[ResultsNotTypica...]

Hi everyone

My Mum is being super generous and has offered to take me, DS and Dh, along with my brother on an overseas holiday later this year.

Now we're just trying to figure out a place that suits all of us.

Greece is somewhere I've wanted to see for ages, but I am a little worried that it wouldn't be safe with a 3 year old. The media seems to show a lot of angry protests and closed down airports and so on.

Is this the real picture or would we be ok if we stayed away from the centre of Athens?

Has anyone been recently? What were your impressions? Family friendly? Or do I need to rethink?

Thanks

[boatiebabe]

Go to Croatia instead!

Beautiful islands (just like Greece if not better) cheap and at the moment not undergoing a lot of political/social unrest.

[emlis22]

I went to Athens about 8 months ago and even I didn't feel safe. It was horrible and I couldn't wait to get out of there.

If you stayed in a nice apartment in Santorini or similar though, you would have a wonderful time. It was heaven on earth.

This post has been edited by emlis22: 28/02/2013, 03:51 PM

[AllyK81]

If you DO go to Greece, the islands can be family friendly and some of the small villages are just gorgeous.

One day in Athens is seriously enough. Apart from the Acropolis, it's not that pretty and whilst not at all unsafe or violent, it's not the greatest destination in my opinion. The islands are far better. Rhodes is beautiful with all the ruins.

Personally, I would choose a country with a lot to offer where you can travel around easily on trains etc. France, Germany and Italy would all be great picks with a little one in tow.

Have fun!!!

[Dinosaurus]

How long, what do you all like, summer or winter, sporting (skiing) or shopping, eating or cooking, touring or sight seeing...

I haven't been to Greece recently but I find it hard to imagine a tourist (especially a family) being any more unsafe in Athens than any other capital city - especially with the whole EU bail out debacle reaching so many European Countries.

Go to Prague.

Go to norway for me - I've always planned to and never quite made it.

Or Iceland is spanking.

There's also island holidays throughout Asia - something with a kids club or 24 hour nanny service

I love holidays. I want to go on holidays.

Have fun!

[proudmama1]

I only spent a day in Athens whilst on holiday in Greece (and a few hours when I was returning to Australia). The islands are beautiful and would be much more family friendly. I found the people in Athens very rude! Santorini is very safe but would steer clear of Mykonos as it is very party orientated - not many families, mainly singles and Uni students on vacation. It is quite far from Athens, but I flew to Rhodes which is just beautiful. So much history and in my opinion far more family friendly.

[qak]

Corfu its gorgeous too, but I think Santorini would be fabulous!

[2puzzled]

If considering Greek islands, Santorini is nice for a romantic trip but for families I would suggest Crete or Rhodes.

Crete has snow capped mountains as well as stunning beaches, and the palace of Knossos in Heraklion is fantastic. Seaside town of Chania is very pretty.

Rhodes has the old/ancient city inside the medieval city fortress, surrounded by the modern Rhodes town. My fave island. Beautiful beaches and lots to do.

Mykonos is nice when it is not high season - not crazy party town in low season (I agree that it is in high season), and very pretty. The ruins on the island of Delos (day trip from Mykonos) are amazing, but overall there was not a huge amount to do there in the low season.

On the Greek Mainland, the monasteries on top of the cliffs at Meteora are spectacular, and Delphi is well worth the visit too. Athens is a bit crazy, but if you like history is definitely worth a couple of days. I haven't been for 10 years though so can't talk about current conditions.

wherever you go, I hope your family has a wonderful time together. If I carry your bags, can I come too?

[ResultsNotTypica...]

How long, what do you all like, summer or winter, sporting (skiing) or shopping, eating or cooking, touring or sight seeing...

I haven't been to Greece recently but I find it hard to imagine a tourist (especially a family) being any more unsafe in Athens than any other capital city - especially with the whole EU bail out debacle reaching so many European Countries.

Go to Prague.

Go to norway for me - I've always planned to and never quite made it.

Or Iceland is spanking.

There's also island holidays throughout Asia - something with a kids club or 24 hour nanny service

I love holidays. I want to go on holidays.

Have fun!

We are hpoing to travel in our spring time, late August or early September, in an effort to avoid too much heat or too much cold. I am gentically predisposed to dislike cold, DH to dislike heat.

We are mostly looking to just relax and be somewhere new, really. No specific wish list of things to do. Hopefully a new culture to dip our toes into and some beautiful new places to see and family friendly things to do without huge expense.

You have all been very helpful. i have many things to bring to the planning table now.

Thank you.

[gabbigirl]

Athens is yuck, but so many islands and the Peloponnesus are beautiful. Try Crete..mixture of beaches with history.

Have fun!