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

Original poster

Which Greek Island?

57 replies

pickupthismess · 09/04/2009 00:31

Thinking of two weeks at the back end of August with two LOs (5&3). Don't want to be baking hot as it'll be no fun, just nice and warm with good swimming, tranquil but interesting for the children.

I know nothing about the Greek Islands so any advice/suggestions would be v welcome.

OP posts:
Plonker · 09/04/2009 00:43

Have been to Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Skiathos and Zante. Have been to Zante 3 times ...I love it!

The last time that we went the dd's were 6 and 3yo. They loved it!

The people are great, the place is great, it's friendly and lively without being too lively (we stay in Tsilivi) and I would highly recommend

It will be hot in August though, then again, I think you'd be hard pushed to find a Greek Island that isn't hot in August ...

hth

arfur · 09/04/2009 20:55

I second Zante - beautiful island, lovely beaches etc etc they have loggerhead turtles which nest on the island so they are strict about beach cleanliness and night flights etc which makes for a better holiday in my view (oh and you can wade out in the water to see them swimming about or do glass bottom boat trips to see them - kids loved it!)- went to Kos the year after Zante and we were really disappointed with it.

arfur · 09/04/2009 20:56

Oh should have said some brochures call it Zakynthos some Zante but same place - and we stayed in Laganas. HTH

Kiwinyc · 10/04/2009 11:33

Hmm... we didn't think much of Zykynthos/Zante tbh, although so many people rave about it. We much preferred Crete - food was much better than any other Greek island we've stayed on (Lefkas and Zykynthos) - and there's more to the island than just the beaches. (Monastary's, Ruins, war cemetary etc)

We stayed the first week of Sept and weather was perfect then - not too too hot and cooling off in the evenings. Went with Simply Travel and stayed near Chania (lovely harbour town) used Simply's Creche facilities for a few days which was wonderful too.

--K

Original poster
pickupthismess · 12/04/2009 14:45

Thanks. Kiwi why didn't you like Zante?

Has anyone else been to Crete?

OP posts:
trixymalixy · 12/04/2009 15:04

I love Zante/Zakynthos and would go back like a shot!!

noddyholder · 12/04/2009 15:07

paros and naxos are lovely

piscesmoon · 12/04/2009 15:10

I have just found this thread. We are thinking of Crete-we want somewhere very Greek and picturesque,not too busy and not too quiet, with a sandy beach-can anyone recommend a resort and/or hotel?
I looked at the start of the thread and thought Zante worth a look-why didn't you like it Kiwi?

TheRealMrsJohnSimm · 12/04/2009 16:57

I wasn't keen on Zante either, tbh. Although in fairness, our last trip there was 6 years ago. We stayed in lovely beach front apartment booked direct with the owner in a place called Alykes. The beach itself was not great. There were some nice restaurants in the local town but there were so many english - far too many football shirts for my liking (sorry......but I am a holiday snob ).

Parga would be a good choice but it is on the mainland (fly to Preveza and its a 1.5hr drive).

We also loved Lefkas town (and Mousses with Simply in particular) but weren't overly impressed with other resorts on the east coast of Lefkas.

There are some lovely parts to Corfu too. Its reputation has been somewhat dodgy but there are some lovely quiet spots to be found. Paxos and Anti-Paxos are also very unspoilt but I haven't been there myself.

This year we are trying Halkidiki - a place called Afitos which has a strict preservation order on it. It looks great from the pictures/write ups I have seen. And will probably spend the second week in Sithonia where it is quieter.

PollyLogos · 12/04/2009 17:04

Zante is great with young children. Especially Tsillivi which has a long sandy beach with shallow water. September would be better if you don't want it too hot.

smurfgirl · 12/04/2009 17:18

I think Zante is not terribly pretty, nice beaches though. Laganas is v.18-30. Alykes and Kalamaki is nice, I prefer Kalamaki but its not pretty (beaches aside). Its very very popular with the English and it can be a bit too busy in some places, not terribly rustic!!

Kefalonia is gorgeous though, as it Santorini. Rhodes is nice apparently. Crete is nice but avoid Malia, I found Malia to be vile.

