Words by: Chessie King
I’m sat on the plane, scrolling through my camera roll as I mourn the most incredible holiday. And honestly, no photos, nor videos actually do this trip justice
I’m going to try with words instead…
There are those places in the world that are beautiful, those places that are unforgettable, then there are places that are indescribable. For us, that place was Daios Cove.
Ensconced in its own private cove on the northeast coast of Crete, Daios Cove doesn’t feel like your archetypal hotel. It’s as if someone stumbled upon a secret corner of the island and decided to chisel a tiny village into the cliffs, without disturbing the landscape and sense of peace around it.
As parents, we’ve often booked family holidays assuming they’re designed for everyone. only to discover they’re entirely children-focused, with the adults mere event coordinators. However, Daios Cove somehow manages to crack the code for all generations and expectations.
It gives children adventure, parents space to revel in this luxurious resort, and blends that to create magic, memorable moments together too.
A week at Daios Cove, with Mat and Auraelia taught me that travelling well with a tiny human is about finding places that truly understand what modern family life looks like and what everyone actually needs.
So here are my top ten tips for travelling with young children, inspired by a holiday that made it feel like paradise.
Leave your ‘kit’ at home
You’ll be thrilled to know, you don’t need to pack half your house to have a brilliant holiday with Scott Dunn Explorers.
You can pre-book baby and toddler equipment before you travel. Travel cots, sterilisers, baby baths, potties, pushchairs, basically all those bulky items [that somehow take up an entire suitcase] can often be arranged in advance with the Scott Dunn Explorers guest relations team. Plus during ‘club time,’ nappies, wipes, sun cream, hats, rash vests and Konfidence swim jackets are all provided.
While saving space, this also makes the airport experience infinitely easier – you’re not wrestling with endless bags before you’ve even boarded the plane. I still remember one trip when Rae was much younger where we packed absolutely everything, the kitchen sink ‘just in case.’ Since then, I’ve become a huge fan of travelling lighter wherever possible.
Scott Dunn is brilliant at organising these details ahead of time, allowing you to focus on the holiday rather than the logistics. Trust me, stepping onto a plane with one less wheely feels like a luxury in itself.
Personalised kids clubs are invaluable
Not all kids’ clubs personalise their care for your child’s age, your 4 year old could get lumped into a club with 8 year olds. Not with Scott Dunn’s Explorers, where clubs are thoughtfully dividing up into 4 groups, with activities, schedules, environment and care tailored accordingly:
Globetrotters: 4 months – 2 years
Adventurers: 3 – 4 years
Voyagers: 5 – 7 years
Pioneers: 8 – 11 years
Auraelia was welcomed into Explorers ‘Voyagers’ for three days. Previously she had never lasted longer than 10-minutes in other kids clubs (so it was pretty revolutionary for us).
What makes the Explorers Club experience different to the hotel’s standard club is that it’s exclusively for Scott Dunn guests. Every member of the childcare team is recruited and trained by Scott Dunn themselves for consistency of care. The staff knew every child by name, took time to understand their personalities (and their parents’ requests and priorities) and made each child feel special from the offset.
The first day Aurelia’s ‘diary’ (guest relations provide an easy download link and set up page) said her itinerary was ‘semi-submarine adventure, lunch at a pizzeria, mermaid school and gymnastics’ Needless to say she had the time of her life!
Initially I was slightly apprehensive about her being taken out of the hotel and was reassured that this was a natural concern for parents, but safety is something Scott Dunn prides themselves on, alongside adventure, with fantastic staff-to-child ratios and diligent team members. Leaving your child somewhere new at any age can leave you feeling uneasy on the first day, but within minutes, I was completely reassured. That peace of mind buys you the time you deserve to switch off knowing your mini humans are exactly where they should be, and having a ball. The club also has its own ‘merch’ which Auraelia loved (and wore everyday)! This included her own backpack, water bottle and bucket hat which she personalised with all the stickers from the Explorers Club.
Mat & I used the time to work, workout at the incredible BXR gym and have a moment, just the two of us.
Fresh air is medicine for everything [and everyone]
I’ve yet to meet a child, of any age, who doesn’t benefit from being outdoors.
Getting out of your hotel room before breakfast, even just for a 5 minute walk before you sit down for food can transform how you feel after a night of interrupted sleep! Fresh air, movement and a bit of adventure seem to work wonders for little moods (and big moods).
