How to Plan the Best Family Holiday to Greece

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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