Ikos Olivia

An unbelievable experience from start to finish. Me and my wife took our two year old and everything is so well set up for families. High chair and step chairs with kiddy friendly cutlery in all restaurants.

We upgraded to a junior suite and it was so well designed. Our daughter slept in the living room space and we had a sliding door to the bedroom. There were separate doors for us to access the bathroom and balcony from our room so we didn’t disturb her in the evening when she was sleeping.

Food highlight was Anaya. An incredible à la carte Asian. All the restaurants were great and even the buffet, which you don’t have to book, has a great selection and quality food.

Carlos was so good at the pool! Although we had a QR code to order we rarely had to use it as the staff were all so attentive. If you wanted something that wasn’t on the menu, you could more than likely still get it!

Would highly recommend and want to visit other Ikos resorts in the future. Yes, it’s pricey, but you fully get what you pay for here!

We travelled as a group of 7 and a 2 and a half year old, we cannot say enough good things about this hotel. It is the best place we have ever been for a family holiday, the food was out of this world and does not compare to your usual all inclusive. The service from the staff was incredible, they couldn't do enough for you and were so helpful. Carlos down by the aqua bar was great in keeping our drinks full all day. Everyone works so hard here and they are a credit to Ikos. We originally booked a panoramic junior suite in the main hotel which was beautiful and spacious , however we were lucky enough to receive a complimentary upgrade to a one bedroom suite during our stay which was fantastic and great for having extra space with a little one. Taking the clubman's out for the day was also a great experience to see more of the island! Car seat was also in there for our baby.

We are really sad to be leaving today and are already talking about coming back next September for another stay here. I don't think we will stay anywhere other than an Ikos now!

Thank you so much

The Rees family

Ikos Olivia, Halkidiki – Our Honest Review

Arrival and First Impressions

Ikos Olivia looks beautiful on arrival, and our first impressions were very positive. The Mini Clubman cars available to hire, or to use free of charge for one day, are located outside, which is useful to know when you arrive. There are also bikes to hire in resort which is great for the kids!

We were shown to a sofa while check-in was completed. It would have been a nice touch to be offered a glass of fizz immediately, although we were later offered drinks from the bar. We arrived at around midday, but only one of our two rooms was ready; we had to wait until after 3 pm for the second, which was inconvenient when travelling as a family.

The Rooms

Room 117 was lovely: spacious, with a bath, a separate shower and a large double balcony. Although we had booked the same room type, it was clearly an upgrade compared with room 126. Both rooms overlooked a swimming pool, with the Provence French restaurant underneath.

Families with young children should note that the door handles open very easily. We brought our own child safety lock to prevent our child from opening the door.

The evening turndown service was another thoughtful touch. Staff replaced the towels, emptied the bins and left biscuits, which added to the feeling of being well looked after.

Restaurants and Food

There is a good selection of à la carte restaurants alongside the Flavours buffet. Overall, we enjoyed the variety, although some restaurants suited us better than others.

Flavours – Buffet Restaurant

Breakfast could become very busy, with queues increasing later in the morning. Having more staff available to seat guests would have helped. The omelette station was also slow, with just one person preparing the omelettes; smaller omelettes or some ready-made options could have improved the flow.

The food was well presented, although the use of dill and other herbs was sometimes excessive. There was a good selection of desserts and ice cream at lunchtime and dinner.

Ouzo – Greek Restaurant

We visited Ouzo for lunch on our first day. It has a lovely setting overlooking the beach and sea. We enjoyed calamari and gyros, followed by ice cream.

We did not try the evening experience, which apparently includes plate smashing. This would have been useful to know about in advance, as it sounds worth trying.

Asian À La Carte Restaurant

We really enjoyed the Asian restaurant. The menu included pad Thai, duck and spring rolls; the duck was particularly good, and the fried banana was an excellent dessert.

Provence – French Restaurant

Provence was pleasant, especially if you enjoy French food and dishes such as mussels. The beef with mashed potato was very good, as were the profiteroles. The ambience was also enjoyable.

