Recent renovations and spectacular locations: two reasons why Grecotels can make a good summer holiday option for families.
For a beachside resort holiday we like their properties in Mykonos, Crete and Corfu. You can always expect ease, convenience and great family facilities.
But as with all larger properties, the exact suite or villa category is crucial to your stay. Two guest experiences can be very different, at the same resort.
Some Grecotel properties have over 20 different accommodation categories, varying in size, quality, location and inclusions.
We’ve tested the best Grecotels resorts and have feedback from our clients too. So we can make specific recommendations for the best stay.
Corfu
Fresh from a superb EUR 150 million renovation, Corfu Imperial is now one of the best beachfront resorts in the Ionian Islands. CEO Petr Udavský took his family there last year and said:
The location and coastline is spectacular. It felt more like Italy or the French Riviera, with sprawling green hills and lots of yachts in the bay.
This property is all about being right on the seafront, so we recommend skip rooms in the Imperial Building and Corfu Gardens. The Rock Villas on one side of the peninsula are in the process of renovation, so we’d skip these as well.
We recommend villas in the new Villa Peninsula area, where most accommodations have private pools hanging over the sea.
The best accommodations are the suites and villas in the Corfu Imperial Famous Class. This gives access to a private beach and other complimentary extras which are important for your privacy.
There are some very good options for four people travelling together, either family or friends. We can advise you personally on the best exact choice.
Each of the villas and palazzos is an individual and they vary subtly, in terms of size, privacy and exact location. Some like the Dream Villa Beachfront are great for young kids, whereas Palazzo Sissy better favours two couples.
Groups of 10 to 12 can be accommodated in a stunning new Corfiat Palace, the Medusa Estate.
Mykonos
A holiday in Mykonos is all about sun, sea and stunning views. Mykonos Blu has a prime location for this, on the iconic Psarou Beach, just outside Mykonos town.
It’s a good choice for families with older children, a place to relax, pamper yourself, enjoy the water and the chic hangout spots nearby.
Bungalows and suites with private pools are definitely the way to go. While Psarou is famous for its crystal clear waters, it’s only a small bay and the beach is crowded during summer days.
Here you’ll really value a large private terrace with a private pool. Close enough to soak up the great atmosphere, while still keeping all your personal space.
For the liveliest vibe we like the Grand Blu Suites on the waterfront, literally overlooking the beach.
Cobalt Blu Villas provide more privacy and can sleep two adults plus three children, so they make a strong family option.
Endless Blu Villas sleep up to six and offer the largest private terrace and garden areas – we generally prefer them to the more expensive Deep Blu Villas.
Mykonos Blu Junior Villas are a budget-friendly option, but don’t offer the same level of space or privacy, as they’re are tightly packed together. We’d avoid the island bungalows with private pools, which miss the all-important bed-to-sea view.
Crete
Amirandes Grecotel Exclusive Resort is a good beachfront resort, with excellent restaurants, sports facilities, kids club and spa. Plus a significant number of other guests.
The most important consideration here is the location of your suite or villa within the resort.
For example, the Swim Up Family Suite is a nice accommodation for two adults and two children, with a private pool and large garden. However, we don’t generally don’t recommend its location, in the main Candia part of the resort, which lacks privacy and tranquillity.
The Sunset Wing and Pool Wing offer convenience, as they are next to the main pools and central to most facilities. However, these wings are little too noisy for our liking.
The best accommodations are the villas. These are situated in a private villa-only section of the resort, which is only accessible to guests booked into the villas.
The 18 villas share access to a private beach area. Each villa has a private pool and they vary in size, from split-level residences for couples, to a Royal Villa for a family of six.
You enjoy the quietest location, villa privacy and a quieter strip of beach. Plus access to all the facilities which make Amirandes Grecotel Exclusive Resort a strong option for families.
The Lagoon Wing also has some good options for a family. It’s in the heart of the resort but surrounded by the waters of the sea and the lagoon. A Deluxe Junior Bungalow Suite, located on the first row of Lagoon Wing, is a good option for a family with one young child.
Athens
Opened in 2023, Grecotel The Dolli is a complete change in style to the brand’s beach resorts. It’s a 1925 Greek classicist mansion reimagined as a contemporary hotel.
The location is incredible for a first-time visit to Athens, just a few steps from the Acropolis, gazing across at the Parthenon and Plaka neighbourhood.
The hotel has some lovely contemporary rooms. They are on the small size, but this should be expected from such a central location. If you want significantly more space then stay on the Athens Riviera instead.
And if you want the truest old-world Athenian vibe then stay in either an Acropolis Junior Suite or Acropolis Luxury Junior Suite.
Both feature majestic views onto the ancient citadel, creating this juxtaposition between contemporary Greece inside the hotel and ancient civilisation through the window or from the balcony.
Individually these suites can accommodate a couple plus a baby, or they can interconnect for a family.
So how about a short Athens layover, fully immersed in the culture and history, before travelling onwards to one of the Greek islands?
The best suite or villa for you?
Details make the difference for every holiday. We visit the best resorts across Europe so we can understand their subtle details.
Whether it’s a Grecotels or anywhere else, we’ll give you clear guidance and individualise a holiday to your needs and desires.
