Family Holidays: Greece family activity holidays and breaks

Take the Family holiday rating 4½ stars out of 5

Why

Because you need to unwind and Greece's "no problem" philosophy provides the perfect antidote to your work and family stressed existence. The Pelion and the Peloponnese offer everything – great beaches, dramatic scenery and an area to explore. Whether you are on a lounger beside it, in an outboard motor boat on it, or with a pair of goggles underneath it, the sea in Greece is what a club holiday here is all about. And if it's sun and sea for them, there is culture and history for you when you decide to leave the club environment and the children for a day to follow your own interests.

Here's some information about a couple of club holiday options.

Top left: Coastal village
Top middle: Coastal path
Top right: Finikounda Harbour

Bottom left: Finikounda Peloponnese
Bottom right: Sailing

When

Because it is so far south the weather in the Messinian peninsular is usually lovely from Easter onwards, with April and October great months for walking or discovering the archaeological heritage of the area. The more alpine Pelion is fresh and green all year round and has a shorter summer season. So, while Neilson's Finikounda Club is open from the beginning of May until the end of October, Sunsail's Club Leda operates from mid May until the end of September. At Leda the club becomes 90% family focussed during

How

Direct flights to Volos in the Pelion with a one and a half hour transfer to Club Leda. For Finikounda you fly directly to Kalamata with a one hour 15 minute transfer to the club. Check deals with Expedia Flights. Excel Airways is our preferred airline and flys to Kalamata from Birmingham, East Midlands and London Gatwick.

Do

Don’t ask! It gets technical here because the variety of things to do is endless. Club Leda is great for watersports, whether learning to sail or windsurf or just joining the Cruising Day, while the Pelion is still pretty much virgin territory for tourists so perfect for exploring. The area around Finikounda also retains its Greek integrity and it’s worth hiring a car to travel round this southern tip of mainland Greece; that is if you can allow yourself a day off from from all that windsurfing, sailing and biking.

Eat

On a club holiday you are reliant on the standards set by the club and Sunsail pride themselves on their chefs and the selection of local and international dishes they offer through their flexible half board plan. This means that you can also choose to eat out at local tavernas and enjoy excellent meat, fish and vegetable dishes (ok pizzas too if you must!). Unlike the islands, where much of the food needs to be shipped in, the Greek mainland provides an abundance of local produce so while at Finikounda on B&B make sure you work out your favourite taverna quickly as there are twelve to choose from. Bring on the mezedes Yiorgos!

Cost

Sample package £735 per adult for a family of four in a family room at Finikounda at the end of July with children at £588. This includes flights, accommodation on B&B as well as Surf, Sail, Cycle activities. More expensive at Leda at £1,215 per adult and £1,145 per child in a one bedroom apartment, but this includes their unique half-board, as well as the free use of all equipment, children's clubs etc.