Stalis, Crete.
Two water parks nearby (reachable by taxi), great beach, busy enough without being OTT, lots of restaurants.
We were there last year with two 13 year olds, an 8 year old and a 6 yeasr old. They all say it's the best holiday they've ever had.

Beach in Tsilivi is rubbish,

have you considered Cyprus, Protaras would fit the bill, just come back from my 8th visit, beaches are superb. Restarants fab, people friendly, and enough for the kids to do.

Nicer beach than Tsilivi at Alykes (sweeping 3 km of it), but then staying there might not fulfil all your other requirements. It's a fine sandy beach though, and you could always drive to it easily if you prefer to stay in Tsilivi
http://www.zakynthos.ws/alykes.zakynthos.php
http://www.greekisland.co.uk/zante/zante.htm

Have a look at Sidari, Corfu, then there is Ayia Napa, Cyprus. Les.

Rhodes has some lovely beaches and quite a lot of activities for the children but a long time since I have been, not sure on water parks most of the best ones I have heard about are in Spain, My favorite Island is Kefalonia, not sure for children but there are some lovely beaches also Skiathos has some of the best ones but not a lot os other things,
pojo

Hello and thank you for all your interesting and helful comments.
Rigler64... I shall certainly investigate Stallis, a place I had not considered, but knowing it has a good beach and waterparks nearby sound promising.
iallen...thanks for reaffirming my concern about tsilivi beach. you are spot on with suggesting Protaras...we went there two years ago and it was the best family holiday we had ever had had and made me yearn for for greece even more. We may yet end up going back there if I can't find the right resort and accomodation.
Phoebe...Alykes was my first idea for a Greek holiday... or kalamaki... but I fear it may be a bit too quiet, and I always feel nervous when hubby is driving on the other side of the road, but I'm not confident enough to drive myself.
cruisecontroller...thank you for Sidari, that is worth another look. That was my last holiday to Greece 12 years ago, but somehow I wasn't too struck (other holidays to kassiopi and kalami), but it could be a compromise to appeal to the children. I just remember thinking the beach was a bit muddy? I feel Aya Napa would be too lively with all the young people at night in July/August.
Pojo... Missed Kefalonia out of my list of previous holidays (Argostoli), but not really sure about beach/waterpark. Unfortunately waterpark is a priority for the kids. Skiathos I don't know too much about, but will have another look.
Thanks again for all the interest...and anyone else who may have a suggestion please let me know what you think. Through this discussion forum I have always managed to get previous holidays spot on so I appreciate all the help. Nikki

to be honest the beach at tsilivi is not that bad there certainly are worse and if you enjoyed protaras then rule out a lot of greece as it is one of the most british resorts ive been to altho it is family orientated and the beaches are superb but greek it isnt

Thank you for your comment. My point was that Protaras whetted my appetite to get back to Greece... it was certainly more Greek than it has been the past 12 years in Spain... kleftiko, stifado, a friendly welcome wherever you went etc.
Unfortunately I have to choose a compromise because it is a holiday for the whole family, not just me, so I have to choose the right place. I want the kids to come home saying..Greece is fab, can we go there again next year?
If someone could tell me what the beach at the Planos Bay apartments is like it could solve a dilemma. It seems the apartments are a long way out of Tsilivi itself, but if there is a decent beach on the doorstep that would not matter.
Alternatively I am looking at Stalis in Crete.

Hi Nikki64,
We have been to Protaras 8 times including this year, we have also been to Kafelonia but i dont think there is a water park. We drove through Ayia Napa to a wonderful beach called Macaronnis, i have been to many places, Caribeean, Canaries, greece, but we always seem to go back to Cyprus. Yes i know Protaras is getting commercialised, but Fig Tree Bay is superb, and i havent seen many places to rival it shorthaul.

UNFORTUNATELY Cyprus is not a part of greece.... if you wish to discuss it possible merits please do so in the Cyprus Forum

wizard

I don't think you can go wrong with Stalis as already suggested. I was there in September and had a cracking time. Great beach, plenty of nice restaurants and a choice of lively and quiet bars. Noticed a couple of kids arcades, theres plenty of watersports, a little train that runs around the resort, good choice of day trips.

Steve

Thanks everyone for your comments, I thought I had better let you know what I decided and close this thread.
I feel a bit of a traitor but you know in the end I have booked to go back to Protaras... Sorry, but I found a very good deal with kids entertainment at the Vangelis apartments near to Fig Tree Bay, cheaper than the options I was looking at in Zante.
I was extremely tempted by Stalis in Crete, and I know that is where we will be going in the future when the kids are a bit older. Thanks for all your input. Nikki