Ikos Odisia

We returned to Ikos Odisia this year after loving it last year. We have been loyal Ikos guests for five years, visiting four resorts across five holidays, so we know the brand well. This was our first return to the same resort at the same time of year, making the decline in just one year impossible to ignore. Odisia remains beautiful. Corfu is wonderful, the food and drinks are generally very good, and experiences such as the Local Drive Adventure and Sunset Cruise are excellent. However, at over £1,000 per night for 2 adults and a 7 year, “generally very good” is simply not enough. We came home frustrated, disappointed and seriously questioning whether Ikos still deserves our loyalty. The most obvious change was staffing. The employees themselves were wonderful and worked incredibly hard, but there did not appear to be enough of them. Poolside drinks took far longer, at times hours, restaurant service was slower, staff covered too many tables and attention to detail suffered. We were repeatedly asked for orders we had already placed, yet at other times struggled to get anyone’s attention. QR code ordering was pushed more heavily around the pool. This may be presented as convenient, but it felt like a substitute for inadequate staffing rather than an improvement to a premium service. Sundays were noticeably worse, with fewer experienced staff seemingly available. As we stayed for 9 days, this affected two days of our holiday. Staff are entitled to time off, but Ikos should provide sufficient cover to maintain the same standard every day. We also noticed smaller cutbacks, the minibar was not replenished as consistently, the wine list appeared increasingly dominated by Ikos branded wines, there was very little to no recognition that we were returning guests, and buggies were often difficult to obtain, although many more mysteriously appeared when it rained. Individually, these might seem minor. Collectively, they removed the attention to detail that once made Ikos feel special. The company appears very efficient at increasing its prices; it now needs to be equally committed to maintaining the service those prices are supposed to buy. The wasps also made outdoor dining extremely difficult, which was more apparent this year. We understand that this is a natural issue and would not want wildlife harmed. However, Ikos’s solution of burning even more coffee grounds produced thick, unpleasant smoke around the restaurants. In the heat and humidity, it could feel like sitting among smokers. For a brand promoting luxury, wellbeing and healthy living, there must be a more professional and environmentally responsible solution. Our greatest and most worrying concern, however, was the changing culture of the resort. Ikos prides itself on creating a relaxed atmosphere and rarely saying no, this was confirmed by the management when we discussed it with them. Unfortunately, this now appears to mean that inconsiderate behaviour is seldom challenged, even when it directly affects other guests. We have an severn year old son, always travel during school holidays and are relaxed about normal family noise and everyone enjoying themselves. What we witnessed went far beyond that. There were many moments that shocked us, but some of the most disturbing was when we saw a guest shouting “I don’t care” at three members of staff because she disliked the breakfast table allocated to her family, and demanding the best tables in the restaurant. We saw children running around extremely busy restaurants, guests disrupting live musicians by playing instruments, drinking and emptying drinks in swimming pools and people taking other families’ toys and inflatables without permission, and from lost property as a free for all. Lunch tables were frequently held for large groups by one person, or even children sent ahead by their parents while everyone else arrived over the following 30 to 60 minutes. Other families were left waiting despite large tables sitting almost empty. This happened repeatedly, yet Ikos appeared unwilling to enforce its own no reservation policy. The bicycle system was equally frustrating. Bikes were abandoned around the resort, taken before the hire centre opened and apparently secured with guests’ own locks so staff could not collect them for others. A bike properly hired by our son was taken, leaving him heartbroken. We had taught him to wait and follow the correct process, only for another guest to demonstrate that selfishness is apparently rewarded. Several pools were closed during our stay because of contamination involving young children and unsuitable swim nappies, we were told that a total of 6 days over the past two weeks the pools had been closed. We understood from management that two incidents involved the same family on consecutive days. It is astonishing that stronger action was not taken after the first occurrence. Hundreds of guests were inconvenienced, seemingly because Ikos was unwilling to upset one family. We also experienced significant late night noise from the room next to us, including stomping and a drunken loudspeaker conversation with plenty of expletives on the balcony until approximately 2:30am, we had to complain twice and we still didn’t hear any intervention from Ikos members of staff. No resort can control every guest. However, it must be prepared to set reasonable boundaries when one person’s behaviour damages everyone else’s holiday. Ikos seems more comfortable apologising and trying to smooth over those affected afterwards than addressing the people causing the problem. That is not resolving an issue, it is avoiding it. We are also increasingly uncomfortable with the apparent culture surrounding complimentary upgrades. We know of guests who deliberately book promotional rooms intending to complain until they receive a Deluxe upgrade, and who have reportedly succeeded repeatedly. During this stay, acquaintances also told us they were immediately upgraded because they knew a manager from a previous resort. We do not expect an upgrade ourselves. Our concern is the perception that persistent complaining or personal connections are rewarded more generously than loyalty and respectful behaviour. Guests paying honestly for their chosen room category may reasonably wonder whether rising prices are partly subsidising those who have learned how to manipulate the system, which seems to be on a huge scale. This approach encourages entitlement, undermines trust and teaches guests that the loudest voice receives the greatest reward, which we witnessed plenty of times throughout our stay. Despite our disappointment, several outstanding employees reminded us why we once loved Ikos so much. Banny is a genuinely kind and humble man who remembered our son from last year. After hearing a passing comment about football, he gave him a football kit bearing his favourite player’s name. That thoughtful gesture represents the personal warmth that once defined Ikos. Ines at the central pool was wonderfully warm, passionate and exceptional at her job. Dimitris and the Kids Club team were friendly and fun, and our son did not want to leave. The towel guys at central pool and housekeeping team were consistently happy, lovely, helpful and excellent. These people are tremendous assets to Ikos. Our criticism is not directed at them or any of the team at Odisia. It comes from seeing exceptional staff placed under increasing pressure while the experience around them is steadily diluted by the brands ethos. Before this trip, we were ready to book another 11 night Ikos holiday at the new Kissamos resort which looks truly fantastic next summer, with a smaller trip either later or earlier in the season at another resort we are yet to try. Since returning home, we have instead been researching other resorts and hotel groups. Ikos cannot continue raising prices while reducing staffing, replacing personal service with QR codes, overlooking loyal guests and allowing the most inconsiderate visitors to dictate the atmosphere. All whilst investing heavily in new mega resorts and putting pricing up year on year. Last year, we left Odisia more delighted and eager to return than after any of our previous Ikos holidays. Over our time at Ikos we have recommended the brand so enthusiastically that at least five families we know subsequently booked Ikos holidays themselves. Following their own most recent visits, those families are now expressing many of the same concerns about declining standards and value. This year, we left frustrated, underwhelmed and unsure whether we will ever book Ikos again. When loyal guests and people who booked on their recommendation are all beginning to feel the same way, it suggests something more significant than one disappointing holiday. For us, it represents a damning decline in just one year.

