This meant our interior exit and entrance was down a hotel corridor. The wine menu was really very good, with tastefully chosen bottles from all over the world, as well as some excellent local wines and other Greek offerings. The resort is actually a great option for both couples and families as the Ikos really puts emphasis on giving different experiences to different demographics. We are going as a couple (leaving the kids with family) so would like to make the most of relaxing, beach, great food and some sightseeing/walking etc too. There is a creche with the same sessions available for 3 months - 4 year olds, but this is not included in the board price you pay. My eldest also enjoyed going off exploring Sani by himself. Ikos offers ONLY all-inclusive board for all guests with no exceptions, and this includes all your dining, room service and drinks, ALL OF THEM. To discover more on how Ikos Resorts has reimagined traditional all-inclusive beach holidays, read our dedicated article. To summarise we felt that Sani resort did the following things "better" than Ikos: And these are the things we think Ikos Dassia did better, in comparison to Sani resort. The kids pool and play areas are also really nice. Ikos Olivia - All Inclusive This Asian fusion restaurant had dishes from throughout Asia, with Japanese, Indian, Chinese, and Thai dishes on offer. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. View Foreign Travel Advice for Spain, To discover more on Ikos six resorts or to book your 2023 or 2024Ikos holiday, contact our team of personal travel managers today on 0203 816 0985 or click here to submit an online enquiry. Here are our picks for where to check in in 2023. Its a great place for families but isnt an ideal place if you want a quiet meal. Although we were staying in a deluxe room and had a secluded area. In 2018, two more Ikos resorts opened, Ikos Aria on the Greek island of Kos, and Ikos Dassia on the island of Corfu (where we stayed last September). The second you walk into the resort you will notice its stunning design and decor choices. Exception couples holiday at Ikos Dassia Review of Ikos Dassia Reviewed November 26, 2021 We had an excellent overall experience at Ikos Dassia in October this year. // How to "Teach" Travel to Kids // Best Books About Travel for Babies // Best Books About Travel for 2 - 6 Year Olds. Before the Sani resort existed, it was a marshland and uninhabited. Grecotel Eva Palaces Aphrodite-inspired Elixir Rooftop Love Spa is one of the finest on Corfu: geared towards couples, it offers private treatment rooms overlooking the Ionians turquoise waters, as well as a sauna, beauty salon and high-tech fitness centre. If you only have five minutes to make a decision on whether you should go to Sani Resort or an Ikos Resort, then let me say this; go to any of them and you will have a fantastic holiday! Ikos Andalusia hotel review: The all-inclusive luxury hotel While Sani offers different boards from full-board to half-board, but with both of these you still have to pay for your drinks. The facilities were slightly bigger at Ikos Dassia (and quite a bit newer because they were only in their second season) but we actually preferred the proximity of the Sani resort as it was close to the beach and very central to the whole resort, while the Ikos Dassia kids club location was on the other side of the resort to our accommodation. Walking the sleepy streets of Kos Town will introduce you to Venetian and Ottoman architecture, traditional tavernas and bustling bars. So let's dig a bit deeper in our comparison of Ikos and Sani resorts and actually compare what they offer, like for like, so you can make your own decision which would be better for you. WebThe OKU Kos is one of the best hotels in Kos for couples to stay. Q. After two one-week-long stays at Sani and one week at Ikos Dassia, we did notice quite a big difference in the level of service. Both Ikos and Sani pride themselves on being 5* luxury brands, and are very family friendly. There is yoga, volleyball, TRX to name a few of the activities. Ikos or Sani - Which luxury resort is better - The Williams Yes and you can read more about Ikos green initiatives here. Location: Mallorca, Balearics Both resorts offer brilliant activities, and at Ikos everything will be included apart from motorised sports. This is the exact same room and set-up as the double room the only difference is the occupancy. The second Ikos resort is also in Halkidiki, Ikos Oceania, opened in 2017, but it wasn't a new property or asset, it was just revamped to be aligned with the style and offerings of Ikos Olivia. In 2018, two more Ikos resorts opened, Ikos Aria on the Greek island of Kos, and Ikos Dassia on the island of Corfu (where we stayed last September ). The question is do the benefits outweigh the premium cost you need to be. Of course, theres also a top-of-the-range spa, Michelin-star menus at five la carte restaurants and exceptional facilities