Filoxenia Hotel Zakynthos — Hotel in Zakynthos Municipality

Overall it was a reasonably good stay. Some good points and some areas for improvement/not so good.

Top line. This isn’t an expensive hotel. It’s rated 3 Plus stars by TUI which I think is very generous. It’s listed as a 4 star hotel on Google which it definitely isn’t. If you’re staying for a week you will be OK. I would struggle here for any more time.

For context we would usually stay in 4 or 5 star hotels so keep that in mind when reading this review. Not meant in a judgy way, we’re not snobs but we wouldn’t return. We also visited in mid September when the kids are at school. Can’t comment on what it’s like when kids are here. There’s not much for the kids to do and there entertainment is patchy. We didn’t go to any of it so can’t comment.

It’s a very clean hotel. There are some places where it falls down. Like missing toilet seats in the public areas and some outdated furniture. Also it seems to be a Greek thing that they don’t put locks on toilet doors. We stayed all inclusive so we had air con in our rooms but I heard some rooms you have to pay extra for.

There are two pool areas one has much newer sun-beds which a modern and comfortable. The other area had cheaper ones. If they are intended for different guests it’s definitely not enforced.

Staff are friendly enough. The front desk are amazing and the bar and restaurant staff are friendly. The odd sour faced ones but nothing to spoil the trip.

The rooms are very spacious and the maids do a brilliant job. The rooms and bathrooms could do with modernising but it’s not terrible. The TV is so tiny it might as well not be in the room. We never used it. Beds are a bit hard and pillows are what you get in any hotel of this class. We slept well.

It’s mostly British people. A few Germans. An older crowd so reasonable peaceful.

The hotel is right next to a single lane road which can get busy but the road noise isn’t too bad.

It’s located close to the airport runway so bonus is you’re close to the airport. Downside is you’re close to airport. The noise of the aircraft taking off can be pretty loud. We always use ear plugs at night so didn’t bother us. It’s not crazy loud but loud enough.

Now onto the food and drinks.

I’ll start off by saying the drinks are mostly awful. If you’re the hotel and reading this, change them! Beer is OK, wine is an insult to wine. It’s vile. The mixers are equally as bad. Off brand trash. We ended up going to the supermarket to buy our own. The staff are well aware the drinks are awful. A real disappointment. You might love them but not for us. They also use single use plastic and always throw your cup away so much go through so much plastic which I’m not a fan of.

Food. It’s a tricky one. If you’re expecting great Greek dishes reset your expectations. The food options are very limited BUT they do some really great dishes BUT proper home cooked food. The sort of food a Mother would cook. It won’t blow you away but overall we always found something to eat and whilst the quality isn’t great we really enjoyed a number of dishes. They have a good range of salad items and some cheeses and the tomatoes were so ripe, fresh and red. So not all bad news. If you’re a food snob then you probably NOT enjoy this place.

Location wise it’s a little out of the way. If you rent a car you can get around the island in a few days. There are some mind blowing beaches. You’re a 15 minute walk (95% pavement and flat) walk to the town which has loads of bars, shops and restaurants. It’s definitely less hectic than Laganas Beach. You can also walk to the local beach but it’s not nice.

Overall it’s OK, would be return. Probably not but we didn’t hate it. If you usually stay in 3 star or below places you...

OMG !! - This is just the best Hotel ever! We went for a 2 week holiday late July - 11 August 2019. Sunny and hot every day. Tsilivi beach is a 20 minute walk but there is a free Hotel shuttle bus if you don't fancy the walk. Tsilivi beach is amazing, sandy, crystal clear water and very shallow for a long way out & super warm too. Lots of beach activities, Sunbeds 7 Euro for 2 for the day. All the beaches have crystal clear water, it is a beautiful island. The Hotel is just amazing. The food is so good, we didn't eat out once. They do the same set menu each week but there is so much to choose from you don't get tired of the food at all. The breakfast is super too. They don't have fresh fruit juice but you can buy it in a supermarket and keep it in your room fridge if you are super fussy. They do have fresh fruit pieces at all meals, melon, kiwi, watermelon, apple, orange, etc......... delicious. The drinks are great too and the ice is shipped in, so you don't have to worry about upset tummies. They are very strict on food & drink hygiene and none of our party of 7 were ever ill. The entertainment was great too. The guests make it doing fun games and silly things, so out of season it may be a bit quiet. They have Greek dance evenings and professional singers one night each week. This is a family hotel but more for older kids, not so much the under 5's as there is not a walk on beach. There is a Pool table, Table Tennis & Air hockey tables. No indoor play area for younger kids and a tiny park around the back of the hotel, with swings and a roundabout. There is an Astro Turf football pitch. The family rooms are very big with heaps of space. The bathroom is fine with a great shower and the Air Con is so good, you would not need a fan, just warmer pjs it can get that cold. You can set it to whatever temperture you like, so it is perfect. If you don't go all inclusive, the Kitchen area is quite small, 2 hob electric rings, a microwave, no tea towels or washing up liquid, more for simple cooking / reheating things. I have nothing bad to say about this Hotel or the staff, everyting was amazing. There are a few Hotel stray Cats roaming around which the younger kids seem to really enjoy. There were a few kittens and they are quite friendly if you like Cats.

