I was never an all-inclusive resort kinda girl. Give me a beautifully-designed boutique or sleek five star hotel, a long lunch somewhere with a good wine list, and the freedom to wander a new city over wristbands, buffets and organised entertainment any day.
And yet, somehow, I have now stayed at three Ikos resorts.
Ikos has managed to take everything that makes an all-inclusive holiday easy - food, drinks, childcare, pools, beaches and activities all taken care of and under one roof - and present it with the luxurious aesthetic and service of a luxury hotel.
Our latest stay was at Ikos Oceania in Halkidiki, on Greece's Aegean coast - one of the first two inaugural properties launched by Ikos Resorts in 2015.
What is Ikos?
For anyone who hasn't discovered Ikos yet, the collection spans luxury all-inclusive resorts across the Mediterranean including Halkidiki, Corfu, Kos and Crete in Greece, as well as Mallorca and Andalusia in Spain, with plans to open a new property in Marbella in 2027, and in Portugal in 2028. The portfolio currently includes Ikos Oceania and Ikos Olivia in Halkidiki; Ikos Odisia and Ikos Dassia in Corfu; Ikos Aria in Kos; Ikos Kissamos in Crete; and Ikos Porto Petro in Mallorca and Ikos Andalusia in Spain.
Each has a slightly different feeling, and benefits from the Ikos approach to "unconditional luxury": beautiful surroundings, considered interiors, excellent food and wine, generous facilities and a wide range of activities included in the price. And, refreshingly for family travel, it's luxury without feeling that family-friendly means compromising on style.
Ikos Oceania, Halkidiki
Set in Nea Moudania, around 50km from Thessaloniki International Airport, Ikos Oceania occupies a lovely stretch of the Halkidiki coastline. The journey from the airport takes around 40 minutes, making it easy for a family holiday with two small children and two big suitcases.
The resort itself is surrounded by landscaped gardens that slope towards a 350-metre Blue Flag beach, with the Aegean stretching out towards views of Mount Olympus. There are six outdoor pools, including an infinity pool and children's pools, as well as sports activities from tennis and stand up paddleboarding to cycling and yoga.
It's the atmosphere of Ikos resorts which make them work so well: it feels polished without being formal, and luxurious without being precious. Children can be children, while the adults still get to stay somewhere special (and there are adults-only areas and pools for those who want total peace and quiet).
The facilities are exactly what you want from a luxury family resort: beautiful pools, a sandy beach, a spa (I had a wonderful 50 minute Anne Semonin massage), fitness facilities, watersports, and a complimentary kids' club for 4-12 year olds. Younger children under 4 can use the Heroes Crèche, while the Just4Teens programme caters for older kids.
And then there is the food.
At Oceania, there are five restaurants, with menus created by Michelin-starred chefs and a choice that ranges from Greek and French to Italian and Asian-inspired cuisine. There are also more than 100 premium wines included, alongside cocktails and the opportunity to experience local restaurants through the complimentary Dine Out programme.
Our last night dinner on the beach was a highlight, watching the sunset with our toes in the sand. At Ouzo, Greek cuisine gets a contemporary treatment, with the restaurant overlooking the sea and dishes created by Michelin-starred chef Lefteris Lazarou. Another favourite was Provence, serving Southern French and Provençal-style dishes, and the Beach Club offers relaxed, beachfront dining beneath the pines, with Mediterranean flavours and sea views.
This was our third Ikos holiday: last summer we stayed at the beautiful Ikos Odisia in Corfu, a beautifully landscaped resort surrounded by pine trees, citrus groves and olive trees, with golden sand and clear Ionian water. It has a fantastic choice of pools, restaurants and activities, and the setting feels quintessentially Greek.
The summer before that, we stayed at Ikos Porto Petro in Mallorca, which was brand new at the time, and incredible. It has a different aesthetic: sleek, contemporary and understated, set between two sandy coves on Mallorca's southeast coast, close to the marina at Porto Petro and the beautiful Mondragó National Park. This was our favourite Ikos so far.
It sounds rather boring going back to the same hotel three years in a row, but I assure you it's not: each hotel has a different vibe, so you can return to the same brand knowing you'll get a wonderful stay at an exeellent hotel, without feeling as though you're repeating the same holiday. Mallorca brings a design-led Mediterranean feel, Corfu gives you the lush Ionian landscape, and Halkidiki feels very Greek, with its pine forests, Aegean beaches and Mount Olympus views.
Is Ikos worth it?
For me, yes. Firstly the food: this isn't an all-inclusive where you're resigned to buffet breakfasts and the same predictable dinner every night. The à la carte restaurants offer menus created by Michelin-starred chefs and plenty of choice, without ever feeling like we'd compromised because we were travelling with children.
Then there's the wine. With more than 100 premium wines included, alongside cocktails and spirits, drinks feel like part of the experience rather than an afterthought. Being able to order a good bottle of wine with lunch or dinner without having to think about the bill is exactly what makes an all-inclusive feel luxurious, and relaxing.
The decor deserves a shout out too: contemporary interiors, beautiful landscaping, and stylish restaurants and bars - even with little kids in tow, you still feel as though you're staying somewhere chic.
That's the appeal of Ikos: you don't have to choose between an easy family holiday and a beautiful luxury hotel.
Travelling with children inevitably changes the way you holiday - spontaneity becomes harder, lunches and dinners become less leisurely and every meal involves logistics - but Ikos takes away much of that mental load without taking away the things I enjoy about travelling.
There are kids' clubs and activities when you need them, beautiful pools and beaches when you don't, excellent restaurants, and enough space and choice that everyone can have the holiday they want.
That's what makes Ikos worth it for me - it's not that everything is included; it's that the things that are included are actually good.
So, three Ikos holidays in, I admit it: perhaps I *am* an all-inclusive resort kinda girl after all. Just a very particular kind of resort.
The only decision now is which Ikos next year?
