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Welcome to Mumsnet's holiday forum. Discuss all international travel here, including both shorthaul and longhaul trips. Related topics: UK holidays & day trips, skiing, camping & campervans.
Holidays
Best Greek island for families please
gemma19846 · 05/01/2020 15:02
Hi :) We have never been abroad as such (apart from to DLP) I dont even know where to start but we like the look of Greece. We will have a 12 and 6 year old. We are looking for a nice hotel with pool (ideally some water slides), near to a beach and nice local town. We would also want things to do and see as sitting round a pool for the whole time isnt really a holiday to us. Has anyone got any recommendations in Greece please. The best island/area/hotel please. Thank you
Funf · 06/01/2020 10:39
Struggling to think of places in Greece we have seen offering this I feel you might be better looking at Spain/ Majorca? I am sure some one will be along in a moment with a better answer, Greece is very hot in the summer.
medb22 · 07/01/2020 13:12
I can't recommend a particular hotel, but I think Crete might be a good place for you. It's a gorgeous island, with lots to do and see. It is hot in the summer, but often benefits from a lovely breeze in July/August which helps! Two airports as well, which helps reduce travelling time when you get there.
Babysharkdoodoodood · 07/01/2020 14:11
Agree that Crete is wonderful. Elounda is pricey but so beautiful and there are some lovely resorts in and around Chania.
No1HolidayPlanner · 07/01/2020 16:09
We are off to Elounda this summer. Went last year for my 50th with friends.. taking the family this year. It is stunning and loads to do
getyourgrooveback · 07/01/2020 16:50
Costa Navarino in Pylos if you've got bucks to burn. It's amazing
gemma19846 · 07/01/2020 22:37
Thank you for the replies i really appreciate it. I was looking at Crete, Rhodes or maybe Cyprus (not Greece i know) but seems to have alot of history.
getyourgrooveback we definitely dont have buck to burn but i will have a look if just to dream 😊
gemma19846 · 07/01/2020 22:37
What is there to do in Crete that you recommend?
medb22 · 07/01/2020 23:15
I really loved Elafonissi - pink sand beach, really stunning. Can be very crowded though. Chania and Agios Nikolaus are both worth a visit. I enjoyed Spinalonga, which is a small island off Crete that used to be a leper colony and is now uninhabited. Others in my group thought it a bit dull though :)
Not sure about kids stuff - Knossos might be worth a trip? The Minotaur legend might interest them. I’ve been to Crete four times, but before kids!
Mummyonline · 08/01/2020 07:58
We went to Louis Creta Princess near Chania. There were water slides, great food, free shuttle into Chania, great local bus service and very well priced. Can highly recommend.
MsMiaWallace · 08/01/2020 08:03
Alykanas in Zante.
Gorgeous.
We keep going back!
Fantastic for kids. The beach is lovely, sea shallow for a long distance.
Plenty to do but not too commercialised.
No1HolidayPlanner · 08/01/2020 08:10
From Elounda can go to Spinalonga, water parks, boat trips, safari jeep to caves/waterfalls, hire self drive boats, road train up into mountains, snorkelling.
OneIsAWorldOfBooks · 08/01/2020 08:21
We loved chania in Crete, DS was just 6 when we went. We stayed in tui Creta paradise and would 100% stay there again. We spent most of the days around the resort but had 2 days out in chania around the harbour and did a boat trip and snorkelling which was amazing. I’m sure there’s more you can do but we didn’t feel we needed to.
Also been to kos but without DS and that was nice too. We explored the island a bit more and went to the thermal springs. You can also get a boat across to bodrum in turkey for the day from kos but we didn’t do this.
Teateaandmoretea · 08/01/2020 08:32
I think my main hint if you aren't used to being abroad is to look at the temperatures if you are intending to go in the summer. Cyprus you are unlikely to be able to go out much in the height of summer. I've only been once at the end of October/ start of November and it was baking hot then.
Personally if I wanted a holiday to get out and about in the summer I'd be looking at Portugal/ southern France rather than Greece.
I did once go to Crete in the height of summer and managed to cope but that would have been without much walking around etc.
It's just something to think about unless you are sure that you would find extreme heat including in the evening something you enjoy.
gemma19846 · 08/01/2020 09:26
Teateaandmoretea thank you for that info. We went to Disneyland and into Paris when it was 38° this June. DL was ok but Paris was unbearable in the heat. We plan on going to Greece at the end of May/beginning of June. Would it be better then? We wouldnt go to France again as we found the French extremely rude!
Thank you for the trip and hotel suggestions i will have a look at them all :)
Teateaandmoretea · 08/01/2020 12:00
It will deffo be cooler then in late May/ early June Cyprus would be good then I think. I enjoyed Cyprus, we stayed in a slightly quirky hotel on the outskirts of Paphos nice location by the sea but you had to get the bus to get anywhere really.
Binterested · 08/01/2020 12:08
On the flip side I’d also think about looking for a heated pool if you go outside of summer. We had a gorgeous villa on a Greek island a few years ago in May. Pool really too cold to make much use of esp for kids who are unlikely to be aiming for 40 lengths 
Teateaandmoretea · 08/01/2020 19:39
Outside summer definitely you need to make sure you are going somewhere hot. But I once went on a holiday and the hotel swimming pool was too hot because of the heat. That was truly grim
WeeM · 08/01/2020 19:49
Love both Crete and Corfu-Greek people are so nice and friendly, the food is great and it’s pretty cheap to eat/drink out. I love it!
PashaMashenko · 30/06/2022 22:50
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 next to the beach not the best option. Good luck!
Hotchox · 30/06/2022 22:56
Loved Crete, and our kids were similar ages to yours. I don't think hotels are as big on in-built water parks as they are in Spain, but if you choose Crete and the Analipsi / Hersonissos area, then the Acqua plus water park there is a fab day out!
bellamountain · 01/07/2022 22:03
Rethymnon in Crete is lovely. The beach is huge and sandy, Venetian harbour, great shops and restaurants. If you can find a hotel in Reythymnon it would tick all your boxes. There is so much to see.
Although the other side of the island is more touristy, i.e. Hersonnisos, you'll find more of the big family hotels with water parks etc and excursions will be easy to book.
Startuplife · 02/07/2022 08:25
I second Zante. I’m not actually sure why we booked it as I had preconceived ideas of it being a party place but I was so impressed. There was loads to do for kids and we hired a car and drove all over the island which was absolutely stunning.
I can’t help with a hotel as we stayed adults only but it was in Tsilivi which was very good for restaurants/entertainment/crazy golf and easy to drive or get a taxi to the water park, airport and Zante Town.
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