02 March 2024

An incredible week at the ultra stunning Ikos Andalusia in Marbella/Estepona, Spain. I can’t say enough good things about this place, it blew me away. Ikos have completely nailed the ultra all inclusive concept and their service is some of the best I have experienced. The hotel and grounds are immaculate (including the staff, they are all so good looking!) and my friends and I all agreed that the food was up there with the best ever! Incredibly there are 9 restaurants boasting Spanish, Greek, Italian, Asian (out of this world!!, French, Mediterranean (buffet style) and international menus created by Michelin-starred chefs. That’s 8 a la carte options and each could be a stand alone top restaurant in London. There are 300 premium wines in the package and even champagne is included! We indulged in the lot, it was phenomenal. Ikos Andalusia is a sophisticated stylish resort tucked between the sea and mountains (you can see them from pretty much everywhere) and while the hotel is absolutely stunning, they actively encourage you to immerse yourself in this enchanting region which I loved. A days rental of a Tesla is included, so glad we explored Estepona! It was a real highlight. Ikos are running pretty full for the whole of this season and I am already taking bookings for 2025 on a low deposit of £25 per room, including early booking discounts. My contracted rates are the same as booking direct, cheaper sometimes! We can simply add in your flights as and when released to offer complete peace of mind with the Travel Counsellors ATOL & financial protection. Booking early gives you the best rates and the best room selection. Get in touch for more details and a quote. I’m already planning my next Ikos adventure. Francesca.Arrow@travelcounsellors.com #ikos #livetheikosway #ikosandalusia #ikosresorts #estepona #marbellaestepona #travelcounsellors #thakehamtravelagent #votedbestallinclusive

08 July 2022

It had been a while since we’d gone abroad so it honestly felt like the first time going on a plane all over again! I was anxious following media scenes of airport carnage (post Covid), but I needn’t have worried, it was pretty straight forward. We travelled out at the beginning of June with EasyJet. We flew from Gatwick into Antalya, flying time was about 3.5hrs. There are heaps of direct flights into Antalya. If opting for EasyJet you should 100% take advantage of speedy boarding. This place is very big and very high rise. If idyllic little blocks of rooms surrounded by greenery is more your thing, then this is not the one for you. You do have to rely on lifts to get you down to the lobby and restaurants etc, but not once did we have to wait more than a minute or two despite the negative trip advisor reviews on this. On the plus side the rooms are fab! Spotlessly clean and come with a stocked mini bar that is replenished daily. The a/c is great and to be honest we couldn’t fault the rooms. You can book a family room if you’d like to spread yourselves out a bit. We thought the food was delicious! It was authentically Turkish, varied and plentiful. There is a main buffet restaurant which can get busy but has lots of different areas to sit including a vast outdoor space. We always sat here as it was right next to a quiet part of the swimming pool and picturesque. There are Turkish, Chinese, and Italian restaurants available at a small supplement. You must pre book. The cocktails are gorgeous, and they do yummy milkshakes and slushies for the children……and endless ice creams and those delicious Turkish flat breads, you will not go hungry here. The star of the show for us was the Wet n Wild Park that forms part of the resort. The main resort is not technically on the beach, but Wet n Wild is, so you do have to get a shuttle which takes 2 minutes or a 5 minute walk….maybe longer with little ones! Plus, it’s extremely hot here so we relied on the shuttle. We never waited more than 5 minutes for this and our children found it exciting. Wet n Wild is brilliant fun! There are lots of swimming pools, oooooooooodles of loungers and a fab selection of water slides suitable for children and adults. There is another lovely restaurant here open for lunch and dinner with table service available. The beach is typically shingly as you’d expect of Lara, but it’s very pretty with cabanas that you can book for the day. There are water sports here and a brilliant kids club. The mini disco was one of our daily highlights and the evening shows are superb! All in all, Aska Lara was exactly what you would expect of a good 4* all-inclusive resort and we had a super fun, relaxing (as relaxing as can be with small children!!), sunshine filled week. It definitely met our expectations. If you like to explore your destination, I can organise sightseeing trips to the Sapadere Canyon with its stunning waterfalls, there are jeep safaris, you can scuba dive and of course the famous Turkish baths. Get in touch if you fancy some Turkish delight! x