I booked Letsos Hotel in Alykanas, Zakynthos, knowing it was a budget friendly option close to the beach, but I still expected something reasonably polished from a place that sells itself as a well equipped family hotel. My stay ended up being a mix of convenience, frustrations, a few genuine highlights and several compromises I would handle differently if I returned. This is my honest account of what it was actually like to stay there, based on a one week visit in the main summer season.
First Impressions and Check In Reality
My arrival at Letsos Hotel was neither a disaster nor a warm welcome. The complex is large, spread across multiple buildings along the main road through Alykanas. From the street, the pool area with its island bar looks attractive, and there is the reassuring bustle of a mini market, gelateria and car rental right by the entrance. It felt like a small self contained resort village, which was exactly what I had hoped for with limited time to explore.
Check in itself was functional rather than friendly. The reception area is basic but tidy, and I did not have to wait long, yet the process felt oddly transactional. Passports, forms, signatures, and then a quick rundown of rules and extras. This was also the moment when several additional costs were presented quite matter of factly: air conditioning at an extra daily charge, and charges for certain facilities that, in my view, could reasonably have been included. I had read about the extra cost for air conditioning in reviews ahead of time, so it was not a surprise, but it still set a slightly sour tone, especially in high summer when air conditioning is effectively non negotiable.
The staff member who checked me in was not rude, but there was little warmth in the interaction. I got the keys, a map of the property, and a quick, slightly rushed explanation of pool hours, breakfast times and the fact that some of the fancier amenities belonged to the newer deluxe section. There was no offer to help with luggage, though to be fair the walk to my building was short and there are ramps and an elevator, which make independent access manageable.
My first impression, walking through the grounds to the room, was that the hotel is trying to be several things at once: a traditional budget Greek resort, a modest family all rounder, and, in parts, a more upmarket complex with deluxe suites and private pools. That ambition is visible, but so is the unevenness.
The Room: Function Over Finesse
I stayed in one of the standard rooms in the main complex, not in the newer fenced off deluxe area that offers private or shared pools. That turned out to be a crucial distinction. My room was on an upper floor, reached by a combination of ramps and elevator, which I appreciated with luggage in the heat. Inside, it was exactly what a simple Greek island room used to be: tiled floors, two basic beds, a small table, a wardrobe, and a compact bathroom with a shower cubicle.
The positive side is that the room was clean on arrival. Surfaces had been wiped down, the floor was swept, and the bathroom did not show obvious grime. Housekeeping came daily, changing towels every second day and sheets roughly twice a week, which is in line with what the hotel itself advertises. For a budget stay I was satisfied on that front. I never felt the room was being neglected, even if the style was dated.
However, this is also where the age of some rooms shows. Furniture was tired, with scuff marks and that slightly mismatched look that comes from gradual replacements over many seasons. The bathroom in particular felt worn. The shower had decent water pressure and hot water was available at all hours, but the fittings were old and the space small enough that showering almost guaranteed a wet bathroom floor. On a couple of evenings there was a faint drain smell that dissipated after running water, not unbearable but a reminder that the infrastructure is not new.
I had to pay extra to have the air conditioning activated, which I agreed to at reception. It worked, thankfully, and cooled the room effectively, but I would have preferred not to feel like I was being nickeled and dimed for something that is essentially essential in July and August. There was also a safe, again available with an extra fee in the standard rooms, though some of the newer deluxe rooms now advertise a free safe and free in room Wi Fi. My room had Wi Fi access, but connectivity was far more reliable around the pool and reception than inside the room, where it sometimes dropped in the evenings.
Pools, Bars and On Site Facilities
The standout feature of Letsos Hotel, and the one that initially attracted me, is the pool area. The main pool is large and visually impressive, with an island in the middle where the Nisos by Letsos pool bar and restaurant sits. It is surrounded by a generous number of sun loungers and parasols, and there is a separate shallow children’s pool that families seemed to really appreciate. The pool opens from morning until early evening and, in my experience, the staff did enforce closing times, which helped keep late night noise from the pool itself under control.
Most days I could find a lounger without having to play the early morning towel game, though the most desirable spots went quickly on very hot days. The pool water was clear and regularly checked, and I never saw any obvious hygiene issues. From a purely relaxation perspective, this area was one of the best aspects of the hotel. It had that easy, holiday village atmosphere where people drifted between the water, the bar and their loungers without much formality.
