Greece
has so much to offer travellers of every age, but traveling with young
children can be a stressful prospect for many parents. Not only do you need to
plan the logistics involved in travel, you also need to find ways to keep the
children entertained for a solid block of time in a foreign country.
However,
with the right planning, and the right destination, you can turn your stress
into a fantastic family experience full of memories which will last a lifetime.
In many ways, planning your family holiday can be almost as fun as actually
being there, especially if you make it a family activity.
If
you’re struggling to know where to begin, here are some handy tips to help you
plan the perfect family holiday to Greece.
Deciding where to stay
When
planning a holiday for yourself, you might opt for budget accommodation or a
boutique hotel, but when you have children these may not be the best options.
This is especially true if you have toddlers or a baby as you will not have
kitchen facilities and you may be concerned about a crying baby disturbing
other guests. You will also be very restricted in terms of space for the
children to play and an area for you and your partner to
relax after the
children are in bed.
A
great solution is to rent a villa for Greece Holidays as this will provide you
with a home away from home. You will have plenty of space, multiple bedrooms, at
least one private bathroom, and comfortable living areas to play and relax in.
Many villas also have a swimming pool; but do remember to check that it is
gated if young children will be wandering around. There are some great family
villas in Crete and Paxos, in particular.
Keep travel plans simple
It’s
best to keep your travel plans as simple and straightforward as possible. For
example, some villa owners may offer to collect you from the airport, or you
could rent a car. This will give you a quicker and smoother experience and
minimise your stress when you’re already tired from the flight. Hiring a
vehicle will also make it easier to explore the country as you won’t need to
tackle public transport.
Set – and stick to – a budget
It’s
essential that you set yourself a realistic budget for your Greece holiday.
This will help you to plan an itinerary which doesn’t put you into debt or leave
you worrying about running out of spending money. Once accommodation, travel
and insurance are booked, you need to consider the cost of activities, tours,
food and drink and souvenirs. Find out how to
create a family holiday budget
Involve the children in your
activity planning
When
planning how you will spend your time while you’re in Greece, try to involve
the children in your decision making. Research some potential places to visit,
activities and tours and ask them what they would like to see. You can even have
a fun family evening of looking through websites and brochure with snacks.
Possible
activities you might want to consider include visiting one of the many
beautiful beaches, water sports, scuba diving, meeting the animals at
Aquaworld or the Cretaquarium, going cycling or hiking in the mountains, visiting
underground caves, and checking out the water parks and/or the fantastic
Dinosauria Park in Crete. If you are looking for inspiration, take a look at this
blog on 10 Fun Places to
Visit in Crete with Kids.
Book family-friendly tours
There
are plenty of fascinating tours in Greece, which will help you explore the
history, mythology and culture of the country, but if they are not geared
towards children it’s unlikely they will be able to follow or enjoy them. Children
are likely to get bored and frustrated, which could be a real downer during your
holiday. It is possible, however, to find tours that are family-friendly and
delivered by guides who are experienced in working with children. They should
be entertaining and interactive, and come with breaks, so that children can
play and let off steam occasionally.
Interactive
tours which give children the opportunity to take part in a hands-on experience
are ideal. For example, there are farm experiences which let you pick your own
produce and then cook with them during cooking classes. Many museums also offer
activities, quizzes and drama-based storytelling shows which bring history to
life for children.
Try to think like your children
When
children think about going on holiday, they usually imagine excitement and
adventure. They are not thinking about walking around museums or historical
sites for hours at a time, sitting on tour buses, or eating unusual
food
in fancy restaurants. That last one can be a particular nightmare with picky
eaters! To plan the best holiday possible for your family, try to see things
from their point of view. This does not mean that you can’t plan more adult
activities, but ideally you should incorporate fun within them.
For
example, if you’re walking around Athens, why not turn it into a scavenger
hunt? There’s a series of children’s books which have been turned into films,
called Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which focus on characters from Greek
mythology. If you introduce the children to the books or films before you leave,
they may be excited about learning more about the original mythology on your
travels. There are even specialist mythology
tours
dedicated to Percy Jackson themed activities.
Don’t try to do too much
There is plenty to do in Greece for families, but it’s important that you don’t try to do too much. If you overstuff your itinerary, you will be rushing from activity to activity and it will feel like more of a mission than a relaxing holiday. Take your time at each activity, and each location, to get the most from your experience. Your holiday is an opportunity for your family to spend quality time together, laugh, reconnect and build memories. You might not be able to see everything you want to in one trip, but having to make a second trip back to Greece is no bad thing.
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