Best Greece Package Holidays: Islands, Resorts, and Booking Tips

Overview

If you are comparing Greece package holidays, start with one useful principle: choose the destination first, then the board basis, then the hotel. Many travellers do the reverse and end up overwhelmed by similar-looking resort pages.

Greece works well for package travel because it offers several distinct holiday types within relatively short flying time from the UK and other European departure points. You can book beach breaks, family resort stays, adults-only escapes, village-based holidays, and larger island trips with enough infrastructure to keep planning simple. But Greek holidays vary more than many travellers expect.

Broadly, the comparison comes down to five questions:

• How easy is the destination? Direct flights and straightforward transfers usually matter more than small headline price differences.
• What kind of holiday do you want? Pool-and-beach resort, town-and-tavernas base, family complex, or quieter upscale stay.
• Does all inclusive fit the destination? On some islands it simplifies costs; in others, half board or self-catering may preserve flexibility.
• How much moving around will you do? If you plan to explore often, a package built around staying inside the resort may not be the best value.
• What is really included? Flights, transfers, hold luggage, meals, drinks, child facilities, air conditioning, and tourist taxes can change the true cost quickly.

For many readers, the best Greek package holiday is not the most famous island. It is the one where flight times, transfer effort, resort style, and likely daily spending match the trip you actually want.

If you are still deciding whether Greece is the right type of short-haul sun break, our guide to best beach package holidays in Europe for short-haul sun is a useful companion read.

How to compare options

The fastest way to compare all inclusive holidays Greece options is to sort islands into practical booking categories rather than romantic ideas. The right framework makes the shortlist much clearer.

1. Compare islands by holiday style, not just reputation

Some Greek islands are better known than others, but name recognition does not always help package travellers. A more useful approach is:

• Large, versatile islands: Crete and Rhodes often suit travellers who want plenty of flight options, broad hotel choice, and a mix of beaches, resorts, and sightseeing.
• Family-friendly mainstream islands: Kos, Corfu, and Zakynthos are often easier to browse for classic resort holidays with flights and hotel included.
• Couples and scenic relaxation islands: smaller or more design-led destinations may appeal if you prioritise atmosphere over all-day resort facilities.
• Town-and-beach combinations: destinations with walkable old towns or harbours can work well if you dislike feeling confined to a hotel complex.

That framing helps separate a practical package holiday from a destination that may be lovely in theory but less convenient for your needs.

2. Compare by transfer burden

Package pages often highlight the hotel and beach, but the transfer can shape the first and last day of the trip. A low headline fare may be less attractive if it involves a very late arrival, a long coach journey, or extra ferry logistics. This matters especially for:

• families with young children
• travellers only booking five to seven nights
• late-season or shoulder-season trips
• holidaymakers arriving with checked baggage and airport queues already built in

If two hotels look similar, the easier transfer often wins in real-world value.

3. Choose board basis based on behaviour

Not every Greek resort holiday needs to be all inclusive. Ask yourself how you tend to travel.

• All inclusive: best if you want spending control, travel with children, prefer resort days, or are staying in a more self-contained area.
• Half board: often better if you like lunch out, plan beach clubs or day trips, and still want breakfast and dinner covered.
• Bed and breakfast: useful in towns or on islands where eating out is part of the holiday rather than an extra.
• Self-catering: better for independence, though not always cheaper once groceries and dining out are added.

If you are weighing up the real savings, read What’s Included in an All-Inclusive Holiday? A Real Cost Breakdown.

4. Filter hotels by the facilities you will actually use

When comparing greece resort holidays, avoid paying for facilities that sound impressive but are irrelevant to your trip. Useful filters include:

• direct beach access versus shuttle beach access
• kids' club and splash facilities
• adults-only or quiet-pool layout
• walkability to shops and tavernas
• number of restaurants included in the board basis
• room configuration for families
• air conditioning and Wi-Fi terms
• evening entertainment intensity

This is where many package comparisons become more honest. A family who will use water slides and children’s dining options may save money in a larger complex. A couple planning to spend evenings in a harbour town may be better off in a smaller hotel with breakfast only.

5. Build a true total-cost comparison

To compare cheap holidays to Greece properly, make a simple side-by-side list including:

• flight times and airports
• baggage included or excluded
• shared or private transfers
• board basis
• room type
• likely local transport costs
• likely lunch, drinks, and snacks spend
• tourist taxes or local charges payable in resort

This is often where a mid-priced package overtakes a cheaper-looking one.

For broader timing strategy, see Cheapest Months to Book Package Holidays by Destination and Summer Holiday Deals Guide: When Prices Drop and Which Destinations Hold Value.

Feature-by-feature breakdown

Below is a practical comparison of the main features travellers usually care about when deciding between the best Greek islands for package holidays.

Best for families

Families usually need simplicity more than novelty. The strongest options are typically islands and resorts with direct flight availability, manageable transfers, reliable beach weather in peak season, and hotels built around child-friendly dining and pool space.

Look for:

• larger islands with many departure-date options
• family rooms or interconnecting rooms
• shallow pool areas or splash zones
• buffet variety that works for different ages
• short airport-to-resort transfers where possible
• beaches with easy access rather than steep approaches

If a resort advertises extensive family facilities, compare whether they are included in the package or charged separately. Families often benefit most from all inclusive because snacks, ice creams, drinks, and casual lunches can add up quickly outside the package.

For resort ideas beyond Greece, see Best Family All-Inclusive Resorts with Water Parks.

Best for couples

Couples usually get the best value from Greece when they decide whether they want a resort-first holiday or a destination-first holiday.

• Resort-first couples break: choose a quieter, adults-focused or adults-only property where pool space, room quality, and dining matter most.
• Destination-first couples break: choose a hotel in or near a town, harbour, or scenic coastal area where you can go out easily and keep the resort simple.

