Please help me with a Greek holiday!

[TokyoSushi]

I'd really like to go on a summer holiday to the Greek islands, but I really don't know where to start! I look every year, but can't really figure out where to go, so end up back at the Balearics/Canaries, again!

I want: lovely weather (we're fine even with very hot) scenic, lovely food, not somewhere 'quiet' - I'd like some bars/restaurants/shops, biggish pool for the DC, access to a beach, wifi, moon on a stick?!

Am I best going self-catering rather than half-board etc? Budget is not particularly big, about £2.5/3K for 10 nights in August.

Me, DH, DC 9 & 11, all fit and well!

Hello! We were in that position in 2019. First family holiday in 6 years and simply did not want to get it wrong, as our previous family holiday to Spain which we sorted ourselves was a mistake.

So we telephoned Sunvil. Told them in the course of a fairly lengthy conversation what we wanted (type of accommodation- proximity to restaurants and the beach etc) and they came up with 3 recommendations based on our price range. The one we chose was perfect and I have no doubt the others would have been too. It was just wonderful! We are hoping to go to Cyprus this year and have not even bothered to do anything but say 'We'll talk to Sunvil'.

www.sunvil.co.uk

I only have that one experience but cannot recommend it more highly.

Hope you have a lovely time. :)

If you look at the more popular resorts on the bigger islands then you can’t go too far wrong

Personally we love Kardamena in Kos, lively without being overrun by teens / early 20s and picturesque

Lindos / Pefkos in Rhodes are also great - and there’s generally budget options in all of the above

I wouldn’t go AI as Greek food is amazing, but personal choice I know

I’ve been on a lot of Greek island holidays (always different islands) and I’ve never been on a bad one. Weather is reliable and locals are amazing. That’s a decent budget and I think it would be hard to go wrong. I would definitely choose over Canaries from Spring to Autumn. I would choose self catering. I like to buy salad bits from the supermarket for lunchtime and eat out for dinner.

Can recommend Kardamena in Kos and Faliraki in Rhodes. Tbh anywhere on either island! I’d probably do self catering/BB over half board personally.

I’ve been looking at Greece as well and probably going to book Crete. I’ve never booked a resort before but was thinking about it this time as the kids are teens. However, we don’t really need things like evening entertainment so I don’t to be basically paying for that in the price. I’ve seen some lovely looking more traditional hotels but would this be less good for teenagers? Is hard to tell because we haven’t been abroad in 4 years.

We've booked! Kardamena in August! Super excited!

Try paxos really beautiful

Started islands tend to be Corfu, Rhodes, His and Crete. Our favourite is Naxos which is a ferry hub so you can do day trips to the islands.

@Douglas1111

This post has been hidden until the MNHQ team can have a look at it.

Hello Douglas, I am really touched you reached out and would love to reply! But my internet is about to run out, so if you could send me £5000 to reinstall it that would be so helpful for me to be able to keep replying to your lovely words.

Hahaha Diamond - dear old Douglas has been trying his luck tonight on a few threads

@LtJudyHopps

Can recommend Kardamena in Kos and Faliraki in Rhodes. Tbh anywhere on either island! I’d probably do self catering/BB over half board personally.

I wouldn't suggest anywhere on those islands if you want something lively, eg Kefalos on the island of Kos isn't lively.

I would always always go back to Lindos. I've been there so many times I can't count, we spent years in Pefkos (5 mins up the road).

Rhodes gets the most amount of sunshine of all Greek islands and you're guaranteed hot dry sunny weather through September.

Lindos is amazing, doesn't lose its historic charm due to government not allowing any building on the hillside, but plenty of larger hotels at the top of the hill on the outskirts within walking distance of the old town.

Amazing food, amazing nightlife, authentic Greek living.

You really can't go wrong - I would go there every year if I didn't live in the Caribbean now! Way too far to travel!

We love going to Crete. It is such a big island that there is something for everyone. Our family loves hiking so we normally choose a base town and then try different trails nearby. This year we tried Kritsa - a very cosy traditional village in the mountains. We stayed here: www.booking.com/hotel/gr/cinnamon-house-in-kritsa.en-gb.html
It's not very close to the sea, so for those who prefer being close to the beach not the best option. Good luck!