Fresco – Italian Restaurant

Fresco offered a good selection, and the pizzas were enormous. If you are travelling with children, make sure you order children’s portions; otherwise, they may receive a full-sized pizza.

The tiramisu and hot cookie dough with ice cream were both delicious.

The Garden Restaurant

The Garden has potential, but visiting in October affected the experience. It is entirely outdoors and was very cold in the evenings. Although heaters were provided, there were not enough to make dinner comfortable, and the restaurant may close in bad weather.

The food was acceptable, although some dishes were spicy and there was not much that appealed to me. Service was also among the weakest we experienced: our plates remained uncleared, and I had to find a menu myself to look at the desserts before several staff members appeared at once.

The Garden may be more enjoyable in warmer weather, but it was not a highlight of our October visit. The attached daytime ice-cream parlour, offering sprinkles and sauces, was a lovely treat for children. Ice cream was also available at other open restaurants, including the buffet, and could be requested by the pool.

Restaurants Outside the Resort

As part of the Dine Out experience, we visited Four Seasons and Muragio, two small Greek restaurants outside the hotel. Although presented as Greek dining experiences, neither felt particularly authentic.

The menus appeared to have been produced by Ikos, with largely the same dishes and wine supplied by the hotel. There were no branded soft drinks, only local ones. Both restaurants were very quiet, with just two or three tables occupied, so the experience felt more like dining within the resort than visiting local restaurants.

Drinks and Poolside Service

The drinks offering was excellent, with a wide selection of wines, beers, spirits and cocktails. Drinks were well presented, and the plastic cocktail glasses were practical and safer around the pools.

Being able to order food from our sunbeds was very convenient. Special mention goes to our poolside waiter, Carlos, who was consistently attentive, helpful and friendly throughout our stay. He was a credit to the hotel.

More generally, the staff were accommodating and keen to help.

Swimming Pools and Beach

The heated pools were a real bonus, particularly outside the main summer season. Temperatures varied: the children’s shallow pool was warmer than the others, while the splash pool was also slightly warmer than the main pools.

The beach was lovely and well maintained, with staff regularly clearing away seaweed. The sea remains shallow for quite a distance, making it suitable for younger children.

Pedalos and paddleboards were available free of charge each day, which was another excellent benefit.

Evening Entertainment – A Missed Opportunity in October

Evening entertainment was one of the resort’s weaker areas during our October visit. It became surprisingly cold, yet singers performed at the beach bar, where seating was limited, while the spacious lobby had no entertainment.

The open-air theatre was also too cold for many guests, and the shows did not always feel worth staying up until around 9:45 pm to watch. More sheltered or indoor entertainment would have made a significant difference.

We would also have appreciated more early-evening entertainment for children, such as a small disco or a space where they could dance together. Although children’s clubs were available, my daughter wanted to spend time with me rather than attend one. She was happy using the pools during the day, but there was little alternative entertainment in the evening for school-age children.

Overall Service and Value for Money

Overall, the service was very good, with helpful staff, excellent drinks, varied food and thoughtful touches such as the turndown service. Carlos was a particular highlight.

However, Ikos can be expensive, especially during the school holidays. We would be unlikely to visit then unless there were strong offers or complimentary places for children. The time of year also matters: some restaurants and entertainment would be more enjoyable in warmer weather, while October exposed the limitations of the outdoor facilities.

Who Would I Recommend Ikos Olivia For?

Ikos Olivia is particularly well suited to couples, families with babies and those with younger toddlers seeking a luxurious, relaxing all-inclusive holiday.

Families with older children may find the evening entertainment limited, especially if their children want to spend time with their parents rather than attend the kids’ club. Visiting in October also means that cold evenings can affect enjoyment of the outdoor restaurants and entertainment.

Would we recommend it? Yes, especially if excellent food, drinks, a lovely beach and attentive service are priorities. However, families with school-age children should consider the limited evening entertainment, and anyone visiting in October should be prepared for cooler evenings and reduced enjoyment of the outdoor facilities.