Travel Tips for a more enjoyable stay at Zakynthos

Marina compiles a long list of essential DOs and DON'Ts!
Hopefully this list will make your stay at Zakynthos more enjoyable!

DOs:

1. Stock up on all summer paraphernalia, such as hat, sun glasses, cool bag, high factor sun block and comfy/light beach-wear, as temperatures in the summer months may well reach 40C and beyond!
2. Make sure you travel around the island and beyond commercial tourist hot-spots as Zakynthos has ample hidden corners and gems waiting to be discovered and explored.
3. Get a good road map of the island to help you familiarise with all the (well and not so well – travelled) paths available.
4. Experience multiple transport mathods to get around the island ( such us boat, cycling, off-road bike etc).
5. Try the local cuisine and wine in many of the island's traditional tavernas which cater for all preferences and needs including meat recipes, vegeterian options and fish delicassies.
6. Mingle with the locals especially in the small villages; they are friendly, hospitable and eager to share many stories past and present (whether you will be able to understand them or not... that's a different story).
7. Taste traditional sweet delicassies fytoura, pasteli, mantolato and paksimadi.
8. Find a quiet spot for star gazing and night swimming especially during the August fullmoon period.
9. Treat yourself to the following: around 6 or 7 pm in the evening find your perfect spot on one of Zakynthos' stunning beaches, away from the crowds, lie back, close your eyes and listen to the constant rhythmic whisper of the waves – total bliss, right there!
10. Experience both the sandy beaches with warm waters of the South as well as the deep, cool waters and pebbly beaches of the North.
11. Look out for delicious local delicassies pretza and ladotyri if you are a cheese lover. You can only taste pretza in the local tavernas as the old recipe is a well-kept Zakynthian secret, which means that you will not be able to find this soft, creamy and salty cheese in any of the local shops. You can however find good quality ladotyri in local markets and supermarkets.
12. Watch the sunset from Schiza in Kampi in the North-West of the island. Try to get to the top of the hill around 7.30 pm to secure a good spot at the balcony ofStavros (traditional taverna) and watch the sun’s slow decend into the deep blue Ionian waters. Unmisable!
13. Find out about the many local festivals and religious celebrations if you really want to experience the true Zakynthian spirit. Memorable dates and events: St Marina's (17th of July), the celebration of the Virgin Mary (15th of August) and St Dionysios celebration patron saint of the island (24th of August). There are also wine and food festivals and numerous cultural events to look out for like the classical music Ionion Festival, the annual Jazz Festival, gigs, plays, children’s events etc. Find out more in the local information outlets in the town centre.
14. Respect the island's ecological significance whilst being mindful of and avoiding any options that may compromise the natural eco-system and birth place of the loggerhead turtle Caretta Caretta.

DON’Ts:

1. Fall for cheap tourist packages that compromise Zante's significant eco-system especially those tour operators that tend to chase after the turtles to allow tourists to get the all important photo shot.
2. Say 'thank you' before you have received your change to your purchase as it may well be misunderstood for the familiar Greek keep-the-change-code... unless that is what you wanted in the first place!
3. Buy cheap 3-pound-flip-flops if you are a keen explorer because a) attempting to delve into off-road tracks such as olive groves would result in your accumulation of various splinters and thorns of all sorts and b) leaving them exposed in the sun could result in their severe disfiguration or complete melt-down (facts gained by experience!)
4. Remove natural life from the seaside (such as seashells, branches, pebbles) however tempting it may be as they help balance the island's natural world. Removing one shell from the sand is one thing; removing a bag-full of shells or pebbles is another.
5. Fall asleep under the sun and especially between the hours of 12 and 5. Your possibilities of earning the unwelcoming sun-burn memento is very high indeed.
6. Gesture 'five' with your palm facing the Greek you are trying to get directions (to-the- nearest-beach-because- you are-boiling- hot-already-having-just-walked-five-minutes-from-your-accomodation-hoping-to-do-some-serous-sight-seeing) from as it may well be misunderstood for the emblematic moutza (national offensive and not so delicate hand gesture).
7. Wave back to the crazy driver who's whizzing past the stop sign and shows you his open palm in response to your tooting him; he is definetely not saying 'sorry mate, I was in the wrong' he is most probably giving you the aformentioned moutza treatment...
8. Forget to take a strong insect repeller with you as it will be a fatal error... there are serious mosquitos in Zakynthos and boy do they bite!

TOP TIP: TO GET THE MOST OUT OF ZAKYNTHOS YOU NEED TO BE YOURSELF, SPONTANEOUS AND TRUST YOUR SENSES... EVERY THING IS WORTH REMEMBERING IF YOU LIVE IT TO THE FULL... AND THAT’S THE ROAD TO INSPIRATION! ENJOY THIS PARADISE ON EARTH!