With its quiet family-friendly atmosphere, beautiful stretches of soft golden sand and great facilities, Lassi is the perfect destination for a family holiday.
The purpose-built resort on the picturesque island of Kefalonia – one of the Ionian Islands of Greece – stretches out along the coast just below the island capital of Argostoli.
Built to make the most of some of Kefalonia’s most beautiful coastline, it is its proximity to the charming capital, and the island’s airport, that is one of the things I love most when travelling here with kids.
When I travel with my little ones, I usually find that the holiday excitement, which has lasted for most of the flight, soon fades when you touch down and have to deal with boring passport checks and baggage claims. High spirits can quickly transform into tired tantrums. So, if you’re heading to Lassi, it’s great to know that the journey is over almost as soon as you get through customs: the airport is only a 15-minute drive away from this holiday oasis.
Once the kids are in the hotel and are well-rested, there’s only one thing to do: hit the sand. Most of the beaches here are perfect for little ones, as their gently sloping sand and calm waters are ideal for safe paddling and swimming.
Here is my selection of the best family-friendly beaches around the resort.
Makrys Gialos
Situated at the south end of the resort, Makrys Gialos is the first of Lassi’s two main strips of excellent golden sand, and is definitely the biggest and most popular beach. Since it boasts water sports, several restaurants and lots of sun beds and umbrellas, it does get crowded. But if you like a lively beach vibe, then this is for you.
There’s a natural shelf of sand in the water, making it shallow enough for weak swimmers and/or children to swim safely. But for those who are confident in the water, there’s a huge range of water sports on offer, including banana boating and kayaking, which my older daughter loved.
Platys Gialos
Located further south from Makrys Gialos, Platys Gialos is the second of the two main strips. This beach has all the facilities and amenities that you will need for a day by the sea with young children, and has the added benefit of being quieter than its neighbour.
The beach bar here sell snacks and cold drinks. What’s more, there are showers, toilets and even changing rooms. The area is blue-flag rated, so you can expect a high standard of cleanliness – in fact, the sand is raked each night during the main tourist season.
Now, that’s all very well, but my major reason for loving this beach is that there are always lots of families and plenty of children playing, so there’s lots that’ll keep the little ones entertained. There’s also a gentle slope for paddling, if your kids aren’t quite ready for swimming.
*Top Tip: The water here is usually calm, but be aware that the waves can get a little big on windy days.
Gradakia Beach
This little cove at the northern end of the resort is perfect if you want to get away from the crowds of the larger beaches. There are still plenty of sun beds and umbrellas to shade the kids, but this stretch has a quieter atmosphere than the others. To top it all off, there’s a lovely, small snack bar, which is family-friendly and reasonably priced.
Paliostafida Beach
Situated at the northern end of the resort, Paliostafida is a pretty and quiet stretch of narrow sand, which backs on to the hills and pine forests of this part of town. There is a snack bar and you can rent loungers, but because it is quite small, there’s not that much room for the kids to run around and play games. That being said, this is one of the quietest beaches in Lassi, and the swimming and snorkelling opportunities are truly excellent.
How to Get to Lassi
With airlines such as easyJet, Jet2, Thomson and Monarch, getting to the island is no problem. In fact, there are six flights that arrive in Kefalonia from the UK every week. The flight takes around 3 hours and 20 minutes, so not long enough for your kids to get too restless.
The resort of Lassi is just 7km from the airport, so book an airport transfer with Shuttle Direct to pick you up when you arrive, and you and your family could be at your hotel less than an hour after landing.
Where to Stay
Liberatos Village – If you’re looking for a perfect holiday village with everything you need all in one place, check out Liberatos Village. This accommodation is set in beautiful gardens and has its own pool and sun terrace, and the beach is only a ten-minute stroll away. The apartments are clean and spacious, and some have stunning views out over the sea.
Dionysus Village Resort – There’s loads of room for the kids to play at the Dionysus Village Resort, which is close to Platys Gialos and Makrys Gialos. Thanks to its main pool and children’s pool, pretty terraces, onsite restaurant and bar, you don’t have to leave the resort if you don’t want to! The rooms are stylish and are equipped with balconies and terraces, boasting beautiful sea views.
Lassi Hotel – Just a short stroll from the sand, Lassi Hotel is a great choice for those looking for a family beach holiday. The rooms, which contain fridges and kettles, all have balconies, which either look out over the Ionian Sea or over the swimming pool. There’s a bar downstairs that serves cold drinks, and the restaurants and cafés of Lassi are only a ten-minute walk away.
About Shuttle Direct
If you’re travelling with children, you want your holiday to start off as smoothly and as hassle-free as possible. Shuttle Direct is the leading provider of airport transfers across Europe and North Africa, offering a convenient, easy-to-use service for all travellers. Simply pre-book your ride online, and a driver will take you and your family to your accommodation upon landing.
