A spot of al fresco shade
(Picture: Ikos)I’m standing, dazed and short-fused, on a fragrant balcony, looking down over a row of swimming pools fringed with shady palms. A smiling woman breaks my reverie by offering me a drink on a silver platter; a drink I haven’t fetched from the fridge or fished around for a clean glass from which to drink it. I want to cry. It’s taken almost two years and four cancellations to get to Ikos Andalusia, but already, it’s worth it. I’m in Marbella, bitches. And it feels as alien as Mars.
I’ve been on an all-inclusive holiday before. It was enough to put me off forever. Ikos, which has four properties in Greece and whose Andalusian opening is its first in Spain, has not so much redefined them as ripped up the rule book. This is the Chanel of all-inclusives, and the plump day beds surrounding the seven pools (one of them perfumed) are accordingly dotted with Gucci and Vuitton totes belonging to a wealthy clientele who probably think that Airbnb is a type of inflatable mattress. Ikos describes its offer as ‘infinite lifestyle, infinite care’, a boast that isn’t hyperbole when you consider that several of the seven à la carte restaurants are helmed by Michelin-starred chefs. The kids’ club offers a football academy coached by Robbie Keane. For alpha types who can’t even relax on holiday, there’s yoga, tennis, watersports, a full-service spa and an impressive gym. If you want to explore the area, just ask for a Mini or a mountain bike. Cocktails? Take your pick. Champagne? Go for it. Rare Japanese whisky? Absolutely.
