The Best Family-Friendly Luxury Resorts in Greece
When I got pregnant, I almost immediately regretted that I hadn’t done more traveling while I was single. But regret is a funny thing, right? It often holds us back from living our dreams and sharing these dreams and experiences with our children. Now, instead of living with regret of what could have been, I look forward to the adventures I can have with my daughter and how much richer these experiences will be.
Greece is at the top of my list for places to take her, right alongside the Maldives and Japan. But it seems like everytime I see an influencer post a stunning resort in some heavenly location in Greece, it is adults-only. So I took the liberty of rounding up some of the best resorts in Greece that are both luxurious and family friendly.
(And btw, did you know I can help you plan your next trip?)
Cretan Malia Park, Crete, Greece
Located on the idyllic island of Crete, this 5-start resort is my top recommendation for families wanting a beautiful, ultra-luxury experience that doesn’t feel fussy. Cretan Malia Park, a member of Design Hotels, has a robust childcare offering, including a Tiny Explorer’s Club for infants up to 3 years old. The host of accommodations - from suites to bungalows - is perfect for families of any size, and you can pick from your choice of views from pool to sea. There’s also an incredible range of onsite dining options and plenty of family-friendly activities, like outdoor movie nights, for some bonding time with your little(s).
As a wellness-loving, fitness-loving mommy, I’m always looking for vacations that let me balance downtime at the beach or pool with activities to get me moving. The resort has bikes available, tennis and basketball courts, and you can enjoy a treatment at their spa. They also provide yoga classes. Oh, and did I mention there’s a separate kid-friendly pool?
Amirandes Grecotel Boutique Resort, Crete, Greece
If you’re looking for a more traditional Greek vibe, then the Amirandes Grecotel is a great, family-friendly resort in the luxury space. Kids stay free at this resort, and as part of the Grecotel collection, it offers “Grecobaby,” a program where you can rent everything you need for your little from cribs to high chairs to bottle sterilizers.
They have a variety of family-friendly accommodations, including ones with private pools. Or, if you want to enjoy an even more lux experience, you can book a private villa for the whole family.
In the same vein as Cretan Malia Park, they offer a whole host of activities like watersports, horseback riding, yoga, and pilates. They also offer kids’ clubs, although they do not have a club offering for children under 4 years old.
The Royal Senses Resort & Spa Crete, Curio Collection Hilton
Set against the northern side of Crete, this resort takes everything up a notch (or two) with its individually-decorated guest rooms. Kids also stay free at this resort, and they offer a kid-friendly aqua park with slides.
While they don’t offer a kids club, I included this on the list for families that like to stick together on their vacations. They have a fitness center for the parents and a gorgeous spa facility.
Superfood Sundays: Flaxseed
As part of
Great as a source of fiber, protein, and omega 3 fatty acids, flaxseeds deserve a place in our Superfood Sunday series. These nutty seeds have been touted for their health benefits - they might help lower risk of some cancers, maintain healthy weight, and reduce cholesterol and blood pressure.
I’ve often loved adding them to my morning smoothies. In my humble opinion, they add a richness and texture that takes each smoothie up a notch.
But there’s another wonderful use case for flaxseed: homemade granola. If you like cereal for breakfast or enjoy adding granola to a healthy bowl of Greek yogurt, you should be all ears. The beauty of homemade granola is its low sugar content - much lower, n fact, than store bought granola - and using honey (might we even suggest Ikarian honey?) makes it all the healthier. This might also be the easiest recipe for a homemade alternative ever.
Homemade Granola Recipe
Rolled Oats (such as Bob’s Red Mill Whole Grain Rolled Oats)
For every cup of oats, add:
1/4 cup of slivered almonds
1/4 cup of flaxseed (whole flaxseed)
1 tablespoon of coconut oil
1 tablespoon of honey (add more if you need a little extra sugar…we’re not judging)
Lay parchment paper on a cookie sheet, spread granola mixture on it, and bake in the oven for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.
Once done, let cool and store in airtight container. You’ve just made enough to last for a few servings.
We recommend serving over Greek yogurt with blueberries and a drizzle of honey, but it’s your granola. Enjoy it how you’d like.
Superfood Sundays: Ikarian Honey
As part of our new year, new mom series, we’re sharing our favorite healthy foods for Superfood Sundays. The first food? Ikarian honey.
After having a baby, my body just wasn’t quite the same: I didn’t digest food the same way. I didn’t have the same level of energy I previously had. Before baby, it didn’t matter so much what I put in my body because I was a well-oiled machine.
Now, I was the 1986 model that had been taken on one-too-many long distance road trips and needed a good tune up. While I don’t think any one diet or lifestyle is the silver bullet to a longer, happier life - and I am certainly not an ideal candidate for an aggressive detox - I believe little tweaks can pay dividends in how we feel on a daily basis. So, drawing on Blue Zone research and a back-to-basics approach to healthy eating, I’m going to bring you a weekly series that explores foods I’m integrating into my diet in 2024 and how I’m doing it.
The Greek island of Ikaria has some of the longest living people in the world, many of whom reached 100 or older with few physical or cognitive impairments. This island produces our first superfood, Ikarian honey.
What makes Ikarian honey so special? If you ask me, it’s the rich flavor. I can eat spoonfuls of the stuff straight out of the jar.
But it’s more than a sweet face: its natural proteins and antibacterial enzymes support gut health and promote healing while antioxidants boost immunity and reduce inflammation. It also happens to be unheated, unprocessed, and unpasteurized, which some believe allows it to retain more vitamins and minerals than honey produced in the U.S.
Where to buy Ikarian honey
There are many online purveyors of Ikarian honey, but I tried (and loved) Klio’s single origin honey.
Herbal Tea for Holistic Health
One of my favorite ways to wind down in the evening is with a cup of herbal tea and a great book. I love this small Etsy shop for its hand-made, delicious blends - and I always add honey to my tea.
Best Nonalcoholic Bubbly for Holiday Celebrations
Have a celebration coming up and want to offer a nonalcoholic version that’s not cringe? Read on.
Dom Pérignon, anyone?
Is it just us, or is alcohol becoming more and more passé? Maybe it’s a function of aging, but lately, I find myself gravitating towards nonalcoholic bubbly when I want to celebrate…minus the hangover. Here’s our roundup of the best nonalcoholic bubbly to enjoy this holiday season.
(P.S. - Read to the end for a holiday mocktail recipe.)
Produced in Northern Italy from a blend of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc & Gewürztraminer, this is my top pick for its sophisticated, subtle palette. An easy and relatively affordable go-to for holiday entertaining, it’s a well-balanced crowd pleaser: not too sweet, not too acidic.
We love this beautiful blend of delacoholized organic French Chardonnay wine - it opens with a minerality and accents of pear, the signature of French Bloom.
A dry sparkling, this classic has notes of summer berries, green apples and citrus, a byproduct of its blend of Syrah and Chardonnay.
If you love bubbles, this sparkling nonalcoholic wine is the closest to champagne I’ve had. Paired with oysters or a creamy risotto, it’s perfection.
How to Make a “Champagne” Cocktail
I call this one Mrs. Claus’ Night Off. Here’s an easy mocktail recipe for the holiday season. Throw the ingredients in a shaker, mix, and enjoy.
4 fluid oz of Prima Pavé Grand Cuvee
1 1/2 fluid oz of agave nectar
1 jigger of raspberry syrup