Ikos - how much??!?

[schoolfeeslave]

For context our usual holiday budget is around £8k. Sometimes a bit more and sometimes a bit less, depending on what we are doing.

Next year is a big one in terms of birthday/ anniversary and so I have been putting a little extra aside so we can go somewhere a bit more special.

Years ago before our 2 DC were at school we went to Ikos Olivia for a week in June. We loved it and always said we would go back but until now I hadn't looked.

£14,000+ for two weeks - WTAF? I was thinking more like £10k, £12k max if I upgraded the room but this is for a standard room - not even sea view I don't think.

I checked and we paid £3.6k for a week when we went back in 2019.

I then looked at Sani - oh my word - £18k!

They are both fully booked for the same weeks this year so obviously people are paying it but who and HOW?

I am looking through agents but is there a secret way of booking these places without selling a kidney?

I could find the money to go still but it just feels like such an exorbitant sum, not sure I could bring myself to. The DC won't appreciate it, that's for sure.

Any other suggestions? We stayed in an Iberostar last year that was nice but not "special" nice and I got fed up of the same buffet restaurant after 2 weeks.

Mauritius? In August? We aren't that fussed about it being scorching hot but the flight length puts me off.

TIA - yes, I know first world problem... but this is holiday chat.

I love IKOS but we're still out of school holiday territory (until Sept 2026 at least!).

I've not found any secret hack other than using Jet2 for the first child goes free and sometimes the £60 off per person.

Other than that it's just a case of flying on a Tues/Thurs etc

I just looked again and that is with a free child place 😂

Is there much of a difference between Sani and ikos? They are owned by the same people yes?
Is there a difference?

I don't know - I have only been to Ikos - Sani isn't far from Ikos Olivia but friends who have been to both prefer Ikos with children.

Is there somewhere you could go that's a la carte but not Ikos prices?

Put your dates into the Jet2holidays AI search, tick the family luxe option and see what other options there are?

What in particular is it that you're looking for? Lovely hotel and food/service to relax in comfort? Or something more memorable in terms of what you see/do?

You could probably go on a cruise or sailing holiday for your budgeted £10/12k. What about something like a round Iceland cruise?

https://www.vikingcruises.co.uk/oceans/cruise-destinations/baltic/icelands-natural-beauty/index.html#noscroll

More memorable than a luxury AI holiday, however lovely that is. But as for who is filling up Ikos resorts, there's certainly a lot on here who say 'just do Ikos' when asked for relaxing holiday suggestions, like £14k for a couple of weeks in the sun is pocket change.

Ikos is AI and Sani isn’t iirc.

Thanks - maybe I do just need to think outside the box?

DH was saying he wanted a nice beach holiday next year as we have been on more active holidays more recently - cycling in France last year and this year we are going to Devon for two weeks and have surf camp booked for 5 days. He says he wants to relax in the sun (although I am pretty sure he will be bored after 3 days and so having activities/ sports to do is a must).

A cruise would be a no from DH - he refuses to go on one.

Spotted this - looks like about £10k for 2 weeks in the premium villa but AI plus so a la carte dining.

https://www.jet2holidays.com/turkey/izmir-area/kusadasi/batihan-vadi-hotel

It's just over a mile from the coast but there are on site activities and likely a shuttle bus to the beach or tax/tour availability.

We’ve booked 15 nights in mauritius next august, accomodation only. It’s an anniversary for us and the Beachcomber hotels add lunches and an experience for the whole party. We’ve booked Shandrani (all inclusive) Trou aux Biches and Paradis, for just under £7k. We’re planning to do a 4 night safari in South Africa first, so will book our own flights. Our children will be 14 and 17, so would be adults on a European break.

We are just back from two weeks in Singapore and central Vietnam. Cost less than 2 weeks in Greece in August.

Fabulous beaches, amazing food, exceptional service. Beer £1. Highly recommend

We have been to IKOS a few times. Yes, it’s a lovely experience and can have the WOW factor.
the food and drinks are of a high quality.

However! The last time we went we noticed that the service has slipped somewhat and there were a few niggles.

Nothing that was dreadful, but it did smart a little when it’s just so expensive. Plates not cleared in restaurants, long waits for drinks, lack of consistent service and sometimes not being able to book the a la cartes.

Any other holiday we wouldn’t have batted an eyelid. But at that price point (we paid £12 for 10 for us and 2 DCS school time) I am expecting pretty much perfection. Especially as the IKOS brand very much presents themselves as ultimate luxury.

There are a number of IKOS FB groups, which often get some really helpful reviews and some members can provide good knowledge and advice about each resort. Maybe worth joining to find out more, given this would be such an expensive holiday.

