The best family friendly hotels considered as alternatives to Ikos
If we had a penny for every time we were asked for Ikos alternatives, we’d be rich enough to spend the year hotel hopping between the resorts. It’s the number one question we receive, and for a good reason – the brand is famous for its fantastic family-first offering. Born from the goal of bringing an Indian-Ocean-level-of-indulgen
Words by Frankie Collinson
Published: 29th July 2025 | Last updated: 27th July 2026
A bite sized guide to: The best family friendly hotels considered as alternatives to Ikos
The best all inclusive hotels for families
Daios Cove, Crete
Eagles Palace, Greece
The best foodie favourite hotels for families
Sani Club, Greece
Elounda Peninsula All Suite Hotel, Greece
The best family hotels with 5* service
Verdura Resort, Sicily
The Ritz-Carlton Abama, Tenerife
The best family hotels with Kids Clubs for babies
Almyra, Cyprus
Domes of Elounda
The best hotels with fabulous family facilities
The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino, Greece
Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Cyprus
The best (more) budget friendly family hotels
Zafiro Palace Alcudia, Mallorca
Parga Beach Resort, Greece
The best all inclusive hotels for families
Daios Cove, Crete
Your top foodie recommendation for families! A place for grownups who want brilliant childcare, the vibe here is gorgeous and go-slow. Parents are treated to a wealth of wellness at the world-class spa, to-fly-for gastronomic dining and a constant supply of cocktails in hand
The comparisons:
- Board basis: Choice of Half Board, Full Board, or The Residents’ Club All Inclusive package with unlimited a la carte access to all restaurants, premium drinks & 24-hour room service (which is surprisingly hard to find!)
- Childcare: Two Kids Club, both from 4 months +, the Scott Dun run Explorer’s Club is more expensive, but much better for older children as it’s ran more like a Summer Camp with activities around the resort
- Pools: One main infinity pool (for all ages), an adults only swim spot and small children’s pool. All are technically heated
To bear in mind:
- There’s no splash pad and as the hotel is located in a cove when it gets windy this can cool the water temperatures down
- The hotel is built into a cliff, so during peak season there may be a slight wait for the funicular down the to the beach and to your room
- There’s no evening entertainment
Example summer holiday prices for a family of 4:
- From £7,278 for a week in August 2026 all inclusive, in a Deluxe Junior Suite
Eagles Palace, Greece
A real rarity of the resort scene, Eagles Place is family-run, and you can tell. Family facilities are beautifully ‘packaged’ into a boutique feeling resort, while a strong Hellenic thread grounds this getaway with a sense of place. A heavy hitting dose of culture is matched with convenience here, thanks to the epic Kids Club
The comparisons:
- Board basis: Choice of Half Board, Half Board Premium Dine-around or ‘The Bon Vivant’ all inclusive package, which includes the choice of buffet dining & a la carte restaurants, along with a Dine Out Experience
- Childcare: A Scott Dun run Explorers Kids Club from 4 months +
- Pools: Three heated pools, an outside one for all guests and another two (one inside & one out) exclusively for Eagles Villas residents
To bear in mind:
- There’s no splash pad, but the beach here is one of the best!
- There’s magic and bubble shows for children, but not theatrical-scale evening entertainment or mini discos
- A great choice for larger groups or multi-gen gangs, Eagles Villas sleep up to 8 guests
Example summer holiday prices for a family of 4:
- From £10,300 for a week in August 2025 all inclusive, in a Two Bedroom Bungalow Sea View with Private Pool
Other notable all inclusive hotels for families
Your reviews
‘We’ve stayed at Ikos Andalusia & Olivia, as well as at Daios Cove. We love them all! Where Daios exceeds over Ikos (in my opinion) is the childcare, spa, overall beach cove setting and food. The Scott Dunn Kids Club was amazing with lots of fun activities – my 5yo enjoyed a Lego Robotics workshop. The spa was particularly impressive, including high tech treatments such as cryotherapy and vitamin infusions! And the inclusive food and drink was to a super high standard, we particularly loved the restaurant on the beach where the kids could play whilst we waited for food. The healthy juice options from the pool bar were also amazing! I think Ikos wins on service for us though and keeps us returning!’ Mama @jenna_londonuk
The best foodie favourite hotels for families
Sani Club, Greece
The undisputed monarch of the Mediterranean, Sani Resort is the gold standard gourmet getaway, with an elevated dining scene, *true* no-need-to-lift-a-finger-service, AND an incredible seaside setting
The comparisons:
- Board basis: Choice of Half Board or Full Board, both of which include the ‘Dine Around program’, covering a double digit number of restaurants across the resort
