Best Greek Island for family holiday

[EnglishRose1320]

Think we have finally decided on heading to a Greek island for our holiday this year.

We will be going during the October half term.

However cannot decide which island, hotel, board etc.... so many choices.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a family of 4, two teens. We'd like the hotel to have a few on site activities, pool with a slide/table tennis etc... but it doesn't have to be massive with loads of on site things (won't rule that out either though).

We like doing day trips particularly local history/ancient ruins etc....

Our budget isn't huge, but it's reasonable. Would probably choose to spend more on an apartment/villa than facilities, we don't like to be all in the same room.

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Sorry, not Patra, Kalamata, where the olives come from.

@elderberryink thank you, good to hear, lots of great sounding recommendations as well. We would be going all inclusive because my eldest is autistic and likes having some safe food available to help him to help him regulate at the hotel (the ones we are looking at have ice cream available all day) but we will definitely do a few meals out at local places as well.

@midsomermurderess thanks, definitely sounds like mainland Greece shouldn't be discounted either.

Hi, we've just been to Rhodes and our youngest is autistic. We thought it was a beautiful island and car hire was reasonable (Rodos cars were great). We stayed at the Atlantica Aegean Blue which was in a beautiful location next to a mountain and had some nice quiet areas (and a quiet infinity pool). The buffet was really noisy but he wore headphones and ate chips and bread. Kolymbia is not historic but lots of interesting places within an easy drive and the transfer time from airport was short, which we needed.

@Inthepark, a short airport transfer is another thing I need to factor in, thanks for reminding me! Ds will bring his calmer ear plugs I expect, so will be prepared if the buffet is noisy.

We’ve stayed in quite a few Mitsis hotels AI on several islands. They are all different but you get a good level of facilities, the a La carte restaurants that you pre-book vary from site to site in the type (Chinese, Italian etc.) The one on Kos was right next to a wide cycle path into town that ran parallel to the bus route.

What about May half term?

OP, sorry to jump on your threat. You maybe be limited on availability for October half term at this time of year.

Sorry didn't see that more people had added to this thread. Thanks for the tips.

We've booked a hotel on Kos, that is fully open until the 31st October. We've found some lovely looking days out that will still be open as well.

Ive been to Rhodes in october - was ~22/24 c each day and sunny but the pool was freezing. The sea was much warmer ao makes sure its close-by.

@Kentkittypie yes we've gone for a hotel on the beach with the hope of being able to swim in the sea rather than the pool.

Now I just need to get beach body ready!

@Summerishereagain May half term is usually good, a better bet than late October.

OP Kos and Rhodes are much of a muchness, not a lot to separate them really. Both have nice old towns and harbours etc.

Rhodes had lindos that's popular but I can't bear to see the poor donkeys mistreated so don't ever go there.

Sorry should have made it clearer, due to various reasons our holiday is always October half term. Not worried about the weather.

Now that we have picked Kos, any recommendations for days out?

I haven't done it for a long time but boat trips to Turkey used to be a popular one.

Lovely gyros in Kos Town too, best one is near the bus station.

Thanks @JeminaSunshine , we are tempted with a boat trip to Turkey, trying to find out if they still run that late in the season. Will be happy with a more local boat trip if they don't.