Ikos Kissamos, Crete: A Family-Friendly Review
If there’s one thing Ikos has absolutely nailed, it’s the art of making a family holiday feel like an actual holiday for the grown-ups too. And at the recently opened Ikos Kissamos, its newest Cretan outpost, they’ve taken the formula and given it a seriously beautiful setting on the shores of Kissamos Bay. Think crystal-clear sea, sandy beaches, lush gardens, lovely pools and that effortlessly polished Ikos style – all with the sort of all-inclusive set-up that means literally don’t have to think about anything or lift a finger. The dream
There’s so much for families to love here, from the awesome crèche for babies and toddlers through to kids’ clubs, teen activities and a huge choice of sports and water sports. Plus there are plenty of grown-up spaces, excellent food and a gorgeous spa. Here mum Simona Lane gives us the lowdown from her recent trip
Words: Simona Lane
Published: 8th October 2026
Ikos Kissamos Resort at a glance
Best for: Families who want an ultra-luxe all-inclusive beach holiday in Crete, with brilliant facilities for babies, kids and teens and enough grown-up luxury to make parents very happy too
Kids’ Club: Heroes Crèche from 6 months – 4 years, free Heroes Kids Club for ages 4 – 12, plus Just4Teens for 12+. Babysitting and a children’s supper club available
Best ages: Babies through to teens, with particularly good provision for toddlers thanks to the crèche, splash zone, playground, children’s pools and excellent baby kit
Board: Exceptionally generous all-inclusive, with seven restaurants, including buffet and à la carte options, 24-hour room service, daily-replenished minibar, pool and beach service, plus complimentary Dine Out at selected local restaurants
Transfer: Around 45 minutes from Chania Airport
Beach: Right on a lovely sandy stretch of Kissamos Bay, with shallow water and direct access from the resort
Pools: Nine pools, including family pools, children’s pools and a splash zone, plus private pools with selected suites and Deluxe Collection accommodation
Standout: The sheer amount you get included. This is classic Ikos – gorgeous beachfront setting, seriously good food, fabulous kids’ clubs and activities for every age, plus the clever extras that make family life easier, from baby monitors and pram hire to 24-hour room service and complimentary local experiences
Your most asked Ikos Kissamos Resort questions, answered
Ikos Kissamos: What makes it so good for families?
Take everything that works brilliantly about an Ikos holiday, sprinkle it over 53 acres of gorgeous Cretan coastline and you basically end up with Ikos Kissamos. This is Ikos’s first resort in Crete, set right on the stunning coast with lush gardens, a sandy beach, multiple pools and enough going on to keep everyone from toddlers to teenagers happy
Set along 600 metres of unspoilt beachfront on the shores of Kissamos Bay, Ikos Kissamos is an impressive feat. In fact, it’s the largest hospitality development ever built in Crete. Yet somehow, it never feels enormous. The resort is divided into four distinct areas- Main Village, River Village, Dunes Village and the Deluxe Collection. Clever landscaping, low-rise buildings and natural Cretan materials mean it blends beautifully into its surroundings rather than dominating them. Everything feels calm, spacious and beautifully designed. Think warm stone, wood, olive trees and woven textures rather than glossy marble and towering hotels. It feels unmistakably Ikos, but with its own relaxed Cretan identity
For little ones, the combination is hard to beat. There’s a family-friendly beach, dedicated kids’ pools and a splash zone, plus an outdoor adventure playground and acres of landscaped grounds to explore. The excellent kids’ clubs welcome children fom 6 months right up to teens with a host of well designed spaces and well-considered age appropriate activities
And then there’s the grown-up bit, which is really where Ikos earns its family-holiday stripes. There are nine pools, four tennis courts, two padel courts, a five-a-side football pitch, watersports, bikes, yoga, Pilates and a proper spa. Paddleboarding, canoeing and pedalo hire are complimentary, and families can also head off exploring with Ikos’s Local Discovery programme. In other words, the kids get an enormous amount to do, while parents get the rather lovely feeling that they might actually have a holiday too
What’s included for families at Ikos Kissamos?
