all inclusive in Greece suggestions

[Ikeasucks]

Wanting to take my early 20s sons and their girlfriends on an All inclusive 7 night holiday to Greece end of September. Haven’t been to Greece in over 35 yrs so asking for any recommendations. Want a decent hotel with facilities for the kids on a beach with an hour or less transfer time. Looking at £1k to £1250 ish per person. Any help appreciated

We just got back from ikos, absolutely beautiful!!!! It is more geared to families with smaller children but I hear good things about Sani too! So so lovely.

Following as I’m looking to do the same!

End of September will be cooling down, personally I would prefer Cyprus at that time of year if you're still wanting some hot sun.

Otherwise, I've been to loads of Greek Islands over the years and I they're all great! Favourite would be Zante or Kos then Crete.

IKOS is fab, but not in OP’s intended price range. Greece is lovely, you will find a good all inclusive I am sure. Have a great holiday.

We’ve loved Gouves Water Park in Crete (the swim up room was amazing!) and Caretta Beach in Zante, both through Jet2

TUI blue lagoon Princess in Halkidiki or Atlantica Akti Zeus in Crete

look at blue lagoon village, Kos
aegean blue, Rhodes (which is owned by atlantica)

We enjoyed Gouves Water Park too.

I think you could get Ikos for that price snd September ! I’ll go and have a look.

No , not unless you were happy with three to à room ! We usually go for 5 nights , not 7 hence me thinking it might work.

I’d be headed to Turkey that time of year for decent AI prices. If you can swing it I’d try and get into a Hotel with swim up rooms, liberty Fabay, Signa and XO have them. Atlantico Mare Cyrus also lovely.

I wouldn't go AI to Greece, especially not with young adults.

Wouldn't you have a nicer experience with likely better food if you went BB or SC so you could have lunch while out and about and have drinks and dinner in a little taverna each night? Or a relaxed BBQ or takeaway on the terrace in the evenings.

You've 4 self sufficient adults so its not like you need a rest from running around after children.

Gosh, this sounds so uppity!
We've just come back from Greece AI. We didn't choose it because it was AI we needed to be near an area for a wedding. Guess what? We still ate out every day.
Anyway we stayed at Myrina Beach in Kolymbia, Rhodes and it was absolutely stunning.

Good for you. 🙄

We like the Princess Andriana in Rhodes. It’s a little far out but taxis are fairly cheap into Lindos and it’s not full of small children although they have now opened a water park so that might have increased the amount of kids around

Some people like all inclusive, it's much easier and all costs are accounted for. You're being a bit snobbish about the food, I've stayed in some AI resort with 5* Al a carte restaurants. Self catering is bloody hard work, nobody makes the beds, empties the bins , changed the beds, mops the floors, restocks toiletries. Eating and drinking out is incredibly expensive now, and you've got the faff of deciding where to go and getting there.

OP check out Sentido Apollo Palace, Stella Palace, Stella Blue and Atlantica Argean Blue.

But the OP won't be able to get the sort of AI people are suggesting on the budget stated. It will be a buffet, with average food at best.

Plus it's harder to unmake a hotel bed that's been made by the chambermaid than it is to just pull the duvet up yourself, and I don't recognise any of the other 'bloody hard work' either. I've never mopped a floor on holiday or changed a bed. When you go for a week, it's dealt with on changeover. We eat out every day and generally spend less than we would on the sort of AI that would actually make a nice holiday. And we don't have to get dressed for breakfast.

I would just say that in late September I would head south. The northern Greek islands such as the Ionians tend to have slightly unpredictable weather and more rain from September.

We’ve loved Atlantica Caldera Palace in Crete and Rodos Princess Beach Hotel in Rhodes.

Look at Creta Maris in Crete - we just got back and it was an excellent fly and flop option. Food very good and 5 à la carte restaurants.

We go to IKOS late sept/ early Oct. Weather is lovely and not unbearable and off peak

She will. We paid 980 in June (got back last week) besides, Greece is not cheap. We spent around 1k on eating out, taxis etc. If we hadn't had the AI I reckon we would have needed almost double that.
I don't go on holiday to self cater or scrimp. I'll knock up a sandwich that's it.

I go self catering and still have maid service as it’s still a hotel after all, just not with food included. Are you thinking more air BnB when you say this?

Sorry, I've never heard of self catering in a hotel. I was thinking of a villa or apartments, but not specifically airBnB.

A hotel would just be board-only basis would it not? You wouldn't have cooking facilities in a hotel?

Hotels offer room only basis, that would be self catering wouldn’t it as you’re sorting your own food situation rather than accessing the hotel catering? I’ve also stayed in apartments that were called hotel whatever and they had maid service etc.

Ive travelled to Greece a fair bit and my personal preference is self catering one way or another. I’m open to room only, apartments and air BnB, because I love to jump in the car and go and explore and wouldn’t feel I could do that as much if I was AI. I love to find off the beaten track tavernas with traditional food, but all of that is just my personal preference. I’m sure there are some amazing AI resorts. But being self catering doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t get maid service etc.