Greek islands - which one?!

[maturin23]

Hi all,
Just trying to plan a family holiday during the second week of July '25
The request is Greek islands - Corfu as portrayed in The Durrells would be perfect.
However I know nothing (and apparently Corfu isn't quite the same as it was!) and the choice is overwhelming.
Can anyone suggest an island/area that isn't too touristy, but with a little bit of night life for the kids (19/16).
Cooking/food is a big deal, so I'm trying to find a villa/house near the sea with at least 5 beds rather than an hotel. Max accomodation budget c. £7k for the week?
Any suggestions/recommendations?

[Nick Forest]

Look up Pomegranate Tree Villa in Katelios, Kefalonia. Stayed there several times and it’s 10 min walk to the sea with a dozen restaurants,2 mins walk to a local shop and perfect in every way.

[Sheetmaself]

Literally any of them. Have been to about 10 over the years and would go back to all of them.

At a push Kefalonia probably the favourite.

[and31]

Kefalonia is lovely

[pidsy]

Nick Forest said:

Look up Pomegranate Tree Villa in Katelios, Kefalonia. Stayed there several times and it’s 10 min walk to the sea with a dozen restaurants,2 mins walk to a local shop and perfect in every way.

I’m off to Katelios end of July.

Love Kefalonia.

[popeyewhite]

maturin23 said:

The request is Greek islands - Corfu as portrayed in The Durrells would be perfect.

Corfu then?

May be a bit better than Kefalonia for the teenagers as well.

Some parts of Corfu have hardly changed at all. Why not look up where filming for the series took place?

Edited by popeyewhite on Sunday 30th June 20:36

[Silvanus]

I've been to 20 greek islands and some of the West coast, love the place, so much variety.

If there is an island you fancy, just make sure you go to the opposite end to where the popular resort is.

[justin220]

We're just back from Corfu and had a fantastic time. We're big fans of the greek islands, got married over there aswell but this is the first time in Corfu. Would definitely go back.

Corfu town itself was very busy, too busy for us but not sure if we timed it badly with a cruise ship arrival. We spent most of our days driving to a quiet beach at various points on the island and staying there all day.

The water park is really good aswell.

[Silvanus]

justin220 said:

We're just back from Corfu and had a fantastic time. We're big fans of the greek islands, got married over there aswell but this is the first time in Corfu. Would definitely go back.

Corfu town itself was very busy, too busy for us but not sure if we timed it badly with a cruise ship arrival. We spent most of our days driving to a quiet beach at various points on the island and staying there all day.

The water park is really good aswell.

I've only been very early in the season. It's an incredibly green island early summer, the North is stunning.

[Arrivalist]

I’ve just got back after 2 weeks in Skopelos. A beautiful island, very green and still very much an old Greece feel about it.

Not sure about stuff for teenagers though.

[Tickle]

Corfu for us in August, some stunning parts.

Skiathos is probably my favourite though.

[eddietiv1]

7 k budget, you could get 5 holidays for that, Kefalonia is probably our favourite, enjoyed Skiathos last year too, trying Stoupa this year on the Peloponnese, You won't go wrong really on any of the islands.

[maturin23]

This is good stuff. Thanks chaps.
Keep it coming - I am googling every suggestion!

[maturin23]

Nick Forest said:

Look up Pomegranate Tree Villa in Katelios, Kefalonia. Stayed there several times and it’s 10 min walk to the sea with a dozen restaurants,2 mins walk to a local shop and perfect in every way.

That looks great - thanks Nick.

[Silvanus]

As well as Corfu and Slopes, Lefkas is one of my favourites. The main town isn't as busy as on some of the other big islands. Some of the smaller towns a villages are really nice places to spend an evening. It has the added bonus in you can drive over to the mainland via a causeway. It's a great place to spend a week or two exploring.

[craig1912]

£7k is a ridiculous budget for Greece.

Go at least twice a year for the last 35 years and you can’t go wrong if you stay away from the obvious tourist resorts, Corfu, Crete, Kefalonia, Zante etc.

I’d probably choose Crete, being the largest island and has the most variety.

Oh and July is/ can be very hot so air con in any villa is essential

[renmure]

We've been going to the Greek Islands for the past 20 years or so.
We enjoyed Corfu twice. I would have said you can't really go wrong with any of them but we went to Zante last month for the 1st time and it's not somewhere we'd go back to. I think Crete or Rhodes is big enough to have a mix of everything you could want as a starter.

[alfabeat]

Lefkada is well worth a look. When are you looking to go?
We have a villa overlooking Nidri on the east coast. 4 bedrooms though (plus space for a camp bed).

https://youtu.be/JHy6y5In-iQ?si=42Y8D1XvkR4vvPmY

[ChocolateFrog]

Agree on Zante, once is enough, don't feel the need to rush back.

We did Rhodes last year and had a great holiday.

Some fun deserted roads in the interior too, just watch out for the wildlife.

[rlg43p]

alfabeat said:

Lefkada is well worth a look. When are you looking to go?
We have a villa overlooking Nidri on the east coast. 4 bedrooms though (plus space for a camp bed).

https://youtu.be/JHy6y5In-iQ?si=42Y8D1XvkR4vvPmY

Looks fabulous!