Pros

  • Well-priced, family-friendly hotel near Tsilivi's beach and main drag
  • All-inclusive packages include meals, drinks, snacks, and ice cream
  • Air-conditioned rooms have attractive, contemporary decor
  • Apartments with kitchenettes and sleeper sofas are ideal for families
  • Child-friendly amenities consist of a kids' pool and playground
  • Sunny outdoor pool with terrace loungers, umbrellas, and music
  • Buffet restaurant with rooftop terrace, plus low-key bar entertainment
  • Gym, sauna, and mini-market on-site
  • Free Wi-Fi (common areas only)
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Cons

  • Fees for in-room Wi-Fi, safes, and AC
  • Bathrooms are tiny, and rooms in the basement are dark
  • Food and evening entertainment is reportedly mediocre
  • Beds can be twins pushed together (common in Greece)
  • Hotel only open May through mid-October (common in Greece)
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Bottom Line

The mid-range Planos Beach Hotel is set a stone's throw from Tsilivi's golden-sand beach, shops, bars, and restaurants. Penny-pinching Brits and Europeans come here to bask in the sun without breaking the bank, and terrace loungers around a sunny pool with a kiddy section offer just that. All-inclusive packages covering drinks and buffet dining are attractive, but don't expect much in the way of quality. Decor strength lies in the 50 rooms, which are contemporary and outfitted with flat-screen TVs, wardrobes, and mini-fridges. Balconies in most are pleasant, but multiple in-room amenities incur fees, as do the hotel's gym and sauna. With better-received dining, the Zante Star is a good (but less central) alternative.

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Kids Club
  • Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

Planos Beach Hotel

Scene

Cheap and cheerful family-geared hotel near the beach

Not to be confused with sister Porto Planos Beach Hotel across the street, the Planos Beach Hotel's family-oriented setups tick a lot of boxes. All-inclusive packages covering meals, drinks, snacks, and ice cream are a big draw, though dining here gets mixed reviews, and suspicions of watered-down alcoholic beverages have raised a few eyebrows. Fortunately, positioning near a bar and restaurant-packed drag and Tsilivi Beach is excellent, plus there's a fair amount on-site. A sunny outdoor pool is the focal point, and additional lounging on a rooftop terrace has a touch of sophistication from light-weight dining furniture under a canopy. While many find evening bingo and quiz nights dull, these generally please the older couples here. Expect a fair bit of activity, since kids and poolside music are buzzing. Rock-bottom rates mean fees for nearly everything, but all considered, it's still a good pick. Note, the property is only open May through mid-October, though that's common for Greece.

See More Scene

Location

Well-placed a few minutes from Tsilivi's beach, bars, and restaurants

The hotel occupies a great spot, a two-minute walk to expansive stretches of golden sands at Tsilivi Beach, where a harbor at the western tip has a Venetian watchtower. Travelers need only walk five minutes for downtown Tsilivi's bars, affordable restaurants, shops, and supermarkets. Tsilivi Water Park is 10 minutes on foot, and nearby busses run to the island's capital, Zakynthos, in 15 minutes. Nightlife and museums here offer variety, and historic squares are beautiful. Free street parking is a good solution to the lack of private parking, and the hotel's road receives little traffic. Zakynthos International Airport is 17 minutes away by car.

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Rooms

Comfortable rooms and apartments, with balconies in most

Facing the pool, gardens, nearby buildings, or the sea (in upgraded units), straightforward rooms are outfitted in mostly contemporary decor -- some adding stylish touches. They have glossy floors, light walls, dark striped or blonde-wood furniture, and a neutral palette with purple or red accents in some. Textured walls, harbor or island photography, and/or backlighting are pleasant touches amid otherwise underwhelming furnishings. Notable downsides include the charges for in-room Wi-Fi, electronic safes, and air-conditioning. Small furnished balconies are pleasant, but dark basement rooms lack these. 

Studios have twin or queen-size beds, desks, flat-screen TVs, kettles, and mini-fridges. Apartments add sofa beds to sleep up to four, and kitchenettes with electric hot plates, dining areas, and tubs in bathrooms. Alternative cubicle showers are tiny, albeit modern, and select ones have rainfall showerheads. All bathrooms have toiletries and hairdryers. Note that beds can be two twins pushed together, but that's common for the region. Rooms can be fitted with cribs and they start at a decent 269 square feet (25 square meters).  

