One of the negatives about the Ikos Aria is that the restaurants can be quite difficult to get bookings in when the resort is at full capacity. 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. Both resorts offer brilliant activities, and at Ikos everything will be included apart from motorised sports. Infinite Lifestyle is the name given to Ikos Resorts revolutionary all-inclusive concept. So since writing this comparison of the two brands, I've found out that most of the Ikos resorts (if not all) have been launched in buildings that already existed. In short, we think that the premium is worth it if youre celebrating a special occasion and looking to treat yourself, but its not 100% necessary as the standard rooms have a great level of luxury to them. The locations are two in Halkidiki ( Oceania and Olivia) on mainland Greece, a resort each on the Greek islands of Kos and Corfu, and the fifth resort which opens this The food here was also really good, it was very traditional and the Michelin starred menu was executed to a very impressive level. There is a fleet of golf carts that have routes that cover the whole resort. It still maintains a boutique energy and never feels crowded, mainly thanks to its masses of space. Located a short walk from the marina, theres plenty to see and do during your Spanish escape. While our kids are so young and we are so tired, we really don't want to leave the resort much. 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. There is a very nice spa at the Ikos Aria. Likewise, it's more important to us that the food is good and varied than it is we have an extensive drinks menu (because we're generally happy with beer and wine most of the time). One of the issues we heard multiple guests run into before we travelled was getting reservations for restaurants. Ikos usual all-inclusive offerings are also included at this resort so you can explore the locale at leisure without spending a penny. To give you an insight into pricing, Ive put below what we paid for our Ikos and Sani holiday, both of which were in 2019. With five hotels in one complex, which one will you choose? FURTHER READING: Want more luxury family travel content? It was SO nice not to have to think about money at any stage with food be it at the buffet, ordering cocktails, going out for dinner or ordering room service. A. What you will find are white night parties on the beach (do not miss this as they are brilliant), singers and musicians in the bars, and entertainment on selected evenings. Theyre multi award-winning and together the brand has held the number one spot for all-inclusive holidays in the world for the past four consecutive years. Its open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and has a lovely selection of food. Location: Halkidiki, Greece Opening date: June 2023 The food here was a little disappointing. Ikos has the huge advantage of you holidaying there, and knowing that your food and drink has all been paid for. We will still need to pay extra for drinks, but I think we'll survive! This is down to the activities on offer for teens, the resort is bigger which means there is more for them to do. So if you want more choice of locations - or flying to Thessaloniki (the nearest airport to Halkidiki) is not possible this may mean that an Ikos resort is the best option for you. 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. Sadly the area around the Ikos Aria there is none. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I am Tracey and together with my husband and two teenagers we are The Williams World. All Ikos resorts have or are being opened in the last two years with Andalusia opening in the coming season. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. And speaking of the beach, both resorts have the Babewatch service where kids club/creche staff have a station on the beach or near a swimming pool and you can leave your kid there for up to 30 minutes for free while you go for a swim, a cocktail or a snooze on your sun lounger! Best Resort For Couples In St. Lucia: Sandals Grande St. Lucian. Theyre all centered around making your vacation as enjoyable as possible. They also have plans to open another four hotels over the next few years in Majorca, Portugal. Ikos Olivia has 3 pools plus a spa pool, and last year they introduced a childrens splash pad. This room comes with two separate bedrooms, a large separate living area, and two bathrooms. It may sound difficult to decide what youre eating in two weeks time, but if you want to guarantee a table its a necessity. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. In short, kids clubs that run for three sessions a day - morning, lunch and afternoon - are complimentary from 4 upwards. For example, for us, quiet and comfortable accommodation and a good swimming pool will always be more important to us than the beach because we never spend much time on beaches. Although we were staying in a deluxe room and had a secluded area. Coming in at 31sq.m its comparable to a well-sized hotel room. Its interesting how other cultures perceive how you should be if you are an American. 