Which Greek Island

timbo58

Crete is lovely, steer clear of the north coast east of Heraklion which tends to be a Brit resort largely IME.
Definitely worth hiring a small car as Crete is BIG!
Agia Marina or Platanias both quiet resorts with good accommodation.
There's a roman town on the top of the hills towards the south with a working water cistern that stlil services the lower towns.

Worth seeing the Sfaki region in the south (war museum in some old chaps front room 1/2 way along the chania road!) Matala a lovely spot for lunch and a dip!


Chania north west coast has several lovely resorts.
Worth going to Spinalonga island: go from the local village (Elounda) on a fishing boat: beautiful.
You can go via tourist boat from Agios Nikalaos also (worth seeing the market here) although if you're a fan of 'The Island' by Victoria Hislop you'll be better seeing Elounda and taking the trip from there as per the book.

I love Kefalonia too and have been many times, usually staying in Skala or Poros on the South east coast, Kef is very very beautiful and pretty quiet with plenty of great excursion opportunities.

Corfu can be nice if you avoid the busy resorts though: its definitely not all 18-30!

joho

Tingaki or Kefalos on Kos also sound like they might fit your requirements, malid. Both lively enough to keep you occupied, lovely beach at Tingaki (bit shingly at Kefalos, but still nice and spacious), plenty to drive out and see (Bubble beach comes to mind), or get the bus to Kos town for a culture fix.

We stayed at the Mariana Studios in Tingaki and they were fine. Far enough out of town to be quiet, but near enough to walk to beach (20/25mins easy walk) and town. Both resorts are walkable so everything within reach.

I'd happily go back to either resort, but also fancy trying somewhere different this year.
Happy holidays. x

malid

joho wrote: »

Tingaki or Kefalos on Kos also sound like they might fit your requirements, malid. Both lively enough to keep you occupied, lovely beach at Tingaki (bit shingly at Kefalos, but still nice and spacious), plenty to drive out and see (Bubble beach comes to mind), or get the bus to Kos town for a culture fix.

We stayed at the Mariana Studios in Tingaki and they were fine. Far enough out of town to be quiet, but near enough to walk to beach (20/25mins easy walk) and town. Both resorts are walkable so everything within reach.

I'd happily go back to either resort, but also fancy trying somewhere different this year.
Happy holidays. x

Thanks timbo58 and joho.

Joho I did look at Kos which looks fab but the flight times (Cardiff and at a push Birmingham) are terrible. Another time perhaps.

Anyone think Zante would be an option and if so where/what hotel?

Thanks as always to all MSE contributors

I've looked at

Wishful_Thinker

This a forum that should alwways be ongoing and one I always find interesting. There are so many Greek Islands and I have visted a total of 19. In my opinion the best for holidays are Samos, Lesbos, Thassos and Kefalonia. One island that I have never visited is Lemnos where holidays seem to be far more expensive trhan other Greek Islands. I have no idea why.

malid

Thanks for all responses. After much research, I have booked a two week SC package holday at the Amaryllis Hotel Zante end of June beginning of July. No brainer re booking direct as it would have been far more expensive with separate flights.

No it is not 5* but 3* (San Giorgio in Kefalonia is 3* but it was great as far as we were concerned) but has SC (and BB) facilities which we like so that we have the opportunity of sampling different restaurants - all part of the holiday for us. We were prepared to look at HB but on careful consideration felt that it didn't really suit us.

Count down!

smith121

I think Mykonos would be ideal for you. Good luck.

RedBern

malid wrote: »

Thanks for all responses. After much research, I have booked a two week SC package holday at the Amaryllis Hotel Zante end of June beginning of October. No brainer re booking direct as it would have been far more expensive with separate flights.

No it is not 5* but 3* (San Giorgio in Kefalonia is 3* but it was great as far as we were concerned) but has SC (and BB) facilities which we like so that we have the opportunity of sampling different restaurants - all part of the holiday for us. We were prepared to look at HB but on careful consideration felt that it didn't really suit us.

Count down!

Good luck with that. Went to Zante a couple of years ago and sadly it put us off Greece. Full of Brits and chips with everything, and we were in a town that wasn't 'as' commercial as others!

twinkle10

Arion Bay Santorini is actually one of the best tourist place where we can spend our holiday tour with family members also.

malid

RedBern wrote: »

Good luck with that. Went to Zante a couple of years ago and sadly it put us off Greece. Full of Brits and chips with everything, and we were in a town that wasn't 'as' commercial as others!

I have looked at various sites and there did appear to be good feedback (you have to take everything with a pinch of salt I know).

I am sorry that your experience has put you off Greece. Our first trip to Kefalonia in 2010 made us fall in love with the place and made us keen to sample more. Yes you can get 'British' style restaurants if you want (and some do when on holiday curiously) but we don't and have had no problems in seeking out gems as I've noted in reviews elsewhere.

We have opted for Zante because of airport location and flight times. We will look at other islands when we are happy to fly from further afield - e.g. Gatwick.

Don't let your experience put you off - give a Greek island another go!

Wishful_Thinker

We too have been to Thassos which we can thoroughly recommend. stay either in Skala potamis or Golden Beach for a good beach, nice tavernas and relaxation. If you want to be in the hub (such as it is (stay in Thassos Town. we have also enjoyed Skiathos,Lesbos,Samos,Lefkas, Santorini(for sightseeing) and the less commercialised parts of Rhodes