The pool bar and restaurant were convenient, if not particularly cheap. Drinks were priced in line with the more touristy bars in the area rather than local tavernas, and snacks, burgers and salads were fine but not memorable. Service here was friendlier than at reception, with bar staff chatting more and generally creating a relaxed vibe. In the evening, the bar sometimes hosted karaoke or themed nights, which some guests clearly enjoyed. If you like quiet evenings, it is worth asking for a room set back from the pool, as the sound carries, especially if the balcony door is open.
Beyond the pool, the on site facilities are a mixed bag. The hotel promotes a gym, wellness services and various extras. In reality, some of these are still evolving. At the time I stayed, the fully equipped indoor gym was operating for certain guests but came with an additional charge. There was advertising for future outdoor fitness spaces and a basketball court. I would describe this side of the offering as a work in progress rather than a firm reason to book. On the other hand, the small playground, games room, mini market and gelateria were genuinely useful if you are traveling with children or simply want simple on site entertainment without walking far.
Location in Alykanas and Getting Around Zakynthos
What ultimately justified my decision to stay at Letsos Hotel was the location. Alykanas is a low key, family oriented resort on the northern side of Zakynthos, and the hotel sits very close to the gently sloping sandy beach. From the reception doors, it took me roughly three to five minutes to walk to the sea, passing a strip of tavernas, bars and small shops. For me, that easy access to both the beach and everyday conveniences overshadowed some of the hotel’s shortcomings.
Alykanas beach itself has shallow, mostly calm water that is ideal for children and anyone who wants to paddle more than swim laps. There are plenty of sunbeds for rent and a mix of quieter and busier sections depending on how far you walk from the main access points. The hotel does not have a truly private beach section, but it is close enough that going back and forth between room, pool and beach is effortless. If I wanted a quick sunset swim before dinner, it was as simple as grabbing a towel and strolling down.
For exploring the rest of Zakynthos, Letsos is reasonably well placed if you are willing to make a bit of effort. There is a local bus that runs between Alykanas and Zakynthos Town, with stops at or near the crossroads and the village center. Schedules can vary by season, and it is worth checking times locally rather than relying on outdated information. I used the bus once to get to town, which worked, but it required some patience. In practice, the car and motorbike rental next to the hotel is the more efficient way to see the island. I rented a small car for two days, arranged directly there, and the convenience of picking it up and dropping it off within a few steps of my room made day trips to spots like Navagio viewpoint and the western cliffs far easier.
Noise from the main road was noticeable, especially in the evenings when passing quad bikes and scooters revved up and down the strip. With the balcony door closed and the air conditioning on, it was manageable, but light sleepers should keep in mind that this is not a secluded escape. You are in the heart of a resort village, with all the accompanying sounds of bars, traffic and late returning guests.
Food, Drink and the Breakfast Question
Letsos Hotel offers breakfast and sometimes half board packages, but I deliberately kept my booking to room only after reading mixed comments about the food. During my stay I tried the buffet breakfast once by paying on the spot, mainly to judge whether I would want it every day. I left feeling that I had made the right call by not committing to it in advance.
The breakfast was edible but uninspired. Standard continental options like bread, spreads, cold cuts and cheese sat next to basic hot items: scrambled eggs, some sort of sausage or bacon, and occasionally grilled vegetables. Coffee was from a machine and tasted like it. It filled a gap but did not make me look forward to mornings. In high season the breakfast room could get crowded, and the buffet sometimes looked a little tired by the end of service.
Given how many tavernas and cafés surround the hotel, it made far more sense to eat out. Within a short stroll I found several places serving much better Greek breakfasts, fresh pastries and proper coffee at similar or only slightly higher prices. For lunch, the pool bar snacks were convenient on days when I did not want to move, but the best meals of my trip were in the small local tavernas scattered around Alykanas and neighboring Alykes, not in the hotel restaurant.
One area where Letsos does do relatively well is the on site supermarket and gelateria. The supermarket has extended opening hours and stocks basic groceries, snacks, drinks, beach accessories and toiletries. It is not the cheapest shop in the region, but the convenience of running downstairs for water, fruit or sunscreen without leaving the complex was invaluable. The gelateria beside it became a regular stop; the ice cream was genuinely good and made evenings around the hotel feel more like a little promenade.
