Ikaros Beach Luxury Resort Spa

"Great location Fantastic atmosphere We had a gorgeous large cozy room with a private pool Staff is very friendly and nice"

"Very beautiful resort – but when it comes to the food, the 5-star standard falls by the wayside. We are currently at the Ikaros Beach Luxury Resort & Spa in Malia and, based on our experiences so far, can draw a thoroughly nuanced conclusion. First, the positive: The resort is truly beautiful. Very well-maintained, great pool areas, beautiful outdoor spaces, and a fantastic location right by the sea. We also like the bars very much. The friendly and attentive staff is particularly positive – you really feel welcome here. Our room in the main building with a sea view is modernly furnished and very clean. It is, however, rather small. The open bathroom is certainly a matter of taste and took some getting used to for us at first. Room service, however, works very well. The spa and fitness area is also very nice and fits the overall high-quality appearance of the resort. Then, however, comes the main restaurant – and here the 5-star impression drops significantly for us. The restaurant is huge and, above all, extremely loud. Especially in the lower area by the window front, there is a noise level consisting of chairs being moved, dishes being cleared, and numerous loud conversations. Unfortunately, a cozy vacation atmosphere hardly develops. At times, it feels more like a very large cafeteria than a restaurant at a luxury resort. The plates provided were sometimes not well washed. A small area to the left of the entrance is significantly quieter – you can actually eat comfortably there. Unfortunately, this area is correspondingly limited. Culinary-wise, too, we would have expected significantly more from an establishment of this category. During our previous visits, meat and fish were predominantly overcooked and therefore dry. This is particularly surprising given the existing live-cooking station. We often found the other hot dishes to be rather blandly seasoned and sometimes somewhat unlovingly plated. On the other hand, we would like to highlight the cold appetizers and desserts – here, the quality and selection are much better for us. It is interesting that our criticism of the main restaurant is partly reflected in other current guest reviews. As half-board guests, we have not yet tried the various à la carte or themed restaurants. These can be used for an additional charge; according to our information, there is a €12 discount per person on the menu price. Therefore, I expressly do not want to rate these restaurants. Our personal conclusion The Ikaros Beach is a beautiful hotel complex with a great atmosphere, very friendly staff, nice pools, good bars, and a truly successful spa/fitness area. But: For us, the expectations and reality at the main restaurant do not match. Anyone who books a 5-star "luxury resort" expects not only a large selection at dinner, but also a corresponding atmosphere and convincing food quality. This is exactly where we currently see the hotel's greatest weakness. Our personal rating so far: 3-4 out of 5 stars. The three to four stars are mainly due to the exceptionally beautiful complex and the outstanding staff. If one were to evaluate only the main restaurant, we would be significantly more reserved."

"My treatment was incredibly relaxing. I was able to really enjoy the treatment and it was truly TOP from start to finish!"