for children of all ages, from newborn babies to teens. This alone is the main reason we will keep on returning to Sani and Ikos resorts! Opening 19 May 2023. Location: Corfu, Greece One of the great features of Ikos resorts is local discovery. Best Overall All-Inclusive Resort In Tulum: Barcel Maya Riviera. I know for some people this will feel a bit impersonal and I'm also confident that for other people when they return to either resort again and again then yes, firmer bonds may be formed. All Inclusive Kos holidays The outdoor terrace at Ouzo was our favorite place to eat as the view of the ocean, mountain range, and the island in the backdrop. So, if you want peak relaxation the private areas are quite nice. It is a 5-star resort, so its not really a surprise that its pricey. Yes, the Ikos Oceania is a great spot for families to vacation with a host of features that are aimed at making your familys vacation run as smoothly as possible. It took eight years to drain the water and make the land habitable. WebIkos Olivia - All Inclusive Gerakini, Polygyros, Central Macedonia 63100 Hotel Amenities Property Details 295 rooms 4 stories with elevator access Mediterranean architecture Smoke-free property Hotel Services Babysitting (fees apply) and kid's club (fees apply) Front-desk safe and ATM Gift shop Onsite concierge Luggage storage Its open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and there is a really wide variety of food to sample. Both times we have visited Sani we have booked the half board option. One of the great things about the Ikos resorts is that most of the restaurants have outdoor dining options as well as doors that open out to bring the outside in. Best resort for beaches: Ikos (although can only comment on Ikos Dassia!). So you really cant go wrong vacationing here, Our review is based on our stay at the resort in a Deluxe room. Choosing which of the six family-friendly all-inclusive beach hotels in the Ikos Resorts collection is no easy decision theyre all so appealing! When we visited they were basically booked out for the whole week ahead. There is no doubt that all the family will feel relaxed. Drive one of Ikos Oceanias fleet of MINI Coopers to investigate endless coves and unique architectural sites. Though if you prefer to know that everything is paid for beforehand, Ikos would be the best holiday. This was our first time staying in any Ikos resort and although we had received strong recommendations from friends, we weren't sure what to expect from a luxury all-inclusive The occupancy of these rooms is also listed as three adults and one child and it offers plenty of room for families or a group of friends. Does the Ikos Aria offer a shuttle service from the Airport. Its pretty much like a sample of dishes from all of the a la carte restaurants on the resort, as well as some of the staples that you will find at any buffet. With a classic French menu, the dishes being served were carefully curated by Michelin-starred chef Anthony Jehanno. The resort exclusively has 600m of beachfront for you to enjoy, lined with comfortable loungers and umbrellas with plenty of room in between for sandcastle building. Best All-Inclusive Resorts for Families with Teens Sani Beach as its now known followed in 1984 and by the early 2017 with the opening of Sani Dunes, following the earlier launch of Sani Asteria and Porto Sani, these five 5-star hotels plus the Sani Marina area (with several shops, restaurants, apartments, and a marina for boats and luxury yachts) now comprises the award-winning Sani resort. I believe that during the closed winter season both Sani and Ikos plough lots of money and time into revamping whatever they need to to keep the resorts looking as good as new. This year we were due to holiday at both Ikos and Sani again, but unfortunately our stay at Ikos Andalusia has been cancelled. You definitely wont get bored throughout your stay. Obviously the best way to compare costs is to contact Ikos and Sani direct, or use a travel agent if you wish. Just like its six sister resorts, Ikos Porto Petro allows guests to discover the local area, at no additional charge, from the comfort of the resorts fleet of Teslas. WebFamily fun. If you can decide on where you want to eat before your holiday its best to book them as early as possible. TOGETHER TIME: 12 Best Vacation Spots for Couples in North America 1. WebNew Opening: Ikos Odisia Updates 19 May 2023 Introducing the iconic Ikos Odisia. One of them is reserved for deluxe guests and there is another adult-only bar offering. From these room types, there is the option to add the deluxe offering to most of them. Alternatively, if you want to have more flexibility and think it will save you more money or give you more options, so would prefer a half-board option, Sani is the one. You really cant go wrong booking your next vacation here. At The Point, you can spend the day together as a couple boating on Upper Saranac Lake, playing croquet on