Service, Atmosphere and the Guest Mix
The human side of a hotel stay is often what lingers in memory longest, and at Letsos, service was one of the more uneven aspects of my experience. Some staff members, especially at the bar and housekeeping, were warm, efficient and easy to interact with. Others, particularly at reception, often seemed overstretched or simply operating on autopilot. Requests were usually met, but not always with a smile.
For example, when I asked about late check out, the response was strictly by the book, with little flexibility even though the hotel did not feel at full capacity. I understand that policies exist for a reason, but there was little attempt to offer alternatives or show much interest in my situation. In contrast, when I later needed help with printing boarding passes, the same desk willingly obliged, which made the earlier rigidity feel more like inconsistency than firm policy.
The guest mix at Letsos leans heavily toward families and couples who have come for a relatively affordable week in the sun. There is a friendly, informal vibe around the pool and bar, and I saw children making fast friends in the playground while parents chatted over drinks. There were also some solo travelers and small groups, but this is not a hotel that markets itself as a party destination. Nightlife exists in Alykanas, yet it is mostly low key, with karaoke, sports bars and the odd late night venue rather than big or rowdy clubs.
Noise within the hotel can still be an issue, largely because of how sound travels in the concrete corridors and around the pool area. On a few nights I heard late night conversations in the corridor and balcony chatter from nearby rooms until well past midnight. It was never full scale mayhem, but if you are sensitive to noise, bringing earplugs is not a bad idea. To the hotel’s credit, there is private security on site at night, and when noise tipped into something more serious, I saw staff intervene calmly.
Old Versus New: The Deluxe Section Dilemma
One thing that became clear as my stay progressed was how much of the Letsos story now revolves around the divide between standard rooms and the newer deluxe area located in a fenced off space opposite the main complex. These deluxe rooms, some with access to private or shared pools, look and feel like a different category of hotel. They come with more modern furnishings, better bathrooms and, in some cases, amenities such as a free in room safe and improved Wi Fi. The deluxe pool area is also reserved exclusively for guests staying in that section.
Walking past that fenced section, I sometimes felt like I was looking at the upgraded version of the holiday I was actually having. If your budget allows it and you prefer a more contemporary, slightly quieter environment, opting for a deluxe room is likely to significantly improve your experience of this property. However, it is important to be realistic. Even in the deluxe section, certain extras such as air conditioning may still carry a separate charge, depending on your booking, and you are still part of the same overall complex with shared reception and location.
This split personality explains a lot of the very mixed reviews the hotel receives. Someone staying in a freshly renovated deluxe room with a private pool and using mostly the newer facilities will have a very different impression than a guest in one of the more tired budget studios at the back of the main building. My own stay fell into the latter category, which made the value equation feel less generous. I paid what I consider a fair price for a basic, clean base in a good location, but if I had seen only the glossy images of the deluxe section before arriving, I would have been disappointed.
If I returned, I would either consciously book a deluxe unit and accept the higher cost for a more comfortable environment, or I would choose an entirely different property in the same area that offers more consistent room quality across the board. Sitting in the middle, where the hotel is neither fully budget simple nor reliably modern, is what created some of my frustration.
The Takeaway
Looking back at my week at Letsos Hotel in Zakynthos, I see a place that delivers certain fundamentals very well, while falling short in others. The location close to the beach in Alykanas is excellent. The main pool area is large and genuinely enjoyable. There are real conveniences on site in the form of a supermarket, gelateria, car rental and children’s facilities. The hotel provides daily cleaning and reasonably reliable hot water, and it gives you an easy base from which to explore the island, especially if you rent a vehicle.
At the same time, the hotel feels fragmented. Some rooms are noticeably dated, and the infrastructure in those parts of the complex is beginning to show its age. The additional charges for essentials like air conditioning, safes and certain facilities create a sense that the initial room rate does not tell the whole story. Service is inconsistent, at times warm and helpful, at other times indifferent. Food within the hotel is acceptable but rarely inspiring, and the atmosphere can be noisy, especially around the main pool and road facing rooms.
