| Picture: Stone |
Ever since the 1950s, British families have flocked to
Corfu to stay in villas or, more recently, apartments on the island
that author Gerald Durrell made famous in his book My Family and
Other Animals.
Having once been under British rule, it has a familiar feel and the
clean sandy beaches and warm shallow waters of resorts such as Roda
and Sidari mean Corfu remains an ideal choice for families.
While Corfu is by far the most popular of the Greek islands,
investment in good-quality accommodation, particularly
all-inclusive hotels, in Rhodes, Zante (sometimes referred to as
Zakinthos) and Crete, has raised their appeal among families
seeking value for money.
But Thomson planning and trading manager for Greece Jez Kilvington
said: “The market is purely product driven and the reason
these islands attract more families is because they have the
greatest number of flights and widest range of accommodation.
“Cephalonia and mainland destination Halkidiki are also
starting to attract more families after opening new hotels and
apartments,” he added.
Though the majority of families are still opting for self-catering
holidays in Greece, the greatest growth in demand is for
all-inclusive hotels. First Choice head of product Richard Curtis
said: “They allow families to budget better.”
Here are some of the most popular destinations for clients with
children.
| Corfu |
Why? It attracts more British holidaymakers than
any other Greek island.
Who does it appeal to? First-timers to Greece who
like to be surrounded by other Brits.
Which resorts? Roda and Sidari boast long beaches
and warm, shallow water, making them popular with families with
young children.
What accommodation is available? Sidari is the
stronghold for self-catering apartment holidays, which suits those
on a budget, while Corfu is also stuffed with villas, which provide
more space and often come with the luxury of a private pool. There
is also a good choice of quality hotels.
What facilities are available? All the main
resorts have plenty of shops and tavernas, and water sports are
available from many of the beaches. Car and bicycle hire are widely
available and it’s worth exploring the fortressed capital,
Corfu Town, and some of the quieter, traditional villages,
including Kalami.
Sample package: new this year in the Cosmos Villas
with Pools brochure is the two-bedroom Villa Victoria in Acharavi,
Corfu, with private pool, which starts at £1,431 for a family
of two adults and two children, including flights and car hire, for
a week departing on May 2. Villa-only prices start at £818 for
seven nights in September.
| Crete |
Why? It’s the largest and most southernmost
(and therefore warmest) of the Greek islands, less touristy than
Corfu, and has a good choice of flights from the UK.
Who does it appeal to? Families with a little more
cash to splash as prices are generally higher than on Corfu and
Rhodes.
Which resorts? Aghios Nikolaos is the biggest
beach resort but its beach is shingle. The Rethymnon area, between
Chania and Heraklion airports, has several small resorts strung
along a stretch of sandy beach, while Hersonissos, on the other
side of Heraklion, is one of the most established, cosmopolitan
resorts with a water park, golf course and wide choice of water
sports.
What accommodation is available? From
self-catering studio apartments and all-inclusives to upmarket,
boutique hotels.
What facilities are available? From the Rethymnon
area there are regular boat trips to local islands, and water
sports are widely available, particularly at Hersonissos.
There’s no shortage of bars, restaurants and tourist shops,
and car hire can be arranged locally.
Sample package: Manos features the self-contained
Aldemar Cretan Village in Hersonissos, offering self-catering
apartments and half-board rooms. Prices start at £525 for
seven nights’ half-board, including flights and transfers,
departing on May 1.
| Zante |
Why? It is less developed than the other larger
islands.
Who does it appeal to? It’s more suited to
families looking for a relaxing ‘kick back and enjoy the
scenery’ holiday (if you choose the right resort), plus there
are large sandy beaches for kids.
Which resorts? Laganas is the biggest and boasts a
five-mile long beach but the nightlife can get a bit raucous. For a
quieter alternative, try Kalamaki, situated on the same stretch of
sand, where loggerhead turtles can be found nesting. Tsilivi also
has a good beach.
What accommodation is available? Mostly apartment
complexes and two to three-star hotels, which are generally smaller
than on Rhodes and Corfu. Warn clients that, due to the central
location of the airport, wherever they stay might be noisy, though
there are no night flights.
What facilities are available? Laganas and the
centre of Tsilivi have the greatest choice of bars and restaurants
– elsewhere it’s mostly traditional tavernas. Tsilivi
has the largest range of water sports and cycle hire. Water sports
from other resorts, including Kalamaki, are restricted to protect
the turtle population, but there are canoes and pedalos.
Sample package: JMC has seven nights’ bed
and breakfast at the three-star Hotel Denny’s Inn in Kalamaki
from £217 per adult and £174 per child, departing Gatwick
on May 19.
| Rhodes |
Why? It’s the most cosmopolitan of the Greek
islands, boasts miles of soft sandy beaches and, because of its
sheltered position in the Aegean, has pretty much guaranteed good
weather.
Who does it appeal to? Families with older
children looking for a lively holiday. Which
resorts? Since Faliraki gained a reputation of being too
lively for families with young children (though teenagers might nag
to go there), Pefkos seems the next best choice. Like Faliraki, it
boasts a shallow, sandy beach , though its hills may not suit those
with buggies.
What accommodation is available? From traditional
village rooms to five-star hotels and everything in between. More
self-catering apartments have been built in several resorts,
including Pefkos, and there is a handful of all-inclusive
hotels.
What facilities are available? Try the boat trips from Pefkos to
nearby islands, and there’s plenty of bars and tavernas.
Water sports are available; Kalithea is good for snorkelling and
diving. Car hire is available.
Sample package: Thomson has seven nights at the
all-inclusive four-star Atlantica Aegean Blue Hotel from
£1,391 for a family of four, departing Gatwick on May 7.
Alternatively, it has seven nights at the three-star Doreta Beach
all-inclusive property from £1,265 for a family of four.
| Cephalonia |
Why? Made famous by the novel and subsequent film
Captain Correlli’s Mandolin, it’s a picturesque,
mountainous island steeped in history.
Who does it appeal to? Families looking for good
quality accommodation. It’s far less built up than other
islands.
Which resorts? Lourdas’ beach waves a Blue
Flag and it’s close to the Mount Aenos National Park, filled
with wildlife, but there’s not much man-made entertainment or
facilities. Scala has another great beach (though it’s
pebbly) and more facilities.
What accommodation is available? Mostly small
apartment complexes and two to three-star hotels.
What facilities are available? Not as many as on
other islands, but Skala does have sun loungers, umbrellas and
water sports in high season. Lassi has the greatest choice for
shops and eating; Scala has only a few tavernas. You can hire a car
from the resorts or the airport.
Sample package: First Choice has seven nights at
the three-star plus Pelagos Bay Hotel in Scala from £279 per
adult and £129 per child, including breakfast, flights and
transfers.
