Greece and Cyprus

When you’re tucking into platters of meze in an authentic taverna and watching the sun set into emerald waters, the stresses and strains of everyday life at home suddenly feels a million miles away.

A family holiday to Greece or Cyprus sees your days take on an altogether slower pace. The kids are never as keen to get up and out in a morning, as they are when promised with a day at some of Europe’s best waterparks, something Cyprus is famed for. They’ll see history lessons brought to life at the Roman ruins of Paphos and perhaps even tuck into something they’d never even consider at home, like salty grilled halloumi or juicy calamari. Mountains, bays and beaches offer endless adventures and calm, turquoise waters are perfect for paddling with the little ones. Keep your eyes peeled on a 4x4 safari in the Troodos Mountains and you might even spot a loggerhead turtle or two.

With its number of islands and islets reported to stand at a hefty 6,000, Greece promises to have one that fits your family just right. Alternate between historic ruins and sun-drenched beaches in Crete and Rhodes, or opt to sample a slice of traditional Aegean life in Santorini or Mykonos, where the whitewashed windmills, pink bougainvillea and cobalt blue rooftops are just as you picture them from the holiday brochures. When the kids aren’t soaking up the sun around the pool, they’ll be hanging out with their new friends at the kids clubs, giving the grown-ups time to appreciate those sweeping caldera views in peace.