- Childcare: Chargeable creche 6 months +, complimentary Kids Club 4+, evening entertainment
- Pools: 2 outdoor heated pools, one indoor and children’s splash pool
To bear in mind:
- Genius entertainment extras put this all-age utopia in a league of its own, put many do come at an additional charge; we’re talking, a Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre, Chelsea Football Academy, Bear Grylls Survival, Treetop Adventure Park, rock climbing and bungee trampolines
- Dining can be more restrictive at Sani than Ikos, with more limited set menus if you do not wish to spend more
Example summer holiday prices for a family of 4:
- From £10,077 for a week in August 2026 Half Board, in a Junior Suite Sea View with Balcony
Elounda Peninsula All Suite Hotel, Greece
An exclusive escape, the all suites ‘rooms’ and villas at Elounda Peninsula deliver an exceptional experience, with seductive seascapes, a Six Senses spa, award-winning dining across 9 restaurants and a standout Kids Club
The comparisons:
- Board basis: Bed & Breakfast
- Childcare: One of our Travel Agency’s top picks for childcare, the ‘Kid’s Ark’ is available for those 4 months + (at a charge). Football fanatics will also go gaga for the Valencia CF Soccer School Camp
- Pools: 1 in & 1 outdoor pool for all ages, alongside a dedicated children’s pool (with flumes) at the Kids Club (all heated)
To bear in mind:
- The 8 restaurants are split across 3 sisters hotels within the resort, Elounda Peninsula is the most luxe, and on the beach, but some of the dining destinations in the other hotels are tucked away on the hill
- Rooms are really brilliant here, with plenty of private pools
- The Six Senses Spa is really rather special
- There’s lovely live music during dinner, but not the Broadway-grade evening entertainment Ikos is known for
Example summer holiday prices for a family of 4:
- From £8,300 for a week in August 2026 on a Bed & Breakfast board, in a One Bedroom Suite
Other notable foodie favourite hotels for families
Your reviews
‘If you’re aiming for a foodie holiday, there is nowhere better in this category than Sani, in my opinion. I would say both Ikos and Sani were equally good for family facilities, with a slight preference again for Sani. Sani Beach is right on the beach (although we did have some issues with the accommodation set up) and there are so many things for children- along with the Kids Club, the splash park and mini disco were amazing entertainment. The Ikos Odisia splash park was in a different section of the hotel up a hill – it felt like what my husband called the Jet2 part of the hotel, mainly because it was often completely overrun’ Mama @msk_mss
‘We stayed at Phaea Creta Malia, where the food was really, really delicious, very comparable to Ikos. The buffet breakfast had absolutely everything, beautifully displayed inside & outside seating.Though I do have to say, one of the restaurants at Ikos Porto Petro was one of the best I’ve ever eaten at ever! The resort has a smaller manicured intimate feel, where Ikos is obviously very large with the golf buggies to get around. It’s definitely not as grand or opulent as Ikos, but we really appreciated how easily the restaurants could be booked’ Mama @relalar
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Enquire hereThe best family hotels with 5* service
Verdura Resort, Sicily
A boredom busting break like no other, Verdura resort is the name to know for parents of little Duracell bunnies whose batteries never seem to tire. The Kids Club here has an almost unheard of entry age of newborn, with purrrrlenty to keep older sprogs grinning from ear to to ear too
The comparisons:
- Board basis: Choice of Bed & Breakfast, Half or Full Board
- Childcare: Chargeable creche newborn +, complimentary Kids Club 4+, ‘Academies with the Stars’ workshops spanning football, tennis and golf
- Pools: 1 main lagoon-like outdoor pool, plus a shaded, shallow (heated) children’s pool at the Kids Club
To bear in mind:
- There are no mini discos or child-centric evening entertainment
- The main pool isn’t heated and there’s no splash pool
- For the ultimate hassle free holiday experience, Verdura Resort also offers 20 3-4 bedroom villas. Many of these have private pools, but only 8 of these can be heated
Example summer holiday prices for a family of 4:
- From £15,900 for a week in August 2026 B&B, in a Two Bedroom Family Room (made up of guaranteed interconnecting rooms)
The Ritz-Carlton Abama, Tenerife
It’s rare to find a hotel as universally loved as the Ritz Carlton Abama. Guests who grace the walls of this pink palace have nothing but glowing reviews to share. A dreamland for holiday hangers-on, the Kids Club (4+) here is a real highlight with an encyclopaedic array of activities on offer; we’re talking everything from boxing & DJing to car racing and stargazing
The comparisons:
