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This is one of those features that really distinguishes the Ikos as a premium spot for vacations. 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. There are no all-inclusive options at Sani. Hotel child prices apply to children aged between 211 years. We found that the pasta dishes were a little bland and the pizzas lacked that authentic Italian cook. The Ikos chain of resorts has become the standout chain of resorts over the last number of years in the luxury all-inclusive market and the Ikos Aria lives up to the hype. Honestly, there is not much need for the bigger rooms if youre a couple or two friends vacationing together. It is one of the main selling points of the Ikos resorts. The Ikos Aria on Kos is the latest addition to the portfolio, created following the wholesale reconstruction of the facilities of the islands Club Med, which had been closed for years. The beach at the Ikos Aria was really long and spacious. As part of the dine-out feature, there are three restaurants that you can choose from that are included in your all-inclusive package. Ikos too is also an award-winning brand. Although you wont find an all-inclusive resort as nice as the Ikos Aria in those areas. Location: Corfu, Greece The Ikos Andalusia currently is our top-rated Ikos resort, so check out the review. I also run the Ikos Olivia group on Facebook which you are more than welcome to join. However, if youd rather relax poolside youre spoilt for choice. Although guests arent required to perform an antigen test, its highly recommended from the Ikos that guests do use 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 year, is the first outside of Greece, in Andalusia in Spain. We also got to have a little drive around Corfu Town which has lots of historic monuments and a pretty old town. Plans to develop and launch Ikos as the brand we now know it to be were announced in the early 2010s and in 2015 the first Ikos all-inclusive resort, Ikos Olivia, also located in Halkidiki near Sani, was opened. 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. The private pools were really exactly the same in terms of size and cleanliness, but we definitely noticed that our pool at Sani was warmer than Ikos and when we asked if the temperature could be increased at Ikos, we were told this wasn't possible, while we remember at Sani that they talked about the possibility of adjusting pool temperatures although we didn't actually need it there. Although you do pay a premium for the treatments. He went above and beyond to make sure we had the most complete dining experience. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Getting there: 1-hour by car from Mlaga-Costa del Sol Airport The most basic room on the resort, the double room is actually a perfect offering. The experience we had was very personal and had that luxury touch. Opening date: June 2023 Thank you Stephen for saying that and I am glad you found the post helpful, Really balanced and helpful . Yes and you can read more about Ikos green initiatives here. // How to "Teach" Travel to Kids // Best Books About Travel for Babies // Best Books About Travel for 2 - 6 Year Olds. If you are going half or full board, you will be using their dine around option, which gives you the flexibility of either dining from a set menu at certain restaurants, or using your half/full board allowance which is currently set at 20 euros per adult (Beach) 25 euros (Porto, Club, Dunes) and 40 euros for Asterias. Thank you Tracey, Hi Karen thank you for saying that. Our favorite thing to do and we were not sure if you can categorize this as an amenity, but we really enjoyed the snorkeling that you could do just off the beach. 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! The Sani resort states that they have kept parts of the marshland in its original state and guests can explore it by walking, running and other activities like bird-spotting. Both resorts offer brilliant activities, and at Ikos everything will be included apart from motorised sports. This is the main buffet at the resort and one of the more casual places to dine. BUT this does NOT bother us. All Ikos resorts welcome adults as well as children with a range of activities to suit all ages. I have seen a couple of posters have been to Ikos resorts and would love it if people fancy sharing their positive experiences of the Ikos hotels? There are adult-only areas available. They also have plans to open another four hotels over the next few years in Majorca, Portugal. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Like an omelet station for breakfast. With this room, you can have three adults or two adults and a child stay in it. So, if you want peak relaxation the private areas are quite nice. We decided on Sani as we felt it has a slightly more grown up feel, and we love dining around the marina. We really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere here. Location: Halkidiki, Greece View Foreign Travel Advice for Greece Opened in May 2019, the Ikos Aria is a 5-star all-inclusive resort that is one of the premium options in Europe. Although there are some pockets of Greece that have decent Golf courses. This suite caters to up to three adults and two kids. In order to maximize the length of your stay we recommend that you try to arrive in the morning of your first day and go for an evening flight for your last day. Sani has been going a LONG time while when we were at Ikos Dassia the resort was only in its second season. This is the exact same room and set-up as the double room the only difference is the occupancy. Best Overall All-Inclusive Resort In Tulum: Barcel Maya Riviera. It still maintains a boutique energy and never feels crowded, mainly thanks to its masses of space. