Greek Island holiday

[whelk]

The missus wants to go to Greece this summer. Didn’t have to talk her out of the Falklands.

I/we have stayed in to Corfu, Rhodes, Skiathos previously and I island hopped back in the day to a few of the smaller ones. Unlike her husband she likes a bit of culture. Any recommendations, hidden gems?

Ruled out mainland Greece, maybe unfairly.

[Turkish]

You were boasting about going to New Zealand on that thread. What happened?

[Turkish]

Went to Kefalos in Kos a few years ago that was very nice. done Cyprus 3 times always in the October half term and weather has always been till isn’t. Also done Corfu, Rhodes and Zante
 

Fancied Santorini, Skiathos and Kefalonia for a long time but not made it yet. Maybe next year as we’re booked up already for this summer

can't really go wrong with a Greek island but if you want some culture and not too many Brits Sardinia is amazing. Been 3 times. Beaches as good as the Caribbean with Italian food and style. north east side can get a ferry to Corsica for the day, Bonifacio is stunning. West site Alghero is beautiful. When we first arrived in Alghero we went for lunch at a restaurant near the hotel, remains one of the best meals I’ve ever had, fresh swordfish with a jug of the house vermantino wine, cost less than €50 for 3 of us, which is a bargain as Sardinia is expensive like most of Italy 
 

Also Sicily is great too, Palermo is a brilliant city to visit and got abit of everything.  

Edited 2 January, 2025 by Turkish

[whelk]

14 minutes ago, Turkish said:

You were boasting about going to New Zealand on that thread. What happened?

I was? 

[whelk]

7 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Went to Kefalos in Kos a few years ago that was very nice. done Cyprus 3 times always in the October half term and weather has always been till isn’t. Also done Corfu, Rhodes and Zante
 

Fancied Santorini, Skiathos and Kefalonia for a long time but not made it yet. Maybe next year as we’re booked up already for this summer

can't really go wrong with a Greek island but if you want some culture and not too many Brits Sardinia is amazing. Been 3 times. Beaches as good as the Caribbean with Italian food and style. north east side can get a ferry to Corsica for the day, Bonifacio is stunning. West site Alghero is beautiful. 
 

Also Sicily is great too, Palermo is a brilliant city to visit and got abit of everything.  

Cheers. Funnily enough suggested Sardinia as only heard good things. 

[whelk]

Personally prefer Italy to Greece

[Turkish]

2 minutes ago, whelk said:

Cheers. Funnily enough suggested Sardinia as only heard good things. 

We’ve been end of May, end of June and August. August was too hot but May and June were perfect. Fantastic place, white sand and blue sea with Italian food, wine and culture. It’s class 

[Hamilton Saint]

Recommendations for "cultural spots" to visit in Greece. On the mainland, there's Meteora and Delphi (north of Athens). On the Peloponnese there's Mycenae, Epidaurus, Nafplion, and Mistras (near Sparta). Islands with cultural gems include Rhodes and Crete.

For Greek islands that I've visited, I would avoid Mykonos and Santorini; they were wonderful back in the 1970s, but now have been horribly over-touristed. Generally avoid islands with airports and lots of cruise boats (two or three per day). Find gems that are quiet and off the beaten track--Sifnos, Tilos, Amorgos, Patmos.

My wife and I are going to Crete in April. We're avoiding touristy spots along the north coast, east of Iraklion--places like Malia and Agios Nikolaos, and are spending time in Chania, Rethimno, and Paleohora--in the west of Crete.

Hope you make it there. I love Greece. First went in 1973 and have been back another five times.

[Winnersaint]

My happy place is Skala in Kefalonia. This year however I'm taking daughter and SiL with me and they've been with me to Skala and want to go somewhere different. So we're off to Parga on the mainland. Very picturesque. Meteora is reachable but a fair journey. The Acheron River nearby is supposed to flow to Hades as it disappears underground in places and goes through deep gorges. Anywhere on the Peloponnese is full of interest as Hamilton Saint has pointed out although I'd add Monemvasia to his list also. Spent many holidaying in The Mani which is mountainous and wild. The Pelion on the east coast, again can't fault it, but only cultural references we had were to Momma Mia, some off which was shot nearby. Ithaca which is small and beautiful has links to Homers Odyssey and is easily reached from Kefalonia. The north of the latter is stunning. Assos and Fiskardo and the wild roads themselves passing Myrtos Beach are well worth a trip. Argostoli the capital is nice place too. Like Hamilton I first went to Greece in 1973. I was on the SS Uganda school cruise. Happy days of youth.

[Gloucester Saint]

Been to Agios Nikolaos on Crete and Sidari in Corfu, both a long time ago and lovely. 

The one set of islands I’d love to try are the Cape Verde’s. Anybody been?

[Turkish]

6 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Been to Agios Nikolaos on Crete and Sidari in Corfu, both a long time ago and lovely. 

The one set of islands I’d love to try are the Cape Verde’s. Anybody been?

No but I’ve been put off it as people who have been have told me it’s very dull with not much to do outside of the hotels. Which is a shame as it’d be decent for a winter break without having to fly to the Caribbean 

[Turkish]

Anyone been to Gallipoli? Saw it on great places to eat and looks amazing. We went to Puliga area 6 years ago, hired a car and drove a round a bit to places like Ostuni, Lecce, Alberobello, a brilliant part of the world but didn't do Gallipoli. We're already booked for this and next year but might have to try and squeeze a week in some how

[Whitey Grandad]

On 03/01/2025 at 21:34, Gloucester Saint said:

Been to Agios Nikolaos on Crete and Sidari in Corfu, both a long time ago and lovely. 

The one set of islands I’d love to try are the Cape Verde’s. Anybody been?

