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Travel guide – laganas

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Overview

The hottest spot on the Greek island of Zante (or Zakynthos), particularly with the British 18-30 party crowd, is the resort of Laganas, situated on Zante's south west coast. The resort boasts one of the longest beaches on the Mediterranean, with five and a half miles (9km) of golden sand, washed by warm, translucent waters. The beach is a conservation area for about 1,300 loggerhead turtles that nest on it each year, and visitors are asked to take care not to disturb the nests. This is also the reason for a ban on watersports on Laganas beach. The beach is lined with hotels and apartment blocks, and the town is crammed with restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Having been turned into a holiday fun-spot, there is not much of the traditional Greek island atmosphere left in Laganas, but just a little way out of the resort one can still find authentic Greek villages and peaceful countryside.

Shopping

Laganas abounds with shops, from grocery stores where self-caterers can find all they require (including favourite British brands) to hundreds of souvenir shops that line the main street. Good buys are jewellery, leather goods, designer clothing and local crafts. Don't miss out on the delicious fresh bread and sweet pastries from local bakeries.

Restaurants

Laganas is positively awash with a huge range of restaurants, snack bars and fast food outlets offering all sorts of cuisine from curry or kebabs to pizza or pies. Of course most visitors prefer to go Greek, and there are tavernas aplenty offering delicious Greek dishes. A firm favourite for local cuisine is the Akropolis, set a bit out of the way off of the central crossroads, with good food and good prices. For a quick snack any time of the day or night seek out Mama's Place which serves delectable gyros (kebabs), souvlaki, pizza slices and other fillers, particularly handy for clubbers heading home at dawn (it is opposite one of the top clubs, Rescue, on the main strip). Also scoring top marks is The Blue Sea, which is right on the beachfront, family run and offering Greek favourites in a very relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

Nightlife

By night Laganas seethes with party people filling up the numerous bars and clubs. Reputable DJ's spin all the popular R&B and Hip-Hop tracks from late night through to the small hours and beyond. The top club is Rescue, which is always packed to capacity, offering reasonably priced drinks and very entertaining bar staff who literally set the place on fire with flame-throwing routines. Another hot favourite is the Cherry Bay Beach Club where the DJ occupies a speedboat, the staff wear wetsuits, and patrons can take a communal shower on a podium. Admission to clubs is free. There are also more relaxed cocktail bars and English-style pubs, as well as karaoke bars.

Activities

Laganas is dedicated mainly to fun, sun and partying, but there are some very worthwhile excursions to undertake from the resort. Boat cruises around the island, particularly to view the turtles at the east end of the beach, and to visit Zante's extraordinary sea caves, are very popular. Holidaymakers can also easily access Zakynthos town to explore some museums, historic sites and churches and enjoy a shopping expedition. Watersports are not offered at Laganas beach, but a regular shuttle bus carries visitors to nearby Agios Nikolaos beach, where it is possible to indulge in a variety of aquatic pursuits.

Climate

Zante enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate with mild winters and warm summers. Summers are gently cooled by breezes, called "Meltemia". Zante experiences a fairly heavy rainfall during winter which, together with the fact that it has a number of underground springs, is what makes it greener and more fertile than many other Greek islands.

Health

There are no specific health risks in Greece, but visitors who plan to walk through forested areas are advised to consider vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis. Medical facilities in Greece vary; those in major cities are excellent but many of the islands are some distance from a decent hospital. Food and water are safe, but those visiting for short periods should consider sticking to bottled water. UK nationals are entitled to a refund on emergency hospital treatment under a reciprocal agreement between the UK and Greece, and a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) should be taken on holiday for this purpose. Despite this, all visitors are advised to take out medical insurance. Yellow fever vaccination certificates are required for those arriving from infected areas. Bird flu was detected in swans in northern Greece in February 2006, but stringent measures have been taken to contain the outbreak; no human infections have been reported. The risk to people is believed to be very low, but visitors are advised to avoid any contact with caged, wild or domestic birds, and to ensure that all poultry and egg dishes are well cooked as a precaution.

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Travel Guide by www.wordtravels.com
Disclaimer: By its very nature much of the information in our travel guides is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities. Winter Sunshine Holidays & Globe Media cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.