Luxury all-inclusive hotel chain Ikos Resorts has opened its second Spanish outpost. Typically sleek in architectural design, it’s striking against the craggy Mediterranean coastline. Expect tried and tested elements of the six pre-existing properties combined with a dash of unique culinary and aesthetic flavour.
Where?
Bypass the city of Palma for Porto Petro and the tranquil Mallorcan coastline, where the newest member of the Ikos family spans a full kilometer. It’s a 50-minute drive from the airport, and VIP transfers can be arranged by the hotel prior to touchdown.
Every restaurant and pool overlooks the ocean, and the sound of the waves provides a consistent, calming backing track. Teamed with the knowledge that all-inclusive and complete ease go hand-in-hand, it’s impossible not to feel relaxed.
Style
Upon arrival, guests are greeted with the kind of pared-back, zen-inducing aesthetic that infiltrates the rest of the property. Clean lines, washed stone walls, and wide open spaces filled with sunlight are peppered with touches of texture.
The plush outdoor seating area is covered with a canopy of uneven wooden beams like something out of an Ibizan chiringuito, and glass walls at the balcony edge ensure uninterrupted views of the sea.
Each restaurant has its own visual identity, chosen to suit its cuisine and theme, and pool beds are clothed in off-white linens that complement the cabana’s wooden frames. Thatch-topped umbrellas cast shade across the loungers on a mini private beach, and verdant plants line pathways to every building. The best way to describe it? A chilled-out Balearic play on 5* resort luxury.
Facilities
The Anne Semonin Spa is well worth a visit if a little extra chillout time is on the agenda. After a flight and a few days of indulgence, it’s the Lymphatic Drainage massage that proves the most welcome option, as well as a bespoke facial. Heated relaxation beds and an indoor pool make it tempting to stay all day.
Fitness fans can enjoy the state-of-the-art gym and schedule of outdoor training sessions, but family-friendly activities provide sociable ways to get moving, too. Push and E-bikes in all sizes are available to hire, as is non-motorised watersports’ equipment - welcome options for those looking to see a little more of the island. Alternatively, guests are able to borrow one of twenty on-site Teslas as a speedy way of getting around.
For families
Scandi-style cots and visually pleasing high chairs can be provided, and on request, a baby bath, making everyday life feel breezy. The Kids’ Club can’t go unmentioned, either. It’s included in the room rate for four-year-olds upwards, but babies as young as four months old can check-in to a morning, lunch or afternoon session where the timetable of play themes includes ‘Animal Puppets’ and ‘Fun With Flowers’. Older children and teens can enjoy their own age-appropriate sessions, and there’s a cinema-style theatre as well as evening entertainment after sundown.
Food & drink
Expect five à la carte restaurants, each with their own identity and bespoke menu. Ikos aficionados will recognise Anaya — its Asian-inspired cuisine is a popular choice across the group and dinner bookings are essential. New to the concept is Seasons, which strikes the balance between elevated and relaxed, and serves particularly delectable tuna tartar.
At Beach Club, no lunch is complete without a bowl of homemade humous. There’s also a fail-safe buffet option providing something to please everyone’s palette and appetite. One to note, though (and this feels a little extra special) is the option to ‘dine out’ at a local hotspot by the harbour.
Lastly, a moment for the cocktails, as there’s seemingly nothing the Ikos mixologists can’t do. Beautifully presented, generous in flavour and unlimited in creativity, there’s a true feeling of quality over quantity that filters down from the staff to the guests - something rather unexpected when teamed with the ‘all-inclusive’ name tag.
Which room?
The hotel spans 319 rooms, suites and bungalows making it the second-biggest Ikos property. A Junior Suite with a pool view provides ample room for two baby cots if needed, and has a private balcony as well as a small lounge area that’s ideal when a quick room service snack feels essential.
Wardrobe space is generous and hangers are plentiful (a detail often overlooked).
In the bathroom, expect that ever-welcome double-sink situation as well as a large, walk-in shower.
Best for...
This hotel is undoubtedly set up to be accessible and convenient for families, and the attention to detail goes as far as to ensure all pathways are smooth and wide enough for prams. Lifts are easy to find in the (few) areas where step-free pathways aren’t an option. That said, the elegant approach to design, a premium food and drink offering, and the lack of primary-hued plastic slides or colour-coded wrist bands make it equally appealing for couples and groups of friends, too.
Details
Room rates at Ikos Porto Petro start from 662 Euros per night for a superior double room on an all-inclusive basis. ikosresorts.com
