I have just finished hosting my first week at Ikos Aria for Active Away.
I had heard a lot about Ikos before arriving. A resort brand known for its luxury, elegant surroundings and immaculate facilities, needless to say, I was excited to see what it had to offer.
The resort I would be visiting was Ikos Aria in Kos, located just 15km from Kos Airport.
The Hotel
Upon arrival, the first thing that struck me was the standard of the hotel. The architecture, views, cleanliness and facilities were all immaculate.
You enter through the main hotel lobby, where open space meets stunning interiors to create an environment that feels welcoming yet impressive. In the evening, the space is carefully lit, creating the perfect atmosphere for a pre-dinner drink.
Just off the main hotel lobby is a beautiful terrace overlooking the bay, with panoramic views and comfortable rattan sofas. This quickly became a favourite spot for our group looking for a post-session drink after an afternoon on court.
The hotel has five pools, including an indoor pool as part of the spa facilities, an adults-only pool and a Deluxe pool for the exclusive use of Ikos Deluxe guests. This meant there was no such thing as the early-morning sunbed wars you often associate with a resort holiday. Instead, you could readily find a sunbed at 3pm if you wished, which only added to the relaxation between tennis sessions.
The gym, located on the ground floor of the hotel, is by far the best hotel gym I have ever experienced. It's kitted out with Technogym equipment, including a variety of resistance machines, a free-weight dumbbell area and numerous cardio machines, including treadmills and cross-trainers.
The gym has also had an upgrade for 2026 and now features a Reformer Pilates studio with four reformer machines. Guests are able to book and attend two classes as part of their stay, free of charge.
The highlight of the gym for me, though, was the outdoor area. There is nothing better than being able to train outside, and the Ikos Aria outdoor gym did not disappoint. With erg machines, a squat rack, kettlebells and sandbags available, it's the perfect place to stay active while on holiday.
The hotel is spread across 47 acres, which means you never feel confined to one area. And if, after a long day on court, walking from the tennis courts back to your room or the bar feels like too much effort, golf buggies are on hand to transport you to your next destination. It's another small detail that elevates the whole experience.
The Dining
Ikos prides itself on its dining, and the choices certainly did not disappoint. Throughout our trip, we hosted group dinners at five different restaurants.
The first restaurant we visited was Oliva, an à la carte Spanish restaurant. The group shared a variety of Spanish tapas-style dishes, including patatas bravas, garlic prawns and padrón peppers. Every dish was beautifully presented, and the setting was equally impressive.
With so much on offer, I set myself a small challenge of ordering something I'd never tried before at each restaurant. At Oliva, my choice was Pescado en Adobo - marinated fish bites - which was a very strong start to my challenge for the week!
We also enjoyed dinner at Anaya, the resort's à la carte Asian restaurant. It was so popular with our guests that many of them rebooked during their stay.
Next came Provence, the French à la carte restaurant, followed by Ouzo, which serves authentic Greek cuisine and was my personal favourite. Finally, we visited Fresco, the resort's Italian à la carte restaurant.
While we were lucky enough to have no allergies within our group, the Ikos team were extremely attentive when it came to dietary requirements. Their approach offered real reassurance that guests with allergies or specific requirements would be extremely well looked after.
For breakfast, the resort has two à la carte options at Kos and Ouzo, alongside the buffet at Flavours. Deluxe guests can also dine at Seasons.
I only visited Flavours during my week, but the buffet was incredible. There were made-to-order omelettes, fresh fruit, plenty of hot breakfast options and, of course, lots of those holiday breakfast treats you probably wouldn't have at home!
Overall, as a big foodie myself, I found the dining at Ikos Aria incredibly hard to fault. There are so many options across the resort that each dinner feels like a different experience, without ever becoming repetitive, and the quality of the food was second to none.
The Ikos Team
The Ikos Aria team were superb. Nothing ever felt like too much trouble.
Every member of staff greeted you with a warm kalimera in the morning. They checked in with you enough to make you feel looked after without ever feeling intrusive and consistently went the extra mile to ensure guests had the best possible experience.
Our main interactions were with the team at the Sports Centre, who were fantastic throughout the week. They ensured our guests always had a ready supply of cold water and towels, as well as anything else they could possibly need during their sessions.
That level of attention to detail is noticeable throughout Ikos Aria and creates a seamless experience, no matter which part of the resort you are in.
The Tennis Experience
I've visited almost all of our resorts and have been lucky enough to experience some of the world's best tennis centres - and Ikos Aria is certainly a top contender.
There are four astroturf courts sitting alongside one another, which creates a fantastic environment for a group tennis session. Moving between courts is effortless, and having everyone together means the group dynamic feels strong from the moment we step on court.
The courts have also been positioned to minimise players having to play directly into the sun, another small detail that adds to the overall tennis experience.
The Kos wind certainly made an appearance during our week, but our tennis wasn't impacted too dramatically. The guests took it in their stride and reminded me that tennis is, at its core, an outdoor sport - so sometimes the wind simply needs to be embraced. It was a factor I perhaps needed reminding of during our end-of-week exhibition match!
There are umbrellas and seating alongside every court, providing the perfect place for an on-court refreshment. Each court also has plenty of space at the sides and behind the baseline, allowing players to move freely without feeling restricted by surrounding fencing.
When you combine the quality of the tennis facilities with everything else Ikos Aria has to offer, it's difficult to imagine many better settings for a week of tennis.
Overall
My first week hosting at Ikos Aria was an incredible experience and really highlighted the importance of attention to detail when delivering a premium tennis holiday.
The hotel, the team, the dining and the on-court experience all came together to create an environment where our guests could enjoy high-quality tennis while still experiencing everything you would expect from a luxury holiday.
That's ultimately what makes Ikos Aria such a good fit for Active Away. You don't have to choose between a tennis-focused trip and a luxury resort experience - you get both.
For anyone looking for the ultimate luxury tennis holiday, Ikos Aria certainly takes some beating.