See More Rooms

Features

All-inclusive food and drinks, a relaxed pool, gym, and sauna

Alongside all-inclusive food and drinks, the hotel packs in decent features for the price, although a stay here sometimes means compromising on quality. Offering indoor and rooftop al fresco dining, Estia's buffets offer kid-friendly pastas, salads, and entrees, plus Greek specialities. Cooked dishes aren't regularly replenished though, especially at breakfast (which offers hot and cold spreads). Aside from a splash of orange on outdoor tables, bar and restaurant layouts are bland. The adjacent rooftop terrace is more attractive, and topped by blue and white loungers under umbrellas. The outdoor pool is a decent size and gets a good amount of sun, and a separate kiddy pool gives little ones their own space. Fees apply for the sauna and simple gym, where equipment is limited and outdated. A playground offers more kiddy fun, and the on-site mini-market is handy. Pets are not permitted. Wi-Fi is free in common areas. 

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Planos Beach Hotel

Scene

Cheap and cheerful family-geared hotel near the beach

Not to be confused with sister Porto Planos Beach Hotel across the street, the Planos Beach Hotel's family-oriented setups tick a lot of boxes. All-inclusive packages covering meals, drinks, snacks, and ice cream are a big draw, though dining here gets mixed reviews, and suspicions of watered-down alcoholic beverages have raised a few eyebrows. Fortunately, positioning near a bar and restaurant-packed drag and Tsilivi Beach is excellent, plus there's a fair amount on-site. A sunny outdoor pool is the focal point, and additional lounging on a rooftop terrace has a touch of sophistication from light-weight dining furniture under a canopy. While many find evening bingo and quiz nights dull, these generally please the older couples here. Expect a fair bit of activity, since kids and poolside music are buzzing. Rock-bottom rates mean fees for nearly everything, but all considered, it's still a good pick. Note, the property is only open May through mid-October, though that's common for Greece.

See More Scene

Location

Well-placed a few minutes from Tsilivi's beach, bars, and restaurants

The hotel occupies a great spot, a two-minute walk to expansive stretches of golden sands at Tsilivi Beach, where a harbor at the western tip has a Venetian watchtower. Travelers need only walk five minutes for downtown Tsilivi's bars, affordable restaurants, shops, and supermarkets. Tsilivi Water Park is 10 minutes on foot, and nearby busses run to the island's capital, Zakynthos, in 15 minutes. Nightlife and museums here offer variety, and historic squares are beautiful. Free street parking is a good solution to the lack of private parking, and the hotel's road receives little traffic. Zakynthos International Airport is 17 minutes away by car.

See More Location

Rooms

Comfortable rooms and apartments, with balconies in most

Facing the pool, gardens, nearby buildings, or the sea (in upgraded units), straightforward rooms are outfitted in mostly contemporary decor -- some adding stylish touches. They have glossy floors, light walls, dark striped or blonde-wood furniture, and a neutral palette with purple or red accents in some. Textured walls, harbor or island photography, and/or backlighting are pleasant touches amid otherwise underwhelming furnishings. Notable downsides include the charges for in-room Wi-Fi, electronic safes, and air-conditioning. Small furnished balconies are pleasant, but dark basement rooms lack these. 

Studios have twin or queen-size beds, desks, flat-screen TVs, kettles, and mini-fridges. Apartments add sofa beds to sleep up to four, and kitchenettes with electric hot plates, dining areas, and tubs in bathrooms. Alternative cubicle showers are tiny, albeit modern, and select ones have rainfall showerheads. All bathrooms have toiletries and hairdryers. Note that beds can be two twins pushed together, but that's common for the region. Rooms can be fitted with cribs and they start at a decent 269 square feet (25 square meters).  

See More Rooms

Features

All-inclusive food and drinks, a relaxed pool, gym, and sauna

Alongside all-inclusive food and drinks, the hotel packs in decent features for the price, although a stay here sometimes means compromising on quality. Offering indoor and rooftop al fresco dining, Estia's buffets offer kid-friendly pastas, salads, and entrees, plus Greek specialities. Cooked dishes aren't regularly replenished though, especially at breakfast (which offers hot and cold spreads). Aside from a splash of orange on outdoor tables, bar and restaurant layouts are bland. The adjacent rooftop terrace is more attractive, and topped by blue and white loungers under umbrellas. The outdoor pool is a decent size and gets a good amount of sun, and a separate kiddy pool gives little ones their own space. Fees apply for the sauna and simple gym, where equipment is limited and outdated. A playground offers more kiddy fun, and the on-site mini-market is handy. Pets are not permitted. Wi-Fi is free in common areas. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Babysitting Services

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Beach

  • Cabanas

  • Cable

  • Children's Pool

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Kids Club

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Supervised Kids Activities

  • Swim-Up Bar

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.