the lawn, or (in the winter months) cross-country skiing. Expect a choice of rooms and suites - some with individual pools - and all with contemporary dcor that provide the best of indoor and outdoor living at Ikos Aria. This does give it a slightly better feel in terms of how well it works practically and also how much more private and elegant some of the rooms were. It really does depend on what you are looking for in your holiday. As always make sure you shop around and think about the time of year that you are traveling if you want to bag yourself a bargain. You can go there and not worry that youll be charged over 9 euros for a bottle of water, yes that did happen to me in one of the restaurants at Sani. Although there are some pockets of Greece that have decent Golf courses. Best I would avoid Check out our other five-minute read: 20 fun facts about Ikos Resorts we bet you didnt know. Everything about it was top class and the staff were great at keeping our glasses full. If you've got this far, you'll know that comparing the two resorts is a bit like comparing two of your favourite films; it doesn't really matter which ones is best overall - they're both good! This is the perfect option if you want to drop off the kids and have a few hours by the adults pool or to go for a nice meal in the evening. The experience we had was very personal and had that luxury touch. Ikos Aria A Comprehensive Review - InspoVacay Man, it's hard to say that one resort is better than the other with swimming pools because honestly, both resorts have multiple excellent swimming pools. This resort is very spacious and there is more than enough room for all of the guests at the pools and beach. apartment but to then exit and enter the property down a hotel corridor. Its a serious add-on. Or not really if you've stayed in both and/or looked at each brand's website. Youre greeted with a glass of bubbly and your bags are taken to meet you in your room on the other side. It's no surprise that both resorts are luxury. For us Ikos is a more chilled holiday. There are a few caveats to that. Although this is not unique to this resort, Fresco again has some stunning views overlooking the pool and the ocean. Location: Costa del Sol, Spain Whether youre looking for the perfect hotel to host your three-generational trip or an award-winning all-inclusive concept, were here to help plan your luxury Greece holiday today. These areas have stayed protected and are cornered off and its nice to be able to soak up the history of the place. The water was very clear and the Ikos provided the equipment needed for it. The food here was also really good, it was very traditional and the Michelin starred menu was executed to a very impressive level. In a secluded bay opposite sister resort Ikos Dassia, Ikos Odisia offers a wealth of low-rise buildings that blend harmoniously within its hillside setting. Luxury Family Travel: Review of Ikos Dassia While Ikos Dassia's facilities and decor was a bit fresher because it was newer, you really couldn't for a second say that Sani is a tired resort. Ikos or Sani - Which luxury resort is better - The Williams The only thing we had to add up during our stay at Ikos Dassia was the kids club fees for our under-4-year-old and the babysitting fees, which we paid in cash anyway. This was a close second as our favorite place in the resort. There is no information regarding vacations in 2022, so be sure to double-check with the Ikos, to see if this benefit is still available. couples Dreams resorts All your questions answered! Providing dazzling views of the Ionian Sea and beyond, there are also 10 pools to choose from so you can relax under Greeces blazing sun. The award-winning hotel group has redefined all-inclusive family holidays by extending complimentary food and beverages within the resort to local eateries too, helping to boost the areas economy and support small businesses and the local community. 24/7 room service is also included and has a great varied menu. Included in your stay is a local drive adventure as well as green fees at Los Naranjos golf course in Nueva Andaluca for budding McIlroys. This is probably the question I get asked the most, and the most difficult to answer. Best Resort For Couples In St. Lucia: Sandals Grande St. Lucian. Is good to know the dishes have been put together by top chefs. In 2018 and 2019 at both Ikos and Sani, we paid 30 for a session (which were 3 hours in the morning or afternoon and shorter for lunch), or 45 for two sessions a day. If flights permit, try to leave in the afternoon/evening as you can still use the facilities and eat and drink at the resort on the day of your departure. WebFind the best offers for the best holidays at Ikos Resorts Offers Explore Special Offers Take advantage of the best summer deals. Yes, every staff member is very professional. And both brands deliver. So, you shouldnt have any issues getting a spot by the pool. WebAt ikos Oceania there is a totally