Zakinthos is nice, family friendly, good beaches. I don't think it has many ruins though. Although Athens is not too far away from Zante (plenty of ruins there)
Crete is a good choice. It's big and has something for everyone. Has quite a few ruins too (Knossos).
Halkadiki is also a good choice.

Sorry i can't be more helpful, there are lots of Greek islands to choose from!
Having said all that, i would'nt go to Faliraki if i were you

I'd suggest a return to Rhodes - i've no doubt the island will tick all the right boxes and as accommodation is not as basic as some of the islands it shouldn't be so much of a culture shock after Spain/Portugal!

I don't think Faliraki is the best option though you'd be surprised how sedate it's become over the last couple of years (somewhat different to the tv shows!). I think Pefkos would probably suit - it's on the east coast and so weather and beaches are better. Pefkos is very popular with families and there's a good choice of properties with swimming pools/ pool bars. Lindos is a 5 minute bus or taxi ride away and this is a great place to visit for scenery, shopping,a wider choice of restaurants/bars and the ruins of Lindos Acropolis.

It's worth getting a car as there's plenty to see on the island (lived there for two years, so message me if you'd like any specific info).

If you do decide on Rhodes it might be a good idea to visit Faliraki again for the waterpark. It's still fairly new and they have a specific area for younger children so should also suit the 4 year old.

I've not been there personally but Pefki Islands is a very popular self catering accommodation, particularly with families - you should be able to find reviews on here.

Wherever you decide enjoy,if you want to know anymore about this beautiful island just ask

I agree with the suggestion of going back to Rhodes. My wife and I have stayed in Pefkos twice over the past few years and have found it very pleasant, family friendly and yob free. I would recommend staying at the Amphitriti Hotel (booked through Direct Holidays) which also have self catering apartments available. This hotel is recently built and in a quiet position of only a few minutes walk down to the lovely beach or a 5 minute walk up to the centre. The owners alex and kate are on site permanently and can't do enough for you, and the pool and bar is superb. Also the restaurants in Pefkos are great. We tried a different one every night and found the cost to be very reasonable. The local bus from Pefkos takes around 10-15 minutes to reach Lindos or around 1 hour to Rhodes town. Both have places of interest which your son would find interesting. All in all a great choice for a family holiday with something to suit everyone.

Thanks to everyone who has replied so far... I'm still very confused tho' as I have been looking at Zante, Kefalonia or Kos and hadn't considered Rhodes at all (mainly because I'd already been there!)

We went to Kefalonia for the first time last year and really enjoyed it. There's lots to see if you hire a car and get out, it's the kind of island where you'll be driving along and just spot something interesting. There are caves and an underground lake, scuba divng, boat trips to other islands and lots of nice places to eat.

Dawn

Try the Kosmar website for suggestions. They seem to have a wide range of islands to choose from and some good descriptions of the different islands and resorts within. You don't need to book through them but it's quite informative.

http://www.kosmar.co.uk

Don't go to Zante it's very busy, very commercial and totally geared towards the British! Nothing like the true Greece!! However If you want to go then stay in Vassilikos it's the best part of the Island.

PS Kefalonia is lovely but you have to get out and explore it.

I would look at Crete- loads of places to visit and some nice beaches. Stalis is a good resort- great restaurants and bars without the nightclubs of nearby resorts.

I'd go for Crete as well. If you choose your spot well you can find a bit of peace and quiet and close to some decent nightlife - it's not full of stupid tourists and there a ruins aplenty!

Welcome to HT- Greeceishome!

Thanks! My 1 post looks positively puny against your 1672 but we'll give it a go!

Zante is NOT over commercialised and soley focused toward the Brits. It is still a very beautiful island, just steer clear of Laganas. Zante would be perfect for you and i would recommend either Kalamaki or Tsilivi for families. We are going back to Zante again this year to Tsilivi and i can't wait.

Each to their own Showerdance but we like the true Greece and compared with all the other Islands and Mainland resorts we've been to Zante was just Britain with sun! Sure enough it has beautiful scenery and some fab beaches and there are some quieter parts, but we like to get away from England for our holidays and not be constantly reminded of it!
We stayed in the supposedly quiet resort of Alykanas just up from Tsillivi but going into town in the evening all you could hear was very loud British music coming from the numerous bars. Apart from one or two traditional tavernas it had absolutely no Greek feel to it at all!
There were far too many Brits but if thats what you like then it's a perfect place to go!

I am very much into true Greece too having been to Skopelos and Thassos and i think true greece can be found in Zante. Some of the mountain villages are lovely and very typically greek. That said there are some english bars but i don't think it is overun with brits yet. I just think its an ideal place for families, particularly Tsilivi. Like you say each to their own, but i just think that the only place that really is Brit orientated is Laganas.

Zakinthos is all British in all the resorts and is highly commercialised, and there are a lot of Brit resorts on the island, to name but a few, Laganas, Kalamaki, Argassi, Zante, Tsilivi, Alakanas, Alyki. Hardly surprising due to the number of charter flights. This is of course repeated across a lot of Greek islands.

Hi. Everyone is talking about 'commercialised Greece! Can anyone enlighten me on Halkidiki. Is this British orientated or 'real Greece'?

halkidiki is made up of three fingers. kassandra the 1st one is very brit orientated, the 2nd sithonia is very beautiful and greek like although slightly harder to find accommadation, the 3rd even nicer but unfortunatly for women its out of bounds due to its religious ways, even males have to book 18 mths in advance. As for nice greek islands there all nice in there own way, but among the popular ones i think Lesvos ,Kalymnos ,Naxos and parts of Crete just to name a few have kept there individuality and greekness. Lesvos suffers wrongly because of its namesake its a very beautiful family orientated island to visit.

Hi all, i thought i would throw my tuppence in as well,i think rhodes would have to be the worst greek island to go to if you are a first timer.Falaraki is a joke of a place unless you are a lager lout.We stayed hear a couple of years ago and spent most of our time in a hire car trying to see the real Greece but most of it was just brits,brits and more brits,anyway thats my opinion,we are going to Zante this year hopefully it will be a bit better,cheers Mark

Think this is going off subject a bit! In the original post Lynz asked for somewhere offering a complex with a pool, bar, etc. Facilities for a family holiday not a 'true grecophile' experience!

I have lived and work on 'commercialised' greek islands (including Rhodes) and unless you are blind, stupid or completely ignorant real greek life and villages can be found on all of them! No island relies solely on tourism so they all have farming, industry, etc. and REAL communities. If this is what you want you just have to get off your rear and look for it! If not there is absolutely nothing wrong in wanting to go to a resort with the facilities to enjoy a carefree family holiday. Besides this i don't have a problem with Brits (being British myself), yes some resorts have British bars, English breakfast, etc. it's down to demand and what people have asked for from their holiday. It may not be your choice or mine but if that's what suits i really don't see a problem :shrug. I would be interested to know if people looking for the real greece would be so happy if they found it - i take it you can all speak fluent greek, don't mind eating goat, or drinking goats milk, don't mind accommodation far more basic than any that get regular complaints on here?

Lynz, look through the brochures and pick out resorts and accommodation that suits your family then check the reviews on here. If it suits you i'm sure you'll be happy. Greece is a lovely country that's why there's so many of us BRITS over there!