JUST because you book a package holiday to Greece doesn’t mean you’re restricted to your allocated resort, or even the same island, writes Lisa James.
Hiring a car gives the freedom to explore your surroundings at leisure, then hop on a ferry to check out neighbouring islands.
Zante, also known as Zykanthos, is one of Greece’s Ionian islands. It is only 25 miles long, so it is easy to get from one end of the island to the other by car.
But beware, only a handful of roads are tarmacked, many of the smaller roads are nothing more than dirt tracks, and as the island is mountainous, be prepared for some hair-raising moments.
My base was the family-run Cronulla Studios in Kalamaki, a quiet resort which is ideally suited for families.
It is a short drive away from Laganas, the place to go for nightlife on Zante. Argassi is a friendly seaside resort south of Zante town.
One particular spot of beach which runs from Laganas to Kalamaki is the hatching ground for loggerhead turtles, and many operators run turtle spotting sailing trips
Heading southwest of Kalamaki leads to the quieter resorts around Vassilikos. Nearby Ag Nikolaos has excellent water sports facilities.
A 45-minute drive to the north of Zante leads to the ferry port where you can hop on a boat for the nearby island of Kefalonia.
The largest of the Ionian islands, Kefalonia is more mountainous and quieter than Zante. For nightlife, head to Argostoli and Lassi. For quiet beaches, Poros, Scala and Katelios are all good bets.