This is where Ikos really does stand head and shoulders above so many family-friendly resorts. The childcare set up is outstanding
The Heroes Crèche takes children from 6 months to 4 years, while the free Heroes Kids Club runs from 4–12 years and Just4Teens is aimed at 12+, so there’s proper provision for different ages rather than one generic kids’ room. Activities range from sensory and messy play, arts and crafts and cooking for younger children to eco activities, water games, sports and organised activities for older kids. The clubs are run by childcare professionals to UK Ofsted-style ratios. Be sure to book in advance though as it gets pretty busy at peak times
Heroes Kids Club: is free for ages 4-12, running in three sessions: 10.30am-1pm, 1-3pm and 3.30-6pm
The Heroes Crèche: 6 months-4 years, with sessions from 10am-1pm, 1-3pm and 3-6pm and a charge of €42 per session or €32 for the lunchtime session. Staff ratios are 1:3 for 6-23 months, 1:4 for 2-3-year-olds and 1:6 for three-year-olds
Just4Teens is for 12+, with sessions 10.30am-1pm and 3.30-6pm, and a ratio of 1:12
There’s also the Heroes Supper Club, for 4-12-year-olds, from 7-10pm, costing €30 per child for three hours, giving parents the chance to go out for dinner without a small person announcing that they are bored after seven minutes. Babysitting is available for an additional charge
The baby kit is impressively practical too: baby monitors, baby bath tubs, toilet adapters, pram hire, baby necessities in the hotel mini-market, nappy-changing facilities, small tables and chairs and buggy-friendly ramps and lifts, with the starred items available on request and subject to availability
What’s the dining set up at Ikos Kissamos?
The all-inclusive offering covers pretty much all the things that can otherwise make family holidays feel like a running total on your credit card. Food and drinks are included across the restaurants and bars, there’s 24-hour room service, a minibar replenished daily with branded spirits and refreshments, pool and beach service, children’s menus and freshly prepared baby food on request. That’s a lot!
In total there are seven dining concepts – six à la carte restaurants plus The Market buffet – so you can eat somewhere different every night without ever having to leave the resort. The food is a real step up from standard all-inclusive fare, with menus created with Michelin-starred chefs and a strong emphasis on fresh, local Cretan ingredients
The Market is the easy family option, with buffet-style dining and international food stations, while the à la carte restaurants cover Italian at Fresco, Cretan/Greek cooking at Kriti, Asian flavours at Anaya, Peruvian food at Azul, Mediterranean dishes at the beachfront Beach Club and French-Mediterranean food at La Plage. La Plage’s breakfast and lunch are reserved for Deluxe Collection guests
All the restaurants have children’s menus, and freshly prepared baby food can be requested, so you don’t have to rely on finding something beige enough to satisfy a suspicious toddler. The 24-hour room service which is a godsend with kids
Dinner at the à la carte restaurants requires a reservation. Standard guests can pre-book up to three dinner reservations before arrival, while Deluxe Collection guests can reserve all their dinners in advance. Once you’re there, there’s no restriction on how often you can eat à la carte, subject to availability
And then there’s the clever Dine Out, which is one of the best bits of the Ikos concept. Selected local tavernas and restaurants around Kissamos are included, giving you the chance to eat proper Cretan food beyond the resort without handing over another wad of euros. Current options include local restaurants such as Pixida and Eviva Taverna
Where is Ikos Kissamos?
Ikos Kissamos is in western Crete, right on the shores of Kissamos Bay and around 2km from the fishing village of Kissamos. It’s a particularly lovely bit of the island if you want a holiday that combines an easy luxury resort with the option to actually get out and explore Crete
For flying from the UK, Chania Airport is the one to look at, with the transfer to Ikos Kissamos taking around 45 minutes, which is a very manageable journey with small children. Chania itself is around 45 minutes from the resort too, making it easy to combine a resort day with an afternoon wandering around its gorgeous Venetian harbour and old town
And this is one of the big attractions of staying here: western Crete has some seriously good family day trips. Balos Beach, with its extraordinary turquoise lagoon, is one of the headline attractions, while Falassarna, ancient sites, mountain villages and gorges are all within exploring distance. Ikos also makes getting out and about unusually easy through its complimentary Local Drive Adventure, which gives guests a car for a day, plus Culture Pass experiences and the Dine Out programme
So although you could quite happily spend your entire holiday within the resort, you’re not stuck on a hotel compound. You’ve got one of the most beautiful corners of Crete sitting right outside
When is the best time to visit Ikos Kissamos?
