IKOS - Andalusia & Dassia | Review
Discussion
Having just returned from IKOS Dassia, I thought I'd write a review and paste a previous post on Andalusia:
May 2023 - IKOS Andalusia
Having returned from a week at Ikos Andalusia with two kids under 2.5 years here is my review:
The idea of Ikos is a good one. The initial impressions are good, from being greeted by a rep in arrivals who then escorts you to find your driver a few metres away. The Merc Vitos both ways were clean and both kid seats, both ways, in good condition and friendly drivers too.
By the look of it we'd arrived at a busy time and were escorted to a sofa in reception to do check in. It was then suggested that we conclude the check in after having some lunch but we politely pointed out our younger travellers and asked be shown our room, which was duly done.
The staff at the various eateries were very attentive and good humoured. The breakfast buffet offering was, as you'd expect, more than you'd ever need and the food on the whole was very tasty.
We were aware that the hotel was quite early on in it's season, but we soon found out from chatting to staff that our Saturday check in was their second day of the season, and unfortunately this became clear when we started having dealings with guest relations up at reception with regard to our restaurant bookings, such was the confusion that we had daily dealings with them either in person or via Whatsapp.
Points to note:
1) despite having 18-20 Teslas, there seem only to be ten available per day - and you're meant to have a day's use of a car included in your booking, so you'd better book far in advance of your holiday if you want one of the ten cars loaned out by the several-hundred-room hotel!
2) Restaurant bookings were tough to get at the preferred time, but we found out that due to people just not turning up, or for other reasons, we often managed to get a table 40 - 60 mins prior to our booking.
3) Their baby monitors are not the video variety and I didn't test the range outside the confines of our room so cannot comment on their usefulness if, like us, you like to stick to routine and have child-free evenings.
4) I learned that Andalusia's staff turnover each season is 50%. Couple that with the fact some of their trained staff were apparently in Mallorca helping train staff at their new place there, then that leaves many inexperienced staff running the Andalusia machine.
5) There are no restaurants open at kids' supper time so every night is room service night for them, which wasn't a problem for us as we luckily had a garden room and room service was generally pretty good and prompt.
6) Whilst there is shade over the adults' outside gym and a yoga/pilates area, there is no shade over the kids' playground (we pointed this out to them).
7) There is a shaded play area adjoining the creche, but you can only use it if the creche sessions are not using it.
To conclude, the offering is great but when we were there polished perception of the brand was just not present. If you can afford to go one or two months into the season then I'd do that.
May 2023 - IKOS Andalusia
Having returned from a week at Ikos Andalusia with two kids under 2.5 years here is my review:
The idea of Ikos is a good one. The initial impressions are good, from being greeted by a rep in arrivals who then escorts you to find your driver a few metres away. The Merc Vitos both ways were clean and both kid seats, both ways, in good condition and friendly drivers too.
By the look of it we'd arrived at a busy time and were escorted to a sofa in reception to do check in. It was then suggested that we conclude the check in after having some lunch but we politely pointed out our younger travellers and asked be shown our room, which was duly done.
The staff at the various eateries were very attentive and good humoured. The breakfast buffet offering was, as you'd expect, more than you'd ever need and the food on the whole was very tasty.
We were aware that the hotel was quite early on in it's season, but we soon found out from chatting to staff that our Saturday check in was their second day of the season, and unfortunately this became clear when we started having dealings with guest relations up at reception with regard to our restaurant bookings, such was the confusion that we had daily dealings with them either in person or via Whatsapp.
Points to note:
1) despite having 18-20 Teslas, there seem only to be ten available per day - and you're meant to have a day's use of a car included in your booking, so you'd better book far in advance of your holiday if you want one of the ten cars loaned out by the several-hundred-room hotel!
2) Restaurant bookings were tough to get at the preferred time, but we found out that due to people just not turning up, or for other reasons, we often managed to get a table 40 - 60 mins prior to our booking.
3) Their baby monitors are not the video variety and I didn't test the range outside the confines of our room so cannot comment on their usefulness if, like us, you like to stick to routine and have child-free evenings.
4) I learned that Andalusia's staff turnover each season is 50%. Couple that with the fact some of their trained staff were apparently in Mallorca helping train staff at their new place there, then that leaves many inexperienced staff running the Andalusia machine.
5) There are no restaurants open at kids' supper time so every night is room service night for them, which wasn't a problem for us as we luckily had a garden room and room service was generally pretty good and prompt.
6) Whilst there is shade over the adults' outside gym and a yoga/pilates area, there is no shade over the kids' playground (we pointed this out to them).
7) There is a shaded play area adjoining the creche, but you can only use it if the creche sessions are not using it.