Would I stay at Letsos Hotel again? Possibly, but not in exactly the same way. If my priority was simply a budget friendly base near a safe, shallow beach, and I was traveling with children who would spend all day in the pool, I could see myself returning, particularly if I secured a good price and accepted in advance that I would likely eat and drink mostly off site. If I wanted a more relaxing, quieter holiday with a stronger emphasis on room comfort and a sense of cohesive service, I would either upgrade firmly into the deluxe section or choose a different hotel altogether.
In the end, Letsos Hotel is worth considering if you are a practical traveler who values location, pool time and convenience over design details and seamless service. It suits families on a budget, groups of friends who plan to be out exploring most days, and anyone who sees a hotel primarily as a place to sleep, swim and shower between beach trips and tavern dinners. Go in with realistic expectations, understand the difference between standard and deluxe offerings, budget for the extras such as air conditioning, and you are likely to have a straightforward, enjoyable stay, even if it never quite rises to the level of the brochure photos.
FAQ
Q1: How close is Letsos Hotel to the beach in Alykanas?
The hotel is only a short walk from Alykanas beach, roughly three to five minutes depending on your pace. You simply exit onto the main road, walk past a handful of tavernas and shops, and you are on the sand. There is no private hotel section, but the public beach in this area is wide, gently shelving and very child friendly.
Q2: Are there extra charges for air conditioning and safes?
Yes, in many of the standard and budget rooms air conditioning is not automatically included in the base room rate. You typically pay a daily fee at reception to have it activated. Safes in these rooms may also carry a charge. Some of the newer deluxe rooms include a free safe and occasionally different arrangements, so it is important to check the details of your specific booking.
Q3: What are the pool facilities like and are they suitable for children?
The main pool at Letsos is large and a central feature of the hotel, with lots of loungers and a pool bar on an island in the middle. There is also a separate shallow children’s pool and a small playground, making the setup very family friendly. The pool is open from morning until early evening, which helps keep late night noise under control.
Q4: How good is the Wi Fi at Letsos Hotel?
Wi Fi coverage is generally strongest around the reception, bar and pool areas. In room Wi Fi in the older parts of the hotel can be unreliable, with occasional drops in the evenings when more guests are connected. Some of the upgraded rooms have better connectivity, but if you rely on stable internet for work, you may find it patchy and should plan accordingly.
Q5: Is breakfast worth including in the booking?
In my experience, the buffet breakfast is serviceable but basic, with standard continental items and a few hot dishes. It fills you up but does not stand out. Because the hotel is surrounded by cafés and tavernas offering more appealing options, I preferred to book room only and decide each morning whether to eat at the hotel or head out for something fresher and more local.
Q6: What is the difference between the standard rooms and the deluxe section?
The standard rooms are in the main complex and tend to be simpler and more dated, though usually clean and functional. The deluxe section is in a separate, fenced off area opposite the hotel and features newer rooms with more modern décor, better bathrooms and, in some cases, private or shared pools. Guests in the deluxe section also have access to their own pool area, which feels a bit quieter and more upmarket.
Q7: Is Letsos Hotel noisy at night?
Noise levels vary by room location and time of year. Rooms near the main road and the pool are more exposed to traffic sounds, bar music and general guest activity. While the pool area closes in the evening, you can still hear conversations and the occasional karaoke night. Choosing a room set back from the road or in the deluxe section, and bringing earplugs if you are a light sleeper, will make a difference.
Q8: How easy is it to explore the rest of Zakynthos from the hotel?
Alykanas has bus connections to Zakynthos Town, though schedules can be limited and change by season, so it is wise to check locally. In practice, renting a car or scooter from the rental office next to the hotel is the most convenient way to explore. With a vehicle, you can comfortably visit places like Navagio viewpoint, the Blue Caves and the western cliffs on day trips.
Q9: What kind of travelers is Letsos Hotel best suited to?
The hotel is best suited to practical travelers who prioritize a good location, a large pool and family friendly facilities over high end room design or ultra attentive service. Families with children, couples on a budget and groups of friends planning to spend most of their days on the beach or exploring the island are likely to get the most value from staying here.
Q10: Would you personally stay at Letsos Hotel again?
I might, but only under certain conditions. I would either book into the newer deluxe section and accept the higher cost for a more comfortable room, or treat it strictly as a budget base and adjust my expectations accordingly, planning to eat mostly in local tavernas and budgeting for extras like air conditioning. If I were looking for a quiet, more refined escape, I would probably choose a different hotel in the same area.