WHEN it comes to planning the ultimate holiday, no one does it better than cabin crew.
With a superior knowledge of secret beachside restaurants and where to find the best weather in January, they know it all – and that includes Jet2 cabin crew Gio Michalakis who recently made his TV debut on ITV’s The Great Escapers.
If you’re still struggling to find a destination for your 2026 break, Jet2‘s Gio Michalakis says there’s no place better than his favourite Greek island, Rhodes.
Talking to Sun Travel, he said: “I know Rhodes like the back of my hand, it’s my second home.
“I go back every year, it’s where my family are from. Last year I was there for 10 days in August, and I’m planning on going back this July. If I can fit it into my work schedule, I try and visit over winter too.
“There’s a gorgeous beach restaurant in Rhodes – and when I say beach restaurant, you’re right on the rocks.
“It’s called Tambakio in the town of Lindos. It’s absolutely stunning, and great vibes whether you go in the morning for breakfast, brunch, afternoon or evening.”
The restaurant sits on the shore of St Paul’s Bay offering classic mezze dishes, fresh seafood and plenty of local wine.
Rhodes itself is the largest of the Dodecanese islands famous for its pretty UNESCO Old Town, ancient ruins and party scene in Faliraki.
The average flight time from the UK is four and a half hours with flights from £43 in June and July according to Skyscanner.
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When it comes to food and drink, the average cost of a pint is around €4 (£3.48) and a glass of local wine is around €3 (£2.61).
A meal for two can be as little as €20 (£17.39) making it much more affordable than some of its well-known neighbours like Mykonos and Santorini.
Let’s not forget the weather. While it might not be as lively with certain places closed for off-peak season, Rhodes can see highs of 18C in January.
In the months of July and August the island sees average highs of 30C.
Another Greek island that Gio recently visited was Kos.
He said: “I’d never been before and surprisingly, it was quite different from Rhodes. Although it’s still a Greek island, it’s different in its own right.
“While I was there I actually I spoke to the Jet2 rep there who was fantastic and recommended we go horse riding.
“We went across the beach as well which was a big highlight and something I wouldn’t normally do – I quite like to sit and do nothing when I go on holiday.”
Gio recently made his TV debut on ITV‘s The Great Escapers, which starred the likes of Loose Women’s Katie Piper and Denise Welch.
Four groups of celebrities competed to create the best holiday experience with unique excursions from joining in a human tower festival to racing buggies around the Algarve.
Gio was there to help and oversee it all and out of all the Jet2 Holidays excursions he helped pick out, one took the biscuit.
He revealed: “It was 100 per cent the catamaran trip that Katie Piper organised on the Costa Brava.
“It was meant to be work, but I genuinely felt l was on holiday, and I got to go along too. The Loose Women were filming on one side and I was on the other – that’s the magic of TV.
“I’d love to do it again although I’m not sure I could charter a whole boat. Maybe that’s one for a big friend holiday.”
When it comes to going on holiday, Gio said there is one easily avoidable mistake that lots of travellers make.
He said: “Don’t try out a TikTok holiday because it gives a false sense of reality – and you might not get what you want out of a break.
“Instead, speak to your Jet2 customer helper because they genuinely know the hidden gems – it’s much better than using Google search.
“They can tailor experiences to what you want and their local knowledge is fantastic.”
For the series, Gio travelled across Europe including his favourite island of Rhodes, but there was another Mediterranean destination that impressed him too.
Gio said: “I didn’t realise how much Malta had to offer.
“It’s not a place that’s been on my radar but it has a great bar scene, places to relax, it’s gorgeous.
“I think the island is suited for everyone too: couples, families, or friends’ holidays. I’d love to go back with my partner and explore the streets of Valletta properly.
“When I was filming with the celebs we were on such a tight schedule, so I’d love to go back. I passed so many hidden bars and restaurants, down the side streets – and you’re pretty much guaranteed good weather all year-round.”
Watch all episodes of The Great Escapers on ITVX.
Katie Piper reveals the ‘hidden gem’ in Spain that’s her new favourite family holiday spot…
Katie Piper ditched the gloomy UK weather for a slice of Spain alongside Sunetra Sarker and Denise Welch for The Great Escapers – and discovered a hidden gem along the way.
Katie stayed in Tossa de Mar, on the Costa Brava coast which has pretty beaches, coves and is centred around a walled medieval old town.
Katie is a mum of two, Belle, 11, and Penelope, 7, and heading to the Costa Brava has meant it’s been added to their family’s travel list.
She said: “I think I’ll go back with my girls, the kids will watch the show and go ‘it’s so unfair you got to go’. It’s affordable and accessible, you can go self-catering or stay in an Airbnb – I think we will plan a trip there.”
“I’ve been to other much more touristy Spanish places, like the Costa del Sol. The Costa Brava is a bit of a hidden gem, it’s touristy enough to take your kids out and walk on foot to restaurants.
“But it’s not lost its culture, like along the strip there’s lots of architecture like gorgeous churches, cliffs, castles – it’s not neon signs and karaoke. It’s a great place for families as well because it’s such a short flight.”
For more on Rhodes, check out what Head of Travel (Digital) Caroline McGuire made of her recent family holiday where she found Ibiza-style beach clubs.
Plus, discover the four less-popular Greek islands are set to be huge in 2026.