To conclude, the offering is great but when we were there polished perception of the brand was just not present. If you can afford to go one or two months into the season then I'd do that.
June 2024 - IKOS Dassia
We went for IKOS Dassia back in January, primarily for the change of scenery but that their beach appeared to be more the sandy variety than Andalusia.
For this booking we went via BA.com for the flights and hotel, and due to issues from our stay last year I had a return airport transfer thrown in (which is usually only for bookings made direct with IKOS). Furthermore, I was also able to pre-book our full week's dinner reservations in one go.
One of the immediate advantages of staying in Dassia is the very short, non-motorway transfer, but at 20/25 minutes it was long enough for both kids to have 30 winks as neither slept on the flight.
The greeting was slick enough, as we were ushered to sit down in reception after a wipe of the face with a lemon-scented cloth, to hear about the hotel's offering. This was delivered at speed as though they knew they had another few guests coming from our flight, so had to crack on. As returning guests (and with kids a year older than they were last year) this was not a problem for us, and we downed our glass of fizz to be shown to our room. This year we went one level down on the room and had a "Panorama Junior family suite, sea view" which was fine for our needs, although having been spoilt with booking a garden room last year, it took a day getting used to it, but once all our stuff was packed away, the room was perfect for our needs. This room type has a double width balcony, so inside there's plenty of space for a cot wedged in one corner next to the sofa bed away from the main double.
Once again we were given the details of our concierge to add to Whatsapp, but this service should be treated as nothing more than you having an extension of the hotel reception on your phone, as opposed to using the in-room or going to reception in person. As it happens, I spoke to reception in person to ask for things, which then were not done, so used the concierge on Whatsapp as an override/speedier fix to things.
All the meals were excellent, and restaurant staff attentive and plentiful. The buffet restaurant where most guests have breakfast (I assume in all resorts this one is called Flavours) was good, if busy (this year we were having breakfast an hour later than last year when we were often amongst the earliest guests to arrive). I don't know if it's because they have so many staff or a shortage of plates, but we found this year they were super keen to take plates before we'd finished, which became a slight irritation.
This year we also booked a Tesla, which we took one morning to the west side of Corfu (we needed somewhere close in order to be back for lunch naps). The hotel's recommendation for a sandy beach with parking close by, could have been better. We ended up at quite a touristy bit but luckily were leaving as it was getting really busy.
This year we used the creche for two mornings, which meant we could relax by the adult pool and down on the beach. For the second booking it meant the kids were inside for the first half of a 38C, 47% humidity day, which was good. The creche was booked in advance of the holiday.
We managed to get a late checkout, which they will only confirm with you the night before your departure. When I was told this mid-week, I said fine, but then after being told by the concierge after a bit of digging, that our room had been assigned to incoming guests wanting an early check in, this left a bit of a sour taste. Eventually we were given a room on the floor below which looked like one group below ours, ie, a single width room, which was also pretty nice, but with us also having a cot, would have been a bit of a squeeze for the week.
I think we are done with IKOS for now, not for the overall service received, but I think better could be had for the money (particularly as this year we were paying full up for four of us instead of three and one free child last year). We will probably look at self catering options for next year.
Would I recommend IKOS? Yes, especially if you are going with no dependants, I think it works out at decent value with all you need on site.
What are the differences between Andalusia and Dassia? Andalusia certainly had a more insta-poser-y vibe and although their family pool was really good, I think Dassia is a better offering if you're travelling with kids as the hotel is split into two buildings sharing two kids' splash pools and a mini water park. Each building also had its own dedicated ice-cream parlour, which meant the wait for a 1600 ice-cream was never more than a minute.
Any questions let me know.
We went for IKOS Dassia back in January, primarily for the change of scenery but that their beach appeared to be more the sandy variety than Andalusia.
For this booking we went via BA.com for the flights and hotel, and due to issues from our stay last year I had a return airport transfer thrown in (which is usually only for bookings made direct with IKOS). Furthermore, I was also able to pre-book our full week's dinner reservations in one go.
One of the immediate advantages of staying in Dassia is the very short, non-motorway transfer, but at 20/25 minutes it was long enough for both kids to have 30 winks as neither slept on the flight.
The greeting was slick enough, as we were ushered to sit down in reception after a wipe of the face with a lemon-scented cloth, to hear about the hotel's offering. This was delivered at speed as though they knew they had another few guests coming from our flight, so had to crack on. As returning guests (and with kids a year older than they were last year) this was not a problem for us, and we downed our glass of fizz to be shown to our room. This year we went one level down on the room and had a "Panorama Junior family suite, sea view" which was fine for our needs, although having been spoilt with booking a garden room last year, it took a day getting used to it, but once all our stuff was packed away, the room was perfect for our needs. This room type has a double width balcony, so inside there's plenty of space for a cot wedged in one corner next to the sofa bed away from the main double.