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. Voted number one all-inclusive in the world and in Europe at the 2020 Tripadvisor Travellers Choice awards, Ikos Dassia has a fantastic position on Corfus coast. Here are our picks for where to check in in 2023. Alcoholic drinks at Sani were expensive (10 - 20 for cocktails, for example), and weren't any better or any worse than those poured at Ikos Dassia, And furthermore, Ikos had a much more extensive wine list, including a wine bar that you could go spend an evening in and do some tasting, featuring a menu of up to 300 different wines. all inclusive! In Europe this is fairly unique, so you need to make sure you make the most of it. We even saw one family with a cot on the beach. One of the great features of Ikos resorts is local discovery. A Spanish restaurant whose menu is designed by acclaimed Chef David Ibarboure. Currently, for stays in 2021, there are free cancellations up to 2 weeks prior to arrival as well as the full deposit refund too. Best in the Maldives: LUX South Ari Atoll See Rates at TripAdvisor "The resort's private family villas offer plenty of space with outdoor terraces facing directly onto the beach." but that Kos would have been a longer flight, which is something we try to avoid with two young children. Our favorite dishes were definitely the courgette risotto and the slow-cooked beef. 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. Theyre all centered around making your vacation as enjoyable as possible. The staff were really good and collected empties once you were finished. Close-up details of the room at the Ikos Andalusia The Best Resort for Location: Ikos (but only just!). Meanwhile, Ikos is a brand with five different locations, and I would imagine more will be added in due course. 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 year, is the first outside of Greece, in Andalusia in Spain. In fact, all of the Greek Ikos resorts aren't all completely new buildings but rather existing hotels or developments that have been bought (or not if they were existing hotels owned by the group) re-developed, re-branded, and repurposed. 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. We did a bit of research and found that the Ikos resorts in Kos and Halkidiki also would have been possible with direct flights (indeed Halkidiki is the same as Sani!) Very luxurious, very calming colours, and both Ikos and Sani offer Anne Semonin toiletries in your bathroom. 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. It was definitely our favorite restaurant at the resort. In fact, my one big bug bear with Sani was that I really begrudged paying for water because it's actually essential to drink only bottled water in Greece and yet they charged us for any bottled water we drank in the restaurants, but they did thankfully give us plenty for our room. However you might prefer to soak up the sunset on your balcony, and both Ikos and Sani have the more traditional style of hotel accommodation. This meant our interior exit and entrance was down a hotel corridor. 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. The good thing, as well, was that the drinks were really good, which is often not the case with all-inclusive resorts. All-Inclusive Resorts: Resorts that have thought of everything so you don't have to. From these room types, there is the option to add the deluxe offering to most of them. Ikos or Sani - Which luxury resort is better - The Williams 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. Everything about it was top class and the staff were great at keeping our glasses full. Its open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and has a lovely selection of food. There is also a massive patio and private garden area here that is perfect for the kids to play in for the day. Its a must-see. Ikos all the way if having a great all-inclusive bar menu to choose from is a priority. The Ikos is the perfect spot for families. There was more than enough room throughout the beach. Frankie is the, Frances M. Thompson - Copyright 2011 - 2023, Luxury Family Travel: Ikos vs Sani - Which Resort is Better?, at Sani (in Halkidiki on mainland Greece), my review of Sani Resort (we stayed in Sani Club), revamped to be aligned with the style and offerings of Ikos Olivia, Sani Beach Club, a purpose built high-rise hotel, Sani resort does have an adults-only hotel - Sani Dunes, The Best Resorts for Families in the Maldives, World's Best Resorts for Luxury Family Travel, Tips for Helping a Baby or Toddler with Jet-Lag, Packing List for a Ski or Snowboard Holiday with a Toddler, Tips for Visiting Singapore with a Toddler, Travel Activities for Kids (to Do at Home! There is a relatively good drinks selection on offer too with the likes of Absolut Vodka, Bombay Gin, Havana Club, and Campari to name a few. Or not really if you've stayed in both and/or looked at each brand's website. Just to add in another variable to think through. Although Greece is a truly wonderful tourist destination. Read More New Opening: Ikos Porto Petro Updates 16 June 2023 Discover Open date: 2015 You can discover more on Sani Resorts here. Before the Sani resort existed, it was a marshland and uninhabited. This year we were due to holiday at both Ikos and Sani again, but unfortunately our stay at Ikos Andalusia has been cancelled. While we only got to sample one of these restaurants while on an excursion one of the days it was well worth it. Just for teens is suitable for teens aged 12+, (Ratio: Ages 423 months: 1 adult: 3 children / Ages 23 years: 1 adult: 4 children). Ikos hotels offer Italian, Greek, Asian, French and also main buffet restaurants (though the buffet restaurant has been changed during the pandemic). I would describe the entertainment at Ikos and Sani as low key, and in our 5 visits Ive never had to partake in a cheesy holiday dance, thank goodness. The blue-flag awarded beach beckons sunworshippers of all ages with loungers and umbrellas aplenty alongside beach childcare if youd like to take a few moments of me time. On average the sessions cost around 30 per child, but the price is dependent on the age range. Babysitters were charged at 10 an hour and you had to pay this in case to the babysitter who was nearly always a member of creche staff. I also hope, perhaps most importantly of all, that regardless of which resort you choose - Sani or Ikos - you now feel reassured you are investing in a wonderful luxury family holiday for you and your family! Surrounded by the beaches of Aghios Fokas, the five-star