The Lesante Luxury Hotel & Spa

The Lesante Hotel and Spa is a significant step up -- in terms of quality and comfort -- from the many other holiday resorts in Tvilisi. The grounds are meticulously tended and have an array of outdoor seating, including wicker armchairs with cushions in the pool bar, lounge chairs with parasols near the adult pool, and a covered seating area with slatted wood sun shades at the outdoor restaurant and spa. A shiny marble lobby with glass chandeliers provides the setting for a free welcome drink on arrival.

The hotel is situated at the eastern end of town in a semi-rural area with a few other residences and hotels within walking distance. Some guests have noted that the beach -- a three-minute walk away -- is small and is covered with seaweed. Tsilivi town, where there are numerous shops and restaurants, is a 10-minute walk along a busy road. Zakynthos International Airport takes about 20 minutes to reach by car.

Engineered wood floors go a long way towards giving these simple but updated rooms warmth, and are a welcome alternative to the more typical floor covering of ceramic tiles found at many other hotels on the island. Overall, rooms are streamlined and modern; the Standard Room we viewed had a beachy color palette of blue, brown, and white, and had attractive patterns on the bed runner and accent pillows. The wood veneer furniture and tiny flat-screen TVs bring things down a notch. Bathrooms have white ceramic basin sinks; those in smaller rooms have glass and tile stall showers with rain showerheads; larger rooms have bathtubs. Each room has a balcony with a table and two chairs -- some with views of the sea -- as well as LED reading lights, a fold-out sofa bed, a wall-mounted flat-screen TV, a full-length mirror, a minibar, and air-conditioning.

The Lesante has two restaurants: Ambrosia, which serves buffet breakfasts and dinners, and Neptune, an a la carte restaurant that offers dishes based on local and organic produce at lunch and dinner. There are also two outdoor pools, the larger of which has a palm-tree island in its center and is flanked by a wood patio and a pleasant outdoor bar; this pool also has a small area for children that's been sectioned off. A smaller adult dipping pool sits in a different part of the property. The workout equipment in the fitness center is a bit dated and run-down, but there's enough variety for an adequate workout (a few cardio machines, a strength-training machine, and wall-mounted flat-screen TVs for entertainment). Access to the wet and dry saunas, as well as the indoor pool and whirlpool, are included in the room price.