Is there ever a bad time for an Ikos holiday we ask you?! But if we are being picky we’d say for families, we’d put May, June and September at the top of the list, particularly if you’re travelling with younger children and want to escape the peak summer heat. Crete has a long, hot summer, but July and August can get seriously warm, with daytime temperatures commonly around 30°C or higher
May is lovely for exploring, although the sea can still feel a little fresh – average sea temperatures are around 19°C. Daytime temperatures are generally in the mid-20s, so it’s warm enough for plenty of pool, beach and outdoor time without the intense heat of high summer
June is pretty much Cretan family-holiday perfection. Average daytime highs are around 29°C, the sea has warmed to roughly 23°C and rainfall is minimal. It’s hot enough to feel properly summery but generally a little easier to cope with than July and August, especially with toddlers
July and August are the classic peak-summer months: hot, reliably sunny and busy. Average daytime highs are around 31°C and the sea is a lovely 25–26°C, so they’re brilliant if your priority is guaranteed beach-and-pool weather and you don’t mind the heat
Then there’s September, which might actually be our favourite. The sea is still wonderfully warm at around 25°C, daytime temperatures hover around the high 20s and the crowds begin to thin out. It’s particularly good for families travelling outside the school holidays
October can also be beautiful, with temperatures around the mid-20s and a warm sea, although western Crete is wetter than in summer and the weather becomes less predictable as the month progresses
Rooms & Suites
Every room is prefect
As this was our third Ikos holiday, it’s fair to say we arrived with high expectations. Having previously stayed at Ikos Aria in Kos and Ikos Odisia in Corfu, we’ve become rather spoiled by everything that makes Ikos… well, Ikos. The exceptional service, incredible food, thoughtful family touches and that effortless feeling of luxury
So, when Ikos Kissamos opened its doors in Crete this year, it immediately shot to the top of our holiday wish list. We booked a Pool View Garden Room, which was absolutely perfect for our family of three. Towards the end of our stay we were offered an upgrade to a One Bedroom Suite with Private Garden for our final night. We nearly declined it (packing up for one night didn’t seem worth it), but decided to embrace the opportunity. I’m so glad we did.
The extra space, separate living area and beautiful outdoor garden gave us a little taste of the next level of Ikos luxury. Would I book it for the whole holiday? Maybe not. But if you’re travelling with older children or simply enjoy a little extra room, it’s a lovely upgrade
Overall, there’s a really good range of rooms at Ikos Kissamos, from the 40m² entry-level Doubles and Superior Doubles right through to enormous three-bedroom suites with private pools. For a family with younger children the Family Room with Private Garden would be a great option as it’s made up of two connected rooms. There are also spacious Junior Suites, One Bedroom Suites and a whole tier of more luxurious Deluxe Collection rooms, with the biggest three-bedroom suite stretching to a whopping 182m². Depending on what you book, you can have garden, pool, side-sea or full sea views, with private gardens available in several categories
The look is very Ikos – calm, contemporary and beautifully Mediterranean, with soft neutral tones, natural materials and lots of light. It’s a style you’ll find in any of the brand’s properties and one which instantly says chic five-star hotel
Not sure which room is right for you? That’s where our expert travel agents come in. Get in touch for tailored recommendations and a personalized quote
Childcare and Kids' Entertainment
Unbeatable childcare
We’ve used Heroes Kids Club at previous Ikos resorts, so our daughter was excited to return. One of the loveliest surprises was that several of the staff actually remembered her from previous holidays. That instantly made her feel relaxed and excited to go back. That’s one of the things that make’s the childcare at Ikos so great. It feels personal and genuinely caring
She attended for around 2½ hours a day, either in the morning or afternoon, which felt like the perfect balance. She enjoyed activities including pizza making, sports and learning about Greek culture, while it gave my husband and I a chance to properly unwind. A genuine win-win
The childcare at Ikos Kissamos is one of the big reasons I’d happily recommend it for families with children of different ages. The Heroes Crèche takes babies from 6 months to 4 years, with professionally trained staff, small ratios and sessions throughout the day, so you can actually hand over your toddler and go and do something for yourself. The Heroes Kids Club is for 4-12-year-olds, with a brilliant mix of arts and crafts, cooking, nature and eco activities, treasure hunts, games and sports, while the Just4Teens programme gives older children their own space and activities