- Board basis: Choice of Half Board or Full Board, with guests of ‘The Retreat’ having access to ‘The Club’ with complimentary tapas, small plates and drinks included
- Childcare: Free Kids Club 4+ with stay & play policy
- Pools: 7 heated swim spots, with 5 being exclusively for guests of The Retreat
To bear in mind:
- There’s no official splash pad yet, but one is coming in 2026
- No formal supervised childcare for babies (outside of babysitting)
Example summer holiday prices for a family of 4:
- From £3,520 for a week in August 2026 B&B, in a One Bed Suite
Other notable family hotels with 5* service
Your reviews
‘I’ve stayed at Ikos Olivia in Halkidiki and Domes of Corfu. The pros for Ikos; *incredible* food; amazing children’s entertainment; the splash pad was a winner; the pool service was phenomenal; and the Kids Club was great. The cons for us were; we didn’t love the beach or the scenery; service was appalling in the restaurants; and it felt a bit like a family factory, lacking any culture or authenticity. The pros for Domes of Corfu; the beach is absolutely stunning, a real gem, with beautiful scenery; it felt a lot more boutique and true to country; plus, there was amazing service everywhere. The cons? Food was not Ikos standard. There were kids pools but no splash pads, and there wasn’t any kid-focused evening entertainment, such as mini discos. Domes are definitely more adult luxe but with younger kids, we actually prefer it over Ikos’ mama @f_stelloncliffe
The best family hotels with Kids Clubs for babies
Almyra, Cyprus
With ultra-contemporary interiors, delicious restaurants and a glittering infinity pool, at first glance you’d be forgiven for thinking this Paphos pad was adults-only, but that’s far from the case. One of the rare breed of design-led hotels that includes the littlest of legs in their childcare offering, the brilliant Kids Club here starts from 4 months
The comparisons:
- Board basis: Choice of Bed and Breakfast, Half Board and Full Board, plus it’s a short walk into Paphos for lots of local restaurants. Guests on Half or Full Board can also enjoy the Dine Around Thanos experience across Annabelle Hotel & Antasia Beach Club
- Childcare: Chargeable creche & Kids Club from 4 months, for older ages there are excursions to the nearby castle, harbour and ‘local experiences’
- Pools: 5 freshwater swimming pools, 2 are adults only (in & outdoor), there’s 1 all-age infinity pool, a family pool and separate children’s pool
To bear in mind:
- Aesthetically alluring Almyra feels like a grown-up getaway, but the guaranteed interconnecting rooms and ‘Baby Go Lightly’ packing service make it a genius choice for families too
- The pools aren’t heated, but Cyprus has one of the longest sunny seasons in Europe
- The beach here isn’t the best, but if proximity to nearby sights and authentic eateries is important to you Paphos’ promenade is a short toddler-trot away
- There’s isn’t a splash pad onsite, but there’s a waterpark within a 6 minute drive
Example summer holiday prices for a family of 4:
- From £2,987 for a week in August 2026 on half board, in a Family Connecting Inland View Rooms
Domes of Elounda, Crete
It’s hard to go wrong with Domes – the byword for family friendly luxury that doesn’t require a bank loan – but if we had to choose our favourite we’d pick Elounda, the flagship. Boasting an unrivalled location – just a 20 minute stroll from the picturesque small town of Plaka – walkability to meals & nap time mooches is just the first of many, many boxes this glorious getaway will tick
The comparisons:
- Board basis: Choice of Half Board, Full Board or ‘Haute Living Selection’ Half or Full Board – which gives guests complimentary drinks in the Club Lounge
- Childcare: Chargeable creche 4 months +, complimentary Kids Club 4+, evening entertainment
- Pools: a large family pool, smaller pool with a bar, a shaded children’s pool, adults-only option and indoor pool. All are heated
To bear in mind:
- There’s limited a la carte menu choice on the Half and Full Board plans
- There’s no splash pool
- Fab rooms choices with private pools in this exclusively ‘Suites & Villas’ outpost
Example summer holiday prices for a family of 4:
- From £6,005 for a week in August 2026 on half board, in a Family Suite Garden View with Outdoor Jacuzzi
Other notable family hotels with Kids Clubs for babies
Your reviews
