Best Luxury Resorts for Families

In this article, we will present the most popular luxury resorts in Greece, classified by major tourist destinations, according to numerous travel websites, such as Tripadvisor, Lonely Planet and Booking.com. We have only selected all-inclusive resorts, and the ones that are particularly suitable for families with children. 

Why Tourists Like Greece

1. This country is exceptionally beautiful and diverse. Whether you love tanning or skiing, enjoying city culture or hiking in the rocky mountains, Greece will have it all for you, and most probably all close to each other as well.

2. The climate is mild and dry, providing a comfortable balance between extremes throughout the year, and the sun shines most of the time.

3. Greek people are very laid-back and friendly, and the crime rate is very low by European standards too.

4. National cuisine is one of the best tourist attractions in Greece, being healthy and delicious at the same time.

5. Greek resorts are very good by all international standards, equipped with all the necessary facilities for a perfect holiday, whether you want to go to the spa, play golf or spend time by the pool.

6. The local doctors are very professional and responsive, so you do not have to worry if you happen to need medical attention.

7. Not least of all, the country is quite affordable, and your holiday will cost you a lot less in Greece than in many equivalent destinations. 

Athens

Most tourists who come to Greece for a beach holiday think of Athens as only a transit point to the islands. But you will be surprised to discover that it has plenty of excellent beaches too. In fact, Athens has the longest coastline of all European capital cities, and more than ten local beaches have been awarded the Blue Flag for clean water.

Besides, the quality of holiday accommodation is excellent, especially in the luxury resorts, and they are located in the vicinity of all the urban joys that only a capital city can provide. Weatherwise, the best time to visit is May-June and September-October. June-July is a scorcher, but even outside this season, you will need sun cream in the afternoon. 

Chalkidiki

This gorgeous peninsula is located in Northern Greece. It is particularly favoured by tourists from cold countries since the weather is comfortably mild throughout the year. The beaches are wide and clean, surrounded by lush vegetation and picturesque villages. Some are desolate and quiet, while others rock all night long. This is something to keep in mind when booking a hotel, depending on your preferences.

Sithonia and Kassandra are the most favoured destinations, with Kavourotrypes and Armenistis beaches winning the competition so far. And if you want to take a break from sand and water, we recommend a ride to the Byzantine towers, Mount Athos and Petralona Caves. Plus, Chalkidiki is only a stone's throw from Thessaloniki, where city life welcomes you 24 hours a day. 

Corfu

If you would like to relax in a beach resort, explore wildlife and enjoy the typical pleasures of the city, all in one holiday, Corfu is definitely one of the best places to go. The island has plenty of quiet sandy beaches, prehistoric caves, art museums, philharmonic theatres, interesting libraries, mountain passes, beautiful ferry rides and famous monasteries.

The best luxury resorts are concentrated in the Dasia, Gouvia and Kommeno areas, and if you are English, you will have no language barrier there as the entire island is very British, tourists and expats alike. Keep in mind, though, that Corfu is actually quite large, and its mountain roads make it even more difficult to cross in one day, so you will enjoy the island a lot more if you stay in one part of it at a time. 

Crete

The biggest of Greek islands, Crete provides the largest variety of tourist attractions, in wild nature and city life alike. Its wide sandy beaches accommodate large crowds of visitors and yet remain quiet and peaceful. Moreover, Crete has the highest mountains in the country, as well as plenty of excellent ski resorts to enjoy them.

The climate is pretty mild throughout the year due to the northern location of the island, and mountain trekking is definitely recommended as an occasional escape from the sea. Apart from that, what makes its beaches quite unique is the incredible abundance of palm trees and other tropical vegetation, so you will actually feel like you are in Thailand or Malaysia.

You will find the best beaches and resorts in Elounda, Gouves, Chania and Hersonissos. Other attractions include:

• Chania downtown area

• Fortezza Castle in Rethymno

• Samaria Gorge

• Palm Tree Forest near Lasithi

• Heraklion and Knossos 

Mykonos

Together with the other islands in the Cyclades, Mykonos is famous worldwide for its kaleidoscopic variety of national dishes. You may even think of the place as the Greek dining room, and eating will probably be as big a part of your holiday there as tanning and swimming.

The temperature stays between 22°C and 27°C from May to October, humidity is low, and the sun shines for three hundred days per year. And the best resorts to enjoy the weather and sea views are located within the town of Mykonos, as well as the villages of Agios Ioannis and Ornos. Besides the pleasant beach experience, the island offers exciting and diverse nightlife, which is the reason many travellers go there. 

Paros

Another island in the Cyclades group, Paros is similar to Mykonos in its comfortable weather, clean sand, perfectly transparent seawater and fairly active nightlife. It is a better choice in hot months, though, since winds are strong and frequent there.

In fact, surfing is one of the most common purposes for visiting the island, including the World Cup that takes place there once a year. Chrissí Aktí, Naoussa Bay and Parikia have the best beaches and resorts, while the area between Naxos and Paros makes for the best windsurfing. 

Rhodes

This island is the second-biggest tourist attraction in Greece (after Crete), with about six hundred hotels catering for nearly two million visitors a year. Good resorts are not easy to find, though, and the Atrium network is probably the safest option. The chances are, you will stay in one of their resorts or villas. In any case, Ixia Bay and Lachania Beach are the two areas to consider. 

Santorini

The third island from the Cyclades group on our list, this small volcanic boulder in the middle of nowhere is an ideal place for escaping the noise of city life and the traffic of tourists that you regularly run into in Crete and Corfu. In fact, its otherworldly landscape and architecture will make your return from holiday feel like the end of a space voyage.

Coral-clear waters, black sand on the beaches, magnificent mountains and a very small and sleepy local community make Santorini an ideal place for a slow, quiet, lazy and visually stimulating holiday. But the best part of the trip will be the local sunsets, which many visitors call the most gorgeous they have ever seen.

Head straight to the Imerovigli, Oia and Fira districts for the best beach hotels, spas and sunset views, and do not forget to include ferry rides around Santorini as well as to the neighbouring islands in your itinerary. 

Zakynthos

Being part of the Ionian islands, like Corfu, Zakynthos has a lot in common with it, such as green forests, white sands, blue waters, stunning cliffs and breathtaking mountain passes. Another reason to visit the island is to see loggerhead sea turtles lay eggs on the beach. By now, Zakynthos is perhaps the only place where this endangered reptile still nests.

The villages of Laganas and Alykanas are quite busy with clubs, hotels and restaurants and bars, if that is what you are looking for. Otherwise, go straight to Tsilivi or Agios Georgios for a quiet beach experience. 

Final Word

Needless to say, Greece has lots of excellent hotels, and we only touched the tip of the iceberg here. Your ultimate choice will depend on your personal tastes as a beach holiday means many things to different people.

One thing you can be sure of is that whatever your preferences are, this country will have it all for you. And we hope our list of destinations will help you have an unforgettable holiday in Greece.