Scott Dunn are particularly brilliant at incorporating outdoor play into their programmes. Think nature walks, beach adventures, treasure hunts and shaded outdoor activities that allow children to explore safely without overheating.
All of Auraelia’s happiest moments on holiday were outside and unsurprisingly she wanted to revisit the beautiful spots she’d been to with the Explorers Club.
Try and keep at least *some* of your normal routine
Look, every family is different, but I’ve found that keeping some degree of familiarity and routine in an unfamiliar place really helps Auraelia (and Mat & I) when travelling.
Holidays naturally involve later nights, different surroundings and often different time zones. You want escapism from real life, but maintaining a few key anchors can help children settle much more quickly.
One thing I particularly love about Scott Dunn’s Explorers Clubs is how carefully they work around family routines. The pre-trip documentation allows parents to share sleep schedules, feeding preferences and individual needs so everything feels consistent once you arrive. Dedicated sleep rooms also mean little ones can nap comfortably during the day, rather than becoming overtired and overstimulated.
It’s not a detail to be overlooked, and can make a huge difference to everyone’s holiday.
A spa is your ‘kids club’
Travelling with children is glorious, wonderful, memory-making, but it’s also exhausting. Far from simply a luxury, the spa is a space for your brain and body to breathe.
Whether it’s a massage, a swim without toys or simply sitting somewhere peaceful without anyone saying ‘I’m hungry mummy’. Having a haven to recharge can completely reset your energy levels so you’re a more present parent.
I truly believe every family holiday absolutely *has* to include one moment a day where the parents are looked after. KĒPOS by Goco spa really rises to the brief, with the most incredible treatments (the signature massages using local herb oils are heavenly) and facilities (Mat loved the sauna, steam room, thermal bath circuit).
Room layouts matter more than you think
Before becoming a parent, I barely paid attention to hotel room layouts. I just wanted a bed that felt like a cloud and a bath I could really sink into, that’s all I needed! However, it’s now up there on the priority list before booking a family holiday.
A separate sleeping area for a cot or a bed can completely transform your evenings. Instead of sitting silently in the dark from 7pm onwards, you can actually enjoy your holiday post bedtime. This also applies for sunbathing space during afternoon naps with tinies. Mat and I took our books out on the terrace to read after ordering room service one night while Aurelia was sleeping in the room, and it was heaven. No whispering or tip-toeing around.
The little details matter too. Blackout curtains, baby monitors, bath facilities and practical family-friendly layouts all make for a smoother stay. Daios Cove even stocked the fridge with child-friendly goodies, such as juices, and fresh local fruit kept any afternoon hunger pangs at bay (between the delicious poolside gelato).
Get all the help the hotel offers
Parenting is hard enough without trying to be your own travel agent too – figuring out all the opening and closing times, and what is suitable for your children’s ages. Our stay at Daios Cove taught me to accept every bit of help available.
Before we’d even packed our suitcases, Scott Dunn’s family travel specialists had helped organise all the practical details that make travelling with children so much easier. But what really surprised me was that the support didn’t stop once we arrived.
From day one of your holiday, Scott Dunn guests have their own dedicated ‘Guest Relations Manager’ and ours was the wonderful Melania. She welcomed us to the hotel when we arrived, answered our questions on Whatsapp and helped with dinner bookings. It’s one of those details you don’t realise you’ll appreciate or need until you’ve arrived. And you’re constantly thinking how much time you’ve saved with their insider knowledge versus you trying to figure out the best times and family-appropriate eating spots throughout the week.
As parents we’re often so accustomed to carrying the invisible mental load but Melania took some of that weight off of us which meant we could enjoy the holiday even more.
So as I scroll through my camera roll, I’ve realised none of the photos truly capture Daios Cove, because the best part of the holiday wasn’t how it looked but how we felt while we were there. It’s those intangible luxuries that free up arms and overspun brains, allowing you the pure magic of undisturbed family time, time as a couple to reconnect, and just time to yourself to recharge.
To Book Your Stay at Daios Cove head to: scottdunn.com
Code: “MINI_EDITION26” when enquiring via the Scott Dunn website or by phone.
Offer: £500 flight credit plus a complimentary spa treatment per couple (T&Cs apply).
Book by 31st July
READ NEXT: Mini Review: Daios Cove Resort, Crete With Scott Dunn
