Author: Celeste

Update April 2022: The Athens Hilton has closed for reconstruction. The building is set to reopen under the name Conrad Athens at the end of 2024. It had been a while since our last family meal at the Byzantino Restaurant. And thus we ventured out to the Athens Hilton Hotel in the city center on a rainy Sunday in November. The hotel’s celebrated Byzantino Restaurant prides itself on being a ‘family-friendly haven’ during Sundays. This, and the fact it’s a bright, spacious venue with excellent food, service, and indoor parking, has made it a hot destination for quality family time during the…

If your heart sinks every time you have to ask for the menu in English – with pictures – it’s time to do something about it… It is never too late to learn Greek. If you’re worried about spending all your precious time in a boring classroom, don’t be. Kids in Greece recently added a brand new service to their portfolio. Glossa Pals offers Greek language tutors to foreign visitors and expats in Greece, whether you are here for a holiday or a longer stay. The Glossa Pal language friend will be at your place or your holiday destination to…

Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and a very long to-do list. For those looking to avoid the fuss, relax and let a chef take care of the cooking! There are several international hotels, restaurants, and organizations in Athens organizing Thanksgiving dinner. I have selected some of my favorite places suitable for celebrating Thanksgiving with family. Here is your guide to my favorite Thanksgiving dinner venues in Athens for 2018. From all-day lunch/dinner at the elegant GB Roof Garden Bar and the mouthwatering buffet at the Byzantino Restaurant complete with a turkey carving station to mind-blowing Acropolis views at the St.…

October 28 is a National Memorial Day in Greece. It is called ΟΧΙ Day or NO Day. What does it mean, and what is going on in Greece on this special day? What does Οχι Day mean? Greek: Επέτειος του οχι – The anniversary of ‘NO’ Οχι Day on October 28 commemorates the anniversary of an important moment in Greek modern history. It’s been described as the day when former military general and Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas said no – ‘Οχι’ – to an ultimatum made by Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini to allow Italian forces to occupy strategic locations…

It does not often rain in Athens. The city has a dry climate with hot summers and soft sunny winters. This means that it only rains in fall and in spring. We love finding mud puddles when it rains. They are great fun and there are many parks in Athens to find them. Prefer to stay dry? Find some indoor fun where the mini citizens of the Greek capital can let go of their energy. Here are some of my favorite things to do with kids in Athens on a rainy day! 1. Visit a shopping mall I am not…

A Grecotel family-friendly resort! Over the years we had a chance to visit several resorts of the Greek Grecotel luxury hotel chain. Last summer we went to Grecotel Olympia Riviera Resort and more recently to LUX Me Daphnila Bay Dassia in Corfu. The resorts of Grecotel have never been disappointing. At the end of this summer, we wanted one more relaxing escape before school would start. One more old-fashioned beach holiday – somewhere to stay, relax and spend quality time together. It had to be close to our hometown Athens and fun for all of us. We found this at the new Grecotel…

Family-friendly Daphne’s Club Hotel Apartments in Xylokastro is run by Daphne, a lady with an unbridled energy and vision. Not only for her hotel but for the whole region in which it is located. She has turned a vintage hotel from the seventies into a child-friendly haven of peace and creativity. A place where you immediately feel at home and where you can be active but also relax. No mass tourism at Daphne Club. It is cosy, family-friendly and eco-labeled. Location Daphne’s Club is conveniently located just a stone’s throw from a pebble beach and pine forest on the Gulf…

Me and my family recently went to explore the East of Crete. It took us a good while to get to our destination since we live in the exact opposite side of the island. We decided to stay at the family-friendly Blue Marine Resort and Spa Hotel. The Blue Marine Resort and Spa Hotel After our 3 1/2 hour drive the kids didn’t want to leave the hotel. You see the pool had the shape of a huge fish and the view below made the rest of us agree to the plan of relaxation for the day. We much enjoyed the…

Athens is great for families, but it can be very warm during the summer. In the article, I share my insider summer tips for Athens with kids! When to go? July and August are the months that most people come to Greece. These are also the hottest months of the year, with July being the hottest. For a family vacation with babies and young children, it is, therefore, best to visit Greece in May/June or in September/October. Not only is the temperature child- friendlier, it is less crowded at the holiday destinations too. The Greeks go on vacation in July…

If you need help planning your beach holiday with kids in Greece, you came to the right place. In this post, I share my tips for the best beach holiday with kids in Greece! Beach holiday with kids in Greece I have lived in Greece for more than 25 years and I absolutely adore the Greek beaches. But before I had kids, visiting the beach required little more than deciding which skimpy bikini to wear and to bring some fast tanning sun oil. Now I have two young children and I have learned that planning a day trip to…

All-inclusive resorts cater to travelers seeking a fuss-free vacation with convenience, lots of extras and excellent value for money. However, often, the buffets and cuisine in some of these resorts can be bland and uninspiring. Over the past year, I had the change to enjoy the culinary offerings of several Grecotel hotels and resorts. Grecotel is known for their superlative breakfast, lunch and dinner options, traditional flavors and fresh local ingredients. Their LUX Me Daphnila Bay Dassia resort in Corfu is far and above any usual all-inclusive. The resort elevated their gastronomy concepts to the next level with several unique…

Danilia Village in Corfu is a mountain village located in central Corfu at 9 kilometres from Corfu town. It is a beautiful village that was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1953. A Corfiot businessman rebuilt the village in the 70s as an amusement park or open-air museum. The goal was to approach the atmosphere of the old city of Corfu by taking over the traditional village building styles and details. Danilia Village is now part of the Grecotel. During our vacation at Daphnila Bay Dassia, we visited this special place. This post is also available in Dutch Stepping…