Holiday excitement is unmatched: prepping yourself for two weeks of sun, quality food and drinks, and complete relaxation. And for anyone who has been, you’ll know that ikos Resorts have garnered a reputation for providing all of that, and so much more.
For those unfamiliar with the ikos concept, they provide a unique and very special 5* Ultra All-Inclusive family-friendly experience, currently within Greece and Spain. Think beautiful resorts, up to 9 a la carte restaurants onsite, beautiful swimming pools and beaches, unrivalled childrens’ entertainment, state-of-the-art fitness and wellbeing, and the opportunity to explore the local culture.
OVERVIEW
This was our first visit to Odisia – but the fourth ikos Resort that we have tried – and I am learning that they all have their own quirks, and although all providing the same ‘ikos concept’, they do all offer something slightly different, to cater to each and all guests’ requirements.
Odisia is the largest ikos to date – set in a Resort of over 60 acres, which is the equivalent of 40 football pitches, for reference – and is split into four villages, with modern low-rise buildings dotted across the beautifully landscaped gardens.
FACILITIES
At first glance, the Resort and the scale of it can seem overwhelming, but it has been cleverly designed, and the continual stream of golf buggies buzzing about can make for quick transfers, if and when required. Bikes are also available to all guests from the sports center, which can be handy for getting about, although given that we visited at the end of the season, some of these had definitely seen better days, in particular the offering for our 6 year old daughter.
She did have little opportunity to make the most of the bikes, given that we were unfortunately unlucky with the weather on some days: Corfu in October was always going to be a risk! Bikes and temperamental weather aside, Molly was kept more than occupied, between meeting friends at one of the four pools, or at the Heroes Village. She has been lucky to try various clubs across various countries and hotels, and I am yet to find a club that gets Molly as excited as the ikos ‘Heroes Club’. With designated areas for three age ranges – as well as a Teens Club – they are kept busy, creative and happy at all times: Arts & Crafts, Olympic Games and visits to the Gelateria Cart were just some of her favourite activities.
FOOD & DRINKS
ikos also now offer ‘Supper Club’, for guests over age the of 4. This is payable, at 30€ for a three-hour session (7-10pm), which I do believe to be good value for money, and it has proven to be extremely popular! All kiddies being taken for dinner with their friends at Flavors, the Hotel’s Buffet Restaurant, and then taken back to the Heroes Village for a themed evening: Silent Disco, and Games Night were just two of the evenings that took place while we were there. Parents can enjoy dinner in peace, while the youngest members of the family are kept entertained, and given that vital energy burn before bedtime! Molly is getting slightly too old for the Mini Disco that ikos offer every evening, so Supper Club was a great alternative, and had a great age range of kiddies attending.
Speaking of food, Odisia offers a varied selection of eight Restaurants across the Resort available to all guests, with reservations required in advance – and these go fast, especially at popular family mealtimes, so be prepared and book in ahead, if you can!
Flavors – the Hotel’s Buffet offering, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and with themed evenings;
Ouzo – Greek, with some lovely views and also open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a buffet breakfast and a casual BBQ buffet offering at lunch;
Fresco – Italian, down by the beach, another that opens three times a day, with a limited buffet and ‘Eggs Menu’ breakfast;
Oliva – Spanish, one of our favourites at Odisia, and only open for dinner, as well as being the location for Wine Tasting sessions;
Sea Grill – BBQ, beachside alfresco, and absolutely perfect for those long, lazy lunches. Do NOT leave without sampling a Mango Chilli Surprise cocktail or three, and you can thank me later for the recommendation;
Azul – the first ikos Peruvian restaurant, and another very popular among guests, with it only being open for dinner;
Anaya – Asian, and hands down our favourite restaurant across all ikos resorts that we have visited;
Elia – another ‘first’ for ikos, this one offers a modern twist on Greek classics. Open for all three meals, and with a fantastic outdoor bar, Elia has live music and DJ Sets throughout the day, creating a fab chilled atmosphere to enjoy the ULTIMATE panoramic cliff top views.
Room Service is also available to all guests on a 24 hour basis, and is included in your stay. This is perfect for late night arrivals, feeding the kids before dinner, or a cosy night in, if it all catches up and you fancy a relaxing evening in your room. There is a fantastic ‘Movie Night’ menu available, with a selection of ikos-style snacks available for all the family.
Daily wine tasting sessions – cleverly and thoughtfully arranged at a time when the children can be booked into the Heroes Club – are a great opportunity to try something new and also sample the ikos ‘Private Cellar’ range, before ordering them in one of the restaurants or many rars. The Resort’s Sommelier was engaging, and incredibly knowledgable, without making the average ‘pale rosé in a thin-stemmed glass’ drinker like myself feel as uneducated as I undoubtedly am! He was also very present in the restaurants in the evenings, and available to suggest recommended pairings for guests.
With all of that eating, wine tasting and cocktail-sampling, I should have absolutely made my way up to the gym or sports center on a more regular basis than I did. With that being said, other than a visit to the Spa – another must-do, to appreciate those coastline views! – I didn’t seem to spend much time in this area of the Resort, despite promising myself prior to our arrival that I would make an effort to do so!
On Corfu, ikos also have Dassia – another of their resorts, albeit a lot smaller than the newer Odisia – less than 2.5k away, with a shuttle going between the two throughout the day, to allow guests to use the facilities in both. You can have lunch, use the pools, or book in to one of the Restaurants for dinner, if you are looking for a change of scenery, without compromising on the experience.
There is also the opportunity to take a shuttle into Corfu Old Town or, if you wish to explore further afield, take one of the resort’s many Teslas out for the day. There are also three ‘Dine Out’ options, where guests can enjoy a local dining experience: something we are yet to do, as we never seem to be able to pull ourselves away from the restaurants within the resort.
FINAL THOUGHTS
All in all, I am forming the opinion that there is the right ikos for everyone who is looking for ultra all-inclusive relaxation within Europe: it just comes down to requirements and preferences. Rumours are circulating that they may soon announce their first Adults-Only Resort, with there certainly appearing to be a demand for one. Or, perhaps, the family-friendly offering is part of their appeal, allowing multi-generational families to vacation together, without anyone compromising on luxury, quality or entertainment.
In the meantime, we will just continue the countdown to unpacking our bags next year at Kissamos: ikos’ newest offering, and their first on the island of Crete.
This review was written by Hannah Wilson. Hannah is an Independent Travel Agent and Online Travel Business Owner who loves travelling with her husband and daughter Molly.
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