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. There are 5 pools to choose from, the main pool, one adult, one kid, the spa pool, and a deluxe guest-only pool. This bungalow can cater to up to 4 adults and 2 kids. Room rates are already available for both resorts, and you can book your 2023 or 2024 holiday now. And dont worry about whether youll need to get up at 6am to secure a sunbed, there is plenty for everybody. And if you'd like to save this post, here are some images you can pin: Londoner turned wanderer, Frankie is an author, freelance writer and blogger. He went above and beyond to make sure we had the most complete dining experience. From local traditional to DJs its nice to have something playing in the background as you enjoy your evening. 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. Whichever room or suite you choose, the furnishings are very similar across both brands. This resort delivers on the 5-star luxury vacation billing. It took eight years to drain the water and make the land habitable. 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. Both times we have visited Sani we have booked the half board option. All of the restaurants also do a great job at catering for different dietary requirements as well as having separate menus for kids and toddlers. If you are staying in a deluxe room you will have access to more premium top-shelf options like Taittinger champagne on tap. Open date: May 2018 Ikos Aria in Greece takes its third No. 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. but that Kos would have been a longer flight, which is something we try to avoid with two young children. The seabass was a light and refreshing dish and coupled with a glass of Taittinger you really feel like you are in the lap of luxury. Is good to know the dishes have been put together by top chefs. I'll be honest and say that the main reason Ikos has the edge here is because of the all-inclusive set-up. Check-in is at 3pm, but if you arrive early the staff will check you in and you will be able to use the facilities at the resort and make the most of the all-inclusive food and drink. Just a 20-minute drive from Kos International airport you wont have to travel too far once you arrive on your vacay. When we visited they were basically booked out for the whole week ahead. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Sani's location in a bay in Halkidiki is easy to get to by car in around 50 minutes, but to be honest it's not very accessible by any other means, and actually walking to and from each hotel in the resort from Sani Club isn't easy. There is a nice hike for those of you that are adventurers and a small church to see if you just want to have a quick mosey. These areas have stayed protected and are cornered off and its nice to be able to soak up the history of the place. Unlike All-inclusive resorts in South America where you tip for every drink, we normally tip after the first round. So, no matter where you need to be you can always hitch a lift. It can be a little intimidating to decide the right room for you. We always budget a certain amount of money towards tipping. They came at the same time each day and did a really thorough clean. So, you shouldnt have any issues getting a spot by the pool. 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. There is yoga, volleyball, TRX to name a few of the activities. The accommodation has been specifically designed for all party sizes too, with rooms suitable for couples through to private bungalows that sleep up to six in utter privacy. Yes and you can read more about Ikos green initiatives here. Based on reviews and ratings by travellers, the resort also took Sani also has a huge outdoor theatre, and the show we watched back in 2019 was excellent. // How to "Teach" Travel to Kids // Best Books About Travel for Babies // Best Books About Travel for 2 - 6 Year Olds. Best Overall All-Inclusive Resort In Tulum: Barcel Maya Riviera. Before the Sani resort existed, it was a marshland and uninhabited. As you can see they are roughly the same cost. It was so nice at Ikos to not have to think about ordering more water and this inflating our bill every time. Location: Halkidiki, Greece It would be impossible to get bored of the swimming choices at either. Ikos too is also an award-winning brand. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The resort has 20 or so minis that guests can use, but as with everything in this resort. But did one of them deliver more luxury than the other? WebIkos hotels offer golden beaches, inviting pools and beautifully landscaped grounds, providing the perfect holiday setting for families and couples alike. There are currently five different Ikos hotels, four in Greece (with two in Halkidiki where Sani resort is and one each on the Greek islands of Kos and Corfu) and one near Marbella in Andalusia, Spain. Obviously the best way to compare costs is to contact Ikos and Sani direct, or use a travel agent if you wish. If we know we are going to be drinking a few rounds at the bar we would try to tip 1 euro per drink. Best Spa & Wellness Resort In St. Lucia: BodyHoliday. over a year ago Reviewed this property Kent, United Kingdom 1 Vote No, it's for everyone. 