Roz T, Manchester, United Kingdom
My wife and I are fussy people. We like good food, good wine, and good (but not overbearing) service. We've stayed in a few 5* all inclusives in Europe and have always come away happy, but slightly...
My wife and I are fussy people. We like good food, good wine, and good (but not overbearing) service. We've stayed in a few 5* all inclusives in Europe and have always come away happy, but slightly disappointed - either the food is not quite up to scratch, or the drinks are a bit crap, or the service lacking something.
IKOS Oceania is the first European 5* all inclusive hotel we've been to where everything has not just met, but exceeded our expectations.
From the moment we stepped off the coach, to the second we stepped back on at the end of the week, we received incredible service. The check in experience is memorable in itself! The porter took our bags (they will not let you touch them!) and a receptionist whisked us away to the adults-only bar to enjoy a glass of sparkling wine, a cooling towel and an incredible view. We were then taken to our sea-view room by a very friendly porter in a cute little golf buggy. The resort seems to be built into the side of a mountain, so the roads are steep but offer unbelievably beautiful views of the sea.
Our room was in building 3. The room itself is very spacious, with a lovely big shower and twin sinks, plenty of wardrobe/drawer space, a coffee machine, included minibar, and a lovely balcony with a breathtaking sea view. We ordered room service - which is fully included, with no tray charges - a few times for both food and drinks. Service was quick, friendly, and flawless, any time at day or night.
Most of our days were spent in the serenity of the adults-only infinity pool. There are *always* sun loungers available, at any time of day, as staff do a sweep every hour to make sure no-one has 'claimed' any and just left for the day. The pool itself is great, very clean, not too chlorinated, and a good size for doing a few lengths if you fancy it. There is extremely attentive poolside service from the ladies (whose names I have forgotten :-/) who made our stay an absolute delight. We were never without a drink, and after one or two days they brought our favourite drinks without us even having to ask! They were always warm and friendly and a huge part of what made our holiday so enjoyable so, thank you ladies :)
We visited the beach in the day and at night. The sand is a bit gritty in places so I'd recommend crocs or similar if you have them. The sea is warm and gentle, perfect for swimming. The beachside service is as good as the poolside service, which is saying something considering how much bigger the beach is!
The food was also a highlight. We ate in all the on site restaurants (couldn't make the dine out experience) and the food and wine was of a consistently high standard. The unique cocktails for each themed restaurant was also a nice touch. The buffet is plentiful, fresh and varied, truly something for everyone. We often had breakfast and lunch in Provence as it was so close to our room - the buffet menus are slightly more limited as the restaurant is smaller, but you also have the option for a la carte breakfast/lunch, which offers some variety. We had eggs and waffles from the a la carte, freshly made and delicious. Provence was also our favourite evening restaurant as we love French food; it is genuinely hard to pick a favourite though, because every single restaurant is fantastic. I recommend the Sake mojito in Anaya - it's a beautiful thing! Just make sure you download the IKOS app a week or so before you travel, and make your dinner reservations on it in advance. They get booked up *very* quickly.
This wonderful service and the beautifully made cocktails also extend to the lobby and adults-only bars. Cocktails are made with named spirits - generally Beefeater gin, Dalwhinnie whiskey, Absolut vodka (and others of similar quality). If you only drink scotch then the best you can do is Johnnie Walker red, but there's so much else to drink that I wouldn't worry about it!
This is as perfect an all inclusive hotel as you could possibly find, in a beautiful location with staff so good that I'm running our of superlatives to describe them. A reviewer for the Independent described one of their other hotels as like a cruise ship, but on shore - I think this is a flattering and apt comparison.
If you're thinking about booking, don't hesitate. You will not regret it. I will definitely be looking for an IKOS resort the next time I go European all inclusive. It is worth the money.
View full review
92% of travellers recommended this hotel
2985
443
103
20
4
Aug 18 2018
