Where in Greece for 1st hol with tots?

MidLifeCrisis_3

We'd like to take our kids to Greece next year some time in May/Jun/Jul, but we'd really appreciate some advice. We've only ever done last minute hols as a couple before and back then there were so many things we didn't need to worry about!

Haven't got a massive budget but want somewhere safe, clean, kid orientated and pref walking distance to beach, restaurants, etc.

We've been to Crete pre-kids which we loved, but will consider anywhere recommended.

Thanks

MLC

ailuro2

Go as early as you can before it gets too hot, and also to avoid the school hols, it makes it much cheaper.

Rhodes is nice, as long as you stay away from the more popular areas for drinking hols- although apparently even these areas are back to OK now since the local police started getting stricter about loutish behaviour.:D

piltonvet

kalamaki in zante is ideal for families nice and quiet friendly people.
beach easy to get to ,food and drink cheap probably cheaper to eat out than in ,also some apartments just have the basic kitchen equipment i.e 2 small hobs a kettle and fridge.
we always ate out when we took our 2 when they were small.
take tea ,coffee and cereal with you to save on brekkys .

may tends to be too quiet in kalamaki with a lot of places still shut,june is ideal july is baking hot .

deva

ait until after whit half term as you will then be garnteed that the majority of things will be up and running- if you are flexible on dates then consider the various flight times-rhodes, kos and corfu are often night flights your options will be much greater if you cold tues-tues for example.

i would recommend getting an apartment as eating out is very family friendly and cheap, as well as offering plenty of family friendly options.

Have a look at www.olympicholidays.co.uk or www.libraholidays.co.uk

I would rcommend pefkos in rhodes, cephalonia and lesvos in particular

marco_79

We were in Argassi in Zante a couple of years ago and there were plenty of families with young kids. All of Zante is really nice. Agree with the earlier poster try to in June at the latest as July/August can be too hot for wee ones and air con at night is a must.

davidlizard

Hi,

The best tip I can give is consider independent travel for the Greek Islands - from experience its no problem with young kids and there are advantages - greater choice of flights and times, durations other than 7/14 nights and you get a huge choice of islands meaning you can avoid "some of the worst examples of Brits on holiday", and of course not limit yourself to one island.

We have been going to Greece every summer for about 12 years and have visited just over 30 islands. We have taken two pre-school children with us in recent years (youngest was 7 months when she first went) with no trouble whatsoever. We always book a cheap flight to Athens or one of the islands, use the ferries to get around, and usually don't bother finding accommodation until we arrive.

Example of costs - we went away for 23 nights last summer (Ios, Naxos, Koufinnissi all in the Cyclades and Agistri in the Saronic Gulf near Athens). BA flights, accommodation (all rooms had air con, telly, cooking facilities, balconies and 3/4 hotels had pools), ferries cost £730 for the four of us (but the youngest only paid 10% for the flight and ferries are free for <5s).

As with most Mediterranean countries, Greece is extremely children/baby friendly. We prefer self catering - its cheap, and we know that we can cook what the children will eat - but do visit restaurants 2/3 times a week.

There will in general be no problem at all in finding accommodation in May/June and early July when you pitch up - but you can always book somewhere on the web if you don't want uncertainty. A major advantage when traveling with young children in leaving finding accommodation until you arrive is that you can make sure you get exactly what is suitable. Book something out of a brochure and you take pot luck - the last package we ever did 10 years ago found ourselves next to a go-kart track that went on until midnight and would have been hell with young children- no mention of that in the brochure and the companies offer of a partial refund is no use at the time. When we arrive, I find a taverna with the kids and the bags, and the wife finds somewhere to stay - and she can check its not noisy, suitably spacious and so on.

Have fun anyway - its a great place to take kids.

MidLifeCrisis_3

Thanks everyone :T , that's really given us some food for thought. Will probably aim for early-mid June then. Is it worth trying to find a cheapie now or to wait for a late booking? Although the advantages are clear really don't want the extra stress of finding accomm on arrival, but would consider a DIY hol if worth it. Pre-kids we did late bookings mainly named or an occasional AOA and generally were lucky, but did have a couple of dodgy ones - safety/cleanliness issues that would be a total nightmare with kids! Always chose quiet family resorts where we could as never been into clubs.

Want SC so that we can do brekkie & lunch then eat out each evening, before we retire to the balcony with a bottle or 2 of local supermarket wine whilst the kids sleep.... ah bliss!

MLC

friendlyamy

hi, the earlier you go the better! as there weather gets severely hot in the summer. Anyway in Greece there are plenty of places that are worth seeing.
I personally love the Cyclades, pretty good for a holiday
Good luck!