Greece - where would you recommend ?

sexykellylovespink

We are a family with 2 teenage lads aged 16 and almost 13, my parents may also be coming too....we are after a lively family holiday, with activity s / excursions during the day.not nesseceraily water sports though as 2 of us can't swim. We like the idea of lots of cafes, bars, tavernas, restaurants ect, we like sight seeing, lovely beaches, towns ect...we want lively but not directly on the main strip were the partying goes on...... Where would you recommend ?

dawyldthing

Corfu is supposed to be good. I'm heading there in under 2 weeks due to many of the reasons you listed above as i think its got a bit of everything from what i gather

hamsterfan1

Rhodes (most resorts)or Crete (Chania area or Rethymnon ) sound like they would suit you, just check the actual location of the property as often they say they're in a resort but they are actually a fair way out. My favourite holiday island was Naxos (went with three teenagers) but you would need to hunt for a company going there

markandkate

There are few islands that you can fly direct to and some involve lengthy ferry journeys. I would stick to the bigger islands, see where you can fly to from your local airport and then do some research on the resort

claire16c

Zante, Rhodes, Crete, lesvos?

Kathy535

By the sounds of it, Lesvos might be too quiet. Zante, Corfu, Rhodes, Crete would all be good bets, Kos is good too - all these have a mixture of lively, quiet, family resorts so something for everyone and are set up for tourists so have plenty of excursions within a short journey. I'd check tripadvisor for reviews on what each resort is like or post on the forums for ideas.

EmmaParsons

I would suggest Ixia or Lindos / Pefkos in Rhodes, Tingaki or Kefalos in Kos, Kalamaki or Argassi in Zante, Hersonissos or Aghios Nikolaos in Rhodes and Sidari, Dassia, Moraitika or San Stefanos in Corfu.

sillygoose

dawyldthing wrote: »

Corfu is supposed to be good. I'm heading there in under 2 weeks due to many of the reasons you listed above as i think its got a bit of everything from what i gather

I love Corfu, relaxed, easy to drive a rental car around. Corfu town is busy but gets hot and sweaty as the day winds on. Can be pricey despite lots of competition but some haggling is essential.

A couple of decent water parks, one small good for younger kids and not too busy, cheap and relaxed its often overlooked for the much bigger one further up.

A drive up to Pantokrator is well worth it to see the monastery, buy some delicious honey to take home, have a light lunch at the cafe and enjoy the amazing views. If like me you like chucking a car up/down many miles of quiet hairpin bends its Jeremy Clarkson heaven!

Hire a small motor boat is fun and wind your way round the coast, you can park where you like but in the afternoon the wind gets up and an able teen crew makes mooring a lot easier.

There are tavernas doing food everywhere and the small ones are always worth a try.

I always stay within walking distance of Kassiopi which is an easy going town that is quite lively in the evenings but not with drunken yoofs, more mainy families and couples lots of little shops and big variety of places to eat on next to a pretty harbour. You can get a waterbus to and from Corfu town here, its a lot easier and quicker and site seeing than driving there.

Essential sightseeing is the interesting old fort (bit of a climb to top) and the 'new' fort is formidable whilst in Corfu town.

Desperate to go back next summer (Can't this year kid's 11+ clashes) but flights to Corfu look really expensive during school hols for 2014 :(:(

Enjoy your holiday you lucky thing!

EmmaParsons

Silly Goose, look out for some cheaper flights from the likes of Easyjet, Ryanair etc which will be released around September / October for 2014. Not many airlines have flights out yet which means prices are at a premium at the minute.

sillygoose

EmmaParsons wrote: »

Silly Goose, look out for some cheaper flights from the likes of Easyjet, Ryanair etc which will be released around September / October for 2014. Not many airlines have flights out yet which means prices are at a premium at the minute.

Thanks will do, just a pity you can't get thinks sorted earlier, makes the annual leave fight at work easier.

Got lucky last year with a last minute villa in August, luxury villa with a pool, wifi, maid and car hire included, welcome shopping etc for little over £1K, its back up at 2 and half times that now. Eating out was super cheap as the visitor numbers were so down everyone was chasing the last euro, superb steak meal with all trimmings for £8 - OK it was probably horse but it was very tasty horse!

boomer.athena8

I'd have to agree and say Corfu, I went when I was younger and it's a great place for families. Loads for kids to do, great beaches, lovely food - plus you avoid the noiser types 'strips' such as the ones in Kavos etc etc.