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Original poster

Greek islands

33 replies

Mookie81 · 17/06/2018 17:23

My mum wants to visit Crete for her 60th next year.
Is it worth it or would people recommend another Greek island?
I would ideally like a place that has a good amount to see (we're not into spending the whole week sunbathing) and possibly a day trip to Athens?
Santorini is something I've always considered.
Any help would be appreciated.

NB- I posted this in the travel section yesterday and only had one answer (greatly appreciated tho!)

OP posts:
Notevilstepmother · 17/06/2018 17:34

It’s her birthday!

You may be able to fly in and out of Athens?

FuzzyCustard · 17/06/2018 17:37

I liked Lindos in Rhodes. Beaches, bit of history, nice village.

Charliebob1337 · 17/06/2018 17:38

Ixia Rhodes is beautiful. Most of Greece is lovely tbh.

DontCallMeCharlotte · 17/06/2018 17:38

I wouldn't do Santorini - it's amazing but probably the least practical holiday destination on the planet and the beaches are crap. Crete is very high on my list as it has so much history etc. Neither of them is practical for a day trip to Athens (7 hour ferry trip from Santorini to Athens and Crete is further still). None of the big islands are near Athens. You can do a day trip to Santorini from Crete.

In conclusion: Crete. Enjoy Smile

68Anon · 17/06/2018 17:38

It's your Mum's birthday and she wants to visit Crete so why are you considering anywhere else? Make her happy and go to Crete.

austenozzy · 17/06/2018 17:39

Get her to do the ‘Malia Mile’ on her birthday!

TheNoodlesIncident · 17/06/2018 17:40

We got married on Santorini It has become much more commercialised since then, as we found on a day trip to there from Crete. It's too expensive for the locals to live in the capital (Thira) so there has been a lot of building out on the rest of the island. It's lovely there but the day trip was enough for us. We went to Oia and Thira (and the church where we married).

Of the Greek islands, Corfu is our firm favourite but I think Crete is becoming our second favourite quite quickly. However, our family dynamic will be quite different from yours as we have a young ds, so we are looking for waterparks and snorkelling trips rather than museums/ruins, iyswim. We always try to book a boat trip to other islands too, there are plenty of ferries around.

Last year in Crete we went to a glass recycling workshop where they melted and blew new items out of old glass like beer bottles; we planned a trip to the Gorge but didn't quite make it (so are planning that this summer) we did a lot of swimming in the sea, swimming in the pool, sitting in the restaurants right next to beach...

Corfu is lovely, would like to live there permanently tbh... Grin

Bluebell878275 · 17/06/2018 17:40

Santorini is BEAUTIFUL..however..there are only some things to see/do..not a whole lot in my opinion.

Katescurios · 17/06/2018 17:41

Crete is beautifu l, lots of historic tours, wonderful beaches. The food is amazing, fresh seafood caught that day, lots of little family run restaurants and bars.

Ted27 · 17/06/2018 17:42

well its her birthday and she wants to go to Crete so I would go to Crete

but yes it has lots to do, lots of history, good walks and hikes, boat trips, day trips to Turkey by boat.

Day trip to Athens would be a difficult, you would have to fly and organise it yourself

coffeeagogo · 17/06/2018 17:44

Crete is lovely, plenty to do, lovely resorts and very good food. if your mum wants to go there take her.

IHaveBrilloHair · 17/06/2018 17:46

Bonkers thread.
Your Mum wants to go to Crete!

Original poster
Mookie81 · 17/06/2018 17:47

Thank you.

@68Anon she mooted it as an idea but she has no knowledge of any of the islands so I was asking in case there was one that she may prefer.
It will be discussed as a family and she will have the ultimate say as it's her birthday Hmm

OP posts:
Merryoldgoat · 17/06/2018 17:48

Crete is lovely - look at Agios Nikolaus.

It’s got a big lake in the town surrounded by lovely little restaurants, nice day trip on a boat to Spinalonga, trips to Knossos etc. Easy to stay in a villa rather than a hotel.

Loved it.

Merryoldgoat · 17/06/2018 17:50

Ignore my spellings - I’ve got a baby lying on me and can’t be fagged to google proper spellings Blush

Original poster
Mookie81 · 17/06/2018 17:51

Are there particular areas of Crete that are better to stay in than others?

Thanks for all the ideas and opinions this is all really helpful.

OP posts:
Mascarponeandwine · 17/06/2018 17:52

Zante? You can do a day trip to the original Olympic village

Notevilstepmother · 17/06/2018 17:52

What sort of things do you all like?

Original poster
Mookie81 · 17/06/2018 17:54

Sightseeing, e.g. old ruins, towns, etc.
Visits to other interesting parts of the island.
A nice beach.
Any nice bars/restaurants for the evening.

What has been people's favourite thing to do there?

OP posts:
Original poster
Mookie81 · 17/06/2018 17:55

Don't worry @Merry this isn't Pedants Corner! Grin

OP posts:
Notevilstepmother · 17/06/2018 17:56

If you want to do Athens as well you could fly into Athens, spend a night or 2 there and then fly to whichever island you choose rest of the holiday then fly straight home.

I did a couple of days in Athens, it’s well worth seeing.

Just be aware it’s small planes, I know some people don’t like them.

Fucksgiven · 17/06/2018 17:59

Chania in Crete is lovely if you enjoy towns. We go to Corfu every year as a big extended family, and love it..it's much greener than a lot of the islands. Corfu town is fabulous. We stay in Paleokastritsa and use the excellent local buses to get around the island when we want to go further afield.

Jasmina456 · 17/06/2018 19:01

I would say Crete has absolutely plenty to fill a week/weekend by itself.

Charlottejade89 · 18/06/2018 06:04

I've not long been to kefalonia which is beautiful. we stayed in lassi which has bars and restaurants and a gorgeous beach but not too comericialised. it's easy to get to the capital argostoli from there and from there you can get a ferry over to lixouri which literally takes 15 mins. we hired a car for 2 days and went to lots of places, the mellisani caves, and myrtos beach being my highlights of the trip!

mrsnec · 18/06/2018 06:19

I have just come back from a weekend break in Thessaloniki and I loved it. It has loads of history, great shopping and excellent food scene. And you can combine it with a resort stay in Halkidiki. I actually prefer Thessaloniki to Athens.

I agree with those who say it's up to your mum though. I have never been to Crete but constantly reccomended to me by others. I like a mix of history and culture and beach.

I have been to Crete and Rhodes too and think they're also good options and I'd throw Mykonos in there too. I would sack the idea of Athens though it's further away than you think to some of the islands.