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Holidays

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

Original poster

Greek Islands, which one?

28 replies

wanttostartafresh · 23/10/2009 19:44

We're thinking of going to a Greek Island next summer. DH has been to Crete and Rhodes but many years ago on a boys holiday so very different to now. Our DC's will be 4 and 7 by the time we go.

Are any of the islands better for families than others? We want self catering, and walking distance to beach, supermarket, restaurants etc.

Went to Portugal last year and booked a villa through owner's direct. There are loads of gorgeous looking places on there on the Greek Islands but I am at a loss as to how to choose which island to go to!

Please help! TIA

OP posts:
serinBrightside · 23/10/2009 21:16

My favourite is Paxos but there are no supermarkets at all! very low key but the whole island is within walking distance of the beach.

Skiathos is nice too, very green and with a bit more going on for your LO's.

alypaly · 23/10/2009 21:20

skiathos is beautiful.
so is paros...took my dcs to lindos and pefkos in rhodes for many years after they were born as the water is so safe.
all the beaches in skiathos are safe for children...no currents.

ministryofsleep · 23/10/2009 21:26

we went to Aghia Paraskevi in Skiathos this year with our 2 DS's (age nearly 4 and nearly 2) on recommendation from another mnetter -it was amazing; 20 minute transfer from the airport to the resort, gorgeous child friendly beaches, small village centre with a few restaurants and tavernas and a fantastic bus service which runs every 30 minutes during the day which runs the length of island. Pre Children we went to Elounda in Crete which I would recommend too. HTH

Original poster
wanttostartafresh · 23/10/2009 21:46

Thanks all. Skiathos sounds good, am off to look at flights and villas. Thanks!

OP posts:
saggyhairyarse · 24/10/2009 08:47

We went to Corfu a couple of years ago. It was lovely!!!!

It is a small island so easy to get about. Paleatriksa (sp) is the area with the lovely beaches from the brochures. We visited a palace, monastery and other 'tourist' places of interest, Corfu town which was lovely.

There was a waterpark there but we didn't go as my kids were a bit young.

Original poster
wanttostartafresh · 25/10/2009 10:57

A few more questions, what are the temperatures like in August? Am worried it's going to be really really hot ie well into the 30's?

OP posts:
ministryofsleep · 26/10/2009 12:47

it was high 20's/low 30's when we were there (end Aug/beginning September), our 2 were out in the sun all day with UV all in ones and sunhats til about 3ish then stripped off to swim shorts and hats for the last couple of hours, they never complained about it being too hot and didn't burn at all. Obvious we were really careful with suncream etc but the temperatures were lovely. Our villa had air con so it was lovely at night.

ministryofsleep · 26/10/2009 12:48

btw also, all of the greek islands are quite breezy which is nice

alypaly · 26/10/2009 15:33

skiathos is really quaint and you can go from one end of the island to the other in approx 1 hr.

It has been on mid 30's and we always go last 2 weeks august.

Alot of mosquitos in Koukounaries...skiathos because of brackish water lake.

Corfu is big in comparison.Not too keen on corfu...too touristy for me.

Kos is like a mini rhodes,but breezy which is great for the windsurfing.Kardemena is clubland

Paros is beautiful and unspoilt.
Rhodes used to be my fav place but alot of it is spoilt be too many neon bars..and all its quaintness has gone unless you go near lardos and the proper greek villages.

Zante...Alikes is really quiet and unspoilt...laganas is clubland.

My absolute tops place is halkidiki on the mainland.....it is stunning

alypaly · 26/10/2009 15:34

wanttostartafresh .......what sort of holiday do you want.

Original poster
wanttostartafresh · 26/10/2009 19:19

alypaly, thanks so much for all that info. The place on the mainland is somewhere that has also been recommended to us by a Greek friend (I think that was the place, will have to double check).

As to type of holiday, well, I would like a really nice, luxury villa or apartment as opposed to something quite basic or rustic/traditional with a well equipped kitchen (DS is very fussy so will have to cook meals for him) in a place where there is a nearby pool (but not a pool directly outside the villa unless it is fenced off as DC's cannot swim as yet), and walking distance to local shops, supermarket, tavernas and nice, safe, sandy beach. Also would want somewhere we can fly direct to without a long transfer time to the resort.

