My DH and I are planning a one week vacation with our 1 year old child this July in either Crete (elounda) or Rhodes. We are looking for the following:
- luxury accomodation, child friendly
- beautiful beach
- close proximity to town for authentic Greek food
We have been to Mykonos (which we LOVE), Santorini and Naxos. We found Naxos town too small and quiet. So I guess we are looking for another island with the cosmopolitan and life of Mykonos.
We were looking at Elyisium (Rhodes) or Blue Palace (Elounda). Not sure which one, if any, will really satisfy what we are looking for.
Please help!

There are dozens of threads on here comparing the two. I've not been to Rhodes, but I'm sure Elounda will fit your bill

Hi,
I just came back from Rhodes and we stayed in the village Faliraki approx 20 km south of The City of Rhodes. Easy to get in to the city by bus. If you go to Rhodes I recommend to stay on the east-cost which is less windy.

There were some really nice hotels in Faliraki so I think you will be able to find good accomodation there and the beach...is just great.

I added som pics from my trip at: http://www.g8journey.com/experience/...lection&id=316

Have a good trip.

I think with a toddler you should consider the beach at the resort. It should be sandy, shallow water, not windy and no undercurrents.
I don't want to choose between Rhodes and Elounda because both offer different experiences and it depends on your interests. Elounda is only one part of Crete and so you really can't compare Rhodes to Crete in your case unless you plan on taking 2 hour drives to Rethymno or Chania or in the other direction exploring eastern Crete.
The beach where you are staying in Faliraki Rhodes is a combination of sand and shingle which is not something you may want for your one year old.
Elounda has some nice sandy beaches but the one you chose at your hotel is not something where your toddler can play in the sand near the water because it is rocky enterance. Both Faliraki and Elounda have easy access to main town by bus (both are 15min away)and you can always take a taxi cheeply.
You may want to look at St Nicolos Bay Resort in Crete which has a sandy beach on a sandy cove which protects it from the winds and shallow thus being child friendly.

Nadia - can you think of any other islands/hotels which would suit us? We really want to be close to a town like Mykonos town - a town with some life, shopping, dining, etc. I'm thinking that BP is not particularly child friendly, as you also mention, but my DH really wants to stay at a good 5*. Any other ideas?

If you are going to Rodos and you want to stay in town, I would suggest the Rodos Park Hotel. The hotel is just outside the Amboise Gate of the Old Town.

You can walk to the small beach near the "new harbour" (adjacent to Mandraki Harbour) of Rhodes Town or you can walk out to the bigger beach near the aquarium.

Thin

Lively towns like Mykonos not in Cyclades
Rhodes Town, but you may like Faliraki which has sandy beaches-Rhodes
Skiathos Town- Skiathos
Agios Nikoloas, Hania, Rethymno -Crete
Corfu Town-Corfu
Zakynthos Town -Zante
Lefkas(but the beaches close to town like Kathisma may be to windy or strong waves)
All of them are not walking distance from a 5* resort on a beach but you can find a resort type town around like Elounda is to Agios Nikoloas.
In Chania, Chrissi Akti beach is a nice for children and short ride to town.
In Skiathos, Agios Peraskevi and Koukounaries are nice beaches and have frequent buses to Skiathos Town. Troulos is like a second town and has a beach good for families.
Glyfada beach in Corfu is nice and 16km to Corfu Town.
Zakynthos beaches close to town are Kalamaki,Alykanas,Laganas.
If staying in Rhodes Town you have to give up a beach for 5* and walk to the harbour or 20 min to the nicer beaches or you could give up a star and stay somewhere like Ibiscus across from the beach and walk 10 min to the luxury stores and harbour and another 10 min to the Old Town.
If staying outside, choose a resort on Faliraki beach(the one you chose is not in the town)
Elounda has really nice beaches(just not at the resort you choose) but you can also stay in Agios Nikoloas on a pebbly beach if you don't want to bus/taxi.
Perhaps since your husband has 5* as a must you should do a search with all 5* hotels in Greece first and then look how far from the main town they are and once you narrow that down you can compare between islands.