Is Greece good for an all-inclusive holiday?

Yes, but it's less common and smaller in scale than Turkey. The biggest all-inclusive resorts are concentrated on islands like Crete, Rhodes and Kos. Many smaller island hotels are half-board or bed-and-breakfast only, so check the board basis on the specific hotel rather than assuming it's all-inclusive.

Do UK travellers need a visa for Greece?

No visa is needed for short tourist stays. From late 2026, UK travellers will need an ETIAS travel authorisation (around €20) instead, since Greece is part of the Schengen Area. This is an online authorisation, not a traditional visa, and is separate from your passport.

Is there a tourist tax in Greece?

Yes — officially the Climate Crisis Resilience Fee. It's charged per room per night, paid locally at your accommodation (usually at checkout), and varies by hotel star rating and season. It's rarely included in the advertised room rate, so it's worth budgeting a small amount extra.

Which Greek island is best for families?

Corfu, Kos and Zakynthos are generally the easiest for families thanks to shorter flights, flatter terrain and more family-oriented resorts. Crete also has strong family all-inclusive options around Chersonissos and Malia. Santorini and Mykonos are better suited to couples than families.

Is Greece open for holidays in winter?

Most island resort hotels close for the season, typically from around November to March or April. If you want a winter sun holiday, destinations like Dubai, Turkey's southern coast, or Egypt's Red Sea resorts stay open and warm year-round.

Greece hotel offers and travel guide

Last updated: 2026-06-17

Greece doesn't try to be Turkey's all-inclusive resort strips or Dubai's skyline hotels, and that's the appeal. You're generally booking a hotel in a specific town on a specific island, not a sealed resort complex, which means the island and the area you choose matters more here than almost anywhere else on this site.

Why choose Greece?

The main draw is variety packed into a small geographic footprint. You can book a quiet family-run hotel in a fishing village, a big all-inclusive resort with three pools and a kids' club, or a clifftop boutique stay with a private plunge pool — often on the same island, twenty minutes apart. Food is also a genuine differentiator: even mid-range hotels tend to serve real Greek food rather than a watered-down international buffet, which matters if "good hotel food" is part of what you're paying for.

The trade-off is that Greece is more seasonal and more fragmented than Turkey or Spain. Many hotels close for winter, ferries between islands can eat a day of your trip, and the biggest all-inclusive resorts are concentrated on a handful of islands rather than spread evenly across the country.

Popular Greek islands and resort areas

Crete — the largest island, with the broadest hotel range from big family all-inclusive resorts (Chersonissos, Malia) to quieter, more upmarket stays around Chania and Elounda.
Rhodes — strong for both families (Faliraki) and couples wanting old-town charm and quieter coves (Lindos), with a long, reliable summer season.
Corfu — greener and closer to the UK than most islands, popular with families wanting shorter transfers and a softer landscape than the drier Cyclades.
Kos — flat, easy to get around, and one of the better islands for accessible family resorts with shallow beaches.
Zakynthos (Zante) — known for Navagio (Shipwreck Beach) and a livelier strip in Laganas, alongside quieter family areas like Tsilivi.
Kefalonia — quieter and more upmarket-leaning, better suited to couples and older travellers than big family resorts.
Santorini and Mykonos — premium, scenic, and genuinely better suited to couples and honeymooners than families, with smaller hotels and higher prices.
Halkidiki — a mainland alternative near Thessaloniki, popular for shorter transfer times and family-friendly resort hotels without needing a ferry.

Who Greece is best for

Greece is not the strongest choice for guaranteed winter sun — most resort hotels shut for the season — or for travellers who specifically want a huge, all-in-one all-inclusive complex with everything on a single site; Turkey generally does that at greater scale.