We stayed at the hotel for 9 nights. One of the nicest parts of the trips was my daughter’s mermaid lessons with the wonderful Athina with wonderfin. She enjoyed being taught so much that she booked in 3 times. Worth every penny and my daughter learnt to dive. She was so patient and kind which made the lesson even more enjoyable

We had a fantastic stay at Ikos Odisia in Corfu and loved every minute of it. The resort is beautiful, with excellent facilities, fantastic food and genuinely attentive staff who made us feel welcome throughout our stay. A particular highlight was the boat trip, which was an unforgettable experience and a brilliant way to explore Corfu’s stunning coastline and crystal-clear waters. The entire holiday felt relaxing, luxurious and extremely well organised. We came away with some wonderful memories and would happily recommend Ikos Odisia to anyone considering a trip to Corfu. We would definitely return!

Athina was absolutely wonderful with my five-year-old daughter, Helena. From the very first lesson, she was calm, patient, warm and incredibly attentive. She created such a positive and comfortable atmosphere for Helena, while still being very clear and precise with her instructions and swimming tips. Athina has a fantastic way of teaching children. She knows exactly how to encourage them, build their confidence and help them improve while making the lessons fun and enjoyable. We were extremely happy with the swimming lessons, and I can wholeheartedly recommend Athina to anyone looking for a wonderful swimming teacher. She is truly excellent at what she does, and we would be more than happy to have lessons with her again! A heartfelt recommendation – thank you so much, Athina! ❤️

A fun day trip with the family on a -20 person boat. Lots of entertainment and some historical guidance. The kids particularly loved jumping off the boat in one of the swimming spots. The bay is beautiful. Well worth seeing Corfu from this viewpoint.