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. 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. These are Mylotopi, Alis, and Limnionas. The good thing, as well, was that the drinks were really good, which is often not the case with all-inclusive resorts. So yes, there's really no comparison here. For example, in Sani our two-bedroom private pool suite was in a short row of villas all next to each other but with privacy walls and no footpaths close to the gardens. Sani has been going a LONG time while when we were at Ikos Dassia the resort was only in its second season. All Ikos resorts welcome adults as well as children with a range of activities to suit all ages. Although you wont find an all-inclusive resort as nice as the Ikos Aria in those areas. And if you love the idea of staying in one of the Ikos resorts, you need to discover more about its sister hotel Sani Resort. Hotel child prices apply to children aged between 211 years. There are also Michelin-starred menus available at the seven dining destinations which are all included within the cost of your stay, alongside dining at a range of local eateries. We have recently returned from our 4th visit to Sani (October 2022) and I have written a seperate post about the best restaurants at Sani. Some of the differences are very subtle (or non-existent!) 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. WebIkos Aria All of our holidays are tailor-made to your requirements by an expert Travel Specialist 01244 435 177 Enquire Now The Inspiring Difference Personal to you We get to know you personally Tailor-made holidays that are unique to you Enhancing your escape with personal touches Experts in luxury The second resort for the Ikos family, Ikos Oceania is also in Halkidiki on another glorious stretch of Mediterranean coastline. The housekeeping service was also very consistent. Walking the sleepy streets of Kos Town will introduce you to Venetian and Ottoman architecture, traditional tavernas and bustling bars. ), Best Books About Travel for 2 - 6 Year Olds, Amsterdam Travel: The Best Things to do in Amsterdam in Winter, On Writing: Tips for Writing a First Draft, Both hotels had pamphlets and promotional material about, If you hadn't yet got the message, if you want to eat and drink as much as you want and not pay any extra, the. Every member of staff that we had interactions with was keen to help us make our stay run as smoothly as possible. This was actually one of our favorite places to go for lunch where they have a nice selection of light dishes. Theyre multi award-winning and together the brand has held the number one spot for all-inclusive holidays in the world for the past four consecutive years. In fact, most days we didn't venture further than the kids club or a restaurant in both Sani and Ikos resorts, but if location is important to you in terms of getting there, getting out and about, and having easy ways to explore, then yes, Ikos has the edge. Although this is not unique to this resort, Fresco again has some stunning views overlooking the pool and the ocean. Because they offer such a similar product, I know that many people may like to know which of these luxury family resorts are going to be better for their family; Ikos or Sani? Getting there: 50-minutes by car from Thessaloniki Airport There is a large bedroom with a separated living area that has a sofa that converts into three beds, so this is a great room if youre traveling with kids or teens, and what that little bit of separation between your sleeping quarters. Throughout the stay, the service was really impeccable. 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. If the concepts are so similar and they are actually the same company, then it's a good question to ask how Sani and Ikos resorts are different. They have the high rope course which is complimentary, the teen zone which is open all season, and they also offer the football and tennis academy. Dummy textThanks for sharing your experience with this. The buffet has similar offerings and variety, and while Sani has more options included in the Dine Out menu (read more about that in my Sani review), it's also true that we didn't really maximise this because we didn't want to venture too far away either with the kids or without them leaving them with a babysitter. Oh, and dont forget Ikos Andalusia, the first Spanish hotel for the group, and the brand new Mallorcan resort Ikos Porto Petro (opening in June 2023) are also a superb options if you want to half your flight time, particularly good for those travelling with very young children. It may boast more than 400 rooms and suites, however it doesnt have a large resort feel. Once you arrive at the resort you will receive a complimentary antigen test to take. WebBest for couples: Island hop in style by combining stays at both Grace Santorini and Grace Mykonos in one trip. This alone is the main reason we will keep on returning to Sani and Ikos resorts! Having excellent facilities for children is one of the central pillars of both the Ikos and the Sani brand.