Greece in August is baking hot - it will be 30+ most days so if you don't want that sort of heat you need to go somewhere else.

Original poster
pickupthismess · 12/04/2009 19:53

Thanks - it all looks so beautiful in the brochures. Tat said, I'm thinking it might be too hot TBH. Plus I really don't want to go to a place full of English package tours or 18-30 hols - not our scene at all. Santorini does look lovely.

OP posts:
Kiwinyc · 12/04/2009 21:06

We stayed at Simpsons Periyali Villas (sponsors, above actually) in Sept 2006 when they were still operated by Simply Travel, it was the yr before they returned to being Simpsons. The resort, accomodation and purpose-built creche were fine but a couple things put us off returning - for some reason (maybe it was just us?) the water that came out of the tap of our villa was not only incredibly brackish but was a dark gold colour - trying to convince our 2 DD's to get into a bath that looked pee was not easy. And because we didn't want to cook with such yukky-looking water we had to buy a lot of bottled water to drink, cook with and brush our teeth with. We don't expect to be able to drink greek island tap water but we do expect it to be clear and to feel ok cooking with it...

The nearest beach was ok (big - Gerakas?) but had a lot of people on it - and lots of beach chairs set up that you're supposed for pay for...

And finally we never found any decent restaurants either nearby the resort or in Zante Town. Perhaps just our bad luck, but we managed to find simple well-cooked food on Lefkas and found some fantastic food on Crete, that I still think about now! So that was our experience of Zykynthos - we had a fine old time but found we have had a better holiday elsewhere.

I would say that the last week of Aug onward would be fine to go to to Greece though, its not so hot by then, it cools down in the evenings and its naturally cooler near the beach during the day.

rosbif · 14/04/2009 06:08

Santorini lovely and very stylish but not very child friendly imo and beaches black and not very attractive. Skiathos great with children, paxos simply beautiful but very little to do.

serin · 19/04/2009 21:20

Paxos
Paxos
Paxos

BananaFruitBat · 19/04/2009 21:24

Crete Crete Crete Crete

Crete

Very, very, very gorgeous.

pinkmagic1 · 19/04/2009 21:26

Kos, every time.

nat35 · 27/04/2009 20:39

I am also planning to go to Greek island with 2 years old, but we dont want to go to Corfu or Zante, and we would like that the islad have an airport. Any suggestions?

snigger · 27/04/2009 20:42

Paxos.

Next case.

sassy · 27/04/2009 20:43

If I told you, I'd have to kill you

But seriously, Greece in August will be baking hot. We haven't been since before kids and though we toyed briefly with returning this summer hol, we have decided on Portugal/Canaries instead. Will go back to our island again once the kids can cope a bit better (they are 6 and 4 at the mo).

smallorange · 27/04/2009 20:45

Crete - we stayed at Galazio Kima near Chania - lovely apartments, swimming pool which opens on to a lovely sandy beach and just 10 mins walk from a village where yoiu can get locally made olive oil, vinegar, wine and fresh vegetables. Bliss.

MrsMattie · 27/04/2009 20:45

Been to Rhodes, Crete, Zante, Kefalonia. All very nice. Kefalonia probably my favourite, although Crete also a contender. Oh, they were all nice, really!

MrsMattie · 27/04/2009 20:45

Been to Rhodes, Crete, Zante, Kefalonia. All very nice. Kefalonia probably my favourite, although Crete also a contender. Oh, they were all nice, really!

sassy · 27/04/2009 20:51

Crete is amazing - and huge. It's like a small country. Not club 18-30 except Malia and Hersonnisos.But baking in the summer - it is closer to Africa than to most of Europe.

Skiathos - nice, quite well-heeled, trendy. Scary airstrip when you land.

Heard wonderful things about Paxos and Kefalonia.

triffictits · 28/04/2009 22:46

I have been to Zante, Halkidiki, Corfu, Kefalonia, Skiathos. My favourite of them all was probably Skiathos. I agree that Zante is a little too British.

Skiathos is great for kids lovely beaches, lovely town.

This year I am going to Chania in Crete. I've never been but heard lots of good things about Crete.

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