Greek getaway: Ikos Odisia in Corfu
If you long for a holiday where you can just switch off and press reset, an all-inclusive hotel seems like the answer to all your prayers. Let’s be honest though, often these hotels miss the mark with their watered-down cocktails and lack of premium details. Which is where where Ikos Resorts have come to the rescue, providing an all-inclusive service but with unconditional luxury.
Their newest resort, Ikos Odisia, is set against a lush backdrop of the Greek island of Corfu. The island is the greenest of all Mediterranean islands due to its short, unexpected rainfalls, often a welcome relief from the humidity.
My journey to the green isle began on a chilly summer's morning at Heathrow Airport and was made as smooth as can be by travelling with British Airway’s Club Europe. The separate security involved new technology that didn’t require the usual airport challenge of ‘how many 100ml bottles can I stuff into a tiny see-through bag?’. Instead, I breezed through to the lounge and, rather than sprinting to Pret like normal, was presented with a menu. Bucks fizz, oat iced latte and eggs royale? Yes please.
After a hassle-free journey I arrived at the resort and was greeted with a welcome drink before being whisked off in a beach buggy (which you can flag down throughout your stay) through the resort’s tree-lined path to my room.
What was your room like?
I stayed in a Junior Bungalow Suite Private Garden, which provided instant calmness after a day of travelling thanks to its neutral interior and natural raw materials. Walking out onto the private garden which overlooks the stunning pool and Ionian Sea, it was as if I pressed a huge ‘holiday mode’ button and all my stresses vanished for the next few days.
So what did you get up to during your stay?
As I flicked through the user-friendly Ikos Resorts app, I was impressed with the number of activities on offer. Tennis. Tick. Yoga. Tick. Pedalos. Tick. Overwhelmed by choice, I decided to try my hand at paddleboarding.
Paddleboards were provided at the beach just a few minutes’ walk from my room. The repetitive motion of paddling whilst surrounded by mountainous views I found super relaxing. The water was mostly calm, but it felt like more of a workout than I expected, which actually felt needed after a hard day’s work of making my way through the ‘all you can eat’ menu.
Out of interest, I recorded it as a workout on my Apple watch under ‘water fitness’. Half an hour's work at an average heart rate of 130BPM. My watch told me I had burned off 165KCAL in total.
All you can eat, talk to me...
Ikos Odisia has eight different restaurants for you to choose from serving up different cuisines from around the world and menus created by Michelin-star chefs.
Firstly, breakfast. For the full breakfast buffet experience, Flavors came through with a huge selection of fresh juices, all the pastries, cooked breakfasts and more.
After a strenuous morning of chilling by the beach, I had worked up an appetite. To my delight, you could order food straight to your sun lounger which comes out on a big tray. Caesar salad and fries with a mojito on the side. Dreamy!
The standout dinner spot for me was Elia. It offered Greek cuisine and an incredible panoramic view of Corfu’s mountainous terrain whilst the sun is setting. Being an indecisive person, when faced with a good-looking menu I am often overwhelmed by the choice. My favourite thing about the all-inclusive eating is if you like the look of a few dishes, you can order them all! Same goes with the cocktails…
We started with picky bits of crunchy squid, spiced feta spread, smoked tarama with sundried tomatoes. For the main course, I tried ‘soutzoukakia’ which are Greek grilled meatballs alongside smoked yogurt and compote tomato. Delicious!
Anything else I need to try?
A sunset cruise liner leaves at 7pm every day from Ouzo restaurant. No need to book, just turn up and take in the views.
For a more exclusive experience book one of Ikos’ private boats with a group of friends or family. We were given a speaker to connect our music and served aperitifs by the lovely staff whilst we left the dock and the sun started setting around us. All round good vibes. They had a paddleboard on deck so after we docked in the picturesque cove I jumped off the boat and put my earlier practice to good use. The water was a bit choppier than before, so I had to work that bit harder to stay afloat.
The hotel has its very own spa by Anne Semonin Paris which overlooks the sea. Free access to the main spa with the treatments however are an extra charge (although one is included in the deluxe package). I had the pure rejuvenation massage which used vitamin rich body oil from Anne Semonin Paris and a scent of my choice. I went with lavender and mandarin. The massage was just 25 minutes, but still gave me time to release some much-needed tension.
Exploring the island...
Step out of the resort and explore Corfu. Ikos has a complimentary Tesla as part of their Local Drive Adventure programme that you can make use of. They also provide museum tickets for one person per stay. We went to the Achilleion Palace, built in 1890 by the Empress of Austria Elisabeth, and walked around its gardens adorned with marble sculptures whilst learning about its rich history.
We then went to the Corfu Old Town and had a little nosey around the trinket shops. In the centre, you can find the iconic Papagiorgis which has been opened since 1924 and serves the most delicious homemade ice-cream made from 100% fresh Corfiot milk. With so many flavours to pick from it would be rude not to try three - I went with Pistachio, Kinder Bueno and Salted Caramel. Yum.
Is this trip the one for me?
Ikos Odisia is perfect for families. Everything's at your fingertips, meaning you don’t have to even leave the resort to have a fun-filled holiday with the kids. The beach service makes a family day at the beach as smooth as can be. For those days where you fancy a child-free day, Odisia has a kids' club. Yet it's also a relaxing escape if you're travelling in a couple or solo and child-free, like me. There are adult-only areas around the pool and the restaurant's are stylish and grown-up, making this resort the best of both worlds.
Go there
Seven nights at Ikos Odisia with British Airways Holidays from £1499pp, all-inclusive and including return BA flights
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