‘We’ve stayed at Ikos Aria (Deluxe) twice and Martinhal Sagres . The food at both was very good. Ikos has smaller portion sizes (but unlimited!) and more finesse, but overall quality was matched by Martinhal which had a more home cooked feel with larger portions. Ikos has a splash pad which Martinhal doesn’t, but Martinhal had multiple playgrounds, zip-line, crazy golf and pool slides. Both had decent Kids Clubs, but Aria’s is a bit further away from the action and they have babies in the same room with 3 year olds which I didn’t enjoy. Martinhal has a totally separate crèche and then large rooms and outdoor spaces for 2-4 and 5+. Both have great beaches for kids, Martinhal’s is huge with lovely sand and very close to the main pool. There is much better evening entertainment at Ikos, with shows and live music in restaurants most nights, whereas Martinhal’s was very limited, but the playgrounds next to restaurants kept kids happy! Ikos wins without a doubt on the service, Martinhal was still of a good standard, but can’t match Ikos! We stayed in an ocean villa at Martinhal which was very spacious with two separate bedrooms and an entire kitchen dining living space which we loved. You pay a lot more for more space at Ikos. We stayed in a Deluxe one bedroom apartment which was big for a hotel and had a separate living area, but still didn’t compare to Martinhal. Overall, Ikos’ decor is more stylish and modern and the feel is definitely more luxe. Martinhal is more laid back and I would argue there is more overall for kids’ mama @georgie.rayner
‘We have been to Ikos Olivia and Oceania the last 2 yrs and this year decided to go to Martinhal Sagres. For Ikos we paid c.£4k for a week in Sept vs £2k for Martinhal in June. For us, Martinhal wins hands down. Firstly, the accommodation options are much better – we had a huge garden house which had all the kit for babies & toddlers and just left like a home we could really live in! We were self catering at Martinhal but added an evening meal package – this was £500 for the week for 4ppl and was 3 courses each per night. The food was exceptional – fresher, larger portions and very varied vs Ikos which gets quite repetitive and actually was quite dull at Olivia.On facilities, the beach at Martinhal is stunning, the pools are small but 2-3 have small kids slides and the village square is epic. Oceania has a really poor playground on the edge of the site though Olivia’s is fab. Service is unbeatable at Ikos, the staff are so lovely. Staff are not that apparent at Martinhal although they were v attentive and child-smart at restaurants’ mama Rebecca Engall
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Enquire hereThe best hotels with fabulous family facilities
The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino, Greece
Proving that sometimes, bigger really is better, The Westin Resort Costa Navarino is part of a sprawling set up including four 5* hotels, 40 restaurants and four 18-hole golf courses. Westin Resort Costa Navarino is the most family-focused. Alongside the epic Kids Club, smalls also have the run of an indoor climbing wall, outdoor ‘Escape Game’, Karaoke, bowling and even an NBA basketball school
The comparisons:
- Board basis: Choice of Half Board or Full Board across a whopping 43 restaurants (although some meals come at an additional charge)
- Childcare: Creche 4 months +, Kids Club 4+, fully fledged waterpark and splash pad
- Pools: Alongside a large lagoon-like pool, smaller swim spot, splash pad and waterslides, many of the rooms here have gorgeous private infinity pools
To bear in mind:
- A pretty unbeatable choice for families with mixed age children, the entertainment here is TOP tier
Example summer holiday prices for a family of 4:
- From £10,318 for a week in August 2026 Half Board, in a Family Suite
Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Cyprus
Home to one of Europe’s largest Kids’ Clubs welcoming even tiny tots from 4 months+, Parklane definitely wins in the family facilities stakes. Beyond bouncy castles, pirate ships, waterslides and playgrounds, you’ll also find some super snazzy restaurants serving up family friendly fine dining and a genius swimming pool setup with plenty of shallow and shaded areas
The comparisons:
- Board basis: Choice of Bed & Breakfast or Half Board (which works on a subsidy basis, with adults receiving 60 euros a day and children 30 euros a day for the a la carte restaurants at lunch or dinner, although the buffet at dinner is always free)
- Childcare: Scott Dunn designed Creche 4 months +, Kids Club 4+, pirate ship splash pad, one waterslide in the main hotel, epic outdoor play zone with bouncy castle and zipline
- Pools: 3 family friendly pools, including a huge shallow & shaded toddler pool, one overlooking the beach, with all either having sloping entrances or shallow ledges
To bear in mind:
- The Kids Club is in the hotel grounds but a good 3-4 minute walk away from the main pools
- Parents can stay and play outside in the gated grounds, but the actual Kids Club building itself is strictly for qualified staff only
- A couple of the a la carte restaurants, NAMMOS and LPM, are definitely stand out dining but beware the meal prices reflect how incredible the food is
Example summer holiday prices for a family of 4:
- From £8,244 for a week in August 2026 Half Board, in a Superior Room with Inland View and Balcony
Other notable hotels with fabulous family facitilies
Your reviews
