Far from the madding crowds of Zakynthos' beach resorts sits this beautiful trio of serviced villas, perched right on the turquoise sea outside the village of Ammoudi, designed for peaceful families, honeymoon couples and chilled-out friends. Inside the three villas flawless tones of blue and white blend with stone arches and parquet floors; beds are plump with pretty netting and windows frame intoxicating azure views. Outside, driftwood tables and cushioned loungers lie on stone terraces with sit-outs and a couple of sea-view Jacuzzis that extend like ship decks over the ocean – waves are often the only sound.
To swim, guests walk down to the private rocky cove or stroll five minutes to the quiet sandy village beach; the largest villa has a pool too. To eat, there are the villas’ modern kitchens and a BBQ or Ammoudi’s trad tavernas. For divers or sailors, the Ionian Sea has secluded coves and spectacular caves to explore. For children, the lush shared garden has a playground. For everything else, there’s concierge-style service from the team. We’re so excited to have discovered their exceptional villas in this hidden corner of Zakynthos and can’t wait to stay.
Highs
- The villas are impeccably decorated; 1 for a couple, 2 for 4-5
- A lovely welcome basket with seasonal fruit and veg, coffee, Greek wine and olive oil, and homemade desserts every other day
- Steps from uncrowded beaches with crystal-clear waters, and private seafront terraces with Jacuzzis, umbrellas and seating
- Daily villa cleaning and a shared laundry room
- For kids, a play area with slides and swings, plus a ping-pong table
Lows
- The two smaller villas are in the same building (but are well separated)
- The two smaller villas have Jacuzzis, only the Standalone villa has a pool
- Bathrooms are rather small
- Ammoudi village has limited amenities; drive to Zakynthos Town (20 mins) for a wider range of restaurants and shops
Best time to go
The mid-season months of June and September are our favourites; warm weather, and touristy sites like Shipwreck Beach are less crowded. July and August are high season – hot and busy, but you can always cool off with a boat trip (the waters here are among the bluest in Greece). May and October are low season months – the weather is still sunny, but in May the sea is still quite cool for swimming. The villas are typically closed from mid-October to late April.
Our top tips
- Boutique Villas
- 3 villas for 2-5
- Self catering (restaurants nearby)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
- Laundry Service
Rooms
There are three villas: two with 2 bedrooms (one of these is a separate building) and one with 1 bedroom (this is located above the other two-bedroom villa).
The standalone two-bedroom villa is ideal for a family or group of friends. On the ground floor, a stone fireplace separates the living and kitchen/dining area, which leads to a garden patio. Past a mezzanine floor, with master double bedroom and bathroom, you reach the second bedroom (2 single beds) and bathroom. The villa has 2 sea-facing verandas: a broad wooden deck with sunloungers and dining table, and a smaller balcony with canopied loveseat on the top floor - as well as a small pool in the garden. An additional guest can sleep in a sofabed in the lounge.
The other two-bedroom villa is on the ground floor of a shared building, but feels very private. Inside, a bright open-plan kitchen/lounge, 2 smart bedrooms (1 queensize, 1 twin), ensuite shower bathrooms, and a big wooden balcony. A green lawn sweeps down to its clifftop terrace where there's a beautiful 4-poster daybed, in addition to sunloungers and a dining table.
Upstairs from this is a one-bedroom villa, a lovely couple's bolthole. We love its pale-blue and white tones, spread across the double bedroom, kitchen/lounge, seaview balcony and a hammock.
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Fan
- Hairdryer
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
The villas are self-catering with well-equipped kitchens and a BBQ. You'll find a bottle of wine, bottled water and Greek olive oil (all for booking through i-escape) plus hand-made marmalade and coffee awaiting you. Ammoudi's mini-markets have morning basics like coffee, juice and bread, and it's a short drive to the big AB supermarket for a full grocery shop. Or ask Antonia to source fresh fish for your supper - a local fisherman will deliver his morning catch and you can grill it on the shared BBQ that night!
For lunch out, Ammoudi Taverna is cheap and cheerful, right on the beach. We hear Shoestring restaurant does a decent burger. For dinner, Kritamo is a lively family-owned spot in the village, that serves up pizza and fun Greek music nights. Zakynthos Town 15km away has lots of restaurants - ask for recommendations.
Features include:
- Coffee maker
- Fridge
- Full kitchen
- Microwave
- Oven
- Restaurants nearby
- Welcome hamper
Activities
- Swim from the rocky cove beneath the villas; there are sunloungers here, too
- The villas have direct access to Ammoudi's village beach - sandy and clean, if rather narrow; you can hire snorkels and kayaks here
- Discover other beaches – Navagio Beach, with the famous shipwreck on its sands, or Xygia, with its therapeutic sulphur waters
- Tour the stunning Blue Caves by boat: their luminous waters and rock arches are glorious (and popular, so go early)
- Scuba dive – there are dive sites off the Keri Bay for experienced divers; staff can arrange PADI-instruction for novices
- Watersports fans can head to Alykes Beach (2km) for jet-skiing, windsurfing, water-skiing, and paragliding; a waterpark for kids is a quick drive away
- Climb up Bohali Hill in Zakynthos town – the ancient Venetian castle at its highest point has a magnificent view of the harbour
- Yoga and Pilates are easily arranged; likewise bike/scooter hire, horse riding, even helicopter tours
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Boat trips
- Cycling
- Jet skiing
- Nightlife
- Sailing
- Shopping / markets
- Snorkelling
- Swimming
- Well being
- Yoga
Kids
Families are welcome and will find this a relaxing place to holiday, thanks to lots of private space, a full kitchen and BBQ in your accommodation, a communal space with washing machine, and direct access to a private beach (quite small) and the public beach of Ammoudi. A baby cot and high chair per villa/apartment can be provided free of charge. Note that only the standalone villa (the largest) has a pool.
Best for:
All ages
Family friendly accommodation:
The two 2-bedroom villas both have 1 queensize and 1 twin, 2 shower bathrooms and space for a baby cot. The 1-bedroom apartment has a shower bathroom and space for a baby cot only.
Baby equipment:
Baby cots and high chairs
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
Kids Activities on site:
Ping pong table; playground with wooden house, slide and swings
Kids Activities nearby:
Beach, boat trips, waterpark, sailing
Families Should Know:
While all balconies, verandas and patios have some form of fencing, you will need to keep an eye on little ones as the villas are very close to the water, and there are steps inside and out.
Distances:
- Airport: 25 minutes (Zakynthos)
- Shop & pharmacy: 2 mins' walk
- Big supermarket & hospital: 20 mins' drive
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
The villas are located on the east coast of Zakynthos (Zante) island, by the village of Ammoudi, 15km from Zakynthos Town.
By Air::
Fly into Zakynthos International Airport (18km) and book a transfer or hire a car to get here. Each villa has a parking space.
By Boat:
Alternatively, ferry here from one of the other islands (Kefalonia is close), and take a taxi.
Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.
More on getting to Greece and getting around
Airports:
- Zakynthos International Airport 18.0 km ZTH
Other:
- Beach 0.1 km
- Shops 0.3 km
- Restaurant 0.3 km