Greek islands - which one?!
Discussion
We're doing 3 this year already been to Kefalonia that was our sixth visit it's an absolutely lovely place very quiet there's no loud bars/pubs/clubs it's like going back in time. Katelios is a gorgeous little place with a great beach with a very shallow water level great for the kids. Argostoli the capital is a good base if you do want something a bit more lively the area around the main square has some really nice places to eat. Well worth getting a car it's a quite big island and some of the villages and beaches are well worth the trip. The famous Myrtos beach is very very busy in peak season though. Don't travel on Thursdays the airport is a nightmare in high season and Thursday is the worst. You'll be queueing outside in 37 degree heat for over an hour! Our only complaint with this otherwise fantastic island the airport is less than half the size it needs to be.
We are off to Corfu for the first time in a few years soon a much busier island although we're staying in the south which is much quieter. Later in the year we're heading to Zante again for the first time in a few years busier still possibly one of the more lively places.
We only do villas usually for a family of 5 you can do flights and accommodation/car hire for about 3/4 grand. With us having 5 adult places to pay for it's roughly the same price as a decent hotel. Takes a bit of perseverance with the villas but owners drop the prices and Mrs FP is a demon for spotting some great deals.
We paid 2k for this place for a week in May it was enormous!
We are off to Corfu for the first time in a few years soon a much busier island although we're staying in the south which is much quieter. Later in the year we're heading to Zante again for the first time in a few years busier still possibly one of the more lively places.
We only do villas usually for a family of 5 you can do flights and accommodation/car hire for about 3/4 grand. With us having 5 adult places to pay for it's roughly the same price as a decent hotel. Takes a bit of perseverance with the villas but owners drop the prices and Mrs FP is a demon for spotting some great deals.
We paid 2k for this place for a week in May it was enormous!
Edited by fridaypassion on Monday 1st July 06:49
Pretty hard to go wrong, I'd say, and huge variety.
Crete is big, so not a village in the sea like some of the smaller islands. It's got beaches, museums, amazing archaeology (wow factor stuff that would interest almost anyone), mountains, proper towns where real people live doing more than just tourism.
Nisyros is a tiny village in the sea ... with a whacking great active volcano where the village hall should be. Perhaps better as a day trip from Kos, but ... volcano!!
Santorini, if you want to see what a cataclysmic volcanic explosion looks like after a few thousand years.
And there are more than 200 more inhabited island to choose from ...
Crete is big, so not a village in the sea like some of the smaller islands. It's got beaches, museums, amazing archaeology (wow factor stuff that would interest almost anyone), mountains, proper towns where real people live doing more than just tourism.
Nisyros is a tiny village in the sea ... with a whacking great active volcano where the village hall should be. Perhaps better as a day trip from Kos, but ... volcano!!
Santorini, if you want to see what a cataclysmic volcanic explosion looks like after a few thousand years.
And there are more than 200 more inhabited island to choose from ...
ChocolateFrog said:
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.
We really like Zante, been at least once a year for the last 20 years. This is the first year we're not going. Many happy memories in and around Keri, the lighthouse is beautiful for sunset food and drinks. We did Rhodes last year and had a great holiday.
Some fun deserted roads in the interior too, just watch out for the wildlife.
Reminiscing now.....
Arrivalist said:
Has anyone been to Paxos and, if so, what's that like?
Mrs A has found a nice villa there after I mentioned this thread
Twice. Lovely island, good (traditional) food and beaches. Quite civilised and few, if any, tattoos on view. Hire a boat, motor round the island, stop off at coves and beaches and visit Anti-paxos.Mrs A has found a nice villa there after I mentioned this thread
No airport so ferry from Corfu.
Lots of Italians and it can get very busy in August.
popeyewhite said:
Arrivalist said:
Has anyone been to Paxos and, if so, what's that like?
Mrs A has found a nice villa there after I mentioned this thread
Twice. Lovely island, good (traditional) food and beaches. Quite civilised and few, if any, tattoos on view. Hire a boat, motor round the island, stop off at coves and beaches and visit Anti-paxos.Mrs A has found a nice villa there after I mentioned this thread
No airport so ferry from Corfu.
Lots of Italians and it can get very busy in August.
Arrivalist said:
Many thanks for that. We’re looking next June, as we did with Skopelos this year, so hopefully not overly busy.
Went to Paxos last year and stayed at this place:https://www.gicthevillacollection.com/paxos-and-an...
Absolutely in love with Paxos now - it's a tiny island but truly wonderful and delightful, not one if you want mega nightlife but for a family holiday (beaches, bars/restaurants) it was sensational. We loved Kephalonia which is vastly bigger but Paxos was just utterly special - unspoilt, tiny, friendly and even in August it wasn't ridiculously expensive - meal for 4 in a harbour front restaurant infront of the super yachts roughly E80-90 for a fabulous 2-course meal.