‘I’ve stayed at Ikos Aria, Dassia and Andalusia. I have a 6 and 10 year old and about to have a new baby – we absolutely loved Ikos for small babies and toddlers but once the kids got older we started trying to find alternatives with more to do for older kids. Euphoria Resort, Greece – this is as close as we’ve got. While it misses out a bit on some Ikos aspects, for us, the pros for older kids balance it out. It has an onsite water park, the pools are fab and service is good. Food wise it’s not quite the same but the a la cartes were nice – especially the Asian. It’s not quite as lux as Ikos but not far off and value for money it’s a winner’ Mama @k.j.crane
‘In my opinion, the overall quality and variety of food at Ikos is higher than at the Westin Costa Navarino. Overall, I prefer the Westin for family facilities — bigger baby pool, fun water slides, bowling, indoor basketball court, and better evening entertainment (which was missing at Olivia this year): magician shows, open-air cinema, and so on. That said, I really loved the football academy at Ikos! My son was still a bit too young to enjoy those activities when we were at the Westin. The service at Ikos is absolutely unbelievable — for me, it’s their main strength. Super attentive, friendly, and really next-level in every detail mama’ @lucapu1984
The best (more) budget friendly family hotels
Zafiro Palace Alcudia, Mallorca
Families flock to Zafiro Palace Alcudia for its magical mix of childcare, al la carte all inclusive cuisine and prime postcode. Without a doubt our most recommended affordable alternative to Ikos, parents are sure to appreciate the all-suite room choices, swish spa and easy access to a trademark Balearic beautiful beach
The comparisons:
- Board basis: Choice of Bed & Breakfast, Half Board or All Inclusive Plus
- Childcare: Complimentary Kids Club 4+, pirate ship splash pad, foam parties, bouncy-castle-kitted-out playground & evening entertainment
- Pools: One heated main pool, swim-up pools, 2 indoor pools, an adults-only pool, and a children’s splash pool
To bear in mind:
- Music to the ears of last-minute-mamas, there’s no need to worry about pre-booking Kids Club sessions here as you can only reserve once on resort. It is worth knowing there’s no supervised childcare for Tiny Travellers under 4 outside of babysitting (which can’t be booked in the Kids Club)
- Mini discos here are handily in the afternoon, meaning there’s no need to keep tiny ravers up too late
- Rooms for larger families tend to sell out quickly, but there are lots of private pool options
Example summer holiday prices for a family of 4:
- From £6,918 for a week in August 2026 Half Board, in a Junior Suite with Pool View and Balcony
Parga Beach Resort
Distilling the ease of resort living into a boutique-feeling bolthole, Parga Beach delivers on authenticity and amenities. This gorgeous gourmet getaway offers up an easy peasy cuisine scene, ideal for those looking to max out on local culture, while minimising their spend. If crystal clear waters, sugar-soft sands, toes-in-the-sand dining and a sprinkling of picture-perfect pools sounds like your dream holiday, keep reading!
The comparisons:
- Board basis: Choice of Bed & Breakfast, Half Board or Ultra All Inclusive
- Childcare: Complimentary Kids Club 4+, weekly al fresco cinema screenings on the beach, shaded outdoor playground, indoor playroom, Teens Club and watersports
- Pools: A sprinkling of 7 petite pools around the resort, including 2 with gradient entries and 1 heated children’s pool
To bear in mind:
- There’s no creche at Parga Beach Resort, but babysitters are really affordable (only 15 euros per hour for up to children)
- A la carte visits are limited depending on the number of nights you stay, but there are plenty of traditional tavernas within a short walk or water taxi ride away
Example summer holiday prices for a family of 4:
- From £4,030 for a week in August 2026 all inclusive, in an Eden Suite
Other notable (more) budget friendly family hotels
Your reviews
‘I’ve stayed at Ikos Andalusia and Aria and honestly I think I prefer Zafiro Palace Alcudia. Ikos Aria had a great splash pad, sports area and beautiful beach but service was disappointing, room was very small and kids club staff weren’t great, in my opinion. In comparison Zafiro Palace Alcudia has absolutely amazing kids pools for a range of ages, fabulous kids entertainment, great food, brilliant service and is easily walkable to a lovely beach and port. The swim up rooms are amazing. So good with a baby who needs to nap and a pre-schooler who wants to be constantly in the pool. The only slight thing it’s missing on Ikos is the bougie interiors. But it was a much smaller price tag!’ Mama @torikaty
‘We had a fantastic week at MarBella, Mar-bella Collection in Corfu with our 6 & 8 year old boys. Some stand outs for us: the views are spectacular (sea view rooms are a must if possible); the onsite waterpark is great; lots of rooms have small private pools (which we found to be extortionate at Ikos). It is also an a la carte all inclusive, but the food isn’t as high standard as Ikos, and same with the service’ Mama @Sgreene198