CLIMATE & SEASONS
Spring Season: April to May
Summer Season: June to September
Autumn Season: October
Winter Season: November to March
Greece has a mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and mild winters. If you like it hot then the best time to visit Greece is between June and September.
Spring and Autumn are still warm and a great time to get out and explore. If you’re travelling with children then they are also great seasons to consider as they are milder than the summer months.
Winter can be mild and rainy.
If wide sandy beaches, picturesque coves and historic old towns are your thing then you are going to love Corfu. It’s a brilliant island to visit for both families and couples.
Corfu is one of Alex’s favourite Greek islands and she’s put together her recommendations on what to do and where to stay whilst you’re there.
1) Take a stroll of old Corfu Town which is been built and dominated by the Venitians. While walking the cobbled streets you really feel like you are in Venice where the buildings, the porticos and the churches remind you a lot of the beautiful Italian city. Corfu town is also famous for the cathedral of Saint Spyridon who is the patron saint of the island and its many restaurants and bars.
2)Go on a boat tour of Paxos and Antipaxos the two beautiful islands which are very close by. The turquoise pristine waters which surrounds the pretty islands are ideal for swimming and snorkelling and are amongst the clearest I ever seen in Europe.
3)No visit of Corfu is complete without a visit to Paleokastritsa beach and visiting the famous monastery which goes by the same name. The monastery is also famous for the small community of monks who still live there and offer tours of the building and the lush gardens.
4)Explore the island by a Vespa guided tour. It’s a fantastic way of going around the island from one side to another. You will be able to stop by some great villages and tavernas and admire some beautiful sights.
I’ve stayed at Lux Me Daphnila Bay and highly recommend it for both families and couples. The hotel has a main building where you will find the pool and a couple of restaurants, then all the cottage rooms are dotted around the gardens and the grounds of the hotel which slope to the beach. The beach is lovely and shaded and there are another two restaurants including the Greek taverna right by the sea. At the hotel there is also a kids club and an ice cream parlour open daily.
This is the perfect choice for couples looking for a romantic setting. It’s also blessed with fantastic views of the sea and of old Corfu Town.
Eva Palace is set across multiple levels and has a grand boutique feel to it. The stunning gardens and paths lead down to a sandy and pebble beach. The pool area it’s beautiful and surrounded by palm trees. There is also a free boat service to neighbouring islands.
Corfu Imperial is a popular hotel with families thanks to it’s kids Club, variety of restaurants and choice of four beaches. Corfu Imperial has views of Corfu town, Mouse island and the Ionian Sea. The Italian gardens, the many pools and the Spa make this hotel one of the most popular on the island. There is also a free shuttle service which takes you to Corfu Town, which I highly recommend visiting whilst you’re there
One of the most beautiful and famous Greek islands, Mykonos is well known for being a glamourous party island. You’ll find beautiful beaches, luxurious resorts and spectacular views around every corner on the island. It’s the perfect place to visit for a fun trip with friends or a romantic getaway.
Ian is our resident Mykonos expert and has shared his top tips for the island.
1)Watch the Sunset in Little Venice, Mykonos Town. My favourite thing to do is sit and watch the amazing sunset from either Kastros or Katerinas in Mykonos Town. Kastros is perfect for people watching as everyone loves to get a photo from the rocks at the end of the little alley. It is a simple but perfectly located little gem of a bar. However if you prefer a little less of the Insta crowd then the view from Katerinas balcony is pretty cool (if you can get a seat!). Either of these bars is also a perfect way to start an exploration of the labyrinthian streets of this beautiful town. Once the sun has gone down my favourite place to pitch up is Veranda Bar for Cocktails and tunes followed by dancing at Skandi Bar until the early hours and the obligatory stumble around the streets for hours as you try and navigate your way home
2)Visit Super Paradise beach. A beautiful little beach with amazing atmosphere this is definitely my favourite place to while away the day, drinking Long Island Iced Teas in the sun. A nice chilled party vibe that builds as the day goes on and not nearly as extortionately expensive as some of the other beach clubs on the island. The cliffs that run around the headland are great for snorkelling along as well!
