Which Greek island is right for you?

So, where in Greece should you actually go?

This is where Greece gets interesting.

Two people can both tell me they want a Greek holiday and be imagining completely different things.

One wants a gorgeous hotel where they can barely move from the pool for a week. Someone else wants a little town they can wander into every evening. A family might want a great beach, plenty for the children and an easy holiday. A couple might want beautiful restaurants, somewhere to explore and a hotel that feels a bit special.

And that's before we've even talked about budget.

So rather than asking which Greek island is the best, I'd start with what you want your holiday to look like once you're there.

Corfu: for greenery, pretty towns and plenty to explore

If your picture of Greece is all dry landscapes and whitewashed buildings, Corfu might surprise you.

It's one of the lush Ionian islands, so you'll find green hillsides, olive groves, little coves and some beautiful stretches of coastline. Corfu Town adds something completely different again, with its Venetian influence, old fortresses, narrow streets and lovely places to stop for dinner or a drink.

It's an island I can see working for lots of different people because the experience changes depending on where you stay.

There are family-friendly beach resorts, quieter areas for couples, lovely hotels and places where you can get out and explore rather than spending the entire week within the resort.

I'd look at Corfu if you want a classic Greek summer holiday but still like having more than the hotel on your doorstep.

And this is a good example of why I'd never simply say “Corfu is right for you” and leave it there. Where you stay on Corfu matters just as much as choosing the island itself.

Crete: for almost everything

Crete is enormous compared with many of the Greek islands people tend to consider for a summer holiday.

Which is both brilliant and slightly dangerous when you're looking online, because saying “I've found a lovely hotel in Crete” doesn't really tell me enough!

Where is it?

Chania in the west gives you its gorgeous Venetian harbour and old town, with some spectacular beaches and landscapes around the wider region. Rethymno combines a historic old town with a long beach and plenty of restaurants and cafés, while eastern Crete brings places such as Agios Nikolaos and Elounda into the mix.

And that's only scratching the surface.

Crete can work for families who want a great resort, couples looking for something more luxurious, people who want to hire a car and explore, or someone who wants good food, beaches and somewhere lovely to wander in the evening.

It's probably the island on this list where I'd be least comfortable recommending a hotel without knowing exactly what you want from the holiday first.

A gorgeous hotel in completely the wrong part of Crete is still the wrong hotel.

Rhodes: for beaches with plenty to see beyond them

Rhodes is another really good all-rounder.

You can absolutely go for a straightforward beach holiday, but you've also got Rhodes Old Town, Lindos, villages, archaeological sites and a surprisingly varied landscape to explore. The medieval city of Rhodes is UNESCO-listed, and the island has more than 250km of coastline with beaches ranging from quieter sheltered spots to livelier areas.

So I'd particularly look at Rhodes for somebody who knows they'll want days around the pool or on the beach, but doesn't want that to be the whole holiday.

It works for families, couples and different budgets too.

Again, though, the resort matters.

Staying close to Rhodes Town will give you a very different holiday from staying around Lindos or choosing one of the quieter coastal areas.

This is why I like knowing what you'll actually do in the evening as much as what kind of hotel you want.

If being able to walk out after dinner and have somewhere to wander matters to you, tell me. It can completely change where I'd look.

Kos: for an easy-going Greek holiday

Kos is one I'd look at if you want that lovely balance between relaxing and still having things to do.

There are beaches, resorts, historical sites and Kos Town, but one of the things that makes the island a little different is how easy it is to explore by bike. Cycling is genuinely part of life there, with an extensive network of cycle routes as well as more adventurous routes further inland.

That doesn't mean I'm going to send you cycling around Kos unless that's your idea of fun!

It's more that the island has an easy-going feel that can work really well when you don't want every day to involve a major sightseeing expedition.

I like Kos for couples and families who want a good hotel and plenty of downtime but still want the option of getting out and seeing somewhere different.

Kefalonia: for scenery and a slightly slower pace

Kefalonia feels different again.

It's the largest of the Ionian islands and has that gorgeous combination of mountains, green landscapes, little villages, turquoise water and dramatic beaches that this side of Greece does so well. Myrtos Beach is probably the image most people recognise, but you've also got places such as Melissani Lake, Mount Ainos and plenty of coastline to explore.

This is one I'd look at for someone who wants beautiful scenery and doesn't necessarily need loads of nightlife or a packed itinerary.

Hire a car, find little places for lunch, explore the beaches, stop somewhere because it looks lovely.

That's much more the feel.

It can be gorgeous for couples, but I wouldn't automatically rule it out for families either. As with all of these islands, it's about matching the area and hotel to the people actually travelling.

If your perfect Greek holiday sounds peaceful rather than packed, Kefalonia would definitely be on my shortlist.

Santorini: for something completely different

Santorini is probably the one I'd treat differently from the others.

If your number-one requirement is a classic sandy beach holiday, it wouldn't automatically be my first suggestion.

That's not really what makes Santorini special.

You're going for the caldera views, the whitewashed villages built into the volcanic landscape, Oia and Fira, the sunsets, restaurants and that unmistakable scenery. Its volcanic history also means the beaches are different, with black and red sands rather than the long golden stretches you might be picturing elsewhere in Greece.

For a honeymoon, anniversary, birthday or a few nights somewhere that feels really special, it can be fantastic.

And this is where I'd think carefully about the hotel too.

If you're paying for Santorini, I'd want to know what matters to you. Is it the view? A private pool? Somewhere quieter? Being able to walk into restaurants? Are you happy with steps?

Those details can make a massive difference here.

I'd also happily combine Santorini with another Greek island rather than assuming it has to be your entire holiday.

What about Mykonos, Zakynthos and the others?

They're not missing because I don't recommend them.

Greece has far too many islands to sensibly squeeze into one article, and plenty of the others might be exactly right depending on what you're looking for.

Zakynthos can give you everything from lively resorts to protected marine areas associated with loggerhead turtles, while islands such as Lefkada offer spectacular beaches and watersports. There are also much smaller islands for people who actively want somewhere quieter and less developed.

And Mykonos can absolutely be the answer if what you want is the Mykonos experience.

That's really the point.

I wouldn't choose your island because somebody declared it the “best Greek island” online.

I'd choose it because it gives you the holiday you're looking for.

The island is only the beginning

This is probably the most important bit.

Choosing Crete doesn't choose your holiday.

Neither does Rhodes, Corfu or Kos.

The area you stay in, the beach, the hotel, room type, board basis, transfer and what's actually around you can make two holidays on exactly the same island feel completely different.

Someone might tell me they want Greece and all-inclusive.

Someone else might say they want a small hotel and tavernas within walking distance.

A family might need a great kids' club and a sandy beach.

A couple might care far more about having somewhere lovely to go for dinner every evening.

None of those people should necessarily end up in the same place.

So which Greek island would I choose for you?

That's the bit I'd rather work out from what you tell me than give you a blanket answer.

You don't need to come to me knowing whether you want Corfu, Crete or somewhere you've never even considered.

Tell me who is travelling, your dates and budget, what you normally love on holiday and the things that really matter this time.

You can even tell me what you don't want.

From there, I can narrow down the island, the area and the hotels that actually fit, and explain why I'd choose them.

Danielle x