Trip to Greek islands with one year old

[FeralGirlCambs]

Planning to take ferry for a few hours to Amorgos, then probably Naxos (have been to both before) in a sort of backpacking with buggy and 47 tonnes of other clobber way. Travelling this weekend so not mega highest hottest season. Anything I should think about that a normal-level paranoid mum might not have considered? apart from imminent collapse of entire Eurozone which we are choosing to ignore.

I don't know about the islands you're going to, but I have just returned from Rhodes and the heat has really ramped up there, definitely more than 30 during the day. So keep fluids up, protect from sun etc, and mossie bites.

There was no panic about the euro there, but they were happy to directly exchange stirling for euros in all the exchanges. And the duty free shops will take any currency at all at the airport! Basically on the islands where tourism is so important they are just glad of the custom.

Thanks! Do you know if normal insect repellent is ok for babies?

I'm afraid I don't, my DS was 21mo when we took him to Crete and it was mid May and cool in the evenings. However when he was 3 we went to Turkey later in the year so used a roll-on type repellent. We just rolled a stripe down the front and back of each arm and leg, around neck and around his hairline to protect his face with no problems, and he had eczema. I'd have a word with a pharmacist at the chemist to see what they advise.

You might want to invest in a sun and insect type protection mesh for the buggy, and you could spray this with repellent (as people can do with mossie nets for beds in Malaria areas.) I think there are arm bracelets that emit something that keeps mossies away too but don't know if they work. I would recommend the plug in things for rooms though.

Try to book a cabine in advance otherwise they are not available and even if available they may be shared with other people. From what I remember Pireus to Amorgos is a good 12 hours so not fun to spend in a boat lounge.

Thanks ladies. Spraying the mossie net, which we have, is a good idea. Actually there are (infrequent) fast ferries to Amorgos so it's about 5.5 hours - should be just about ok!

Oh brilliant! I haven't been in years and back then it was a horrifically grotty, old, slow boat! 5.5 hours sounds much more reasonable!

Never met anyone else who's been at all. We went in 2008 (on slow boat from Naxos) and fell in love, vowed to go back as soon as (then notional) child was capable - and here we are! slightly nervous but very excited at the thought of being in Piraeus docks at 5am again...

First time I went was about 1988-89 to Katapola (but I am Greek!), then again around 1992-3 to Agiali (at the time there was only a very, very rough track between the two, it took hours to drive from one to the other - I imagine it's a lot better now!).

If you can rent a car in Naxos and go to the beaches off the beaten trail. You will find 3 mile long sand beaches completely deserted!

I would love to do that! Very happy memories of backpacking and meeting DPwhen a student.

We went to Naxos, Ios,, Santorini, Paros. Am really interested in how you get on as we would love to do this with our three. Have heard the ferries are not all that cheap anymore.

We went back to beautiful Santorini pre kids and since have taken them to Crete and the Peleponnese oh and Zante.

Re repellant, you can buy specially-formulated repellant for babies, I bought some in Boots for DS who was 11 months last summer.

Think insect repellent needs to be deet free.