This is my issue with ikos.
At 12/16/18k you expect it to be bang on.
And the more they price gouge the harder that is.

I actually had a 26k quote for a villa from ikos dassia for 4 adults 2 kids this summer.
Id just rater go to disney in 3 years when the kids are older.

We did 10 days for 3.5k in 21 for 2 adults

It just seems nuts.

I just realised that my post says for 10 people, clearly I meant 10 nights!

Yes, this years prices are have shot up.
I’ve only been to Sani to have a look round and have a drink. I have to say, the service was excellent there and I could see why people like it. However it’s not AI and the drinks are really expensive. Could be a shock when you get your bar bill.

I have heard good things about a resort called ‘Lux’ in Mauritius.

Some of the 5 stars in Turkey have a la cartes included in their AI. Prices there have really shot up though.

I agree, I think the standards are slipping at IKOS, we stayed at the same IKOS last Oct and again in April this year. But our second visit was disappointing, for a number of reasons, that I won’t go into and not 5 star.

The things we noticed were, orange juice out of a carton, not freshly squeezed juice at breakfast. The fresh fruit at breakfast was more limited than on our previous trip, the strawberries were very poor quality, and past their best, tbh I would have thrown them away if I had them at home. In the restaurants asking if you would like a glass or a bottle of wine, always a bottle before. Mini bar not so generous etc. IKOS have some fabulous staff, but a lot of the team had changed and weren’t so polished. We didn’t hear from the concierge all week!

The prices are going up and the quality needs to be maintained, that is what you are paying for.

I wouldn’t rush back to IKOS or recommend tbh now.

Yes, we’ve noticed their price rises appear to be wildly out of control too! We’ve been 3 times before and really enjoyed it and have booked to go back this year and next year. However after that I don’t think we will go again due to the price rises but service deterioration. Good whilst the kids are small but can’t justify the prices for a week in Europe!

Does the forte resort in Sardinia compare. I’ve priced it a few times but was always out of reach for us.

I love Ikos but there's a limit. Excluding flights, I paid £3.3k for three of us for a week at Andalusia in October half term and £6k for the same at Aria last June. It also rankles paying an adult price for teenagers as you're effectively subsidising everyone eise's alcohol.

I'd also agree that it's not without its issues. There were quite a few minor niggles at Aria. We ended moving rooms halfway through the week which triggered a feedback form. I filled it in honestly but 95% in a very complementary way. The manager tracked me down at lunch on one of the far restaurants to discuss it which felt a bit awkward and materialised whenever I went to reception.

I think I'd not pay more than £7-8k for a family for a week at Ikos. At that point I could go to Mauritius or on safari. It is blissful lying on the sunbeds being plied with food and drinks though (and no reserving beds).

So Sani is nicer? It's not AI and it's more expensive so I assume it's a nicer resort yes?

@Esimasia where is that? It looks like heaven!

I don’t know anyone who does IKOS in the summer- they do Easter/may/oct half terms. About £6k on jet2 with a free child place.

It’s An Bang beach - near Hoi An.

That sounds lovely @Esimasia
can I ask who you booked with and where you stayed please? Thank you.

I booked it separately as way cheaper. Flights with Singapore Airlines - we stayed in Singapore 3 nights - and then flew to Da Nang from there. New route LGW SIN just launched so they are selling it cheap. Booked hotels on booking dot com. Hotels in Vietnam cheap as chips. I also booked a transfer from Da Nang to Hoi An, most hotels offer shuttles cost about £10. We booked a few trips on Trip Advisor and Viator once there. It’s all so well set up for tourism it’s easy.

Check out falkensteiner. Also not cheap, but they have a few lovely 5 star resorts where the food and resorts are excellent. And about half the price still

https://www.falkensteiner.com/en/hotels-apartments?category_hotel_mb_id=Indulgence

which one depends on if your travelling with children or want lakes, beach or mountains. The sardina one I recommend for beach.
The Austrian ones are excellent all year (some in ski areas for winter, summer lakes)

Mauritius won’t be as hot as Greece in August.

I haven't been to Ikos or Sani. But I read a bunch of reviews to see why they are so good. Many people talked about the variety and quality of A la carte restaurants.

Have you considered an AI in Mexico and carefully reviewing trip advisor reviews, looking for ratings over 4.5*? I've been to Mexico, the Caribbean and even Egypt staying at hotels with multiple (5-8) a la carte restaurants, with no limits on how often you can go. All were super high quality. The pools etc were quiet, private beaches were clean. It just took careful research. It was a fraction of the cost you describe here.