LordGrover said:
I love Lindos, Rhodes - though it may not meet the brief. Beautiful village packed with bars and restaurants (and gift shops).
Probably too 'touristy' as it's very popular, but a quiet, relaxed touristy IYSWIM.
Scores points for a quality acropolis with temple dedicated to Athena.Probably too 'touristy' as it's very popular, but a quiet, relaxed touristy IYSWIM.
Siko said:
Arrivalist said:
Many thanks for that. We’re looking next June, as we did with Skopelos this year, so hopefully not overly busy.
Went to Paxos last year and stayed at this place:https://www.gicthevillacollection.com/paxos-and-an...
Absolutely in love with Paxos now - it's a tiny island but truly wonderful and delightful, not one if you want mega nightlife but for a family holiday (beaches, bars/restaurants) it was sensational. We loved Kephalonia which is vastly bigger but Paxos was just utterly special - unspoilt, tiny, friendly and even in August it wasn't ridiculously expensive - meal for 4 in a harbour front restaurant infront of the super yachts roughly E80-90 for a fabulous 2-course meal.
My pleasure. The company were excellent btw - the price quoted included hire car and all transfers, we had never done this type of holiday before and they literally babysat us all the way from when we walked out of the airport terminal to when we got into out hire car! All very easy and stress free, whether you go to Paxos or not the company were absolutely excellent - we actually went for another villa which got reserved in the time it took me to check with Mrs Siko that she was happy to go ahead, so they offered us a chunky discount on that one which was originally outside our budget. the views from that villa over Anti-Paxos are just superb, I cannot recommend it enough, would go back in a heartbeat.
Siko said:
My pleasure. The company were excellent btw - the price quoted included hire car and all transfers, we had never done this type of holiday before and they literally babysat us all the way from when we walked out of the airport terminal to when we got into out hire car! All very easy and stress free, whether you go to Paxos or not the company were absolutely excellent - we actually went for another villa which got reserved in the time it took me to check with Mrs Siko that she was happy to go ahead, so they offered us a chunky discount on that one which was originally outside our budget. the views from that villa over Anti-Paxos are just superb, I cannot recommend it enough, would go back in a heartbeat.
Great to know and thanks again.I just got a quote for this August/Sept as the system doesn’t run to 2025 yet and I noticed the inclusion of car hire.
purplepolarbear said:
Which can you fly to from airports near you? - if you're only there for a week you won't want several hours at each end of your holiday taken up with flight transfers.
We are pretty much equidistant from Bristol, Heathrow, Southampton and Birmingham - this is another factor with too many options. Sometimes it's useful to have limited choices!RE budget - that's the upper end, happy to spend much less and keen not to get ripped off. I've seen some real variation in prices. Grandparents are coming along too (plus I allegedly snore quite badly!) - hence the requirement for 5/6 bedrooms.
We are most definitely not a blingy family - so good location, privacy, plenty of indoor and outdoor space plus a good kitchen are far more important factors than shiny tiles and infinity pools.
Nightlife for the boys is requested, but given we're simple Wiltshire folk the acceptable bar (pun intended!) is going to be pretty low, just somewhere for them to have a few beers and feel grown-up rather than VIP areas in a swanky club.
Arrivalist said:
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.
I second that, got back Saturday after 10 days there, did the Mama Mia church visit (thanks mrs Pedro)! Some fabulous restaurants on the waterfront, beautiful beaches and really friendly people. Not a great deal for teenagers to do but we didn't care too much as we left them at home.Not sure about stuff for teenagers though.
maturin23 said:
Nightlife for the boys is requested, but given we're simple Wiltshire folk the acceptable bar (pun intended!) is going to be pretty low, just somewhere for them to have a few beers and feel grown-up rather than VIP areas in a swanky club.
Definitely avoid Mykonos then!Can I add a question to this thread, please?
We're looking at a break for the two of us and our youngest in mid-October. But I recall from travels years ago that "Greece closed to tourists at the end of September".
I know that doesn't apply to Cyprus, and I'm guessing to the bigger resorts in Crete. But is there anywhere else that will still be properly open to tourists in October? Has it changed wholesale, or do we still need to tread carefully with where we choose?
(My preferences based on nothing more than historic travels and limited knowledge would be Rhodes / Kefalonia / Crete, but open to suggestions for somewhere child-friendly with a good beach and good choice of restaurants)
Thanks,
M.
We're looking at a break for the two of us and our youngest in mid-October. But I recall from travels years ago that "Greece closed to tourists at the end of September".
I know that doesn't apply to Cyprus, and I'm guessing to the bigger resorts in Crete. But is there anywhere else that will still be properly open to tourists in October? Has it changed wholesale, or do we still need to tread carefully with where we choose?
(My preferences based on nothing more than historic travels and limited knowledge would be Rhodes / Kefalonia / Crete, but open to suggestions for somewhere child-friendly with a good beach and good choice of restaurants)
Thanks,
M.
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