They do have mosquitos in Greece, so if you think you are prone to bites, take antihystamines & 1% hydrocortozone cream - medicine from the chemists is expensive. Also take mosquito wrist bands and plenty or repellant juice as you can get bit at night in the hotel room . When you open balcony doors, 1 or 2 can slip in and feast on you overnight! I personally reacted bad to the bites, but some people never get bit or just have a hardly noticable red dot. Nothing like the monsters in Gambia I've heard, they have much bigger teeth !! :-) The Island of Zakynthos is fairly small and you can see the planes going overhead from the airport, but it is not a Hotel at the end of a runway, so it isn't an issue at all. I have heard that the Hotels in Laganas and Kalamaki are much more in the direct flight path - great if you like plane spotting. .............and finally, a Hire Car is a good idea for a few days to really explore the Island and find it's...

From the moment we booked directly with the Filoxenia Hotel, the tone for a warm, personal holiday was set. Courtesy collection from the airport meant we skipped the stress and started relaxing straight away. When we arrived, Denis greeted us with a smile, helped with our luggage, and we opened the door to our room to find a welcome package of snacks and wine, the perfect start to a week of genuine hospitality.

We stayed in the older part of the hotel in a spacious two-bedroom apartment , something we truly appreciate as a family of four (with a 10-year-old and a nearly 18-year-old who both value their own space). Some might call this part “dated” , we call it traditional and charming. For us, tradition, cleanliness, and atmosphere always win over the latest décor trends.

What really makes the Filoxenia special is the people. Every single staff member works incredibly hard, always with a smile, and there’s a real sense of teamwork. Denis on reception and the lovely smiley lady whose name I sadly didn’t catch made us feel instantly welcome. Alec and Julien at the evening bar always had time for a chat, and the Day Barman (again, sorry I didn’t catch his name) was fantastic, keeping the bar spotless and sharing a running joke with our youngest, who finally found the confidence to speak to him on the last day.

Evenings here are just as much about connection as entertainment. Greek night had everyone involved, the live band with saxophone and jazz singers had us singing along, and our balcony “lock-out” incident (thanks to our eldest!) was rescued by Alec with good humour. Around the pool and bar, families played Uno, kids made friends, and there was that unspoken holiday camaraderie where people smile, say hello, and respect each other’s space.

Food was another highlight, traditional home cooking, BBQ nights you could watch from your sunbed, and something new to try every day. The restaurant staff were absolutely wonderful. Warm, attentive, and working seamlessly together to make every meal feel special. They always had time for a friendly word or a smile, even when the restaurant was busy, and their care made the dining experience feel personal as well as delicious. The mysterious and delicious “milk pudding” became a firm favourite (still need to find a recipe for it), and the kids grew braver in trying new dishes while always having something familiar to enjoy.

The walk into town is lovely, especially if you can manage the 6am stroll to catch the sunrise with a chorus of cockerels for company. There’s a shuttle bus if you want it, but timing the walk outside of the midday heat made it a pleasure. The guy who runs the shuttle, maintenance and seems to always be around looking after the place is super friendly and always has a smile.

If you’re looking for a laid-back holiday where you can connect with your family, meet kind-hearted people, and let life slow down just enough to notice the important moments, the Filoxenia Hotel is perfect. You’ll leave feeling exactly as we did: family, relaxed,...