Once again we were given the details of our concierge to add to Whatsapp, but this service should be treated as nothing more than you having an extension of the hotel reception on your phone, as opposed to using the in-room or going to reception in person. As it happens, I spoke to reception in person to ask for things, which then were not done, so used the concierge on Whatsapp as an override/speedier fix to things.
All the meals were excellent, and restaurant staff attentive and plentiful. The buffet restaurant where most guests have breakfast (I assume in all resorts this one is called Flavours) was good, if busy (this year we were having breakfast an hour later than last year when we were often amongst the earliest guests to arrive). I don't know if it's because they have so many staff or a shortage of plates, but we found this year they were super keen to take plates before we'd finished, which became a slight irritation.
This year we also booked a Tesla, which we took one morning to the west side of Corfu (we needed somewhere close in order to be back for lunch naps). The hotel's recommendation for a sandy beach with parking close by, could have been better. We ended up at quite a touristy bit but luckily were leaving as it was getting really busy.
This year we used the creche for two mornings, which meant we could relax by the adult pool and down on the beach. For the second booking it meant the kids were inside for the first half of a 38C, 47% humidity day, which was good. The creche was booked in advance of the holiday.
We managed to get a late checkout, which they will only confirm with you the night before your departure. When I was told this mid-week, I said fine, but then after being told by the concierge after a bit of digging, that our room had been assigned to incoming guests wanting an early check in, this left a bit of a sour taste. Eventually we were given a room on the floor below which looked like one group below ours, ie, a single width room, which was also pretty nice, but with us also having a cot, would have been a bit of a squeeze for the week.
I think we are done with IKOS for now, not for the overall service received, but I think better could be had for the money (particularly as this year we were paying full up for four of us instead of three and one free child last year). We will probably look at self catering options for next year.
Would I recommend IKOS? Yes, especially if you are going with no dependants, I think it works out at decent value with all you need on site.
What are the differences between Andalusia and Dassia? Andalusia certainly had a more insta-poser-y vibe and although their family pool was really good, I think Dassia is a better offering if you're travelling with kids as the hotel is split into two buildings sharing two kids' splash pools and a mini water park. Each building also had its own dedicated ice-cream parlour, which meant the wait for a 1600 ice-cream was never more than a minute.
Any questions let me know.
MisanoPayments said:
Heard of them, but not looked as our inaugural IKOS last year was going with friends for their return visit so went with IKOS again in Corfu for familiarity.
Just had a look at Sani's website. Will look again if we consider a hotel again for next year - thanks!
We are off to Sani again in a few weeks, after going for the first time last year and loved it. Sani and IKOS have the same owner, and I was wondering how close the two are in terms of the offering. Just had a look at Sani's website. Will look again if we consider a hotel again for next year - thanks!
I found the pricing mostly the same or sometimes it's more at Sani but booze is included in IKOS so not sure why you would half board at Sani? Unless I'm missing something?
Loved my trips to IKOS, I find it the perfect trip to relax by plane taxi hotel pool taxi plane home, When you have kids I couldn't care less about culture at this stage of my life. Maybe when they are older.
Loved my trips to IKOS, I find it the perfect trip to relax by plane taxi hotel pool taxi plane home, When you have kids I couldn't care less about culture at this stage of my life. Maybe when they are older.
pacenotes said:
I found the pricing mostly the same or sometimes it's more at Sani but booze is included in IKOS so not sure why you would half board at Sani? Unless I'm missing something?
Loved my trips to IKOS, I find it the perfect trip to relax by plane taxi hotel pool taxi plane home, When you have kids I couldn't care less about culture at this stage of my life. Maybe when they are older.
At Sani, I am pretty sure you can only choose HB or FB. There are 20 something restaurants to choose from, some have a set menu which you can have for free, or if you want to order from the a la carte you get an allowance to set against the bill. Pricing isn't cheap though (over EUR 100 for a seafood platter for 2 last year) but the food quality is high. Also, each restaurant has a buffet which is part of your allowance, but we only ate at one last year as the other choices far better. Loved my trips to IKOS, I find it the perfect trip to relax by plane taxi hotel pool taxi plane home, When you have kids I couldn't care less about culture at this stage of my life. Maybe when they are older.
I'm presuming overall it is a bit cheaper at IKOS given the booze is free there. But you get a much bigger choice at Sani. We stayed 10 nights last time, and only ate in the same restaurant once.
My kids are 16 and 14, and they loved Sani last year and are looking forward to this year, and are not particularly into "culture" yet!
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