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Please tell me what beach hotels and islands you love in Greece!

118 replies

irritablehead1 · 10/01/2022 10:13

I'm in the rabbit warren of sorting holiday. I've lost all previous Mumsnset threads so can't find previous post about Greece.

Please can you hit me up for recommendations of hotels/islands with lovely beaches and great swimming. I've no idea about Greece.

Thanks so much

OP posts:
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Simonjt · 10/01/2022 10:16

Mykonos!

We stay at the Elysium

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BubblesThaDragoon · 10/01/2022 10:26

I’m watching this thread with interest 👀 me and DP want to go to Greece this year

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BubblesThaDragoon · 10/01/2022 10:27

We have previously stayed in Tsvili in Zante and loved it - the hotel was dire though

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Simonjt · 10/01/2022 10:28

The Grand beach is nice if you’re taking children.

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billyt · 10/01/2022 11:00

Ikos in Kos or Halkidiki.

Unbeatable

One is Kos is only 20 mins from the airport

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catgirl1976 · 10/01/2022 11:37

Milos

Nefeli Sunset studios

If you want unspoilt Greece Milos is amazing

But don’t tell everyone Grin. I love it so much

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catgirl1976 · 10/01/2022 11:40

I’m on my phone or I would add some pictures of the beaches. They are unreal

www.greeka.com/cyclades/milos/beaches/

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RedRec · 10/01/2022 11:43

Kresten Palace Hotel in Kalithea, Rhodes. Has a massive pool, lots of greenery and its own little beach. I still cannot believe I was able to afford such a swanky hotel (to me) on my little holiday budget.

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countrypunk · 10/01/2022 11:48

Porto Kea Suites on the island of Kea. About an hour's boat ride from Athens. Amazing island, not very touristy, great food, beaches, archaeological sites, hiking... and the hotel is gorgeous.

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Flavabobble · 10/01/2022 11:51

I love Skiathos, and recommend it at every opportunity. I'd go self catering, spend the days at the beach and eat out all the time.

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GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 10/01/2022 11:52

@billyt my friends go to Ikos regularly and love it!

It’s too pricey for me having to go in school hols though - they don’t have kids!

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Booper42 · 10/01/2022 11:53

Paxos for crystal clear waters - completely unspoilt and beautiful!

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MoniJitchell · 10/01/2022 11:58

Sorry to jump in with my own request - strongly considering an October holiday to Greece. From what I can see it seems the more southern islands are the best bet weather wise - makes sense. Anyone have any experience of the Greek Islands in Oct and happy to impart wisdom?

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Hobbesmanc · 10/01/2022 12:21

You're going to fall in love with whichever Island you go too. There's just something so magical about Greece.

I'd be lead by the flights. The more popular islands have the most choices and you can try to avoid the killer late night home flights. Corfu, Zante, Rhodes, Crete are the most accessible and offer the most chance of a budget bargain. But chose resorts wisely as there are some crappy mass tourist places to avoid. Crete is almost like a country in it's own right and is packed full of culture. Around Elounda is stunning and has some wonderful hotels.

If you're going low season the Ionians can get rain- they are lovely and green though so again Crete, Rhodes or Kos which are further East will have less risk of poor weather.

Mykonos is a great starting point to Island hop- and full of beautiful people- but much more expensive than other islands. Santorini is one of the most spectacular places on earth- but you pay for those views- and it gets heaving with Cruise crowds.

Paros is super chic and pretty - Nauossa is totally stunning and full of glamourous yachties- but there's no airport so its a faff on the ferry - worth it. Naxos is also airport free- but this means its not reliant on tourists- its a big interesting island that felt the most uncommercial to us. Good beaches too.

Other fave place was Fiskado on Kefalonia. Arguably the most beautiful island - amazing in spring and slightly quieter than Zante and Corfu close by.

We've never had a disappointing Greek island holiday in 30 years of visiting but Zante, Kos and Lesbos were a little less amazing......