3)Rent an ATV for getting around. Not only are ATVs great fun to drive they are the perfect way to get around and see this beautiful island. There are plenty of places to rent them and they are relatively inexpensive. Just make sure you take your driving licence and go steady, you cannot get fully comprehensive insurance for these machines so if you smash it up you are going to have to pay
For a truly showstopping stay whilst in Mykonos then I can’t recommend Mykonos Blu enough. It’s by far the most unique beach property in Mykonos with it’s sleek white cave pool and authentic minimalist architecture.
The hotel is in a prime location with views on Psarou beach, THE place to be.
Theres a range of room types on offer from open plan bungalows up to suites with private pools and exceptional white pool villas with 1 – 6 bedrooms. The rooms here truly have that iconic Mykonos wow factor!
Being the largest of the Greek islands there is something in Crete to suit absolutely everyone. With beautiful beaches, crystal clear swimming coves, traditional tavernas in the mountains and charming old towns to explore, you can’t help but fall in love with Crete.
The island is huge and would take you 5 hours to drive from east to west and we could recommend loads of holidays spots within Crete. For this article we’re going to focus on one of our favourite areas around Rethymno, which is fairly central on the island.
Hollie talks us through her recommendations for holidaying in this part of Crete.
1)Take a walk through Rethymno old town. You’ll find some lovely cafes and shops to explore as you wander through the narrow cobbled streets and along the waterfront of the Venetian Harbour.
2)Visit the Sacred Monastery of Arkadi. Located around 20km from Rethymno, the monastery is one of the most important monuments in Crete. The monastery tells the important story of the Cretans struggle for liberation in the Battle of 1866. But as well as the historical importance it’s also incredibly beautiful and a really interesting place to have a look round.
3)Have lunch at Agreco farm. This four-hectare estate close to Rethymno is in a beautiful location surrounded by olive groves and vineyards. The farm is also home to a mini zoo where you’ll an array of animals including deer, wild goats, donkeys, sheep, cows, chickens and peacocks. The on-site taverna is a brilliant way to try traditional Cretan cuisine.
There’s a huge choice of places to stay in Crete with everything from huge resort style properties to small boutique hotels. For families looking for a hotel with a huge range of facilities to keep the kids entertained then I highly recommend Creta Palace.
Creta Palace is only 1.5km away from Rethymno old town and set on it’s own wide stretch of sandy beach. The large resort is a kids paradise with an impressive kids clubs, large main pool and separate kids pool complete with water slides.
There’s a wide choice of restaurants with plenty on the menus and in the buffet to keep the kids happy. Creta Palace offer a half board and all inclusive program, which includes the buffet restaurants and a credit towards a la carte dining. The hotel also boasts several bars in stunning locations, including a rooftop and beach bar.
You will find room types to suit everyone, from large family bungalows to beachfront villas with private pools.
If you are looking for an all-inclusive hotel in Greece with an impressive selection of restaurants included and fantastic food then I highly recommend LUXME White Palace.
A big selling point for LUXME White Palace is its incredible swim-up rooms. The resort has 22 pools in total, which includes 8 sharing pools for swim-up rooms and 11 rooms with private pools.
It’s a great resort for families and whilst the kids club here is small in comparison to Creta Palace, it’s perfect if you have little ones who are nervous of being left. The kids club is situated next to the kids pool area, so parents can relax on a sun lounger in full view of their kids. They also provide an impressive range of complimentary baby and toddler equipment which can be pre-ordered in advance via the Swords Travel Concierge team.
Swords Travel is proud to be affiliated with Colletts Travel, a trusted and well-established Tour Operator. Our affiliation with Colletts means we are part of a network that is ABTA, IATA, and ATOL bonded, ensuring your bookings and travels are secure and protected. Collett’s Travel Limited , a Global Travel Collection UK Company, registered in the UK under companies’ house 01714349. For more information, you can review Terms & Conditions on the following link: Colletts T&Cs
Swords Travel are also bonded by the Travel Trust Association for further financial protection and are ATOL bonded. Swords Travel Limited a UK Company, registered in the UK under companies’ house 10075557. For more information, you can review Terms & Conditions on the following link: Swords Travel T&Cs