Our first joint family vacation abroad was supposed to be something special and meet everyone's interests. This was the first hurdle, as we had to reconcile 6 people of different ages and interests. There was my husband, who loves to exercise and windsurf at the sea and needs good wind and a surf station for that. My parents, who wanted a bit of luxury, like an all-inclusive buffet and comfortable accommodation. Our twins, who were just 2.5 years old and needed the most: cots, a children's pool, high chairs, child-friendly food, and perhaps a little entertainment. My dream was to be able to read a good book in a sun lounger and not have to work around all the time.
For all these wishes, the Grecotel Royal Park in Kos, Greece, seemed best suited to us. We decided on the off-season in September so that it wouldn't be quite as hot for us. So our family vacation began on September 5th at Schwechat Airport. Packed as if we were emigrating, we fought our way to the plane. The flight was very exciting for the children, but it shouldn't have lasted longer than the 2.5 hours, because by the end they were already complaining a bit and wanted to run around. I had never been to the toilet so often on a flight, because the children were very enthusiastic about the 'flush'. After a short 15-minute bus ride, we had reached our hotel and the vacation could finally begin. I have summarized my experiences here:
The Hotel Grecotel Royal Park in Kos
The hotel in Marmari is a bit older, but very clean and spacious. We stayed in a bungalow on the large grounds, right next to my parents, which was really ideal. The rooms were simple but had air conditioning. Our children slept in travel cots; otherwise, two large beds would have been available. In front of the bungalow, there was a small terrace and a spacious garden. The location of our accommodation was right in the middle: we weren't far from the playground and the buffet, but also not from the sea and the pool. In the evenings, we could also quickly get a few good cocktails from the bar. The sea could be reached via a road with hardly any traffic; the road was a dead end and only rarely did a few tourists get lost here. For those who like to stroll and shop in the evening, the hotel is not suitable. We marched along the road once and only walked past hotels. I found that interesting, however, because I recognized some hotels from the catalog.
Catering and Staff
Breakfast and dinner could be taken on the large terrace directly in the main building. There was a smaller buffet for dinner by the pool, which we never tried. The buffet was very good and varied; there was always a lot of choice. The children had a lot of fun choosing their food. Since mainly families with children vacation here, we felt very comfortable right away. In this hotel, we didn't stand out at all with our children and, thanks to my parents, were even able to eat in peace. The staff was very friendly and very accommodating, everyone spoke German, and there were always enough high chairs.
Sports and Entertainment
The entertainment for the children was just right for our twins; there was always a program for the children. The playground with covered play equipment is great. Here you could borrow sandpit toys that other vacationers had left behind. But there was also a shop where, among other things, sand toys could be bought. There was also a varied sports program for the 'grown-ups', where I took part in some aerobics and water gymnastics sessions. I met many nice people here, and the trainers were all very personable. My husband was mainly at the surf station and was able to borrow everything for windsurfing here. He also took a kite course, but unfortunately, the wind was already too weak for that, so he was a little disappointed. In terms of wind, July and August should be better.
On the beach and by the pool, there were always enough loungers & umbrellas, finally a hotel where not everyone reserves the loungers with towels at 5 a.m. (although some parents were certainly already awake at that time!).
Every evening, an evening program was organized for the children, which our children always enjoyed watching. Since many children spent their vacation at our time, the stage was always very full. This was followed by the program for adults, which didn't appeal to me personally. My parents were there more often, however, and they liked it very much.
Conclusion
Apart from the fact that there was unfortunately too little wind for my husband in the second week, the vacation was a complete success for everyone else. The complex is great for families with children, although you should be careful when booking and not necessarily live by the pool or bar. My parents also liked the hotel very much. In the evenings, there were events that you could even attend with children. For all of us, the vacation was wonderfully relaxing, and I was even able to finish my book.
Photos Sabine, meinhaushalt.at
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