How to keep your kids occupied during your summer hols in Porto Heli.
- Water sports for kids.
- Other kids activities.
- Food and health advice.
First of all, the Greeks ADORE children, there isn't anywhere you can't take them. They'll be offered things to eat, drink, play with and you'll have no end of advice/assistance/amusement provided if they don't feel well or the heat has made them cranky or they're just bored. There isn't much in the way of mother & baby facilities so breastfeeding and nappy changing is just discreetly done wherever and sometimes it's best to leave the buggy outside when you go into the smaller shops. If you need a hand, just ask and people will be happy to help you out with things.
- Armbands, beach shoes, clothing, goggles, hats and a wide variety of toys are available from the shops so that needn't worry you if you forget something. If you've got a baby/toddler you can get creams, jars of baby food, milk and nappies at the supermarkets. You may want to bring your own brand of powdered baby milk and meals if your baby is specific and if you're self-catering there are lots of fresh fruits and vegetables available throughout the year for them.
- It is hot here during the summer (up to and over 40 degrees Celcius sometimes) so always have a bottle of water with you and a high protection factor sun screen. Between about 12 to 4pm keep younger kids out of the sun, get them to have a nap (if possible) and let them stay up a little later in the evening when it's cool again. They'll go back to their normal routine soon enough when you get home again.
- There are good beaches for kids all along the Porto Heli bay, including my favorite in front of Best Western Hotel Rozos with sunloungers, umbrellas and a sandy beach with shallow water plus there are usually other kids around too. Takis operates Afros rent a boat from there so you can explore the rest of the coastline, stopping to swim or sunbathe whenever you want.
- Porto Heli WaterSports and Poseidon Sports are located on the sandy beach in front of the AKS Porto Heli Hotel so donut rides, sailing, skiing and windsurfing with sunloungers and umbrellas for non-participants are all conveniently located in one place. Mario is an excellent Ski instructor, especially with the young and Biff and Amy got my 5 1/2 year old out sailing solo last summer so check them out.
- Someone e-mailed me about going to Lepitsa taverna and beach (in Koilada) and highly recommended it - as do the locals. The taverna specializes in freshly caught fish dishes and seasonal salads and is located on the beachfront. The kids can play in the shallow sea or on the beach under the shady trees whilst parents can eat and drink on the Lepitsa taverna balcony just metres away. It's a popular location so your kids will find other kids to play with too. If you'd like to be based there, Lepitsa Sunset appartments may suit you.
- NEMO Fun kids fun park which has bouncy castles, climbing frame, electronic games, swings, slides, trampolines and more for just 6 euros per child (including a juice) for as long as you want, children under 2 years old go free. Their prices are reasonable and it's often a birthday party venue. It's great for tiring out your youngsters, although we do tend to have floods of tears when it's time to leave! It's located on the Porto Heli - Costa road, about 800m from the village centre, after the AKS Porto Heli Hotel.
- There is a public playground in Porto Heli, just near the roundabout, where your kids can let off a bit of steam. It has the usual playground equipment and a floating population of both local kids and visitors. There isn't much shade there so people tend to go in the early mornings or evenings, nothing like a burning hot slide at midday! It is funded and maintained by the "Friends of Porto Heli" who do their best to keep it in good condition. Please do your part to keep it as nice as possible for all the kids.
- There is a fun fair along the Costa road, behind the AB Supermarket, with various rides which cost about 2 or 3 Euros per go. Your kids will spot it long before you do and demand to be taken there, don't worry about missing it! It operates in the evenings until quite late at night every night from about the middle of July to the middle of September.
- There are two outdoor cinemas, Oscar and Star Cinema, which operate from about June to October with a good range of the latest blockbusters (in English with Greek subtitles) including films suitable for children. There are posters advertising what's showing all over town and in some of the hotels.
- CD and DVD rental and Internet access are available in the village for reasonable prices for those who want to keep in with the technological world and I've also got my Entertainment page you can take a look at with a few more ideas.
- Don't forget to bring with you any medicines your child is regularly taking. The pharmacies stock most medicines and if not they can get them down from Athens in a few hours but it saves you the hassle if you bring it with you.
- There is a National Health Pediatrician at the Health Centre in Kranidi as well as a private Pediatrician and the village pharmacies have a wide range of over the counter medicines for children, most fairly cheap and plenty of baby necessities (bottles, creams, teething rings etc).
- Top tip for babies : a drop of Olive oil in babies food keeps thing moving smoothly through and I found Gentian Violet (known here as 'Melani' or 'ink' was FANTASTIC for nappy rash (applied & left to dry before using nappy cream as usual). I know it stains but it really works when your little one has had a bad time of it due to different foodstuffs or too much heat.
- Mosquito nets are not widely in use here although we do have mosquitos (not the malarial kind) and you can get insect repellents and creams in the village. Bring an elasticized cot net if you've got a very young one, my two slept alot in their pushchairs in the shade on the beaches whilst I went swimming which was ace relaxation for all of us and I didn't have to worry about them getting nibbled.
- If the food appears just too strange at first for your young ones you can get pretty good pizza from Panorama Pizza in town, very reasonably priced and Morias does a mean pork chop or grilled chicken (amongst other delicious grilled dishes), again, very economical for family eating. Alexandras have chicken or pork souvlaki, gyro and suckling pig dishes and Cafeteria Rozos has a good range of traditional Greek dishes with burgers and chips or spaghetti dishes on the menu as does Paradise, behind the roundabout, which go down well with most kids. Papagalino has a range of cakes and sweets (mmm, cheesecake) available by the piece or whole and ice creams are available almost anywhere but especially nice (though not cheap) from Dodonis, their menu is just mouthwatering! Take a look at my Food and Drink page for more ideas.
