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 am honestly staggered that people pay that much for a fortnight in Greece. But perhaps I’m just wildly out of touch. We paid £3k for a week in Portugal and that felt like a lot. And we’re a high earning family.
it’s absolutely criminal how expensive holidays are these days in August.

I'd look at somewhere like Sri Lanka, you will get 5* + and plenty of change. Dual centre holiday with private driver. Late July onwards is fairly dry

I was idly pricing up Ikos Crete this week for next Aug to see how much 10 nights would be - £17k in the basic room! Needless to say we won't be booking

Grecotel or the Olivar Suites are both in Corfu and worth a look. Both à la carte.
We booked with Tui.

Tbh I'd go for haven in Devon, far less scope for disappointment of value per £

I'm equally astounded that a high earning family only spend £3k for a family holiday.

As a high earning family I presume you live in a really nice house in a really nice area.

I want a holiday that is as nice if not nicer than my own home. That's going to cost a whole lot more than £3k

I would considr £3k for a family holiday in Portugal on the high side. Assuming it is a villa, it will be very nice as accommodation and eating out in Portugal is affordable. Portugal is one of our fave holiday destinations.

I guess it is what you consider a nice holiday. People who go to Ikos are looking for AI and a multiple star experience. I don't need my bottom wiped for me and would find that annoying, even more so at the extortionate price.

I was also in Singapore and Vietnam (Phu Quoc, island hopping) for 2 weeks with my family - 2 teenagers paying adult fares and 3 rooms (1 for each teen) for £7K over Easter. Food, hotel and taxis are so incredibly cheap in Vietnam.

@Esimasia Could you share your itinerary? It sounds fantastic. Beer is coming in at 5 euro in Greece.

But why should they spend more if the Portugal holiday suits them? It's not compulsory to spend all your money on the expensive version of everything and often things don't have to be expensive to be lovely.

I keep meaning to look at Portugal but have a long list of interesting places in Spain and other countries getting in the way.

@Bjorkdidit

But why should they spend more if the Portugal holiday suits them? It's not compulsory to spend all your money on the expensive version of everything and often things don't have to be expensive to be lovely.
Oh gosh no. It's not that they have to spend more. I've been to Portugal. If I want to stay somewhere nice it costs more than £3k for the family. As a high earning household I assumed the poster would want a holiday that was at least if not nicer than their home.

@blueshoes

Sani/ikos are nice enough but if you want your bum wiped for you you'll need to pay more than that.

Six senses, four seasons etc are a step up. And there are many beyond them.

I don't think £3k is going to buy you luxury

You can't assume that a 'high earning family' has a 'really nice house in a really nice area' because for people under about 40 who live in expensive areas, even being a high earner isn't always enough to buy that.

Or they could be like us. Our household income is nearly £100k and we're mortgage and childfree, so our disposable income will be higher than many people's. But our home would fail to meet MN expectations on size, location and state of decoration and cleanliness because it's just something we both struggle to prioritise (likely we both have ADHD).

So pretty much anywhere we go on holiday, which because we go out of the main season, generally costs around £1-2k for flights and accommodation, is nicer than our own home.

I am honestly staggered that people pay that much for a fortnight in Greece.

I'm the same, 14k for two weeks is £1k a day. I'm struggling to think of anything I'd consider worth that sort of money

@HucklefinBerry I've never thought off it in terms of wanting somewhere nicer than my own home tbh. I've had lovely holidays in the simplest of places.

We do have a nice house but it's a bit of a mess and full of clutter, so getting away from that is wonderful, worth £3-4k to me (if good weather is close to guaranteed). I should addd that we normally self cater so the absolute cost will be rather more.

Each to their own but I'd only be spending £10k+ on a proper once in a lifetime thing. Simply because we can't afford to do it on a regular basis. Nor can the vast majority of the British population, surely. Obviously if people can afford it and are happy to pay five figures regularly, good for them.

I'd look elsewhere tbh. Have visited 2 Ikos resorts and I found them very formulaic and soulless. For that kind of money, you expect perfection which of course isn't possible.

Sani is a cut above Ikos IMO, but again ridiculous prices and a massive resort.

For Greece, I'd recommend Costa Navarino. There are various hotels - Westin, W, Romanos - and it feels more authentically Greek.

Summer holiday prices in the higher end Med resorts are completely insane. And with the extreme temperatures as well, it's really not an attractive option any more

Please give recommendations. I get overwhelmed with research!

I think that's the problem: that you don't have time to do the research.

I don't have children, so tend to stay in adults only accommodation. So my recommendations wouldn't be useful to you. It also depends on what age are your children, what activities do you want to do, what do you want the weather to be like when you're away (how hot is too hot). Do you want quiet or bustling? Do you want premium drinks and cocktails or is food the only important thing? Do you want things like a water park/slides in the hotel or nearby? Do you want one room or two? Is it important to have lots of other English people staying at the hotel? Do you want to be within walking distance of a town? Do you want cultural sites/activities nearby? What airport will you fly from?

Hotels can also change over the years- what was great 4/5 years ago might not be great now. Or maybe there is a brand new hotel that's really good. This is why it's important to do the research and look at the recent reviews on tripadvisor, searching through the reviews for key words that are important to you (e.g. restaurants, beech, cocktails).

Maybe that's what you're paying for with Sani/Ikos: it is simple and a trusted name.

Knowing not much about your family make up/interests (sorry if included in the original post) the Rixos Premium Seagate in Sharm is the sister Hotel of an adults only i went to a couple of years back. It has good tripadvisor reviews (I enjoyed the adults hotel) and is within your budget for August next year (apologies I can't remember the dates you want). This is just one example. I'll try and post a screenshot, I'm struggling to add it here.

You could also speak to/pay for a travel agent. Another way to reduce costs is to taken your kids out of school and pay the fine. Prices are massively reduced off-peak and you could get more for your money.

Here are some screenshots.

Not sure if you can make out the price but it was £6567 total.

i’m sure that particular hotel is lovely, but as per the discussion on another thread, Sharm is such an absolutely dump!

I think you can be a bit more imaginative for this budget no? Safari or Asia, South Africa, for example.

I saw that thread. It made me lol as I knew I just posted this.

Unfortunately, the other places I stayed (not in Egypt) are working out at more than 8k for 2 weeks in August for 4 people 😪

FWIW I mostly stayed in the hotel (not going into Sharm) and it was lovely. Obviously there are a bunch of people who had negative experiences in Sharm.

I also am surprised that people pay that much for Greece. I went to Sri lanka recently for 11 nights for under £5k for family of 4 All inclusive. A few years back went to Mexico for 2 weeks AI for about £8k family of 4. I couldn't bring myself to spend ridiculous amounts on Europe. Whenever I look at holidays in Europe I just think I could go somewhere further for cheaper / same price.

If I had that money to spend, I'd probably go to Thailand, Japan or South korea.

Skip over Europe and go to Asia would be my advice. We only tend to go to Europe for a long weekend city break. There better beaches with far cheaper accommodation and food in Asia.

You could combine a safari in South Africa with Mauritius!
I’ve done this with Trailfinders for my honeymoon / they have access to the best hotels but better deals

They are developing a Crete site, is it open for bookings on the website yet?