Sani 20k and Ikos 12k for a week- REALLY!?

[mamaknowsbest12]

I really want to go to one of these resorts this year. But our budget is about £6k and they're all coming out at double that. £20k for a week in Greece just seems absurd.

We are a family of DH and I, DD (5), DS (2.5), DD (1).

I want something luxe, any time from 6/7 July onwards, a kids club, a gym, little splash pool. I am seeing nothing for less than £10k (wanting to avoid the likes of turkey, Cyprus etc).

I’m afraid those resorts are those prices at peak times - I agree, it’s bonkers money for a week or two in Greece.

Sani is a really wonderful experience, it will give you a lifetime of memories such has the outdoor theatre performances for the children in the evening after tea which has the bar at the back for the adults and the kids clubs are the best.

We went in 2018 as first and only-timers in May halfterm (cost £4k then for a 1bed seaview halfboard) and got upgraded to a 2bed 2bath seaview family suite, completely unexpected. The whole week was full of fantastic positive surprises and nothing will come close. For comparison we’ve been to Dubai, LA, CenterParcs in the UK, Bedruthan, plenty of family oriented resorts.

We recently contacted the agent we previously used for Sani as we thought about returning and wrote it off because of the quote this time….☹️ more than doubled. We’re now looking at Turkey or Spain.

I’ve been looking, and similarly stunned / put off by the prices.

Sharm el sheikh? Some great 5* resorts.

Its a shame you won’t consider Turkey as you’d get more for your money there.
For 6k you may get a 4 star hotel in Greece for the peak Summer weeks.

You won’t get luxury in Greece for that price in July. Grecotels have some good resorts for much lower cost. Not sani or ikos but really really nice

This is a great deal.

Sadly if you want an Ikos or Sani experience and level of service, those are the prices you have to pay

I was also horrified about spending honeymoon money on a family holiday to Greece, and spent 6 bloody months trying to find something else comparable but cheaper and eventually had to admit defeat - we booked Ikos Olivia which had a few good offers.

But it still stings that it is costing more than our fortnight in the Maldives pre-kids

The ikos resorts are massively overpriced imo. You can get the same experience at plenty of other hotels for 6/7/8k for a family of 5. I haven't stayed at a Sani resort but I can't imagine it worth paying double for unless budget is not an issue.

Please can you tell us the names of the comparable hotels! Would love to have more options for future years

Sani and Ikos are owned by the same company now, so the Ikos resorts have definitely come up a lot in standard recently

I wouldn't want to recommend any of the excellent 5 star hotels I've been to over the past few years as my kids are older now so I don't need daytime childcare, children's teas, babysitting etc so can't be sure that would be covered as I wouldn't have looked into it. The quality and service have been equal to IKOS though, and sometimes better. Perhaps you do have to pay 12-20K for the 'young children' extras now but I wouldn't as I think most 5 star hotels offer kids clubs and you can go a lot further than Greece for that money (though of course, not always desirable with young kids).

When you have young children and at least one is at school, like Centerparcs, they've got you over a barrel and profiteer as a result. I expect a price increase associated with supply and demand, in the school holidays, of course. But some chains take the piss in my opinion. I know 2 famillies that went to IKOS resorts this summer. One went in the summer holidays and paid 16K for 4. The other went the first week after the schools had gone back in September and paid 2.5K! Same accommodation. That's too much of a piss take for me (but as I say, I have more options as kids older).

For what it’s worth when mine were that age we went to really nice accommodation on lovely campsites such as marina de Venezia or serignan plage. The childrens entertainment, facilities and clubs are imo better than ikos and you save a hell of a lot of money you can use on a luxury short break.

I never saw the point in spending on luxury at that stage. How we have teens we push it further and go further afield and more pricey resorts /villas

@SmartWatch this was the problem I was having..!
everyone said ‘that’s way too much for a fortnight in Greece, we’ve stayed at amazing places for a fraction of it’
But when pressed, no one would/could give us the name of anything that was comparable and ticked all the boxes.
The closest we got that could offer private pool, kids club, decent restaurants and nice beaches and activities was the Six Senses Ibiza, and that was pretty much the same price

There are ironically plenty of comparable hotels longer haul, but we specifically wanted to avoid a long flight and jet lag with toddlers

The Grand Palladium Sicilia Resort & Spa is worth a look. It ticks all your boxes and comes in at about £10k for two weeks from 6th July.

I’d recommend speaking to Tots Too - they specialise in exactly what you’re looking for and I’m sure will be able to offer some options.

You do get what you pay for to some extent - Sani is all singing all dancing, Bear Grylls, zip wires etc etc. But given your DC ages, you may not need all that and could do just as well somewhere a bit less pricey.

Ikos is off the scale fabulous. It’s eyewateringly expensive but a level of luxury I’ve not experienced in Europe before. it’s hard to describe as people will tell you that you can get just as good elsewhere but I’m honestly not sure you can

It’s all inclusive to the point that there are 400 wines included on the wine list, the food is Michelin star levels, the service is perfect. Fancy some fruit by the pool? It appears. The pool service is coming around every 10 minutes, The drinks are presented perfectly, the room service is included, there’s a mini you can take out for the day at no charge. It really is better than any other hotel I’ve been to and you absolutely don’t spend an extra penny when you’re there.

Have you considered Majorca? Port Soller and the Jumeria Beach Hotel specifically. 5 star service, kids club, spa, gorgeous bay with a hotel transfer down the hill.

With the ages of your children, really a beach, pool and kids club would be ample? You wouldn't need the range of activities that a tween or teenager would need.

Jumeirah 🙄

@Xmasgrinchywinchy I appreciate that luxury but definitely not with small children in tow! Mine were never happy with clubs so after doing Sani and spending my whole time in the pool with the toddlers , decided to wait until the were older and I could get some value from the experience.

@mamaknowsbest12 Its not Sani levels of luxury but I’ve had a great holiday in MarBella Corfu. It was with tweens though.

Frankly I’d go to the Maldives instead or rent a villa and buy the good stuff at none marked up prices (appreciating this doesn’t come with all the activities but then with toddlers you’ll know what they like best anyway).

We've booked an Ikos resort for next Easter, we're paying around £4K for a week for 2 adults and 2 children in sea view room and separate budget airline flights from uk. We got one free child place with ikos. It was the only time of year that's affordable for us. The gamble will be with the weather in April but fingers crossed!

Since your children are still so little, could you go in sept or early oct to save money if you really want those particular places?

The 5 year old means they are tied to school holidays though?

Might be worth taking the 5y old out of reception for a week and paying any necessary fine - woud still be way cheaper than 12K