For couples, all inclusive can be excellent in a premium resort setting, but it can also feel restrictive if the island’s appeal lies in local tavernas and exploring. Half board often strikes a sensible middle ground.

Readers considering a quieter style may also like Adults-Only All-Inclusive Holidays: Best Destinations and Resort Types.

Best for cheap package holidays

The lowest-cost Greek package is not always on the island you expected. Cheapness usually comes from a combination of flight competition, hotel supply, shoulder-season timing, and how far the accommodation is from the most desirable seafront areas.

To improve value without making the trip feel compromised:

• compare nearby resorts on the same island, not just the island itself
• check if a slightly inland hotel includes shuttle transport or is still walkable
• travel outside school holidays if you can
• consider half board if local dining is affordable and plentiful
• price a week against ten nights, as flight patterns can shift the value unexpectedly

If you are open to flexible timing, combine this guide with Last-Minute Package Holidays: When to Book, Where to Go, and How to Avoid Bad Deals.

Best for all inclusive

All inclusive holidays Greece tend to work best in resort areas where the hotel is a meaningful part of the holiday rather than just a place to sleep. Good candidates include larger beach resorts, family-focused complexes, and properties in quieter areas where meals and drinks on site add convenience.

All inclusive tends to be a stronger fit if:

• you expect to spend most days around the pool or beach
• you are travelling with children or a group
• you want predictable spending
• the hotel has multiple dining spaces or generous snack service
• the surrounding area is not the main reason for choosing the destination

It may be a weaker fit if you plan to hire a car, island-hop, eat out most evenings, or spend long days sightseeing.

Best for easy first-time package holidays

For travellers booking Greece as a package for the first time, simplicity matters. Prioritise islands with broad mainstream availability, clear resort areas, and plenty of customer feedback on hotel operations and transfers. Usually, the easiest choices are destinations where many tour operators package similar flight-and-hotel combinations, making comparisons easier and reducing the chance of awkward logistics.

You may also find helpful context in Best Package Holiday Destinations for First-Time All-Inclusive Travelers.

Best for shoulder season

Greece can be excellent in late spring and early autumn, but not every island behaves the same way. When booking outside peak summer:

• check whether resort facilities operate fully throughout your dates
• confirm if pools are heated, especially for spring travel
• look at whether nearby restaurants and shops stay open late in the season
• favour larger, more established resort areas if you want certainty

This is one of the most common reasons to revisit your shortlist: a hotel that is ideal in high summer may feel too quiet or too limited in shoulder season.

Best fit by scenario

If you want a faster route to a decision, use these scenario-based matches.

You want a straightforward family beach holiday

Choose a larger island with a mainstream resort area, a direct transfer pattern, and a hotel with clear child-focused facilities. All inclusive usually makes the budgeting easier. Put convenience ahead of boutique charm.

You want a couples break with some style but still good value

Look for a smaller adults-focused hotel or quieter upscale resort. Half board is often the sweet spot unless you truly want a stay-put hotel holiday. Prioritise room quality, atmosphere, and nearby dining.

You want a cheap week in the sun

Be flexible on the exact island and resort name. Compare departure airports, shoulder-season dates, and hotel star level, but protect the basics: sensible transfer time, decent reviews on cleanliness and food, and clear baggage rules. A cheap package only works if the hidden extras stay low.

You want to explore, not just stay in the hotel

Choose a destination with a walkable town, local transport, or easy car-hire routes. Avoid paying a premium for a heavily all-inclusive setup you will barely use. Breakfast or half board may suit you better than a full package meal plan.

You want a short, low-stress break

For five to seven nights, focus heavily on flight times and transfers. A slightly more expensive package with easier travel can deliver a much better holiday. Long transfer days consume a bigger share of a short trip.

You want a reliable adults-only all inclusive escape

Filter early for adults-only or quiet-resort options, then compare what the all inclusive plan actually covers. The best value is usually where the dining offer, pool environment, and room category feel coherent rather than oversized and generic.

When to revisit

This is the kind of topic worth revisiting whenever prices, routes, hotel operations, or your own travel priorities change. Even if you have been to Greece before, the best choice for your next package may be different from your last one.

Review your shortlist again when:

• new flight routes appear or disappear, changing transfer convenience and departure-day choice
• hotel renovations or rebranding happen, especially if they affect board basis, room types, or target audience
• you move between travel stages, such as switching from couples breaks to family holidays
• you change season, because spring, peak summer, and autumn can produce very different experiences in the same resort
• your budget tightens, making total-cost comparison more important than star rating
• you are booking last minute, where availability can push you toward a different island or board basis

Before you book, use this five-point final check:

1. Confirm the package protection and booking terms. For UK travellers, that often means checking for ATOL protected holidays where relevant and reading cancellation conditions carefully.
2. Read the room description, not just the hotel summary. Room type can change the holiday more than the brand name.
3. Check the board basis in detail. Imported drinks, speciality restaurants, snacks, and late-arrival meals may have limits.
4. Verify transfer arrangements. Shared coach, shuttle, private transfer, or no transfer at all should be clear before payment.
5. Price the same trip from your nearest realistic departure airport. If you are comparing package holidays from London with options from Manchester or elsewhere, convenience and parking costs can change the overall value.

For alternatives in cooler months, see Winter Sun Package Holidays: Best Places for Warm Weather Escapes. And if you are comparing Greece with another dependable island market, Best Canary Islands Package Holidays for Year-Round Sun offers a useful contrast.

The simplest way to find the right Greek package holiday is to treat it as a comparison problem, not a dream-board exercise. Start with holiday style, narrow by logistics, test the true total cost, and only then choose the prettiest hotel photos. That method is less glamorous, but it usually leads to the better trip.