White Olive Elite Laganas

White Olive Elite Laganas is an all-inclusive property in Laganas, the main resort town on the south coast of Zakynthos. That format suits a particular kind of trip: you arrive, settle in and spend your days between the pool, the beach and a few organised excursions, without the daily question of where to eat. Laganas gives the all-inclusive guest an unusually good setting for this, because the sand is wide, the water is shallow and clear and the boats to the turtle bay and the Keri caves leave from the same stretch of coast.

Be clear about what all-inclusive means on a given property. Plans differ in which meals, snacks and drinks they cover, in the hours the bars operate and in whether activities and sunbeds are included, so read the details on the property page and ask about extras such as premium drinks, a la carte restaurants and towel charges.

All-inclusive suits families with children, groups with different tastes and anyone who wants to control the budget in advance. It suits less well travellers who love trying local tavernas, so consider using the plan for breakfast and lunch and eating out in the evening.

Laganas offers plenty of reasons to leave the resort. The seafront strip has tavernas and shops, the marine-park beaches are a short drive or boat ride away, and day trips run to Navagio, the Blue Caves and the mountain villages. Since the northwest is more than an hour away, pick one big day for it and let the rest of the week be slower. A glass-bottom boat or turtle-spotting trip is a gentle way to explore the bay with children.

Season and noise are the practical points. The resort is at its busiest from June to September, when the main strip is lively late into the night, so ask for a room away from the bars if you value sleep. May, early June, September and October bring milder weather and thinner crowds, while from November to March most seasonal businesses close.

Check airport transfer options when you book, since the airport is near and a transfer is simple. As with all package-style resorts, the best value comes from reading the inclusions carefully and matching them to how you really spend a holiday day.

One more tip is to confirm the check-in and check-out times and what the property does with your luggage on departure day, since many flights leave in the evening and a late afternoon wait is easier with a towel, a shower option and somewhere shaded to sit. Ask too about wristbands, quiet hours and the rules on bringing food to the pool.