Kassiopi Travel Guide

Are you nervous about taking your baby or child on a plane trip? You aren't alone, most parents are nervous about it. We have moved with Iris and Sam Tarragona Corfu by plane this holiday and drove some distances by car on the island itself and we learned a few things that hopefully will help you.

General:
Bring books, old favourite toys and new surprise toys. Do remember that balls are not a good idea as they can end up anywhere! Our best buys were definitely books, especially sticker books are great! They can peel the stickers off, are glossy, have thick pages to turn easy, have bright colours and come in endless subjects. They're a nice break from the other books your child might be tired of, too. Put aside fears of setting poor eating habits, and bring on the snacks! We told Iris: “Welcome to the world of boredom eating."

Plane:
If your child is big ask for earplugs as soon as you board the aircraft. Make use of them for take-off then save them for landing as the crew may not have any fresh ones left by then. Also let them eat candies, this helps the kids tremendously if they don't know how to pop their ears.

Car:
Toy bars meant for stroller use are a big help in the car, as they often feature toys plus a snack cup, and are big and easy for you to grab from the front seat for refills. During the car trip it’s always a good idea to play a game and sing some songs. It sounds rather easy, but it does work!

Finally:
We only have one last statement! Just do it! Don’t be afraid that it might go wrong. We have learned this, because we have been travelling with Iris from the beginning. She was only 6 weeks young when we had our first short vacation and stayed in a hotel. Iris has been used to it rather fast and (maybe because of it) has always been an easy kid to get along with.

Maybe it sounds a bit weird, but as an experience traveler I know that you every now and then need this kind of information in advance: electricity in Greece is 230 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. If you travel to Greece with a device that does not accept 230 Volts at 50 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter.

There are three main types of voltage converter. Resistor-network converters will usually be advertised as supporting something like 50-1600 Watts. They are light-weight and support high-wattage electrical appliances like hair dryers and irons. However, they can only be used for short periods of time and are not ideal for digital devices. Some companies sell combination converters that include both a resistor network and a transformer in the same package. This kind of converter will usually come with a switch that switches between the two modes. If you absolutely need both types of converter, then this is the type to buy.

Outlets in Greece generally accept 1 type of plug: Two round pins (see the picture). If your appliances plug has a different shape, you may need a plug adapter. Depending on how much you plan to travel in the future, it may be worthwhile to get a combination voltage converter and plug adapter.

Although I have reccomended boat hire in Kassiopi, I did in fact hire a boat in Paelokalistra which is located in the north west of Corfu. I was eager to see the caves and crystal clear waters in this part of Corfu island you see. I paid dearly for this 'whim' and later found out 'my euros' would have hired me a boat for the whole day in Kassiopi instead of the 4 hours I had for my money!

I found the trip totally exhilarating, and by the time I reached the shore I craved for more of this pastime.

Many places are totally inaccessable unless you have a boat so if you want to experience deserted beaches, caves and the thrill of the open sea you simply have to take the plunge and hire one yourself.

Swimming from the boat is wonderful but do beware of the rocks if you dive.

Equipment: When taking a boat out in any hot and sunny climate always remember to take some heavy duty sunscreen and a wide brimmed hat. The sun reflects off the water, so getting yourself burnt is very easily accomplished and painful too. Ouch!!!

Ensure you hire a boat from a reputable company, and check there are enough life jackets on board to cover all passengers.

If you get a bit sea sick dont forget to take some medication prior to the trip, feeling ill will definitely spoil the experience.