A Half Day at Ikos Andalusia – Is It Worth the Hype? By Amy M..........
I recently spent a few hours at Ikos Andalusia (10:30am–3:30pm to be exact), and honestly… I didn’t expect to come away as impressed as I did.
From the moment we landed, everything just felt easy. We were greeted at the airport by the Ikos team and taken straight to our private transfer. It’s about an hour to the hotel, but it didn’t feel like it at all, cold water ready for us, really comfy padded seats, and just a smooth, relaxing start to the day.
When we arrived, I was actually surprised. I’d built it up in my head as this huge, super grand hotel, but it’s not like that at all. It’s smaller, more intimate, and really welcoming, which I actually preferred.
One thing you notice straight away is the smell. If you’ve ever been to an Ikos, you’ll know exactly what I mean, that fresh, clean, “you’re on holiday” scent. It’s honestly gorgeous and somehow makes everything feel even more luxurious (and yes, you can buy it there!).
The staff were amazing from the start. They introduced themselves, asked our names once… and then remembered all eight of us. I still don’t know how they do that, but it makes such a difference.
As soon as you walk out from reception, the views are unreal. One side you’ve got the mountains of the Costa del Sol, the other side the beach, it’s one of those places where you’re constantly stopping to take it all in.
The hotel has 9 pools and 8 restaurants, but what really stood out to me is how different it feels from a typical all-inclusive. Yes, there’s a buffet, but the main thing is the waiter service. You’re ordering from menus, being served at your table, drinking premium drinks, and choosing from loads of wines, it feels way more “luxury holiday” than standard all-inclusive.
Another thing I loved is that Ikos actually encourage you to leave the hotel and explore. Depending on your room, you can get complimentary car hire, and they even provide car seats if you need them. It’s such a nice touch.
There’s loads included too, all land sports and non-motorised water sports, and even green fees if you’re into golf.
I also got to look at a few different room types, from really lovely standard rooms to amazing penthouse suites with sea views. The views from those are insane, perfect for sunrise and sunset. And if you’re after something extra special, they even have private villas that are all-inclusive, which is ideal for families.
The hotel is right on the beach, and the whole place just had such a nice atmosphere. I saw kids loving the kids’ clubs (and their daily ice cream!), and families making the most of the free bike hire to explore.
We had lunch in the Mediterranean restaurant, and it was so good. I had pittas and dips to start, pasta with prawns for my main, and a chocolate brownie for dessert, everything tasted really fresh and just done properly.
One thing I wasn’t expecting to love as much as I did was the cocktail-making class. It ended up being such a fun experience and something a bit different, I’d definitely recommend giving it a go.
Even though I was only there for 5 hours, I genuinely felt like I got a really good feel for the place. It’s relaxed but still feels luxurious, and everything just runs so smoothly.
I’d recommend Ikos to a lot of people, but especially for multi-generational families. It really does have something for everyone, grandparents, parents, kids, without feeling too busy or overwhelming.
Safe to say… I’ll definitely be going back, and next time for a lot longer.
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