Kids Love Greece is already 12 years old and is the beloved “child” of three moms, Katerina, Maria T and Maria G, who all love traveling and are passionate about their country, Greece.
The idea started when, over the years, the two Marias and Katerina were approached by other parents – friends, colleagues, and relatives who live abroad – asking them questions like:
In 2014, the Kids Love Greece website was launched as a family travel portal, offering independent advice on where to go and what to do in Greece with kids.
In 2016, Kids Love Greece became the first US-based travel agency focusing exclusively on family vacations to Greece and has helped 5,000+ families create amazing family memories in Greece.
Our mission is simple but powerful: “To inspire families to explore Greece and create amazing family memories together.” Read here what each co-founder has to say about the importance of family travel to Greece:
“Creating family memories through travel is one of the best ways you can bring your family together. There is something magical about those travel memories; they last much longer than the trip… they are memories that last forever.” – Katerina Makatouni
“There’s nothing more precious than spending quality time with the kids. Creating family memories is more powerful than any gift one could ever get them.”– Maria Tsigoni
“We keep reading about the importance of spending on experiences rather than on things. I definitely think that a trip to Greece is more powerful than any material gift.”– Maria Giannouli
Kids Love Greece is very different than other travel companies that offer travel to Greece. Why?
Each itinerary is unique because each family is unique.
Maria Giannouli is glued to Crete in body and in mind and believes that Crete is the best place on earth (secretly, the majority of the team agrees)! She has only spent a year away from Crete, for her MSc studies in Tourism Management at Surrey University. She is the tourism queen of the team as she has gained invaluable experience in the hotel and tourism industry for almost twenty years. Maria G is the head of the operations team and is passionate about helping our clients make amazing family memories while in Greece! Read our client reviews and you will immediate understand why our clients love her!
Katerina Makatouni was born and raised in Crete. She studied Political Science and European Studies in Athens and then went to the UK for her Masters and Doctorate degrees. She stayed in England for 15 years, where she worked for market research and consulting companies. During the last 18 years, she has been living on the other side of the pond… Chicago at first and now Boston. She is the co-founder of Kairos Consumers, a consumer research agency. She has two girls who proudly say that they are Greeks and spend their summer holidays always in Crete.
Maria Tsigoni is the smiliest member of the team! She has a 15 year old boy and a 13 year old adorable girl so she keeps reminding all of us how it feels to go on holiday with younger kids. Maria studied Business Administration at Athens University of Economics followed by a Masters in the UK. She then returned to her hometown of Heraklion, where she worked at Coca Cola HBC in the field of Trade Marketing. For several years she worked with Euromonitor International and Kairos Consumers as a consulting analyst for Greece. Maria loves designing new tours for younger kids (7 and 10) and the biggest reward of her hard work is to see kids and parents spending quality time together.
Maria Chnaraki is a professor and an accomplished scholar in the fields of Anthropology, Folklore and Ethnomusicology. Maria’s passion is… Crete, its cultural identity expressions, traditions and customs. She strongly believes that Cretans are “unique”! It's no wonder why she decided to move to Crete after an extended period of living abroad for work and study purposes. Maria C founded a study abroad program in Crete, that's her ideal classroom .. with no walls! Maria is mom to an adorable, 13 year old boy born in the US, who loves anything Greek!
With a degree in History and Archaeology from the University of Thessaloniki and a Master’s in Osteoarchaeology from the University of York, UK, Zoe brings a deep understanding of Greece’s history and culture to every family adventure. Since 2022, she has been part of the Kids Love Greece team, helping families plan and organize meaningful trips across Greece. As a mother of a boy herself, she understands how important it is to create experiences that are enjoyable, engaging, and suited to both children and parents.
Born and raised in Heraklion, Crete, Maria combines her firsthand knowledge of the island with an international perspective gained during her years living and studying in the UK, where she focused on History and Archaeology. Her passion for travel led her into the hospitality industry, where she has spent nine years helping travelers create memorable holidays. Since joining Kids Love Greece in 2023, Maria has been helping families plan their Greek adventures, bringing a personal touch, excellent customer care, and a keen eye for detail to every trip.
A mother of two grown-up children, Katerina has spent much of her life traveling with her family. She understands what makes a family trip truly special, from the little details that help parents feel at ease to the unforgettable experiences everyone shares along the way. Before joining Kids Love Greece in 2024, Katerina spent 25 years as Commercial Department Director at Patris newspaper, where she gained extensive experience in customer service, sales, and financial management. Today, she brings that experience and her love of travel to helping families discover Greece through memorable, tailor-made experiences.
Athina brings a fresh perspective and a people-centered approach to the Kids Love Greece team. As the youngest member of the team, she has a natural understanding of what appeals to teenagers, their interests, and the kinds of experiences that make a family trip truly enjoyable for them. She loves finding creative ways to bring together the needs and expectations of different generations, helping families discover the perfect balance of fun, adventure, and cultural exploration. Her goal is to make every family's journey through Greece as enjoyable, memorable, and seamless as possible.
With a background in Archaeology and an MA in Buildings Archaeology from the University of York, UK, Nick brings together a passion for history, creativity, and a love for storytelling. His academic journey helped shape his research skills, creative thinking, and strong command of the English language. A full-time freelance writer and SEO specialist since 2019, Nick joined Kids Love Greece in 2020 as an article writer. Over the years, he has grown into an editorial and strategic role, now overseeing SEO and managing the team's written and visual content. As a father himself, he understands the importance of creating useful, engaging content that speaks to families and helps parents plan meaningful experiences in Greece.
