Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Which Greek Island? Leros or Naxos sound good but also considering Rhodes...

27 replies

tulpe · 15/03/2011 10:59

Currently trying to organise our summer break.

Love the sound of Leros and Naxos from the info I have found so far. If anyone has been to either, would they care to share please? :)

Also in the running is Rhodes. Much more commercial than the other two places but apparently beaches are great and has a lot of historical interest (DCs are mad about Greek history).

My idea of holiday hell is package tour central. I want a typical Greek village - don't mind driving to beaches. Am I going to find this on Rhodes?

TIA :)

OP posts:
girlywhirly · 15/03/2011 17:45

I went to Rhodes 7yrs ago, so no doubt things will be a lot different now. We stayed in Pefkos, a few miles away from Lindos, where the acropolis is. We got a taxi cheaply to Lindos, in the morning, and walked up through the narrow streets, although you could ride up by donkey a different route. On foot you are mostly shaded by the shop awnings, fab view from the top, good ruins. Aim to get down again before noon, as it can get really hot (we were there in August) The beaches really are good.

Also worth doing is a boat trip to the island of Symi.

We had an early evening walking tour around Rhodes town, too, lovely mediaeval walls and buildings, and there is a museum if you fancy earlier in the day.

Afraid I can't advise on village locations, or on Leros or Naxos.

phooey · 15/03/2011 17:53

Naxos is lovely Smile

It was my favourite of the Cyclades when I went island-hopping erm 12 years ago, really pretty, undeveloped and good value. Went back about 4 years ago and it was more expensive and more developed, but in a good way IMO, more shops and restaurants, better choice of accommodation.

Also look at Santorini, which is truly stunning.

There are 'package holiday' folks around the Cyclades, it depends how snobby discerning you are. Naxos doesn't have an airport so more Greeks.

Have you considered Croatia? It's like Greece was 20 years ago, totally stunning coastline and wee islands, plenty amenities but very few 'package tourists'

castlesintheair · 15/03/2011 18:06

Rhodes town has lots of historical interest, the knights of St John lived there amongst others. The old town is enclosed within huge walls and is a labyrinth of winding passages.

I only really know there are Lindos which I agree is stunning. It's a good place to stay as it has lots of daytrippers between about 10-4pm so you can go to beaches/sights nearby and then it's fab for eating at night.

I haven't been to Naxos for a long time but it has good beaches and is easy to get around without a car. Leros is popular with Greeks so feels very relaxed and 'untouristy'. I've stayed in Platanos which is the main town which is good for eating but can be noisy late at night esp if you are along the front. There's a medieval castle overlooking it. Lovely beaches too.

Original poster
tulpe · 15/03/2011 22:22

Thank you all for the info :)

Apologies if I was snobby about package holidays. That wasn't my intention at all and I have done several myself in the past. But what I really dislike are the hordes of British holiday makers in one area, with english breakfasts & The Sun for sale everywhere.

We have decided to try Naxos this year. Either we will fly to Athens and take a domestic flight to the island or we will go to Santorini and take the ferry from there (which potentially means that we may come back to spend the last few days of our holiday in Santorini to avoid the "what if the sodding ferry gets cancelled/delayed" panic! )

Thanks again!

OP posts:
Original poster
tulpe · 15/03/2011 22:24

Oh forgot to say - we are not entirely dismissing Rhodes. We are thinking about taking a week there in April next year so that we can see the sights without either intense heat or intense throngs of people!

You've been inspirational! Thanks again!

OP posts:
paulapantsdown · 15/03/2011 22:32

We had a really wonderful holiday on Rhodes last summer. We and his nibs did lots of boozy holidays around Rhodes town / Lindos /Pefkos, but this was the first one with kids and it was great. We stayed in Pefos, which is a sort of purpose built holiday town (just hotels and resturants), but it has really nice beaches and I can honestly say, the best food I have EVER had on any holiday, anywhere. The quality of food in Pefkos was outstanding. We spent lots of time on the beach there, and also lots of trips (by boat or car) into Lindos a few miles away. Lindos is really lovely and has such a place in my heart! Lovley beaches,no cars and a really different sort of vibe to other places in the islands.

As it is such a tourist mecca, we found the food a bit touristy in Lindos, but we did manage to find a few really great places for lunch and back to Pefkos for dinner.

Days trips to Rhodes town are doable too - lots of history there and shopping.

Just remembered, there is also a weekly festival in the old original Pefkos village (2 or 3 miles from the 'commercial' Pefkos town). This is not advertised to tourists as the main towns want you to stay in town spending money - we only found out about it by chance, but it was a genuine Greek experience.

paulapantsdown · 15/03/2011 22:35

Also wanted to add - every single person we met in Pefkos was there for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th time! We paid a deposit for an apartment in our place for this year before we left!

phooey · 15/03/2011 22:58

tulpe I'm as much taking the piss out of myself as you tbh re 'package tourists' - me and DH met abroad and have backpacked all over the place. We would never do a 'package holiday' but all we want is beautiful beaches, hot weather and stuff to do. We have spent many holidays doing exactly the same as though we were on a 'package' and probably wasting loads of time researching and sorting out trips and holidays we could pay someone else to sort out!

