Athenian entrepreneur and mother of three, Eleni Fotiou has been to 99 Greek islands so far. Insatiably curious, she started as a backpacker and has been adding on to her travel party in the last ten years. As parents we travel very differently, so Eleni founded MAMAKITA to share invaluable insights distilled from her country-wide adventures. “Mama, look!” it translates from Greek (“Mama, kita!”). With the same child-like excitement unburdened by the complexities of travelling with children, families can uncover the soul of Greece even within the short space of a holiday. For now, they are the only licensed agency offering tailor-made family trips to Greece. We had a lot of questions for her. And she graciously gave us her round-up of how best to explore her homeland.
1. Which Greek islands have you travelled to?
I used to have an obsession with maps since I remember myself. I used to circle the places I wanted to go on the map of Greece and color the inside when I finally visited them. In April 2020 I would have concluded my map of Greece “painting” some days before my 38th birthday, because I would have visited Lemnos, Ai-Stratis and Thassos, the 3 remaining Greek islands that I have not visited yet! The Covid-19 pandemic has changed my perception of travel. I was a fast-paced traveler willing to see and do as much as possible. Now, I am really looking forward to slow down, follow the natural pace of life and value quality rather than quantity. I think I am now an ardent supporter of slow travel. And I miss the small almost uninhabited islands in Greece, where I want to return and experience a slower vacation.
2. What are your 3 favourite destinations for family travel in Greece?
First is the Peloponnese. Almost an island! It combines culture, nature, great beaches for every taste and healthy food. In the Peloponnese, you can hike in beautiful trails up in the mountains, swim in alpine lakes and in sandy beaches, all in the same day. You can always find an authentic village, a non-touristy beach and warm waters all year round.
Second comes a paradise island complex in the Dodecanese around Leros and Lipsi, including smaller islands Marathi, Arki, Aspronisia. I consider them the top kid- and baby- friendliest islands because the waters are calm almost all year round; you can always find a bay with warm waters (maybe the only place in the Aegean that you can swim in winter!); the beaches are sandy with shallow waters; and they are mostly flat, so you don’t have to climb with strollers, etc… People are amazingly friendly, so you feel immediately at home! Plus, the island’s playground is always full of children who are very willing to play with yours!
Third is the complex of Small or Lesser Cyclades. While more touristy and crowded in August, the sandy beaches are amazing. You can combine your trip there with Paros and Naxos, which are also among my top family destinations in Greece.
3. Do the kids have their favourites?
Yes, and it is so interesting to see what they mostly appreciate: Hydra because of the donkeys; Aegina because of the great hiking in the ancient olive grove and the picnic we enjoyed; Sikinos because we had the most amazing accommodation in a simple quiet Cycladic house; Naxos because of the windsurfing classes. The most important thing is that they have loving memories that – I hope – will be their anchors of happiness in the future.
4. Are there any exceptionally memorable child-friendly hotel or villa rental experiences you can name?
Yes, Daphnes’ Club in coastal Corinth is a yearly institution for our family and friends. Ninemia in mountainous Karpenisi, Nisi family glamping in mainland Greece, Vasilikia mountain farm, there are many family friendly farm-stays across Greece. There are also amazing villas, real hidden gems, not only on Greek islands (usually overpriced) but also in the Peloponnese
5. What are MAMAKITA’S most successful itineraries so far?
We offer some self-drive ready-made itineraries, which are travel guidebooks that take you to places in Greece that only local families know. The destinations are carefully selected and these guidebooks are the result of our team of travel advisors’ extensive travel experience. They include age-specific information about the best places to stay in Greece with kids, the places to visit and things to do with children, the best Greek islands to visit for babies, toddlers, school age children or teenagers, kid-friendly beaches, hiking trails accessible for all, child friendly taverns & restaurants, as well as all emergency contacts… And all these in a realistic day-by-day trip planning with a MAMAKITA map and options for family friendly privately guided day tours and kid-friendly hands-on activities. From these ready-made itineraries, or self-drive itineraries in the Peloponnese, Naxos and Evia are the top sellers.
But when it comes to custom-made trip plans, every trip we create is personalized, so every trip is unique and does not look like any other. Usually, families are looking for island-hopping with kids, with a short stay in Athens. Many families are looking for a mixture of culture, history and tours to learn more about Classical Greece in a kid-friendly way. A new trend are the trips closer to nature. As an example, we provide a thematic family trip focusing on ecotourism. Many families which school age kids and teens choose to travel to be closer to nature lately. You can see some of our suggestions of this here.
6. Are there some activities the kids reliably seem to enjoy best?
Yes definitely. Mythology hiking tours and everything artistic and hands-on, like creative workshops in nature, farming, cooking… Kids seem to miss nature and the soil. It is maybe because most of our travelers come from cities.
7. Which islands and/or itineraries would you suggest for first-timers?
It largely depends on the pace and interests of each family; what they want, what are their priorities for their vacation. It also depends on the season. I would definitely include Athens in every itinerary (either for first timers, or second, or third…) and mainland Greece (the Peloponnese with Delphi, Meteora and Zagori).
When it comes to Greek islands, it really depends on several parameters. What is certain is that, as many people ask for Mykonos and Santorini, our team would have many tips and ways to help our travelers escape the crowds in peak months, with alternative stays in neighboring more kid-friendly islands, so that they won’t skip the highlights of Greece.
8. What do you find are the most challenging things families have to deal with in navigating Greece?
Walking with strollers in Athens, traditional settlements, castles etc.; seasickness and carsickness, especially in the winding narrow streets in villages and along the coastline; the road network is challenging in some specific areas more than others! But Greece is safe and amazingly family-welcoming. Even if your kids create a mess, nobody will make you feel bad about it.
9. Please share your top tips for travelling with kids in Greece.
- Mykonos and Santorini are not the kid-friendliest islands that you can visit. There are ways to visit them but staying there is not suitable for everybody.
- Greece might seem small in the map, but the distances are not always that short. Allow more time when you see mountains around.
- If you have more than 2 children, book accommodation early. Most hotels have up to quadruple rooms.
10. Your advice on how best to juggle three young children while on holiday?
I think there is one prevailing concept in travelling with children: that is providence! Plan ahead, think before it happens, visualize the “scene”. This way, you can make the best choices and avoid things that might create a hassle. Before being a mother, I was a backpacker and this helped me a lot. Backpacking required a lot of planning. Of course, plans change and you have to be open while you are traveling! But there has to be always a plan in demanding trips!
11. The packing list for family trips often goes out of control. What are your essentials for a trip to Greece?
Well, that is the first step immediately after you decide that you will “enter the game”! Again advance thinking is a key element! It is related to your location of accommodation, season and smart choices in terms of clothing. My essentials are anti-mosquito bite, baby monitor, windcheater if you are planning on the Greek islands, and a camera. Ask for a baby cot from the hotel. It is also essential to train your toddlers to carry their own bags. Even if they are able to carry only some pencils and a doll, let them carry their stuff in their own bags for which they will be responsible. You cannot imagine how this will help you in your future trips!
I have written a relevant article here if you’d like to have a look.
