Silvia Opriscan
One of the most beautiful hotels in Greece — with the worst service we’ve experienced.
The property and setting are absolutely stunning. Truly one of the most beautiful hotels in Greece, no doubt about that. But unfortunately, that’s where the positives end.
The service felt like it belonged in a one-star resort. Every single request we made was answered with a firm no. We were traveling as a big group of friends, and not once were we allowed to dine together — not even at separate tables in the same restaurant. Instead, they split our reservations into three different restaurants at three different times. It felt like no effort was made to accommodate us.
Even more shocking — the kids weren’t allowed in the kids’ club. Apparently, it was full or had strange rules, but no one gave a clear explanation.
The hotel may look five-star, but the management and service are stuck at one. Hugely disappointing. We won’t be coming back.
Michael
We had a great experience at Ikos Olivia. It’s a perfect destination for families, with highlights like a lovely park and a fun evening dance show that our daughter really enjoyed. All the restaurants were excellent and very child-friendly, making dining easy and enjoyable.
The staff were all very friendly and helpful, and the resort grounds are beautifully maintained. The food throughout was very good, with lots of variety and high quality.
We dined at the buffet a couple of times and were pleasantly surprised by how good the food was. However, the service there—while warm and well-meaning—was inconsistent. Drink orders were often delayed, and we had to actively seek out staff to ensure we had something to drink with our meals. It made us glad we had restaurant bookings on the other nights.
Booking restaurants was also a bit frustrating. You can only reserve three in advance before arrival, and once you’re on-site, securing the rest feels like a bit of a race—definitely not the relaxed start you expect from a luxury holiday.
Additionally, although most service was excellent, some basic things were overlooked. We frequently had to request drinking water in our room. Housekeeping kept things tidy and beds made, but simple touches like restocking water were often missed—something you'd expect to be seamless at this level.
Overall, we had a wonderful stay and would return, but attention to a few details would elevate the experience even further.
Alexandra Pearce
We went to Ikos Olivia for our honeymoon and it was just perfect, even getting a room upgrade for the final two nights! The hotel is gorgeous and staff super friendly and attentive. The choice of restaurants is great, with delicious food, as well as a wide range of wine choices. We loved the adult only part of the pool and lovely beach. We used the Tesla car hire and went for a day in Thessaloniki which was fun! We’d highly recommend Ikos for your honeymoon, and are already planning our next trip back!
Ally
We had a great week overall. The hotel is well designed, the rooms are a good size and the cocktails (although sometimes variable in quality) on the whole were of a good standard. Food on the whole was a good standard but you do need to book at the restaurants for dinner as they get booked out! The staff were super helpful and the manager even came round to ask if there was anything additional they could do.
It is very family friendly so beware if you are looking for a romantic couples getaway - this may not be the place for you!
Special shout out to Jenny by the pool who gave us outstanding service and always had the biggest smile on her face.
If I was to give some bits of feedback it would be as follows:
- our air conditioner was leaking and we asked if this could be looked at but no one came to check it out and the next day our toddler slipped twice on the water on the floor: the service was poor in this regard and slow and unresponsive;
- our room had a bad smell one day and we asked if someone would be able to come up and tell us if we were right or tell us if they knew what it was; no one came that day and by the next day it had gone. We spoke to reception and they said there was indeed a problem with the drains but we gave our feedback then and there - why did no one come up to our room when we were told someone would be with us shortly. It would be helpful to be given a timeframe for when this would be possible as we do not mind when it will happen but just don’t leave us waiting indefinitely;
- the ice cream was not up to standard of a 5 star resort: please sort this out!! The pistachio and vanilla taste cheaply made and artificial. This was disappointing. To not have sorbets readily available either was disappointing (you couldn’t get this at the buffet or at the ice cream shop) and would need a reservation at one of the restaurants to get a sorbet.
- a lot of the good wines were out of stock or staff were not trained in how to speak to guests about the wines. It was great when we managed to speak to a member of staff who did know about wines.
Overall we had a relaxing and lovely time away. Loved how kid friendly and accessible / easy to get around it was and would probably come back but please note these points above.
Thank you.
SC80
Our family stayed at Ikos in June 2024, and overall, it was a good experience. Having heard a lot about the Ikos brand, we were eager to see if the reputation lived up to the hype.
This all-inclusive resort is ideal for families with pre-schoolers. We stayed outside of school holidays, and the resort was hoatching with young children. If you’re looking for a romantic couples’ getaway, this might not be the best choice.
The Positives
First and foremost, the resort itself is well presented, and the staff were truly exceptional—some of the most attentive service we’ve experienced. The kids' splash pool was a huge hit with our four-year-old, and all pool areas were spotless and well-maintained.
Key Highlights:
• White Party on the Beach – Absolutely amazing! A DJ, a live saxophonist, and a fantastic atmosphere. It’s a shame there aren’t more beachside evening events like this throughout the week.
• Mermaid Swimming Academy – A magical experience for our daughter, and a special shout out to Effie, who was fantastic.
• WhatsApp Concierge Service – A seamless and convenient way to communicate with the team.
• Adult Tennis Session – Well-organised and enjoyable, though playing in 36-degree heat was a challenge!
The Niggles
• Accommodation – We booked a panoramic sea-view room, which was spacious but let down by a tired bathroom with mouldy stains in the shower basin. Many balconies, including ours, had bird nests. Waking up to droppings on the floor (and over our belongings) wasn’t pleasant. Small birds darting in and out also made it difficult to relax outside. We understand the rooms are set for renovation for the 2025 season.
• Food & Drink – Generally very good, with the buffet restaurant being the best all-inclusive buffet we’ve experienced. However, more needs to be done to mitigate flies. We tried three à la carte restaurants; while beautifully presented, some dishes were surprisingly bland. Service could be inconsistent — on two separate occasions, our mains arrived before our starters had been cleared. Given the Michelin-star curation in their marketing, we expected more attention to detail.
• Evening Entertainment – This was a weak spot. Apart from the White Party, there was only three questionable evening shows, with nothing at all for kids over the weekend. A resort of this calibre should offer more engaging options in the evenings.
• Location – We knew this going in, but there’s nothing much to do within the hotel vicinity, unless of course, you hire a car.
Final Thoughts
We had a good holiday, but for the price, I’m not completely convinced. It’s a good resort for families with young children, but I’d question its appeal for slightly older kids (5/6+), as there’s little in the way of water slides, pool games, kids’ discos, or high-quality evening entertainment.
My Booking
