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Overlooking the sea on the Greek island of Zakynthos, Windmill Bay Hotel is an ideal location for a relaxing sunshine holiday. The 4 star hotel has been renovated and reopened in spring 2022 as a stylish, contemporary hotel with an emphasis on modern Greek design combined with every comfort. With 57 rooms and suites, the hotel is ideally located right by the sea, at the quieter end of Argassi resort. From airport to sun bed is only a 15 minute drive and you’re also just 15 minutes from the island’s capital, Zante town.
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An introduction to Windmill Hotels in Zakynthos
Windmill Bay is owned by my sister Jenny and husband Dennis, who also own Windmill Hotel just down the road in Argassi. With their children now involved in the family business, Windmill Bay is managed by my niece Sophia, whose vision it was to renovate the whole hotel and bring it up to 4 star level.
Windmill Bay is the second hotel that Jenny and Denis built and the original Windmill Hotel down the road, was named after the old ruined windmill that stood on the hill. With tourism expanding on the island, in 2002 they built Windmill Bay Hotel on another plot of family land by the sea.
Now that the next generation is involved in the business, two more stylish seaside restaurants have been opened to add to the portfolio. Anadalis restaurant is located at Windmill Bay and Kavo seaside restaurant is by the sea opposite Windmill Hotel.
Enjoy a holiday by the sea in Greece at Windmill Bay Hotel in Zakynthos
Sea views at Windmill Bay
The semicircular design of Windmill Bay means that all rooms look out towards the sea or across the bay to Zante town. From the pool area you can walk directly into the clear sea water, crossing a small strip of sand and pebbles. Within a short drive along the coast there are some of the best sandy beaches on the island, which you can easily visit if you have a hire car or take one of the beach buses that run that way in the summer.
Bedrooms at Windmill Bay
All the rooms at Windmill Bay have fantastic sea views, with a balcony or sitting area. During the renovation the latest technology and services were added, so there’s excellent wifi, a multi-channel satellite flat screen TV, telephone and of course air conditioning, which you’ll need in the Greek summer.
Every room has a fridge to keep your drinks cool with kettle and Nespresso machine. There are now 57 rooms and suites in the hotel, which offer the latest contemporary styling. Cool white walls reflect the Greek sunshine, with natural furnishings and accents of blue and turquoise from the sea and sky.
Bathrooms are stylish but uncluttered with stone basins, walk in showers and accents of sea green tiles. My favourite Greek Apivita brand of toiletries is used throughout the hotel, with larger refillable hand soap bottles to save on single use plastic and individual sizes of shampoo, conditioner and body lotion.
Superior Double Sea View
These spacious bedrooms are 22 square metres and are ideal for couples or two friends. The decor varies slightly with each room but each use restful colours and contemporary furnishings, with accents in the shower and room accessories of sea blue, green and grey set against natural woods and fabrics. Beds can be arranged as a large double or as twin beds.
Enjoy a holiday by the sea in Greece at Windmill Bay Hotel in Zakynthos
Junior Suite Sea View
These suites are 40 square metres and they have a bedroom with separate lounge area. In the bedroom is a large double bed and within the lounge area, the single chair turns into a single bed and the sofa turns into a double bed. The decor is restful and contemporary with accents of sea blue and green. There are 12 Junior suites available over all three floors of the hotel.
Superior Suite Sea View with Jacuzzi
These suites really have the Wow! factor, with a round jacuzzi bathtub overlooking the sea. At 55 square metres, these are the largest suites, with a bedroom and separate lounge. The bedroom has a large double bed and an en suite shower room with stand alone jacuzzi offering sea views. The separate lounge area has a chair that turns into a single bed and a sofa that turns into a double bed. These suites are especially popular with bridal parties and honeymooners.
This suite has two shower rooms, one en suite in the bedroom, the other in the lounge area and each area also has its own TV. The decor is restful and contemporary with accents of sea blue and green. There are 3 Superior Suites with Jacuzzi, one on each floor of the hotel, with three separate balcony areas offering views directly out to sea as well as over the pool.
Enjoy a holiday by the sea in Greece at Windmill Bay Hotel in Zakynthos
Superior Suite Ground Floor with Jacuzzi
These ground floor suites are ideal for families or those who want more space, located on the ground floor with a large jacuzzi overlooking the pool. The suites offer a bedroom with large double bed, en suite bathroom with walk in shower and vanity area with basin. In the separate lounge area is a chair that turns into a single bed and a sofa that turns into a double bed.
The ground floor suites offer a large, outdoor sitting area with comfy padded loungers, padded wall seat and a table and chairs under a shaded area. In addition each ground floor suite has its own large rectangular jacuzzi for a bit of extra luxury and fun. The decor is restful and contemporary with accents of sea blue and green. There are 9 Superior Suites on the ground floor with jacuzzi.
Poolside bar at Windmill Bay Hotel
Throughout the day there’s a poolside bar at Windmill Bay serving drinks, coffees, snacks and a wide range of lunchtime dishes (available whenever you like to take your lunch on holiday!). I’ve eaten at the poolside bar many times and there’s something for every taste from brunch dishes, kid’s meals and salads to good value souvlaki platters, baguettes and wraps.
The poolside bar keeps serving until 6pm when they continue to offer drinks and cocktails but the daytime menu is no longer available as the kitchen switches to the Anadalis restaurant menu. Although it’s right by the sea and swimming pool, the poolside bar has glazed doors that can be closed off on windy days or early in the season when the weather’s a bit cooler.
