IKOS - tell me everything!

[hotlipshoulihan32]

We are thinking of splashing out on an IKOS for our first ever family holiday next year... LO will be 4. Tell me everything - which locations are best? What is on offer for kids? He may be too young for kids clubs etc but is there still plenty to do for a 4 year old? Anything else useful I should know?

Thanks so much for any experiences / advice!

What’s your budget?

will it be out of school holidays?

I’m curious how much it costs! I have 3 kids so need two hotel rooms and always go super budget but as interesting hols as possible, still end up spending £4-6k for 10-14 days in Europe. Seems unfathomable to me to spend more, I’m curious if it’s just because we have too many kids

A lot more than this
especially if in school time
for two rooms

We have been 4 times now at Easter (when it’s much cheaper than other school holidays) - we go to Oceania and our DS loves it. He’s an only child but has made friends every time and some go back each year. The food is great, we’ve been v lucky with the weather every year (warm enough to spend all day by the pool) and there’s lots to do. I think 4 is the sweet spot where they can do kids club but you don’t have to pay, but DS was 5 the first time we went.

Oceania is the cheapest but it’s being refurbished over the next 2 winters so that might change. It’s known for having exceptional service and lovely staff despite being the oldest one. I think for your child’s age I would look at Olivia as that has a better playground and splash pad by the pool etc. We’ve only visited for the day but it seems really nice there and we know people who’ve been and love it.

I can’t speak for the others. I know Andalusia is much more expensive but our friends have been there and loved it. I’d like to try the one in Majorca which looks beautiful.

@FamesickAgreed. I was under the impression it was about £10k per room per week in August but I could be wrong!

I’ve been to them all.
they are all wonderful in their own way.

once you’ve been to IKOS, nowhere else will ever match it!

Oceania is very hilly so I’d avoid that with small children. Lots of step. It’s built into a hillside. Great for adults though.

don’t bother paying for Deluxe in your first trip. . ‘Normal’ prices will get you everything you could ever need.

school holidays are mega bucks. £15k for 2 weeks in the summer holidays for example.

May or late September would be the sweet spot. Great weather usually and cheaper than school holidays.

Odissia and Dassia are literally next door to each other. Quite similar vibes.

aria in Kos also lovely. 4 hour flight but only a 15 minute airport transfer.

Andalusia feels more formal in the layout. But I loved it. And a shorter flight. 1 hour airport transfer.

Kissamos in Crete just opened and is fully booked for this year, unless you get lucky with a cancellation spot.
make sure you fly into Channia airport though, not Heraklion as that’s 3 hours away!

packages through BA holidays have always come up cheapest for me. Or TUI, or love holidays.

if you want to book direct, you’ll get 10%discount from Ikos once you’ve been there once (across all Ikos hotels)

Ikos are good for young children, but once they hit 8 ish there’s not much for them to do.

I hate to say it, but Sani are also wonderful. No all inclusive and very expensive to buy drinks once you’re there, but they are owned by the same company and have better children’s facilities.

You haven’t been to Sani if you think ikos is the best?

That one in kos is obnoxious. They act like they own the beach and have security guards who can't actually prevent ordinary people from walking on it but do their best to make them feel uncomfortable.

So… you didn’t actually stay there.
But ran in to trouble going on to private property 🤭

I'm pretty sure all beaches in Greece have to allow public access, none can be privately owned.

Domes hotels are also very lovely.

No some hotels do have private beaches
Sani certainly did

I don't think it can be legally, they just make it look and feel that way.

Nope you’re wrong.

view it like a piece of land.

they can own it and it can be private property. They are responsible for maintaining

I worked for a hotel chain with private beaches in Greece (and all over the world) for 7 years.

It is like a tenanted farmer. They “rent” it. They have full control over it. And can restrict access.

I understand the principle of private property, but it is Greek law that beaches cannot be privately owned. Private beaches in Greece do not legally exist.

In some countries, including Greece, the land at the coastline just can't be privately owned, the law says it is not possible.

A busines can rent it for their operations (like sunbeds service) but it doesn't mean sole usage - they still have to keep it open to public roaming (4 meters free) and people can sit down on the empty space.

👍

I'd almost advise not going to Ikos!!!! Now we've been to Ikos no other all inclusive in Europe compares! I could write an essay on why they are so amazing! It's the only family holiday I've been on where I come back totally relaxed and revived. For me it's the unlimited a la carte for breakfast, lunch and dinner and the pool service. When you're attending to kids it's nice to not have to get up every 5 secs for food/drinks. I've been searching for years to find a similar resort at the same price point and have yet to find one. Also the service is second to none. I honestly don't think it matters which resort you go to, they are all exceptional.
Yes Oceania has a hill to the beach but if you're in any way fit you'll be grand. I felt I'd earned a cocktail for every time I pushed the pram up lol. Our children are happy as long as they have a pool, we've been going (not every year unfortunately!) since our oldest was 1 and they're now 8 and 6. We go outside of school holidays we just can't justify July/August prices. Happy to answer any questions.

We’ve been to Dassia 3 times and Odisia once. We love it.
our kids are now 6 and 4. The kids club is free from 4 years old (I think. I can’t remember what age you stop paying for it there) they are 3 hour sessions and our kids love going, making new friends there (with the staff and other kids) and then they play with the kids at the pool and at the kids entertainment.

the restaurants are great, all drinks and food are included, including pool drinks and snacks, mini bar and room service.

we return because we know the resort, our kids know the resort and have their bearings as soon as we arrive, staff cannot do enough for you, the service is unmatched by anywhere we have been.

Dassia is an older hotel that was taken over by Ikos so rooms tend to be a little smaller.
Odisia is an Ikos built resort, spread over a larger site than Dassia but you have the option to call golf buggies to get you around if needed.

ETA we paid £14k for a deluxe 1 bedroom suite at Odisia for a week on 24th July

Thanks all for the v useful info. We are restricted to school holidays unfortunatly but will aim to go over Easter rather than summer. I was looking at Andalusia as the flight looks shortest but it sounds like the ones on Corfu are lovely!
Do they all have playgrounds / splash pads etc?

You are half right about private beaches in Greece - no none are privately owned but yes hotels can rent a section but anyone can put their own equipment, towel etc on the beach right next to the hotel loungers if they desire. There’s issues with companies hiring guards to try and intimidate users of beaches but they can’t make you leave or hire their loungers

£14k for a week!!! We are planning a travel round Japan trip for 3 weeks for that sort of money really is different strokes for different folks. If I only had a week of time as my budget I’d spend £5k on the holiday, and buy a car and a lovely bag of if I was that money heavy.

The hotel is surely just a bed for the night - as long as there’s air con and a pool I don’t get spending any more than £2k for a week.

And that’s for a family of 5

Dassia has a small playground the kids can use separate to kids club. They have a splash pad alongside a shallow (30cm deep) kids pool and these are right next to the ice cream parlour and set apart from one of the main pools, but a minutes walk away.

Odisia has a playground attached to the kids club but you can go use it even if not in kids club. They also have a trampoline with the harness set up that they open for 2 hours each day I think it is.
the splash pad here is right next to the main pool.
Our kids only asked to go there once or twice as they preferred to be in the deluxe pool. It’s a really good size here, and has a shallow end.