Would you pay 8K for this?

[treatsortreating]

All inclusive for a week in Greece.

I have fallen in love with the place, love the muted tones.

But is any all inclusive holiday for 7 nights worth £8,000? For 2 adults and 2 DC

I spend around £3k and find the places I go are really nice. Would it really be worth the extra £5k?

I don't have that kind of money, anyway but genuinely interested to see if that type of place is worth it when you can go someone very nice for 2-3K

Nah. Apparently Ikos hotels are exceptional but I'm not really bothered about the hotel itself. It's just a place to rest my head.

For comparison I am going to Florida next week and have booked a 4* Sheraton villa + BA direct flights + Universal + Disney + Discovery Cove tickets + hire car = £9,000 for 4 of us. £8k is not good value for money for what you are getting*

But you'll easily spend at least another £2000 on spending money I'd have thought unless you're massively budgeting, the £8k will be largely inclusive. Though I don't disagree with your point, I'd rather spend a bit more and do a lot more.

Oh a friend of mine was talking about IKOS, she's going for a big birthday (same one, Corfu), and mentioned the Teslas's etc. I'm not a fan of AI, I like eating out in different places, but having looked at that link, it does seem rather special. I'd give it a try if I had £8K hanging about.

And that comparison with Florida in a Sheraton has no appeal at all to me.

Nah. Apparently Ikos hotels are exceptional but I'm not really bothered about the hotel itself. It's just a place to rest my head

Same (ish). We tend to go for 'nice' with great facilities - but not 'posh' which adds another few £k on.

We've paid £5500k for Greece this August - but that's 10 nights AI for a family of 5, 4*. Two bedrooms, living room, two balconies, full waterpark and 4 pools, good entertainment and excellent flight times. Also includes parking, transfers, baggage and seat booking.

I think we've got quite a lot for our money, prices being what they are this year- but even so, I thought £5.5k was a bit painful. Dh would have passed out on the spot if I suggested an £8k+ 😂

It is if you are going for that level of luxury.

You aren’t comparing like for like. The Ikos hotels don’t have the option to go for anything other than AI which means apart from the spa you don’t spend another penny. They also have arrangements with local restaurants where you can eat in them as part of your AI

What you’ve paid for Florida is good value for Florida but it’s not like for like. I wouldn’t spend £8k for Disney as for me that’s not a fun holiday.

It includes local restaurants so you can eat out and you don’t pay anything. They have arrangements with them. Some of the ones in Dassia aren’t bad. If you want to go to Corfu town they have a free boat to take you there and it’s lovely there

God no, ghastly. I’m married to a Greek and we’d rent an early 20th c. villa with staff, a crewed launch for islet hopping, and isolated idyllic setting for that! Concrete boxes with no history nor soul cheek by jowl to one another <shudder>

My thoughts exactly

Nah. Apparently Ikos hotels are exceptional but I'm not really bothered about the hotel itself. It's just a place to rest my head

It's really not just a place to rest your head. You're paying for the experience, the service, the restaurant menus by Michelin starred chefs, the 24hr room service, the fully stocked minibar with anything your heart desires (including champagne), the extensive wine list, the ability to request anything you want via WhatsApp, the drinks service to your sunbed, etc etc. If that's not your kind of holiday then fair enough, but it's not just a place to rest your head. It's total relaxation and luxury.

(No, I don't work for Ikos. But I've stayed at several of their hotels and they are phenomenal).

DH and I have paid more than that for 5 nights on an island before. We also paid around the same for a couple of other holidays.
I see a few people saying they wouldn't pay it for a TUI holiday, but I can't see how that makes a difference. We were going to Mauritius a few years ago, and got quotes of €11k from one tour operator, €9k from another, and €5k from TUI - for the exact same hotel and flights.

I knew it would be an Ikos! I'd love to go to one, but they are £££!

good god no, not even at £800.

Doesn't seem like something I would give this amount of money for. Not with plenty of beautiful and more affordable options in Greece. Especially if you pick low profile islands.

It's total relaxation and luxury.

with kids it’s not.

worse… other people’s kids

its just a resort.

There are adults only areas and pools if you don't want to be near kids. But if it's not your thing, that's fair enough.

Damned right… I’m with you @LefkaOri

… on the launch just around the corner of the next bay 🤣

I have been to an Ikos resort before the DC were at school, so off-peak. It was really lovely. The food was exceptional, as was the drink. The kids clubs also exceptional. The customer service was amazing - they had worked out that if they looked after the DC, the parents could relax. Pools were fab.
The hotel rooms were nice / ok / pleasant / fine / been in better.

@LefkaOri

In school holidays? With flights?
If so, please share the details, I would love to know.

No, but I’m not really interested in resorts and fancy service which caters to my every whim, largely because my whims are few and I wouldn’t get the benefit. I’m more of a countryside cycling, running, visiting hidden bars and eating local produce on the beach type when on holiday. We have friends who go to Ikos and they really rate them, but they love top-notch service and being waited on hand and foot, which I just find obsequious and irritating.

Oooh we're going there for my husbands 60th in October. Cost £3,000 for the 2 of us. Looks amazing doesn't it.

Ah, Ikos. For me, it’s a No thanks. When holidaying in Greece, I want to potter round a little village and see some sights, I don’t need height of luxury or to be waited on hand and foot. In fact we are going to Greece in June for €90 per night in a perfect beachfront place and I reckon the daily food bill will be similar.
I am spending more than £8k on a long haul luxury cruise in the winter however, that’s worth it to me.

I know a couple of people who’ve been- one an older couple and one a young family

both were absolutely raving about it. older couple appreciated the luxury vibes - the space, different onsite areas, the huge array of choice etc and loved it being all inclusive plus.

younger family loved the hotels “can do” attitude, excellent quality childcare, and the safety of being in a large, expansive safe resort for the kids. and they loved feeling everything was ‘included’ and no hidden fees. they took the car to explore, used the buggies to get around the resort etc and felt at peace - which is hard with young kids

older couple are now too old to travel and younger family don’t want to put all their holiday eggs in one expensive basket, and would rather go cheaper more often. with older kids they don’t mind the ‘downgrade’ as much

everynow and then I get tempted with ikos and start counting my pennies!!! I do think you get a lot extra, i don’t know if that’s worth it for you.

but lots of people sneering at it really don’t know what the extra thousands get you. I did a cheap “all inclusive “ last year and it felt both cheap and not inclusive

Ive heard ikos/sani are amazing, are the kids' clubs similar to nielson? I would pay ££ if the dc were doing things like sailing courses. If it's just the standard stuff probably not.

I do love greece and have paid a fair bit before as we cant really take time off for xmas hols, nice hotels should have enough sunbeds to not have to scramble imo. If i could ake any school hol off I would prefer to spend ££ on going to SE Asia which is my 💙

I’d spend that for me and dd on a 3 week tour with intrepid.
i’d not even pay £500 for a holiday like the tui one ! AI resorts make me shudder. And what on earth will you do all day? I love swimming and reading, but I can do that at home.
no point asking us OP you do you.