Breakfast at Windmill Bay Hotel
Until 10am, a buffet breakfast selection is served in the poolside bar and guests can also sit at the tables overlooking the sea that are part of the Anadalis restaurant in the evening. There’s a varied spread of self service hot dishes like bacon, scrambled eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms for those who like to stick to a traditional English breakfast on holiday.
Also on offer is a varied selection of pastries, breakfast cereals, breads, fruit and yoghurt, with a range of cheese and cold meats and olives for a continental style of breakfast. Each day I noticed there are a few different items that are house specialties, such as banana bread, mini bruschetta or warm pancakes drizzled with chocolate.
Enjoy a holiday by the sea in Greece at Windmill Bay Hotel in Zakynthos
Sunbathing and swimming at Windmill Bay Hotel
Many guests like to use the sun loungers next to the swimming pool on the grassy area overlooking the sea. Of course the ground floor suites have their own enclosed relaxation areas with super comfy rocking loungers and a private jacuzzi. In addition to the oval swimming pool, there’s a smaller splash pool for the kids to enjoy.
Another option if you prefer a quieter atmosphere, is to use the sun loungers in the grassy relaxation area that’s on the other side of Anadalis restaurant, where there’s also a children’s play area. This space overlooks the sea with steps into the water so you can easily swim from here.
Anadalis Restaurant at Windmill Hotel
A big attraction of Windmill Bay Hotel is the lovely Anadalis Restaurant, which offers a wonderful location for dining by the sea. The restaurant opened in 2015 and has built a big reputation on the island, as a place to enjoy a very special dinner and see the sun setting over the sea.
Anadalis serves delicious Mediterranean cuisine, that’s beautifully presented and a feast for all the senses. There are options for fish, vegetarian and meat dishes but this is also a haven for steak lovers, since a special cabinet is devoted to prime cuts of dry aged beef from a farm in central Greece.
Cocktails are always a pleasure to order at Anadalis, since they often come with the most beautiful decoration along with a swirl of dry ice. If you are a wine lover, choose from the range of excellent fine wines stored in the glass “wine cellar’ chosen by sommelier Nikos, who also manages the restaurant.
In addition to Anadalis there are a huge number of restaurants within walking distance of Windmill Bay Hotel, including Kavo Seaside Restaurant, another of the family restaurants that’s located just a short walk away by the sea, opposite Windmill Hotel.
Reception area at Windmill Bay
You’ll find a warm welcome at Windmill Bay Hotel, with receptionists who are fluent in English and waiting to help you. Reception staff can assist with anything you need such as tours and boat trips, taxis, car hire or restaurant recommendations and bookings.
The reception area is spacious and cool, with a quiet seating area if you’re waiting for a taxi and a bookshelf you can borrow from if you run out of holiday reading. As you walk into reception there’s an inviting view through to the swimming pool and sea which is guaranteed to put you in a holiday mood!
There are three parking areas for your hire car at Windmill Bay: In front of the hotel adjoining reception, across the road and down the slope to a further parking area for the Anadalis restaurant.
Enjoy a holiday by the sea in Greece at Windmill Bay Hotel in Zakynthos
Location of Windmill Bay Hotel Zakynthos
If you want your holiday to start as soon as you get off the plane, Windmill Bay is ideally located just a 15 minute taxi or bus ride from the airport. It’s also an easy 15 minutes by car from the island capital of Zante town, where there’s a pretty harbour, plenty of shops and restaurants and all the services you might need. As the road runs south from Zante town, Argassi is the first holiday resort you reach, with plenty of shops, bars and restaurants.
Windmill Bay and Windmill Hotel are located at the quieter end of the resort, backed by olive groves, so that you can easily walk to the heart of the resort, yet enjoy a peaceful stay. The south of the island as the road continues from Argassi through Vasilikos, has some of the most lovely beaches on Zakynthos, with broad stretches of sand, backed by dunes. It’s on these sandy beaches that the famous Caretta Caretta turtles make their nests, and if you’re lucky you may spot one on a boat trip.
Hire a car to access beaches such as Banana Beach, Gerakas beach or Dafni beach, take a public bus, or get one of the free beach buses that run through the summer season to Banana beach. Or you might just be tempted to relax by the pool at Windmill Bay and swim in the sea from there, since the water is generally calm and shallow by the hotel.
I love Windmill Bay’s location on the edge of the resort where the buildings start to give way to olive groves and you can swim in the clear calm water. In the evening, watch the sun set over Zante town and then see the lights gradually come on across the bay.
Zakynthos is a fantastic island to visit during the holiday season when direct flights run to the island from April to October. I particularly enjoy visiting the island in the early summer when the island is fresh and covered with wildflowers or in September when the weather’s still warm and the cyclamen are blooming in the olive groves. Having said that, there’s definitely a fun, party atmosphere when you come in high season too!
How to book Windmill Bay
If you have already booked your flight to Zakynthos, you can book rooms at Windmill Bay either directly on the Windmillhotelszante.com website or via Booking.com – compare prices and book here.
If you are looking for a package of flight and accommodation, check out the following companies – search their websites for Windmill Bay Hotel or ask your travel agent.
UK: TUI, Jet2holidays
Netherlands: TUI Netherlands
Scandinavia: Apollo, Aurinko
If you want to read more about things to do on Zakynthos, do check out my other articles here
Enjoy a holiday by the sea in Greece at the Windmill Bay Hotel
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Note: This article has been re-written and updated following the hotel’s renovation in 2022.
This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com
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