Can you recommend somewhere? TIA

OP posts:
alypaly · 27/10/2009 14:42

.

alypaly · 27/10/2009 14:45

what sort of food will DS eat. its so cheap to eat out,and there are lots of nibbly things on menus.

minimoonumbertwo · 27/10/2009 14:46

I second Paros - is really really lovely and quite authentic. I have totally forgotten the name of the website i booked with but will repost when i remember!

Original poster
wanttostartafresh · 27/10/2009 16:49

alypaly, DS would eat chips for every meal if i let him. I don't mind cooking for him, I can't relax and enjoy myself if I know he hasn't had at least one decent meal a day.

Ok, Paros is sounding good, will go and investigate!

OP posts:
alypaly · 27/10/2009 17:57

took my two DS's to greece from 3 months old and DS1 was really fussy but he ended up nibbling the garlic bread chicken and chips and rice . some restaurants do half portions for children for about 4 euros too.(spaghetti bol and carbonara,yuvetsi)
if you put little bits in front of him i bet he'll have a nibble.
you need to have a hol too.
they end up fitting in with you eventually. mine used to curl up in two directors chairs made into a make shift cot so that we could have a meal in peace,whilst they slept. we kept going back to the same restaurant because he made this cot for us every night...and the food was good too.

minimoonumbertwo · 28/10/2009 11:14

oh just re-read & see that you want to fly direct which you won't be able to do to Paros (although the ferries are quite fun). I've not been but Crete has some really nice family friendly but luxury self catering places on complexes iyswim, i think a nice one is elounda something or other (sorry not v helpful!) and you can fly direct. Oh am jealous!!!

alypaly · 28/10/2009 12:59

have you considered Parga...the Valtos beach hotel and the new Athina villa...you can fly directly to Preveza

HeebieJeebieReeBee · 28/10/2009 13:09

Skiathos every time - have been 4 times now and love it. There is a wide range of accommodation as well. We usually go to Troulos and there are always families around and about.

Kefalonia is also nice but doesn't have the charm of Skiathos - much bigger and in my eyes more commercial. Some great sight-seeing though.

littletortie · 28/10/2009 13:10

Pefkos in Rhodes is beautiful- Pefkos Beach Studios are very comfortable.

alypaly · 28/10/2009 13:53

HeebieJeebieReeBee we love it too we stay at koukanaries but dont use the main beach as it gets too busy. we go to the other 4 or five and the one called the hidden beach.

alypaly · 28/10/2009 13:55

littletortie ...used to go to pefkos before they put all those dreadful bars up in the village. they have really spoilt its charm. we visited 2 years ago and will never go back.

BTW are the pefkos beach studios the ones right on the sea front next to the chap with the glass bottomed boat. My memory is going and ive been there so many times.

littletortie · 28/10/2009 13:59

No they are the ones at the back of the 'Nostalgia' restaurant.

We have been to Pefkos for the past 2 years and have booked again for next year- We tend to stay up the quiet end away from the bars If you go into the village centre it can get noisy and its a bit naff but if you stay at the end of town past the peacock bar, its lovely. Very greek and beautiful.

alypaly · 28/10/2009 14:03

is that to the left or right at the cross roads coming from lindos. Have stayed to the left up that long raod. that was quite nice...but it used to have a bout 8 bars and it was so beautiful and uncommercialised. why do they spoil everything. Halkidiki is so much nicer if you want something quaint.

overthemill · 28/10/2009 14:09

with kids we have been to crete (nr to elounda), corfu (near to sidari which is big but melitsa is great), aegina (aghia maria), lefkas (nidri), parga and next year plan to go to the peloponnese. I suggest you look at simly greece and james villas and take it from there. my idea of bliss is a pool, beach within walking distance and little beachside tavernas. kids want 'pool bars' and kids to play with and dh wants the sites! we all amange to find something fab each time. My personal fave is sailing round the ionian islands.....
ps learn a few words of greek ebfore you go, it'll really help!