Ikos Aria
It’s brands like Ikos that make other hotels realise it’s time to up their game. Their Unconditional Luxury concept makes them market leaders in all-inclusive beach holidays, meaning almost everything at Ikos Aria is included upfront, allowing you to enjoy your holiday while your wallet gathers dust.
Kos has perhaps the finest beaches in the Dodecanese and Ikos Aria stretches across 47 acres of the island’s dazzling coastline, with paths winding down between lawns and wild gardens to reach golden sands and azure Aegean waters. Out front – in swimming or paddling distance depending on the tide – is Kastri islet, home to a rock monolith and a solitary blue-and-white Orthodox Greek chapel. It couldn’t be prettier if it tried.
Rooms and suites offer a choice of private balconies, gardens and individual pools, and come in calming grey tones with light wooden furniture, panoramic windows and deliciously comfy beds. Elsewhere a boho beach vibe permeates the resort, with plenty of wicker daybeds piled up with cushions and rattan ‘egg chairs’ dangling from the ceilings.
Menus at the seven fantastic restaurants span the globe, with Provence, Anaya and Fresco offering satisfying tastes of France, Asia and Italy respectively. Ouzo by Lefteris Lazarou, the first Greek chef to receive a Michelin star, is particularly special, offering freshly caught fish with views towards Kastri. Dining at them all is included in the rates, as is eating out at a selection of local restaurants.
It’s all part of the Unconditional Luxury offering, which extends beyond the restaurants to 24-hour room service, premium-brand champagnes, wines and spirits, a fully stocked mini bar replenished daily, waiter service on the beach and by the pools (of which there are five), access to the gym and the serene Ikos Spa (treatments are at an additional cost), a huge range of activities and non-motorised watersports, plus clubs for kids and teens run by professional UK childcare providers.
And let’s not forget the Local Drive Adventure – complimentary use of a Tesla for a day (pre-booking essential), allowing you to get out and explore Kos’s share of mesmerising beaches and historical monuments.
