WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

I would like to take my 11-year- old daughter to one of the Greek islands. As a single father (my wife died three years ago) we are struggling to find somewhere that meets our needs. I would like to relax and explore Greek culture; my daughter needs to be kept interested and active. She loves water-based activities and is captivated by ITV’s The Durrells. We normally like the independence of self-catering but are open to other ideas.

STUART BENNETT

Dear Stuart

The most sociable option is to book a club-style watersports holiday aimed at families. Neilson Holidays (0330 057 4229; neilson.co.uk) has six beach clubs in Greece offering water- and land-based activities. A high-season week costs from £2,500 B&B including flights for parent and child sharing. The details of reciprocal health arrangements with other EU countries post-Brexit are not yet confirmed, though it looks likely that a deal with be done. But until we leave the EU at the end of March next year, UK citizens will still be entitled to free or reduced-cost medical treatment in other member states. You need an EHIC card to prove that entitlement, however. If you don’t have a valid card it should be ordered at least seven days in advance of travel from the official website (ehic.org.uk) – this is a free service, so beware of unofficial sites which do try to make a charge. If you leave it too late and have to travel before your EHIC arrives and you then need medical treatment, a Provisional Replacement Certificate can be issued to prove your entitlement to the EHIC scheme – the number to call in that situation is 0191 218 1999. Full details are on the website. Mark Warner Holidays (0333 414 9504; markwarner.co.uk) is more upmarket with a Kidz club for 10 to 13-year-olds. Its beach clubs offer tutored watersports and activities for six hours a day. A high-season week costs from £3,200 half board for the two of you including flights.

A more flexible option is The Peligoni Club (02098 740 3001; peligoni.com) on Zakynthos. Choose your B&B or villa (a high-season week from £590 B&B for two sharing) and pay for the club on top. A week costs £315 for an adult and £210 for child of 12 to use its private facilities (pool, restaurant, spa and some activities); no drop-ins allowed. There’s a watersports add-on (£245) for your daughter.

If this is too organised, consider booking an apartment or B&B in Kalami on the north-east coast of Corfu where the Durrells lived. Local agent Blue Bay Travel (kalamicorfu. com) can arrange transfers, accommodation (a basic one-bedroom apartment costs £500 a week), boat hire, some watersports, pony trekking and excursions to water parks and boat trips to other islands.

Fail to plan and you will end up paying more and risk being separated from your group