to do, lots of different dining options, and really exceptional facilities and service. But I also know that different things matter more for some people than others. Done! It still maintains a boutique energy and never feels crowded, mainly thanks to its masses of space. The resort has 20 or so minis that guests can use, but as with everything in this resort. There's a good reason for this. PCR tests can also be organized if you need one before returning to your home country, but this does come at an additional cost. Before we go any further, SPOILER ALERT! Its a great place for families but isnt an ideal place if you want a quiet meal. So going back to my original question of which luxury resort is better, I honestly cant give you an answer as I love them both equally. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The personal concierge at Sani was more experienced and in general, Sani's reception and customer service staff were quicker to respond to our requests and seemed more knowledgeable. We did go to Sani for 2 less nights, though we did have an extra child holidaying with us. The most basic room on the resort, the double room is actually a perfect offering. The Ikos Dassia is a family-friendly resort, with a wide range of features to make your familys vacation run as smooth as possible. Ikos hotels are outstanding for couples as well as families with children of all ages. The Ikos Aria is definitely on the premium side. This is further complemented by the hotels Local Discovery programme where you can explore the areas heritage on a range of experiences all included within your stay. Speaking of food, there are eight dining destinations to choose from, each providing a different culinary sensation. We were staying in a deluxe room, so they also went through all of the additional features that you could make use of too. This obviously means you will get a bill at the end of your holiday, and if you havent been to Sani before, drinks and food are not cheap, as of course this is a luxury 5* resort. 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. Ikos Oceania, Halkidiki Best for redefining resorts The small Ikos groups aim is to reimagine the all-inclusive experience, and it certainly achieves that The kids pool and play areas are also really nice. It sounds obvious but you would be surprised how many so-called 5-star resorts don't do this. In other words, they are in hotels that were already built and the company bought them and then refurbished. Older teens can also use the gym in the hotels at Sani, and our eldest really enjoyed doing this last time we went. 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. 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 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 ). Opened in May 2019, the Ikos Aria is a 5-star all-inclusive resort that is one of the premium options in Europe. The value that you get for that price is really good though. Walking the sleepy streets of Kos Town will introduce you to Venetian and Ottoman architecture, traditional tavernas and bustling bars. Best Overall All-Inclusive Resort In Tulum: Barcel Maya Riviera. If you can decide on where you want to eat before your holiday its best to book them as early as possible. It took eight years to drain the water and make the land habitable. Spas promote soothing treatments with products by Anne Semonin, and activities range from yoga to water sports. 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. Theres even a football academy that runs over the summer holidays. If youre in need of a coastal escape with an exceptional difference, Ikos Andalusia is a great choice. Which Ikos resort is Unlike All-inclusive resorts in South America where you tip for every drink, we normally tip after the first round. 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. Its open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and there is a really wide variety of food to sample. 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. Its the perfect resort for wannabe mermaids, with a private beach that spans 350m offering plenty of ocean to explore, alongside eight pools. 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. Getting there: 50 minutes by car from Palma De Mallorca Airport They look VERY similar from the resort layout and accommodation decor through to the packages and products they offer. Best Resort for Staff & Service: For us, Sani. Getting there: 35-minutes by car from Thessaloniki Airport In short, kids clubs that run for three sessions a day - morning, lunch and afternoon - are complimentary from 4 upwards. There's just something so relaxing not worrying or even thinking about how much your hotel bill is going up with each room service order or sundowner drinks session, not to mention all the extras our kids enjoyed. The rooms are broken down into four main categories. Kos is one of the best places in Greece for couples to visit as it combines incredible beaches with picturesque towns and unique architecture. Looking for individual reviews of our stays at Ikos and Sani you can find them all here. Each of the restaurants has a set menu for guests from the Ikos resort. Just a 20-minute drive from Kos International airport you wont have to travel too far once you arrive on your vacay. One of the first things you will see from reception is the stunning view of the ocean with Kastri Island in your sights. They are 100% confidently 5-star resorts, and to achieve this when you have several if not hundreds of kids, running around all the time, is definitely something to shout about for them and for parents to fall in love with when they travel to Sani or Ikos. The room offering at the Ikos Aria is pretty refined, which is how we like it. This was a close second as our favorite place in the resort. In fact, I wrote in my review of Ikos Dassia that the similarity was a bit disconcerting for me. Pretty much everything you see is included. With the Ikos resorts they have a feature as part of their all-inclusive package called the Wine Cave. Dimitra Beach Hotel & Suites. Obviously the best way to compare costs is to contact Ikos and Sani direct, or use a travel agent if you wish. The entertainment at the Ikos Aria is a little limited. You can book into restaurants on their app or by calling the reception. Open date: March 2015 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 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. Or not really if you've stayed in both and/or looked at each brand's website. You can also order these golf carts wherever you are in the resort. 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. Located on Kos southwest coast, it spans 47-acres and offers access to the islands silk-soft sand beach. Getting there: 50-minutes by car from Thessaloniki Airport The good thing, as well, was that the drinks were really good, which is often not the case with all-inclusive resorts. In other words, none of the Ikos resorts were purpose-built, albeit lots of intentional re-development and construction has occurred with some new buildings added on. These are Mylotopi, Alis, and Limnionas. Corfu and Crete. This button will take you to a short form where we'll ask about your destination and preferences. The check-in staff was really good at explaining the layout of the resort, as well as all of the features of the resort. Both Ikos and Sani are owned by the same company however the hotels do differ. From local traditional to DJs its nice to have something playing in the background as you enjoy your evening. 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. 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. The design of all of the rooms is really nicely done following the modern Greek aesthetic that is seen throughout the resort. On average the sessions cost around 30 per child, but the price is dependent on the age range. This is probably the question I get asked the most, and the most difficult to answer. One of the great features of Ikos resorts is local discovery. 393 contemporary rooms and suites offer every modern comfort you could possibly need, alongside exceptional views of the resorts manicured gardens and pools. Food & Dinning: Pretty much the same in terms of quality, but Ikos is the winner for other reasons! This alone is the main reason we will keep on returning to Sani and Ikos resorts! There was more than enough room throughout the beach. Q. Based on reviews and ratings by travellers, the resort also took Forest Holidays Delamere Our Anniversary Break, Accommodation in a one bedroom suite 1700, Accommodation at Sani Asterias in a one bedroom suite 1280, Extras which included our drinks, lunches, pedalo hire, room service 402. Within a few minutes, we had gone through the check-in experience and were on our way to our room. Location: Costa del Sol, Spain 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! The Ikos is the perfect spot for families. 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. Coming in at 40sq.m you get that extra little bit of space compared to the double room. Best resort for beaches: Ikos (although can only comment on Ikos Dassia!). This room comes with two separate bedrooms, a large separate living area, and two bathrooms. But to date, there are no plans to launch any other Sani-branded resorts outside of what is already there. That being said the deluxe areas do have nicer sun loungers and day beds. This was the one restaurant that we didnt get to visit during our stay so we have excluded this from the rankings, but this Greek restaurant serves up authentic local food with a focus on fresh seafood. 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. Our Best All-Inclusive Resorts In Puerto Vallarta for Food, Our Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Los Cabos for Food. Double Bungalow with Garden View at Ikos Olivia. If you book directly through their website and youre staying for 5 or more days, then transfers are usually included. So book your accommodation, get some great flights, and then all you have to do is start thinking about what you're going to pack and get excited. They came at the same time each day and did a really thorough clean. 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. The standard at this resort is top quality and the staff work incredibly hard to earn their tips. As Ikos are stand-alone hotels, the restaurant choice is smaller, but you still get a great variety of places to dine at.

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