Dimitra Beach Hotel & Suites sets the scene for romantic escapes. Once we arrive at the resort, the feeling of luxury and relaxation hits you on the way in. WebAt ikos Oceania there is a totally separate adult pool which is better. And yep, it was even better ordering wine, beer, cocktails, and even Champagne and not worrying about having to pay that too! With 8 restaurants on the resort and the option to eat in local restaurants with the Dine out benefit there will always be a new place to try each night. If you have arrived at my blog and would like to support me in buying a coffee - you can donate 3. Its also worth mentioning that three of these pools are infinity edged, the ideal spot to take a new pic for the gram. Best Resort for Kid's Clubs & Family-Friendly Facilities: Same. Within a few minutes, we had gone through the check-in experience and were on our way to our room. There was so much room for the size of the resort. Kos is a foodie town and there are loads of great options for restaurants in the area. Although there are ways to put your best foot forward in securing the tables you want. Asserting the brands new roots in Spain, just like its dominance in the family hotel world of Greece, Ikos Porto Petro is the second Spanish resort for Ikos which is set to open in June 2023. 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. Unsubscribe anytime (but why would you want to?). Food & Dinning: Pretty much the same in terms of quality, but Ikos is the winner for other reasons! Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Getting there: 20-minutes by car from Corfu Airport Firstly, Sani resort is a one-off resort, albeit with five different hotels included in the resort. On our last visit in 2019, we spent an extra 52 euros over the 7 days we were there. A. The water is beautiful and warm in both resorts, but at Sani Club it's not possible to swim at all points on the beach, and in fact one of the "beach" sections with loungers is actually a raised up area. This is actually one of the strongest benefits. We don't necessarily go on holiday to make friends with the staff or form long-lasting bonds. The standard of food at the Ikos Aria was really good. WebThe OKU Kos is one of the best hotels in Kos for couples to stay. It was so nice at Ikos to not have to think about ordering more water and this inflating our bill every time. 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. So, you shouldnt have any issues getting a spot by the pool. 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. They are all about taking care of the children so the adults can relax too. Ikos Porto Petro is the second Spanish resort for the hotel group and will open in June 2023. They offer luxury accommodation, all-inclusive, and the option to book deluxe if you want even more luxury on your holiday. The Ikos does incentivize you to get out of the resort and explore the local area. A. Experiences are also included at no extra cost throughout your stay under the Infinite Lifestyle concept including borrowing a MINI cooper to explore archaeological sites, hidden caves and more. The kids pool and play areas are also really nice. 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. Unlike All-inclusive resorts in South America where you tip for every drink, we normally tip after the first round. Dreams resorts All your questions answered! Every member of staff that we had interactions with was keen to help us make our stay run as smoothly as possible. In short, kids clubs that run for three sessions a day - morning, lunch and afternoon - are complimentary from 4 upwards. Both have a large presence in Greece and are fantastic for families. Though if you prefer to know that everything is paid for beforehand, Ikos would be the best holiday. 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. For the active visitor, youll be thrilled to hear you have access to four tennis courts, a five-a-side football pitch, yoga lessons, Pilates and a range of fitness classes and games available and included with your stay. Nope, not really. All of the meals that we had here from starter to dessert were really well executed. 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. Ikos are a fully all-inclusive brand, nothing is extra, all premium drink is included, and you can literally go to Ikos and not spend anything. Blogging our travels and family life since 2013. This bungalow can cater to up to 4 adults and 2 kids. Although this is not unique to this resort, Fresco again has some stunning views overlooking the pool and the ocean. Like this article? Location: Kos, Greece Their Covid policy is called the Infinite Care policy and has a host of features. Kos is one of the best places in Greece for couples to visit as it combines incredible beaches with picturesque towns and unique architecture. Ikos Resorts: sit back and enjoy waiter service by the pool Ikos Resorts, Greece. Location: Corfu, Greece Its effectively like a bus route that runs throughout the resort. They are owned by the Greek registered company Sani / Ikos Group which is ultimately owned by the family company that began the Sani resort back in the 1970s. As are a range of sports, games and activities; nightly entertainment; and dedicated age-appropriate kids clubs that have a schedule of daily fun to suit all. The second you walk into the resort you will notice its stunning design and decor choices. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Honestly, I can't answer that for you and your family. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Both resorts offer fantastic luxury family holidays with plenty of things for kids (and adults!) You can book into restaurants on their app or by calling the reception. The food, service, and overall experience were luxurious. And both brands deliver. Ikos hotels are outstanding for couples as well as families with children of all ages. Best Resort for Staff & Service: For us, Sani. 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. converting likert scales into numbers, old fashioned roll up window shades, thompson funeral chapel obituaries,

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