Couples and honeymooners, especially on Santorini, Mykonos or smaller Cycladic islands
Families wanting a more authentic island feel, particularly on Corfu, Crete, Kos and Zante
Travellers who want real Greek food as part of the holiday, not just a hotel buffet
Summer beach holidays roughly between May and October
Island-hopping trips, for travellers happy to factor in ferry time
Quieter, adults-leaning stays on islands like Kefalonia and Lefkada

What to check before booking

Board basis. Greece has fewer large-scale all-inclusive resorts than Turkey. Plenty of island hotels are bed-and-breakfast or half-board only, so check exactly what's included before assuming it matches a Turkish-style all-inclusive.
The Climate Crisis Resilience Fee. This is Greece's mandatory accommodation tax (often still called the "tourist tax"), charged per room per night and paid locally at the hotel, usually at checkout. It's not normally included in the headline room rate, varies by star rating and season, and is typically higher from April to October than over winter. Budget a small amount extra per stay rather than being caught out at checkout.
ETIAS. Greece is in the Schengen Area. From late 2026, UK travellers will need an ETIAS travel authorisation (around €20, valid three years) to enter Greece, applied for online before you fly. It is not a visa and won't affect most short holidays, but if you're booking travel for autumn or winter 2026 onward, it's worth applying in good time rather than at the airport.
Hotel opening dates. Many island hotels, especially smaller and family-run properties, close completely from roughly November to March or April. Always confirm a hotel is open for your specific dates if you're booking outside peak summer.
Ferry and transfer time. If your trip involves more than one island, check ferry schedules and crossing times — weather can also disrupt smaller island ferries, particularly in shoulder season.
Passport validity. As with the rest of the Schengen Area, your passport needs at least three months' validity remaining beyond your planned departure date from Greece.

Greece hotels worth checking

A starting point across the main categories — check live availability for your own dates before booking.

Ikos Olivia — Halkidiki. A luxury all-inclusive resort built around Ikos's "Infinite Lifestyle" concept, with Michelin-starred dining and premium drinks genuinely included rather than upsold — one of the strongest all-inclusive options in Greece.

Princess Andriana — Rhodes. A consistently highly rated family all-inclusive resort, popular even with travellers who'd normally avoid larger family-focused properties.

Domes Aulūs Elounda — Crete. An adults-only luxury all-inclusive resort overlooking the Gulf of Mirabello, suited to couples wanting quiet over activity.

Daios Cove — Halkidiki. A family-friendly luxury all-inclusive resort built as stone villas around an olive grove cove, with separate parent and children's sleeping areas in its suites.

Featured stays

Resort and island stays

Greece resort and island hotels

Greece, Greece

Best for Couples, families and island-hopping trips

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DealStays verdict

Greece is worth checking if you want an island holiday with genuine character rather than a single resort strip. The trade-off for that variety is more homework: pick the right island for your trip style first, confirm the board basis, and factor in the tourist tax and hotel opening dates before you book.

Dubai vs Turkey

Frequently asked questions

Is Greece good for an all-inclusive holiday?: Yes, but it's less common and smaller in scale than Turkey. The biggest all-inclusive resorts are concentrated on islands like Crete, Rhodes and Kos. Many smaller island hotels are half-board or bed-and-breakfast only, so check the board basis on the specific hotel rather than assuming it's all-inclusive.
Do UK travellers need a visa for Greece?: No visa is needed for short tourist stays. From late 2026, UK travellers will need an ETIAS travel authorisation (around €20) instead, since Greece is part of the Schengen Area. This is an online authorisation, not a traditional visa, and is separate from your passport.
Is there a tourist tax in Greece?: Yes — officially the Climate Crisis Resilience Fee. It's charged per room per night, paid locally at your accommodation (usually at checkout), and varies by hotel star rating and season. It's rarely included in the advertised room rate, so it's worth budgeting a small amount extra.
Which Greek island is best for families?: Corfu, Kos and Zakynthos are generally the easiest for families thanks to shorter flights, flatter terrain and more family-oriented resorts. Crete also has strong family all-inclusive options around Chersonissos and Malia. Santorini and Mykonos are better suited to couples than families.
Is Greece open for holidays in winter?: Most island resort hotels close for the season, typically from around November to March or April. If you want a winter sun holiday, destinations like Dubai, Turkey's southern coast, or Egypt's Red Sea resorts stay open and warm year-round.