Only for a day visit on a cruise. I remember it as being somewhat dusty. 

[Lord Duckhunter]

4 hours ago, Turkish said:

Anyone been to Gallipoli?

Was there 2 years ago. Lovely place. Hopefully you like fish, don’t know where you’re going to eat if you don’t  though… Some wonderful beaches within driving distance. 
 

If you like Puglia, try Southern Albania. Absolutely stunning and about a third of the price. Lovely locals as well. 

Edited January 15 by Lord Duckhunter

[Turkish]

14 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Was there 2 years ago. Lovely place. Hopefully you like fish, don’t know where you’re going to eat if you don’t  though… Some wonderful beaches within driving distance. 
 

If you like Puglia, try Southern Albania. Absolutely stunning and about a third of the price. Lovely locals as well. 

Good to know, we loved Puglia, the fish is part of the attraction!

[iansums]

On 02/01/2025 at 22:00, Turkish said:

We’ve been end of May, end of June and August. August was too hot but May and June were perfect. Fantastic place, white sand and blue sea with Italian food, wine and culture. It’s class 

How did you do Sardinia Turkish? Did you stay in one place or move around a bit? We’re doing the lakes Garda and Como in June and thinking we’ll be going to Italy a fair bit the coming years.

[Turkish]

8 minutes ago, iansums said:

How did you do Sardinia Turkish? Did you stay in one place or move around a bit? We’re doing the lakes Garda and Como in June and thinking we’ll be going to Italy a fair bit the coming years.

We've been 3 times. Olbia area twice and Alghero once. Stayed in one place but travelled around a fair bit, hired a car for a week each time. Just tended to drive around and stopped. The Costa Smerelda is fantastic. We're booked in to go again next year. I want to do the South at some point.

Edited January 15 by Turkish

[iansums]

Sounds good, will definitely do Sardinia at some point. We’ve just booked Mauritius for November.

[Turkish]

39 minutes ago, iansums said:

Sounds good, will definitely do Sardinia at some point. We’ve just booked Mauritius for November.

Went there in 2008 great place 👌

[Turkish]

This is genius from On the Beach 😂😂👏👏

 

[Gloucester Saint]

On 03/01/2025 at 21:42, Turkish said:

No but I’ve been put off it as people who have been have told me it’s very dull with not much to do outside of the hotels. Which is a shame as it’d be decent for a winter break without having to fly to the Caribbean 

Something else which might be off putting https://www.facebook.com/timesandsundaytimes/photos/exclusive-each-tourist-died-after-falling-ill-on-the-islands-where-one-hospital-/1332128378944555/

Also a 25 year old British bloke who died after getting in a fight allegedly with locals and having a chair thrown at him.

[Huffton]

Samos. Lovely island, but worth it just for the approach and landing!😁

[Turkish]

we're off to Kefalos in Kos end of May, loved it there last time which was 14 years ago. Hope it's not changed too much 

[Turkish]

Anyone been to Skiathos and Kefalonia? Fancy that this time next year.
 

Coming back from Kos tonight and really enjoyed the week here. Kefalos is a lovely, peaceful resort and prices for food and drink are reasonable along with being a really good standard, weather has been spot on 27-28 all week. We will definitely be back

[whelk]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

Anyone been to Skiathos and Kefalonia? Fancy that this time next year.
 

Coming back from Kos tonight and really enjoyed the week here. Kefalos is a lovely, peaceful resort and prices for food and drink are reasonable along with being a really good standard, weather has been spot on 27-28 all week. We will definitely be back

Went to Skiathos a few years back and sure was because the missus and kids were drawn in by the Mamma Mia locations.  Nice little Island and easy to explore although some hairy drops when driving. Can’t remember too much more to be honest as probably 10 years ago but I’m sure all Greek islands are decent value food and drink.  Went to Crete last year which was lovely and didn’t realise it is by far and away the biggest of the islands. 
 

Kefalonia is on my list to visit

Edited 10 hours ago by whelk

[Sergei Gotsmanov]

On 02/01/2025 at 21:09, whelk said:

The missus wants to go to Greece this summer. Didn’t have to talk her out of the Falklands.

I/we have stayed in to Corfu, Rhodes, Skiathos previously and I island hopped back in the day to a few of the smaller ones. Unlike her husband she likes a bit of culture. Any recommendations, hidden gems?

Ruled out mainland Greece, maybe unfairly.

It might be a bit random but I went to Corfu three years ago and you could see Albania across the water. I imagined that it would have been interesting and a lot better value to stay there for a week. The town is called Sarande.... 

[Gloucester Saint]

56 minutes ago, Sergei Gotsmanov said:

It might be a bit random but I went to Corfu three years ago and you could see Albania across the water. I imagined that it would have been interesting and a lot better value to stay there for a week. The town is called Sarande.... 

I’ve been to Corfu as well albeit 28 years ago (France 98 was on) and Albania is as close to Corfu as Sweden is to Denmark from Copenhagen.

Transport links are much better now and it’s just 35 minutes and £40 from Corfu to Saranda so you don’t need to choose! https://www.helenabradbury.com/blog-1/corfu-to-albania-day-trip

Edited 9 hours ago by Gloucester Saint

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

Done quite a few of the Greek Islands, love ‘em, and Kefalonia for first time last year, stayed on the edge of Skala. We like to jump on a boat and skip around the coastline.

Fiskado worth a visit, also took a day trip out of the capital Argostoli, cracking time with 2 or 3 stops. We pulled up at a place called (I think) White Rocks for a swim in crystal clear turquoise waters - I’m mid-60s but still a sucker for diving off the top of the boats.

Will be going back to Kefalonia, loved it, and all the islands and they seem just great people.