Overall though there's one island we keep going back to and that's Skiathos. There's just something other wordly about the light and the sparkly blue of the sea. Its small enough to feel like an island- but sophisticated enough to have great bars and restaurants. Plus beaches that look like the Carribean (most are sandy which is rare for lots of the islands).

Sorry for the long post- we were booking our June trip to Symi (new island for us) last night so everything is fresh in my mind xx

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Hobbesmanc · 10/01/2022 12:26

@MoniJitchell

Sorry to jump in with my own request - strongly considering an October holiday to Greece. From what I can see it seems the more southern islands are the best bet weather wise - makes sense. Anyone have any experience of the Greek Islands in Oct and happy to impart wisdom?

Most of the islands start to close down end of September. We went to Kos last year at the end of the season and the weather was lovely although a little cool in the evenings. We've also had rain late September in Skiathos and Corfu.

Crete might be the best bet and still have plenty of flights availability - plus its a working island with a couple of sizeable towns so there will be stuff to keep you entertained
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thebigpurpleone · 10/01/2022 12:27

Skiathos this looks amazing!

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shivbo2014 · 10/01/2022 12:28

Skiathos is the most amazing Greek Island. Beautiful scenery, amazing food. Its just lovely. I've been to quite a few islands and Skiathos is the best! We stayed in Hotel Paradise the 1st year we stayed, Dimitri and Kostas, the owners were lovely! Goldie Hawn often pops in for breakfast, random!

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catblanket · 10/01/2022 12:30

Naxos is my favourite but it definitely does have an airport (contrary to what someone said above).

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HunkyPunk · 10/01/2022 12:32

Can’t recommend hotels as we usually have an apartment/villa if we go abroad, but Kefalonia is glorious.

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Movinghouseatlast · 10/01/2022 12:33

It depends what you are looking for.

For peace and quiet with a bit of sophistication thrown in you can't beat Loggos on Paxos in my opinion. Ditto Agios Stephanos NE in Corfu. These are small places with great swimming from pebbly coves, motorboat hire, amazing food.

If you want long sandy beaches and a bit more touristy but still off the beaten track Lefkada is lovely, or Parga on the mainland.

I go to Halki most years- it is just one village with several tavernas and bars, 3 beaches and not a lot else. My idea of heaven!

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whenthedoveslie · 10/01/2022 12:34

Anyone have any experience of the Greek Islands in Oct and happy to impart wisdom?

Early October can be fabulous if you don't mind lower temperatures and fewer people. Combining an Island with a couple of days and nights in Athens is a great combination too!

Obviously, Southern Islands remain warmer longer with Crete being a popular choice. Though I would avoid resorts In October and head for the city of Chania on the Northwest coast.

OP, I would look at the Cycladic islands (my personal favourite) and possibly visit a couple of them. Island hopping in Greece can be a magical experience if practicalities allow. Mykonos and Santorini are world famous with crowds and prices to match, but are beautiful islands, especially early or late in season. Paros and Antiparos, Milos, Naxos, Sifnos and Serifos are also very special and part of the cluster of islands in the Cyclades whose proximity to each other allow for a unique island hopping experience.

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thebigpurpleone · 10/01/2022 12:38

Is skiathos family friendly?

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Mushrooms0up · 10/01/2022 12:42

Also highly recommend Ikos if you want all inclusive, not cheap though.

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Hobbesmanc · 10/01/2022 12:52

@catblanket

Naxos is my favourite but it definitely does have an airport (contrary to what someone said above).

I don't think it takes international flights. But it was a few years ago. We had a lovely multi generational trip to Naxos but we had to get a ferry from Athens
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Hobbesmanc · 10/01/2022 12:54

@thebigpurpleone

Is skiathos family friendly?

For sure- Koukanaries beach is wide and gently sloping with plenty of shade and a few beach bars. Skiathos town is very lively at night but there's loads of eating choices
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