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When we were looking for a beach vacation destination in late September, we realized it wouldn't be easy. The season was already cooling down, and in most of Europe, it's less suitable for beach vacations. The options left were not plentiful. Mykonos came up as an optional destination when we started looking for flights on dates that suited us, and we found a short and relatively inexpensive flight. On our first instinct, we hesitated, but then we said, why not actually?
After some research, we understood that in Mykonos, there are several areas, some with more popular and family-friendly beaches, and others tend to be less crowded. We traveled to Mykonos with DanDan when he was 1.9 years old and discovered that there are also many families vacationing on the beautiful island. Here are my recommendations for a vacation with a toddler in Mykonos.
Getting Around
In general, my recommendation for Mykonos is to rent a car during your stay. This recommendation is almost mandatory when traveling with small children. We rented a very small car with a safety seat, and it greatly enhanced our vacation. Every afternoon after DanDan's nap, we went out to eat together at restaurants around the island, which, although a short drive away, were not necessarily within walking distance.
Mykonos is a mountainous island with steep inclines and declines, narrow roads, and almost no sidewalks. Whenever we used the stroller, we had to walk on the road, so I would minimize this to the extent possible.
In the city center, the tourist area is flat and convenient for walking. There, we took a stroll with the stroller without any problem, and we even let DanDan run among the people, as there was no fear of cars, and the area felt safe.
Accommodation
It was important for us to find a hotel that would be family-friendly and located in a less crowded and "party" area but still relatively close to the center. We looked for a hotel with a pool and a nearby beach where we could spend most of the day with DanDan.
We chose the Mykonos Blu Hotel located on Psarou Beach, a 12-minute drive from the center. We read a lot of reviews highlighting that the hotel is known for being family-friendly, and indeed, during our stay, we encountered many travelers with young children. The staff at the hotel were super friendly to DanDan and children in general, and at no point did we feel any discomfort from them or other guests regarding the presence of children in the environment.
Another recommended hotel that was our second option and is also very suitable for a vacation with children is Mykonos Blanc. It is also a hotel with a private beach located a short drive from the center of Mykonos.
Restaurants
All the restaurants we ate at had baby seats and were very accommodating and patient with children. DanDan usually enjoys adult meals, but the fact that most menus include plenty of pasta and pizza options made the choice much easier.
Babysitter
Even on vacations, we are very particular about DanDan's daily routine, and he always naps in the afternoon and goes to bed at the same time every evening. To try and turn the vacation into a vacation for us as well, during the trip, we used a local babysitting service that we booked in advance through Mykonos best nannies. There are several agencies in Mykonos, so we inquired, made contact, and asked for recommendations. Payment is hourly, and we defined our needs in advance.
It was important for us to have someone with us consistently for all five days so that DanDan could get to know her. We used her services for both the afternoon nap and in the evenings so that we could go out. A week before the trip, I received resumes from two optional caregivers from the agency, and I was able to choose the one that seemed more suitable to me. Christina was simply amazing. Beyond being a professional nanny, she has a unique approach to children. She came every day with toys and activities. There is no doubt that she is a true professional, and we trusted her completely.
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