Greek Islands with Children

[MamaMidi]

Have sailed in the British Virgin Islands several times with our children (8 & 10) and are looking to try another destination. BVI was wonderful with all the on-shore activities and things to do with the kids and have been told there is no other place in the world like BVI. I am on the hunt. We are a group of 10 and would and am starting to look for summer 2016. Would charter a catamaran (hopefully) and would be a bareboat charter. We tend to spend about 10 nights on the boat. Any suggestions of places to stop with 4 children while cruising the Greek Islands? Adults will all be around 40-50 (6 total) and the children (lots of sailing experience) will be between the ages of 8 & 11 years old.

[PatrickG]

Not to be off-post, but you should consider Croatia. The islands around Split are fantastic - the perfect Med area for cruising with children as the distance between harbours averages around 3-4 hours, with countless bays that make great lunch stop-over anchorages. Best part is Croatia doesn't have the Meltemi. There's the occasional strong wind but not the consistent howler Greece endures throughout much of the summer. We sailed in Croatia with a 9 and 11 year old and they loved it. PS and the food is also better!

[robert sailor]

Originally Posted by MamaMidi

Have sailed in the British Virgin Islands several times with our children (8 & 10) and are looking to try another destination. BVI was wonderful with all the on-shore activities and things to do with the kids and have been told there is no other place in the world like BVI. I am on the hunt. We are a group of 10 and would and am starting to look for summer 2016. Would charter a catamaran (hopefully) and would be a bareboat charter. We tend to spend about 10 nights on the boat. Any suggestions of places to stop with 4 children while cruising the Greek Islands? Adults will all be around 40-50 (6 total) and the children (lots of sailing experience) will be between the ages of 8 & 11 years old.

The Greek Islands make a wonderful place to cruise with kids. You can mix up some great historical sites to visit as well as all the fun water stuff. World class beaches in many locations for the kids to enjoy as well as some of the finest eateries in the world for very reasonable prices.Go for it, as nice as the BVI,s are they simply do not have the history and culture to compete with Greece..in my opinion of course.

[goboatingnow]

Funny , with two charter sailing visits to the BVI when my kids were young teens, we did not find it a good fit for the kids, most people in the sailing areas, were, either college age or older.

In the main I find that sailing especially charter is not a great place for kids as few can afford the expense and its often adults ganging together to share the cost.

Greece, being a huge land based holiday area ( as is croatia ) is great for kids, ( chartered all over the med and then sailed there on my own boat) but it means time in marinas, or on the hook.

My kids were very used to boats by their early teens and could amuse themselves, it turned both of them into voracious readers and they still are !.


dave

[Va2shp]

Funny Croatia does not appeal to me for Children. But The Ionian sea (West side of Greece) I would recommend, on the other side the Agean sea, I would say be ready to encounter the meltemi.

[rivonia]

The kids will LOVE it and the best thing is visit as many Islands as possible.The Greeks also love children. The food is cheap as is the local wine and beer. Wow you and the family are going to have a great life.

Go for it.

[touchngo]

Dodecanese every time.

Start in Kos. Great big castle, and loads of ruins right in the heart of town. One or two nice restaurants. Elini's is my fav.

Head North to Pandeli on Leros. Hike up to castle, then sundowners at Cafe Del Mar, or move on to Archangelos for that deserted bay with lone taverna.

On to Patmos. St John's cave and the monastery.

Stop into Vlichadia on Kalymnos and check out the Sponge Divers Museum. Loads of things to look at (probably more fish in the museum than in the sea) as well as a bunch of WW2 artefacts.

On to Nysiros. Do the Wild Bunch thing and rent a bunch of scooters from Mike at Eagles Nest. He will map you out bunch of things to see and do, including walking on the caldera of the volcano, take in the view from the cafe veranda in Emborios, and watch that perfect sunset at Mandraki (you can always grab a quick Monastery tour in as well).

Stop in to Tilos, and after dinner, grab the free bus at 2200 to the abandoned village. A dance floor like you've never seen before (unless you're a Burning Man kind of chap).

Head off to Alimye and anchor off of the old German MTB base or moor stern to the remnants of the pier. Get the rugrats to gather firewood and BBQ on the beach or pier. Put out the fire PROPERLY before you head off to bed.

Stop in to Panormitis and listen to the Monks sing Vespers. There's a little museum which features a load of ship models and votive offerings. Should hold the kids focus for a few minutes.

Symi town has a fab restaurant Muses, where you can freak your taste buds with really really realy slow cooked pork, carrot foam, ginger ice cream, and other molecular style fare.

Or.... some folk bypass Symi, hoist the Turkish flag and stop in to Knidos to explore the ruins, and hike to the lighthouse for that brilliant sunset view (the walk back in the dark is not for the faint-hearted).

Back to Kos and maybe a trip out to the original "Hospital" before heading to the airport and home.

Along the way you'll see loads of other stuff that you'll want to come back to see.

PT

[Palarran]

Touchngo that was a great post full of perfect detail. We cruised that are last year and visited many of your suggestions.


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[atexasex]

We sailed the Greek Ionian islands back in 1985 with our first two kids (ages 4 and 1) with a British flotilla Sail company. Fantastic 2 weeks. The Ionians are terrific for novice sailors and the nightly taverna stops were great fun.

[OzDean]

Hello MamaMidi, Have you thought about Turkey? Last year we (wife and 3 kids 6 9 and 12) sailed Turkey coast from Kusadasi round to Antalya, plenty for the kids to do onshore, they were pretty much ruined after Ephesus, Aphrodisias and Pamukkale, but they loved the white walled waterfalls at Pamukkale and trekking/wading up Saklikent Gorge, along with great swimming off the boat with turtles in the clear water. One place further around towards Antalya called Phaselis there is a safe anchorage next to ruins that include an aqueduct. The sailing along the Turkish coast was not too bad, far easier than previous years across the Aegean. The Greek Islands are great also of course, but the sailing legs between the islands can be hard work, stronger winds that don't give up overnight. For our trip from Patras across to Bodrum in 2012, once we came through the Corinth canal finding shelter from the Meltemi was challenging at times. Having said that the itinerary suggest below, the Dodecanese starting out of Kos, is a good compromise, plenty of land based activities in those mentioned Greek Islands and the sailing legs considerably easier that out in the Aegean proper. We especially enjoyed the volcano at Nisiros, but then again that is not something we see down under in Australia. We would have liked to get to Santorini however anchoring/berthing there is problematic. Happy planning