separate adult pool which is better. Sani offers no all-inclusive options, and instead offers bed and breakfast in some hotels, half and full board. Speaking of food, there are eight dining destinations to choose from, each providing a different culinary sensation. The design of all of the rooms is really nicely done following the modern Greek aesthetic that is seen throughout the resort. You'll note from the introduction that we're planning our third visit to Sani, although I have to say that this is partly because the accommodation we wanted for the dates we need wasn't available at any of the Ikos resorts. The menus at the restaurants were devised by Michelin-starred chefs and although they dont work in the restaurants. It was definitely our favorite restaurant at the resort. Theyre all centered around making your vacation as enjoyable as possible. Living in Amsterdam we were able to easily get direct flights to Thessaloniki airport for Sani and to Corfu airport for Ikos Dassia with one of our favourite airlines for kids, Transavia. They offer luxury accommodation, all-inclusive, and the option to book deluxe if you want even more luxury on your holiday. Deluxe rooms come at a premium. Best UK family holidays Best family resorts in Turkey Best UK holiday parks More DH has surprised me with a trip to Ikos Olivia later this month! The room offering at the Ikos Aria is pretty refined, which is how we like it. over a year ago Reviewed this property Kent, United Kingdom 1 Vote No, it's for everyone. When booking you have the option to choose bed and breakfast, half board and full board. After all, Ikos was acknowledged in TripAdvisor s 2020 awards as the best all-inclusive resort in the world. There is a very nice spa at the Ikos Aria. Before booking its worth double-checking that these are still in place. You don't need to look at many photos of our accommodation in Sani and our suite in Ikos Dassia to realise that it all looks VERY similar. In fact, I wrote in my review of Ikos Dassia that the similarity was a bit disconcerting for me. Ikos all the way if having a great all-inclusive bar menu to choose from is a priority. Would you recommend this hotel for couples - Tripadvisor The standout element of the Ikos Aria compared to the other Ikos resorts is definitely the beach. The second Ikos resort is also in Halkidiki, Ikos Oceania, opened in 2017, but it wasn't a new property or asset, it was just revamped to be aligned with the style and offerings of Ikos Olivia. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. ALL this being said, Sani Club (and other Sani hotels in the resort) had a large indoor swimming pool just in case the weather turned nasty, while Ikos didn't aside from the small half-in and half-out swimming pool in the spa. Opening date: June 2023 Serious luxury. From an extensive kids and teens club, creche facilities, and kids menus. Honestly, there is not much need for the bigger rooms if youre a couple or two friends vacationing together. And it goes without saying that with the price you pay and the luxury they promise, the decor is high quality and very comfortable too. We had our own private entrance and exit to the outside. Sani also has a huge outdoor theatre, and the show we watched back in 2019 was excellent. This is actually one of the strongest benefits. Corfu and Crete. But it was also nice and familiar and those blue and neutral tones are so calming, and so Greek, and now so iconic for the two Sani brands. The Ikos chain of hotels has a number of procedures and protections in place to make sure that you have a safe and enjoyable vacation. If youre looking for a decent location to golf while you vacation we recommend looking at resorts in the south of Spain or the Algarve. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Once we arrive at the resort, the feeling of luxury and relaxation hits you on the way in. Ikos has the huge advantage of you holidaying there, and knowing that your food and drink has all been paid for. Ikos has five hotels, four of which are in Greece, and the fifth hotel opened in Spain in May 2021. So yep, Ikos Dassia wins just because it has SO many more options and being pedantic - more water to swim in! We also can't compare the spa as for some reason we have never used the spa Sani, but we hope to change that when we return! Thanks for sharing your experience with this. You can discover more on Sani Resorts here. Its the perfect resort for wannabe mermaids, with a private beach that spans 350m offering plenty of ocean to explore, alongside eight pools. Here are our picks for where to check in in 2023. You will need to wait for your room, but most times you will get your room early too. Which Ikos resort is The staff does really go above and beyond to make it an enjoyable Vacay. Voted the number one all-inclusive hotel in the world in the 2021 Travellers Choice Awards by Tripadvisor, a stay here is certainly going to be one for the holiday hall of fame.