One memorable holiday to Morocco involved flying into Marrakesh, hiring a car and driving for days down the coast to find a deserted beach. Weirdly enough everyone else in the universe had already 'discovered' all the best beaches so we ended up in a fairly touristy resort but with sunburn and awful food poisoning Grin

When we went to the Greek islands we ended up sleeping in a bus shelter (possibly in Naxos in fact) because we were in denial about he modern world and trying to hippyishly island-hop. I was furious with DH for not finding me shelter.

Aah, those were the days

phooey · 15/03/2011 23:00

PS we hired a villa in the Costa Del Sol last summer and I won't let DH live it down Grin Twas ace!

Stilla · 16/03/2011 11:20

Rhodes is wonderful - but as it was my home for a few years I'm kinda bias Wink

PurveyorOfWoo · 16/03/2011 11:26

I don't have any holiday advice, we are yet to visit Greece, but do have a question. Are you finding any cheapish flights to Greece? We wanted to go with kids last year (Skiathos or Rhodes), but the flights were too expensive, we ended up going to the Costas with flights for a 3rd of the price.

Original poster
tulpe · 16/03/2011 11:50

Purveyor - flights to Skiathos and Rhodes both coming up at around £1400+ for 4 of us in August. That's with Monarch, Thomson and Thomas Cook.

Because we are flying into Athens now, we can get cheaper flights with BA. Easyjet are also good value but I hate the scrum mentality to get on the plane and would prefer to have seats pre-booked (now DCs don't qualify for the "all those travelling with infants and young children under 5" call).

It might be cheaper for you to fly to Athens and then take domestic flight with Olympic Air. Or possibly even take the ferry? My choice would be to fly direct though.

A cheaper alternative to the islands is Halkidi. We flew to Thessaloniki with BA for £700 in August and then drove for an hour to Afitos - lovely traditional greek village which has a preservation order on it which means only nice low-rise buildings :) We hired a car and went to other beaches though as that one wasn't great.

OP posts:
EssexBecca · 16/03/2011 11:54

I know you've decided now and a good decision it seems to me but just wanted to throw the Pelion peninsula into the conversation. You can fly to vaguely nearby and drive down from there (couple hours). It's very mountainous with big drops down to little coves. lovely beaches - very different on the east and west, very unspoilt.

PurveyorOfWoo · 16/03/2011 11:59

Thanks tulpe. £1400 is just too much of our budget (and we only need 3 seats, DS is still on lap). I'll be having a look at some of those cheaper options you mentioned. We always hire a car anyway, so a drive from the airport isn't a problem. Though getting the cheaper flights always seems to mean arriving late at night and having to find our way in a strange country in the dark - thanks goodness for Google streetview - we can often 'pre-drive' most of the route before leaving home!

DukesOfTripHazard · 22/03/2011 11:29

Naxos is lovely.

Original poster
tulpe · 22/03/2011 14:59

ooooh! Glad you said that Dukes as I have literally just booked flights and accommodation!

We are staying here plus a day/night in Athens to see the Acropolis. Cannot wait to tell the DCs when I collect them in a few mins!

OP posts:
noddyholder · 22/03/2011 15:00

I love naxos too

DukesOfTripHazard · 24/03/2011 15:04

Last there 14 years ago with my sis for a fortnight. Fantastic walk/climb to the top of the mountain called...? Lots of nudie sunbathing. Stay in a little village a 20 min walk to the town called....? Where the ferry comes to. Have you been lately Noddy?

noddyholder · 24/03/2011 15:29

Yes went about 25 years ago and then dragged dp and ds back there about 3 yrs ago and it was virtually the same.Lovely lovely lovely Planning to go back with just dp when ds has his first mates holiday and he is 17 so won't be long!

DukesOfTripHazard · 24/03/2011 16:19

You lucky pup. Can't face the night flight and ferry with dds of 9 and 6.

Original poster
tulpe · 24/03/2011 17:25

Dukes we are flying with BA to Athens on a morning flight then taking domestic flight from Athens to Naxos in the afternoon. I am not good with boats and definitely not with two kids in tow.

OP posts:
DukesOfTripHazard · 24/03/2011 19:07

Ooh Tulpe. Things have changed! I should look into that. Would you mind giving me a rough idea of the cost of that pair of flights for four?

Original poster
tulpe · 25/03/2011 15:01

BA return to Athens £846
Olympic Air return to Naxos EUR450

But this is travelling in August so if you are able to go at other times then it may well be cheaper. BA is often much cheaper to Greece than Easyjet ime.

OP posts:
aai72 · 20/10/2014 14:13

hi
my DS wants a Rhodes holiday as a reward for 11 plus achievements. Never been to Greece.(i know sounds stupid but....) need some good guidance from u all.
What to do in Rhodes?
where to stay?
Where to eat?
Transporation.. do we need to book a car or public transport/ taxis r better?
Flight booking? ( i hope to get this information very handy on sights)

how much hole in a pocket to expect? :)
we r 2 adults + 2 kids (age 17 n 11)

thnx for ur help in advance.

BB01 · 26/10/2014 09:55

We went to Paros (near Naxos). It was fantastic. Didn't see any large development at all. Stayed in a guy's huge villa for rock bottom price. Very picturesque fishing villages with white roofs, gorgeous food.