If you’re planning a family vacation to Greece, you’ll want to make sure you pick islands that can cater to your family. Each island offers a very different experience of Greece, so some might not be much fun for the little ones.

Mykonos is known for its fine sand beaches and lively nightlife, something for both the young and old. A good place to stay for families is Santa Marina Resort and Villas. These high end villas in a cluster overlook a nice beach outside of town, and taxis are available. It is nicely decorated, has a luxe ambiance and spa. They also have cruises by rental yacht, 2 speedboats, a private sandy beach ideal for children, fully equipped playground and a children's pool. Babysitting service can be provided upon request. Santa Marina is a very upscale experience that would provide parents with sophisticated nightlife, and an opportunity to cruise to Delos for a day of archaeological sites. You can also book their A Tour of Delos, Apollo's Birthplace Package where you will get a tour of Delos island, a box of sweet mastiha treats, a book about Delos that you can keep, daily breakfast and accommodations for two, and a 4pm late check-out based on availability all starting at $415 EUR/N ($574 USD). Regular rates for a stay at Santa Marina start at $472 EUR/N ($660 USD) for families in August. For more information about Santa Marina Resort and Villas, go to their website at www.santa-marina.gr.

Or if you're looking for something simpler, try the Elena Hotel, a small, friendly hotel that's more similar to a B&B, with breakfast included. If you're looking for babysitting services, you can get in touch with them in advance through Mykonos Accommodations Center. The Accommodations Center is a very good hotel, villa, and apartment rental service that will confirm a local, top quality babysitter for you. At the Elena Hotel you'll get a simple but very Greek experience of Mykonos' port town and famous nightlife for $140 EUR/N per person ($193 USD) in the summer, $95 EUR ($131 USD) in the winter, and kids stay free. For more information check out their website at www.elena-hotel.gr.

Another good Greek island to visit is Crete which has rocky beaches, rustic villages, and is home to “Zorba the Greek.” Crete is largest of the Greek islands and very varied in its scenery and appeal. There is a lot of things to see and do.

At the Candia Park Village hotel you will get a traditional Caribbean-style resort that's unlike what you may find in many others parts in Greece, and it has lots of services that come in handy for a family with small children. There are 222 rooms in a purpose-built traditional Cretan village, and its waterfront location offers panoramic views of Mirabello Bay. The large complex has 3 swimming pools, including a children’s pool, 2 beaches equipped with umbrellas and sun beds. 2 floodlit tennis courts, basketball court and volleyball court. Most important, there's an organized kids club for ages 4-12 so there will be lots of other families, and a good source of trained babysitters. This resort is 10-minute drive from the charming nearby town of Aghios Nikolaos for sightseeing. You can also rent a car to explore the Crete beaches or go on guided daytrips to Minoan archaeological sites. Rates start at $200 EUR/N ($276 USD) for families in the summer and can go as low as $39 EUR ($53 USD) at other times of the year, go to candia-park-village.hotel-rv.com.

Also check out Thomson Family Holidays, a UK tour operator, for ideas on rental villas and family units on several other islands.

For a more upscale choice, you can try the Blue Palace Resort & Spa, a super chic, luxury resort with 251 units, ranging from rooms to big villas. They have all the amenities, a waterfront in Elounda, the purpose-built resort town of Crete, gourmet food, a spa, and a fully equipped kids club. The kids club is free and run by a professionally qualified staff that will look after your children while entertaining them with many different activities. Activities are scheduled six days per week for kids 3-12, and they also have a playground and a kids' pool. Babysitting can also be arranged for the day or night upon request at a fee.

If you want to go to a place that is both serene and cultural, reserve the Discover the Treasures of Spinalonga Package. Spinalonga is an island oasis across from the resort that has Medieval, Venetian, and Ottoman buildings dating back to the 11^th century. In this package you will get an exclusive tour of Spinalonga, a guide book on Crete, a bottle of authentic Cretan oil, a bottle of anise liquor called Raki, daily breakfast and accommodations for two, and a 4pm late check-out based on availability. Starting rates for this package start at $421 EUR ($582 USD). Regular rates for a stay at Blue Palace for families start at $540 EUR/N ($747 USD) including breakfast. For more information go to http://www.bluepalace.gr/