Lesante Blu The Leading Hotels of the World

"We stayed at this hotel recently, and although it is classed as a 5-star establishment, we were quite disappointed with certain aspects of our visit. The hotel was preparing to close for the winter season during our stay, and as a result, there were staff members constantly moving and putting furniture away. This really disrupted the atmosphere and made the place feel like it was shutting down rather than offering a luxury experience. Because of this, we would not return. In our opinion, a true 5-star hotel should not allow guests to experience this kind of end-of-season packing up. Additionally, the cost of alcoholic drinks at the hotel was extremely high, far more than we expected, especially given the overall experience. While the hotel has potential and some good qualities, these issues left us feeling let down."

"Lesante Blu is a very nice hotel in well maintained grounds, with good access to a small section of beach, but it didn't quite hit the excellent level for us. We had booked bed and breakfast, which provided a great start to the day with a wide selection of tasty dishes and very friendly staff on hand to serve you, especially Peggy. The same staff were generally on hand for dinner in the Gaia restaurant, so service was just as good as at breakfast. The food was also good, though a bit overpriced, but not as much as the wine. We did push the boat out on one evening and enjoyed the Meia fine dining and wine paring, which was very enjoyable. The room was comfortable; however, the combination of the overhang from the room above and the northeast facing aspect meant that the terrace was always in the shade, as was the individual pool we had paid extra for, but didn't use because it was just too cold to enjoy. We spent a few days on the hotel's small beach and enjoyed swimming in the sea, which maintained a comfortable depth for quite a distance out. We also enjoyed swimming in the communal pool, which benefits from being in the sun throughout the day. The pool is large enough for it not to feel too busy, although the poolside area did, so on one afternoon when we couldn't find space, we thought we would try the indoor pool, but were surprised when we were told that would be €30 per person, or €50 for a couple. The gym is small, with limited equipment, so even with only a handful of users, it began to feel uncomfortable. The hotel is quite remote, with no coastal paths nearby, so any walking off its grounds is alongside fairly busy and nondescript country roads. There is a good bus service nearby, allowing you to get into the centre of Zakynthos for €2 each way, but to make the most of your time on this island you probably need to hire a car."

"This is a truly beautiful and luxurious resort. Our room was on an upper floor, was spacious, and had a lovely view across the water. The beach is small (and reached via stairs) but the water is clear, relatively warm, and was calm during our early September stay. There is no need to rush to get a beach chair in the morning - there were some still available when we arrived around 11 am. More plush seating, some with excellent shade, is available (in limited amounts) on an elevated platform just behind the beach. (Note that the umbrellas over the beach chairs are not solid, providing dappled shade that cools but doesn’t fully protect from the sun.) The pool is a highlight - offering both the deep infinity pool section and a less-deep section more suitable for standing. This is a true “infinity pool” with little visual separation between the pool and the sea below, and swimming along its length, with that amazing view, was a real pleasure. The pool loungers were excellent - with very thick and plush cushions that were far more comfortable than any I have ever encountered. Dining was also a pleasure. Almera Beach House is a lovely setting for lunch or drinks. Dinner at the Ostria restaurant by the pool was a delight, and there is usually musical entertainment during dinner. On the nights we dined there, the music was pleasant and enjoyable (things you might hear on an “easy listening” radio station), and more importantly, played at a pleasant volume suitable for relaxing fine dining, not overpowering conversation. My favorite was the guitar and viola combo. The Dover sole was the best I’ve ever had, and my husband raved about his red snapper and the sauce that came with it. Breakfast offered many options, and included made-to-order eggs and other dishes, as well as the buffet. Soft, live music during breakfast some mornings added an elegant touch. For a relaxing stay in a beautiful setting with understated elegance, good dining, and beautiful views, I highly recommend this resort."