet took 4 days to repair when it was faulty. Family gatherings in the seating area outside our rooms until late (past 12pm), great if you like chatting but not good when you want to go to bed. The area is quiet around the appartments which is great except on the nights when they have Greek/Kareoke evenings in two of the adjoining hotels Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays if I remember correctly). All in all a very dissapointing experience.

Olympic Holidays - (Tour Operators in Zante)

Mark S           

Update on our complaint against Olympic. We wrote the usual letter outlining our grievances and then received a letter from Olympic stating that they would get back to us within the month but don't try to contact them during this time as they will not respond. It has now been 6 weeks since the letter went and we have still had no reply. Olympic? fantastic customer relations!!!!

 
It continues.........