Is Santorini a gem for you AND your kids?

We’re in a bar. A bar called Magic Bus. Laid back, hippy vibe on the beach owned by tanned, tattooed, vest-wearing middle age ex-pats. Oscar, our four year old boy, is banging a bongo with his plastic stick from his orange juice while Jude, our six year old girl, is mid-show with her friend Amelia swirling and dancing on the raised area of the bar to the sound of bongos and Phil Collins on their playlist. 

Two local women squeeze past Jude to get to the bar at the show’s most crucial point knocking our girl off her stride and ‘totally ruining’ (her words) the show. It was irretrievable. Jude lost it in a diva-esque hissy fit. Meanwhile Lauren, Amelia’s four year old sister, wanted a piece of the action on the bongos. Oscar wasn’t exactly open to this. We concluded that this was the case as he used the plastic stick / drumstick to joust the bongo impostor. 

In a flash we paid the bill, herd the feral gang up and quickly moved on. 

To be fair it was the last day of our holiday in Santorini, Greece. The kids had been staying up late-late most nights as a treat, culminating in the wedding of two close friends two nights prior. It had all caught up with them after the most incredible holiday on arguably the most stunning of Greek islands. 

We were hesitant about Santorini as a destination. Initially down to cost, but also the perception of the island as primarily targeted at couples and honeymooners. Our phase of holidaying was still ‘if the kids are happy, we’re happy’. However, there was no way we were going to miss this wedding and built the trip around the event to see two close friends tie the knot in the pinnacle of wedding destinations. 

Safe to say we were pleasantly surprised. We stayed in a family-friendly beach area located in the south-east of the island called Perissa. Here we booked to stay at Hotel Aretousa - a family-run hotel who bent over backwards to make our stay enjoyable. Yes, we were the only families staying here. And yes, we weren’t exactly low-maintenance. But George, his wife, daughter and son - who each had a role to play in the running of the hotel - made us feel very welcome and like nothing was too much trouble. 

Like the time we arrived late on arrival and George waited patiently to pick us up. Like the time Oscar launched a strawberry yogurt off the first floor balcony exploding on the floor. The time we needed picking up from the wedding at midnight. And the time the kids bombed the pool at the end where the model couples were sunbathing. But there was an understanding and this understanding was rewarded with a lot of love from the kids...and hugs. Big hugs.

A four minute walk to the beach, the sea was perfect temperature and intensity for the kids to swim. The sand a strange small stone meant it didn’t stick to you like the normal stuff. Although you did find it in strange places later in the day when taking items of clothing off or showering. Much like the black rubber particles you find on AstroTurf football pitches. 

There were a stack of places to eat along the front. I was a big fan of the food. From a pork gyros on the first night - essentially a high-end kebab with chips wrapped in amongst the meat - to big plentiful salads, homemade moussaka, tasty fish and seafood right through to bakeries selling an array of sweet and savoury delights.

The lack of kids entertainment on the beachfront outside the sea was made up for by a water park being a short walk away. We spent two full days here. The kids absolutely loved it. We also did a day trip to Thira, the stunning main town on the island crammed with bright white buildings chiselled into the cliff face with iconic blue roofs the finishing touch on the picture-perfect back drop. 

Finally, the wedding. Santorini Gem is located on the outskirts of a small town called Pyrgos. We were met on arrival by a simple four poster canopy on the edge of a cliff overlooking the turquoise sea and famous volcano. It really was magical. The highlight being the famous sunset all to ourselves, slurping fizz with the couple’s sunset playlist the soundtrack to this amazing moment. 

So, is Santorini for kids? No, not if you're used to child-focused entertainment everywhere you look on your summer holiday. Will your kids enjoy it? Well, pick Perissa and Hotel Aretousa and I'd say yes, there's a very good chance they will. Oh, and you'll enjoy it too.

Family holiday first-timers - day one in Skiathos

Here we were on the small island of Skiathos, and here I was lying next to our Villa pool disappearing into a Greek haze of sun, song and tranquility. Then SMACK. Semi-consciousness shattered by a thump, an all too familiar silence, followed by a wail.

My wife filled me in on the 20-second scene of devastation. The clues - Daisy the doll, face down floating in the pool; a poo lodged in the swimming pool filter; trail of wetness heading into the house; missing handle from the log burner with pool of water at its foot; crying child in arms of mother.

Yes, we're family holiday first-timers. We're well travelled by all accounts my wife and I, but travelling with an 18-month child is a completely different animal, as we duly found out in 20 seconds on our first day of holidaying as a three.

Lesson one: the tiled floor, which keeps the villa beautifully cool, also becomes a temporary ice rink on application of pool water. Lesson two: anything loose, left lying around the pool will end up in it. Lesson three: leaving a nappy off around a pool, even in hot climes, is a recipe for filter blockage. Lesson four: any loose levers, handles or slightly shoddy workmanship within a holiday abode will be punished.

Onwards and upwards we thought, and off we went to try and make a small dent in the 60 beaches to be discovered. On accessing beach number one that first morning of our holiday, we hit another snag. Our girl decided she didn't like walking on sand. In fact, any foot-on-sand contact was met with a squirm, a 'no' and an 'up,' meaning lift me up… lift me up now. This was a beach holiday. We were in trouble.

However, once in the turquoise-coloured sea all was ok with the world as schools of fish circled our girl’s feet as she strengthened her doggy paddle in the calm ocean. Talking of doggies, our afternoon was spent at Skiathos Dog Shelter. Set up to house homeless canines on the island, you could volunteer to walk them along a scenic cliff-top path.

Our hound of choice, Rocky, loved us....so it seemed, until he came face-to-face with our daughter, a coiled spring of excitement raring to go as Rocky was led out of the pen. Lets just say Rocky was awfully tolerant.

Day one was complete with an evening meal in the old harbour of Skiathos Town. It was here we discovered the charm of the locals. A group of old Greek men on the table next to us were making our daughter laugh pulling funny faces before leaving her with a ruffle of the hair, a tickle of the chin and three fresh figs as a gift.

For family holiday first-timers who overcame our 20-second introduction, lesson learned from day one in Skiathos is having a child CAN benefit rather than hinder your holiday....honest.