There’s plenty beyond the clubs too. Kids have a splash zone, children’s pools and an adventure playground, while the resort has four tennis courts, two padel courts, a five-a-side football pitch and watersports including paddleboarding, kayaking and pedaloes. Bikes are also available, so there’s tons to keep energetic children occupied. And if you fancy dinner without the children, the Heroes Supper Club runs until 10pm, with babysitting also available for an extra charge
The evening entertainment was probably the only area that disappointed us slightly. There were enjoyable evenings for adults, including the weekly White Party, live music around the Lobby Bar and various singers throughout the week. However, we felt there was very little aimed specifically at younger children. Having experienced the brilliant nightly children’s entertainment at Ikos Aria, Kissamos felt noticeably quieter in comparison. We tried the early evening magic show, but unfortunately it didn’t really capture our daughter’s attention, and we didn’t return for any of the other performances. Most evenings ended up being spent with her dancing with new holiday friends or playing endless games of UNO which, in fairness, she probably enjoyed more than any organised show
Wining & Dining
First-class all-inclusive
One thing Ikos consistently gets right is the food. Ikos Kissamos has seven restaurants, each offering something completely different, alongside all-day dining at the beach and pool bars. If you’re visiting, I’d definitely recommend pre-booking restaurants before you arrive. We secured reservations for our first three evenings, but after checking in the only remaining availability was around 4.30pm or 9.30pm. So it is a good idea to plan ahead, especially at peak times
But rather than settling, we simply sent a quick WhatsApp message to the concierge. Within minutes we’d been moved onto waiting lists and were dining comfortably between 7.30pm and 8pm for the rest of the holiday. It’s always worth asking as the team really do want to help in any way they can to make your stay perfect
Our favourite restaurant had to be Kriti. The authentic Cretan menu was outstanding and our waiter, Ricky, guided us through dishes we probably wouldn’t have chosen ourselves. Every recommendation was excellent. The traditional plate smashing delighted our six-year-old and made dinner feel like a real occasion. Don’t miss the lunchtime BBQ here either
The Monday and Friday brunch at La Plage deserves a mention of its own. Fresh seafood, grilled meats, colourful salads and endless delicious dishes are served in one of the prettiest spots in the resort. Our daughter made friends with several children while we ended up spending the afternoon chatting with their parents over rosé as the kids happily entertained themselves. Those are the kinds of holiday moments you can’t really plan, but they’re often the ones you remember most
What is there for adults?
Total relaxation for parents
One of the things I love about Ikos there’s plenty here for adults to genuinely switch off. I could happily spend a morning doing absolutely nothing on the beach, with drinks brought to my sun lounger, before wandering off for a swim or booking into the spa. There are nine pools, including quieter spots away from the family action, plus tennis, padel, yoga, Pilates, cycling and a good range of watersports if lying horizontally all day isn’t your thing
The spa is the obvious grown-up escape, with a sauna, steam room, indoor pool and treatment rooms, and the beauty of having childcare on site is that you can actually use it. There’s also the option to borrow bikes and head off exploring, or take advantage of Ikos’s complimentary Local Discovery experiences and Dine Out programme. I particularly like that you’re not restricted to the resort – you can get out and see some of western Crete without feeling as though you’ve abandoned the all-inclusive bubble
And then, of course, there’s the food. With seven restaurants, lovely bars, 24-hour room service and proper cocktails, there are plenty of opportunities to remember that you are, in fact, an adult on holiday
Service is often the trickiest part of a review like this because we’re comparing Ikos Kissamos against… Ikos. The standard across the group is incredibly high. There were a few occasions where service felt slower or less polished than we’d experienced at Aria or Odisia. Nothing major, and certainly nothing that affected our holiday, but enough to notice if you’re already familiar with the brand. That said, this is a brand-new resort employing a huge new team. To me, these simply felt like normal teething issues rather than genuine concerns. I’d be very surprised if, in a year’s time, the service isn’t every bit as exceptional as the rest of the Ikos collection
