3 real all-inclusive hotels on Zakynthos – and the best half-board alternatives

How we chose and ordered the hotels

We went through the luxury hotels on Zakynthos and checked each hotel's own website, along with its dining terms where they are published, to see whether it actually sells an all-inclusive board. We noted the exact wording and the date we checked it. Within each group the hotels are ordered by guest score, which works as a sort key and is never shown on the page as a grade.

The list starts with the three all-inclusive hotels. They are followed by seven luxury hotels that sell half board – breakfast and dinner – and not all-inclusive. Each of them is marked as an alternative.

To be included, a hotel has to hold four or five stars and clear our guest-score floor, which is set higher for four-star hotels, with enough reviews behind the score. For the all-inclusive hotels we then checked whether à la carte dining is included, whether international branded drinks are poured, whether there is a named premium or ultra tier, whether food is served around the clock and whether guests praise the food in their reviews. Anything we could not confirm is left blank rather than guessed.

Worth knowing about Zakynthos

Tsilivi and Planos on the north-east coast, a few kilometres north of Zakynthos Town, are home to King Jason Zante, Zante Maris Suites, Olea and Contessina Suites. It is a lively resort strip, with tavernas and bars within walking distance.

Akrotiri, Tragaki and Kypseli, on either side of Tsilivi, are quieter. Lesante Cape sits at Akrotiri, Lesante Blu and Elegance at Tragaki, and Tsamis Zante Suites at Kypseli. Several of these hotels are built on a hillside or above a rocky shore, so a car is handy for evenings out.

Laganas Bay in the south belongs to the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, where loggerhead turtles nest on the beaches. Domes Aulūs Zante stands on the beach at Kalamaki and Cavo Vezal Deluxe at Agios Sostis/Vezal, a short walk from the sea at the edge of the park. Kalamaki is close to the airport, so expect some aircraft noise, while Laganas itself is known for its nightlife. On the nesting beaches, follow the park's signs.

Navagio, the Shipwreck Beach on the north-west coast, and the Blue Caves at the northern tip of the island are the classic boat trips. Most resort hotels close for the winter, so check opening dates before you book.

Hotels we reviewed but left out

Many more hotels went through the same review. These are the ones you are most likely to come across, and the reason each one fell short.

• White Olive Elite Laganas – sells all-inclusive and holds five stars, but its guest score sits just below our floor for five-star hotels.
• Atlantica Eleon Grand Resort – a five-star all-inclusive, likewise just below our guest-score floor.
• Selyria Resort – a five-star all-inclusive, but below our guest-score floor.
• Bitzaro Grande Hotel & Suites – sells all-inclusive and guests like it, but its star class cannot be verified (Booking lists none, other sources say three or four stars), and the bars pour local drinks only.
• Castelli Hotel – Adults Only – an adults-only four-star all-inclusive that guests rate well, but with too few reviews yet.
• Zante Sun Resort – a four-star all-inclusive with too few reviews yet.
• AluaSoul Zakynthos (Hyatt Inclusive Collection) – an adults-only four-star all-inclusive, below our guest-score floor for four-star hotels.
• TUI BLUE Zante Maris, Louis Zante Beach, Zante Royal Resort and other tour-operator hotels – not listed on Booking.com, so there is no guest score we can hold them against.
• Pierros Verde – five stars and very popular with guests, but it sells breakfast only.
• St John Suites – Adults Only – no all-inclusive, only breakfast or breakfast and lunch.

A hotel missing from the list is not one we think poorly of. It means either that we could not verify an all-inclusive package, or that the hotel did not clear our quality floor.