When my sister said she was getting married in Greece, we were so excited to have a reason to travel internationally. Between COVID and being outnumbered 2 babies to each parent, we had not been abroad since Jamaica with 3 under 3. When the planning started, it did get a little stressful. After all the travel and lodge was booked, we decided to book our babysitter as an extra pair of hands. My sister’s bachelorette party was going to be in Mykonos before her wedding in Athens with a few days to spare in between. Traveling with kids doesn’t always feel like a vacation but Greece ended up being one of our favorite trips! Here is a little bit about each destination, our agenda with 4 littles ones and a list of what worked for us during travel.

We started our vacation flying on Zuri'‘s 1st birthday. The fact that her middle name is Athena, which means the Greek goddess of wisdom and justice was downright serendipitous. She spent her first day as a one-year old in Mykonos and just like her, it was absolutely beautiful. The contrast between the bright white buildings and the shimmering cobalt blue of the Aegean sea was magnificent. We booked a villa at Eden View Suites with a plunge pool overlooking a cove close enough to my sister’s hotel so I could walk back and forth. I knew I would be busy celebrating my sister for 4 days so when I found out there were no restaurants on site, I couldn’t help but think about my husband bringing the kids out to eat for 3 meals each day. That would not be considered a vacation. The best decision I made when I planned our time in Mykonos was find a private chef. I know this sounds bougie, but Mykonos is expensive so when I did the math, the cost of a chef and the cost of round-trip transportation in a minibus for our crew for 3 meals was equivalent. The convenience of a chef showing up to cook at least 2 meals was priceless. We got to watch him cook and let the kids run around until the meal was ready. He paid attention to the kids and their preferences and made kid-friendly Greek dishes fresh every day and filled our fridge with leftovers. The leftovers were great if one was napping during a meal or woke up super early before the chef arrived. We reserved a boat for a simple half day out at sea. We wanted something simple after a long day of travel and the onset of jet-lag. We could all easily nap or relax with a cocktail or take a dip as we listened to the captain point out islands and steered us through paradise. My husband spent the one day taking them to a small, quiet beach skipping rocks and chasing lizards and another day strolling through Mykonos Town to indulge on ice cream, take in the charm and see the Windmills.

After the bachelorette party, the guests split up for a few days before reuniting in Athens for the wedding festivities. As others departed to Santorini and Milos, we were headed to Paros on an express ferry. I wasn’t sure what to expect on the ferry rides so I wanted an island not too far from our current and next destination to limit our travel and optimize our enjoyment. Between the party vibes on Mykonos and the city rush of Athens, I wanted something that ran on a true island pace. Paros was perfect for that. It was chill and cozy. Our place at Blue Mare Villa felt cozy as the family that owned the resort met us at our place to check us in. There was a breeze that came off the water over the grassy landscape and swung our hammock over the patio. We spent an entire day on a catamaran trip around Anti-Paros Island that offered a barbecue lunch and open bar. Zuri napped underneath the sails. Skylar and Maverick swam with us on noodles through sea caves as Naomi watched daddy dive off cliffs. Dolphins playfully zigzagged next to the catamaran between the waves. We spent the evening in Naousa to have dinner, shop at the stands, and stroll through the lovely town glowing with string lights and delight. When we left for Athens the next day, I couldn’t help but wonder what we would have discovered if we had another day in Paros.

Athens was totally different from Mykonos and Paros but very similar to a city in the US. It was a big, busy city with Greek ruins sprinkled amongst traffic and high buildings. We stayed in a real hotel room connected to our babysitter’s room. It took about 10 minutes before the floor was no long visible between the strollers, the suitcases and the mess. There’s something about the bustling of any city that energizes me. We had wedding-related engagements at night but we explored during the day. We went to see the Acropolis on a private tour so we could leisurely listen and walk with the kids since strollers were not allowed. From the Acropolis, we walked back to the hotel. Walking is the best way to explore a new city. We stopped for a light meal, picked fresh fruit at the market and passed by more ruins on our way back to the hotel. After nap, we walked through the city again to find a playground nearby. Our last stop in Athens after the wedding and before returning home was Cape Sounion to see Temple of Poseidon. It was over an hour from Athens, just for the sunset and I almost cancelled it feeling like perhaps I was trying to squeeze in too much before having to pack up to fly the next morning. The kids were exhausted after a late night at the wedding and most the day at the beach. It was a rocky ride for the strollers and the edges were steep, but when we got there the view was breathtaking and the temple was unreal. The kids waved goodnight to the sun as it slipped down behind the mountains and waved hello to the crescent moon above the ruins. It was the perfect ending to our first international trip as a family of 6.

It was no surprise that my husband and I were worn out when we finally got home after an 11-hour flight to NYC and 2-hour drive home, not to mention the 1-hour transfer to Athens from our hotel to arrive 3 hours before our departure and a ridiculous customs line at JFK. Greece felt like a true getaway and we proved to ourselves that we could travel with 4 children ages 4, 3, 2, 1 with some help and it could be very enjoyable. We were already talking about our next destination. International travel, regardless of where, is important for us. Something about being in a new environment surrounded by accents and culture with minimal consideration of their usual routine sparks growth. Our kids tried new fruits and cuisine, learned how to say thank you in Greek, splashed in the Aegean Sea, touched ruins that once housed Gods and Goddesses, and so much more. I firmly believe these experiences catalyze synapses in their brain regardless of their age and opens up a part of their thought processes and creativity that would otherwise never exist. They may not be able to recall one memory from Greece years from now, but those synapses are manifesting themselves in ways that I cannot provide in the comfort of our lives in Pennsylvania. It’s a lot like magic.

Travel tips that worked for us:

• Portable easy seat high chair: Cloth that covers any chair with a harness and straps to turn it into a high chair.

• Ergo 360 baby carrier: Keeps your hands free for luggage and the other kids.

• GB pockit stroller: Collapses small enough to fit into overhead so you don’t waste time waiting for the gate check.

• Airplane seat extenders: Allows them to lay down rather than laying their legs across seats.

• Preloaded Fire tablets with headphones. We forget about screen time limitations during the flights.

• Organized packing by destination so we didn’t have to unpack everything in each spot: For example, open the bag with clothes for Mykonos and leave the rest closed.

• If it’s a long flight, we opt for a layover so they can stretch their legs and get some energy out. Our return flight was direct and we won’t do that again.

• We don’t board early even if we have the option. They don’t like to sit still and boarding early adds at least an hour to that assuming take off is on time.

• Research the car seat laws especially in developed countries where it’s more likely to be reinforced. Car seats would add to the luggage dramatically so we didn’t pack any when I learned that they were only required if you rented a car.

• Fanny pack: Hands-free and secure for passports, room keys, cash, cellphone, etc.

• Pacifier wipes.

• Baby Melatonin gummies for the jet lag and adjusting to the new time zone.