Pools and Beach
Stunning pools and a dream beach
There are four main pools, each with its own children’s pool nearby, so families are well catered for. We visited during peak summer and, like many luxury resorts, sunbeds became scarce if you wandered down after around 10am. That said, Ikos has one of the fairest sunbed policies I’ve come across. Staff clear any unattended sunbeds left with towels or belongings at 9am and then every hour afterwards, meaning there aren’t rows of empty beds ‘reserved’ all day. It’s a simple system that works well
The weather wasn’t entirely on our side during the first half of our holiday, with some particularly windy days meaning the beach wasn’t always enjoyable. But once the winds settled, the beach became one of our favourite places. The sea is beautifully clear, the sand is soft and the setting is exactly what you’d hope for from a luxury Cretan escape
If you have little ones who love the water, it’s worth knowing that Wonderfin Swim School also operates from the main pool at Ikos Kissamos for an additional charge. Our six-year-old decided to try the Mermaid School experience and absolutely loved it. Armed with a colourful mermaid tail, she spent the session learning fun swimming techniques while fully embracing her inner mermaid. The instructor was incredibly patient, encouraging and friendly, making every child feel confident regardless of their swimming ability. It was a lovely activity that offered something a little different from the usual pool time and quickly became one of the highlights of her holiday
What is there to do locally?
Plenty to explore on your doorstep
One of the things to really like about Ikos Kissamos is that, although you could quite happily spend the entire holiday inside the resort, you’re not marooned in the middle of nowhere. Kissamos town is around 2km away, so it’s close enough for a wander. There are supermarkets, little shops and plenty of local restaurants in town
This part of Crete is a particularly good for family fun. Balos Lagoon and Falassarna Beach are the big-ticket outings, while there are ancient ruins, traditional villages and lovely little coves to discover. You can also head into the countryside for walks, vineyards and Cretan villages
Another big perk is that Ikos makes exploring really easy. Its complimentary Local Drive Adventure gives guests a car for a whole day, so you can set off independently and explore at your own pace. There are also Culture Pass experiences and the Dine Out programme, where you can eat at selected local tavernas at no extra cost. So there’s definitely plenty to get up to beyond the gates, but frankly, with the beach, pools, kids’ clubs and activities, I wouldn’t feel too guilty if you barely make it out
Simona's verdict
One of the reasons we continue returning to Ikos is all the added little extras that are included. Things like complimentary use of a MINI Countryman to explore Crete which is so handy when you don’t want to hire a car for days but do want to have a look around the area. Or the daily afternoon tea in the lobby bar which is great because frankly who doesn’t like a cuppa and a cake on holiday? And these are seriously good cakes I might add. As well as weekly pizza-making sessions at Fresco. Such a fun experience to try with kids and not something you would necessarily expect to find yourself doing. These sort of things genuinely elevate the holiday and make it feel like much more than an all-inclusive
We’ve never stayed within the Deluxe Collection, so this review reflects the standard Ikos experience and honestly, it still feels incredibly luxurious. Did Ikos Kissamos quite reach the flawless standard of our previous Ikos holidays? Not quite. But is that because it’s a lesser resort? No. It’s simply still very new and finding its feet
After 11 wonderful nights, we left convinced that this resort has all the ingredients to become one of the very best in the Ikos collection. The stunning setting, exceptional restaurants, beautiful design and relaxed atmosphere are already there. Give the team a little more time to settle, add a stronger children’s evening entertainment programme and smooth out the occasional service hiccup, and I genuinely think it will be exceptional. Would we return? Without hesitation
Ikos Kissamos: Our Tiny Travelship Take
Meet the mama
Simona runs a PR and Influencer Marketing agency specialising in family, kids and lifestyle brands. She lives in Essex with her husband and six-year-old daughter, and together they love discovering family-friendly hotels around the world. Greece remains one of their favourite destinations, alongside regular trips to Miami to visit family, adventures across Italy and Spain, and exploring hidden gems closer to home across the UK