We are a family living in the United States and, based on recommendations from friends, were encouraged to try the Ikos properties. The best way I can describe Ikos is that it is a luxury all-inclusive resort in some of the best places in Europe — for people who don’t normally like all-inclusives.
Typically, the words “all-inclusive” make me think of mediocre food, watered-down drinks, crowded buffets and inconsistent service. Ikos promises to be the exact opposite.
I was skeptical. And I was proven wrong.
Ikos is truly all-inclusive, with resorts in Greece, Spain and Portugal, but it caters to a much more discerning traveler than you might expect from the category. There are à la carte restaurants, an onsite sommelier, wine tastings, white parties, excellent meals and very good service (mostly — more on that later).
We’ve now been lucky enough to travel with our teens to both Ikos Dassia in Corfu and the new Ikos Kissamos in Crete. While the basic Ikos formula is similar at both, the actual vacation experience was surprisingly different.
So if you’re trying to decide between Dassia and Kissamos — particularly with teenagers — here’s how I would compare them.
First: Why Ikos Works So Well With Teens
I think this is actually where Ikos shines.
Traveling with teenagers is different from traveling with younger children. Our girls don’t need a kids’ club all day, but they also don’t necessarily want to spend every minute with us. They want some freedom, activities when they feel like doing something, good food and places where they can wander around safely on their own.
And we want a vacation too.
Ikos gives you a nice balance. We could have dinner together, spend time at the beach or pool, and do activities as a family — but our teens could also go get lunch, grab a mocktail, ride bikes or explore the resort without us.
There is something very nice about not having to hand your teenager money every time they want a drink or snack.
Ikos Dassia: Better for Activities and Ease
Dassia is the more compact of the two resorts, and with teens I actually think that can be an advantage.
Everything feels fairly accessible. Tennis, table tennis and other activities seemed easier for our girls to discover and join without a lot of planning. Dassia also offered a sunset sail, which was one of the highlights for our teens.
Because the resort is more condensed, it was also easier for everyone to do their own thing and reconnect later. There wasn’t as much coordination required.
If you have younger teens, or teens who like organized activities and meeting other kids, I would probably give Dassia the advantage.
Ikos Kissamos: Better for Scenery and Independence
Kissamos is a very different resort physically.
It is newer, larger and much more spread out. Personally, I thought the landscape and overall setting at Kissamos were more beautiful. There is a wonderful sense of space, and parts of the resort feel incredibly peaceful.
For older teens, that size can actually be a positive. Our girls could have a little more independence and feel as though they were exploring rather than simply walking from the room to the pool and back again.
The trade-off is that, at least during our visit, the teen offering didn’t feel quite as established as Dassia.
There were activities — including mocktail classes, bikes and fitness classes — but it felt less structured. Given that Kissamos is a brand-new resort, I suspect this will evolve as the property matures.
If your teenagers are independent and don’t need a packed schedule, this probably won’t matter. If they love organized activities, I would take it into consideration.
The Food: This Is Where Ikos Changes the All-Inclusive Equation
One of my biggest concerns before our first Ikos stay was the food.
For us, food is a big part of travel, and the idea of eating every meal at an all-inclusive resort for a week did not initially sound appealing.
But the food is one of the reasons we came back to Ikos.
Rather than relying primarily on one giant buffet, there are multiple restaurants and cuisines, and dinner feels much more like going out to a restaurant than eating at a traditional all-inclusive.
There are also quality wines included, and having access to a sommelier and wine tastings is certainly not something I associate with the typical all-inclusive experience.
That doesn’t mean every single meal is extraordinary. It isn’t. But the overall standard is remarkably high for a resort where almost everything is included.
And with teenagers, the flexibility is fantastic.
A Few Things I Wish I Knew Before Our First Ikos Trip
Make your dinner reservations early.
The popular restaurants and times can fill up, particularly during busy travel periods. If your family likes eating at a certain time, don’t leave your entire week unplanned.
Don’t overschedule yourself.
There are enough activities that it’s tempting to book something every day. Some of our favorite moments were simply having nowhere we needed to be.
Let your teens have some independence.
This was one of the unexpected benefits of Ikos for us. The resort environment makes it easy for teenagers to have some freedom while parents can still relax.
Look beyond the kids’ club when evaluating the resort.
For teenagers, the question isn’t really “Does it have a teen club?” It’s whether there are enough things they can independently choose to do. Sports, bikes, water activities, fitness classes, food and evening events ended up mattering more to us.
The room location matters — especially at Kissamos.
Because Kissamos is so spread out, where you stay can change the feel of the vacation. Some families may want to be close to the main restaurants and activity; others will happily trade a longer walk for more peace and quiet.
Dassia vs. Kissamos: Which Would I Choose?
This is actually difficult because I wouldn’t describe one as “better.”
I’d describe them as better for different families.
Choose Ikos Dassia if: your teens enjoy activities, you prefer a more compact resort, and you want everything to feel easy and accessible.
Choose Ikos Kissamos if: scenery and a sense of space matter more to you, your teens are fairly independent, and you like the feeling of a larger resort with different areas to explore.
For our family, Kissamos wins on setting and overall beauty, while Dassia wins on ease and teen activities.
And I suspect Kissamos will continue to improve on the latter simply because it is so new.
Is Ikos Worth It?
This is probably the question I get asked most.
Ikos is expensive, particularly if you’re traveling from the United States and adding flights to Europe. And if your idea of the perfect European vacation is spending every day exploring villages, trying local restaurants and sightseeing from morning until night, I’m not sure I would spend the money to stay at an all-inclusive.
But that’s not really how I think about an Ikos vacation.
For us, Ikos works when we want the resort to be the vacation.
After a busy year — and particularly when traveling with teenagers — there is something incredibly luxurious about not thinking about the bill every time someone orders another drink, wants lunch at a different time, takes a fitness class or decides they want an ice cream.
You arrive, unpack and everyone can relax.
And that may be the biggest luxury Ikos offers families: ease.
Our Verdict
Before our first stay, I wasn’t convinced that we were “all-inclusive people.”
After two Ikos vacations, I still don’t think we are.
I think we’re Ikos people.
There is a difference.
If you’re a family that normally gravitates toward luxury hotels, cares about food and service, and wants your teenagers to have enough independence that everyone actually feels like they’re on vacation, Ikos is worth considering.
For younger or activity-focused teens: I’d start with Dassia.
For older, more independent teens and families who prioritize scenery: I’d choose Kissamos.
Would we return? Absolutely.
If you need help with planning an IKOS trip, please get in touch!
Leave a Reply