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The Louis Imperial Beach Hotel (Cyprus)
by lak11 The Louis Imperial Beach Hotel is in the Paphos area of Cyprus. It is graded as four stars. It's a member of the Louis group and. as I have stayed in other hotels in this chain, I felt it should be of a good standard. Fortunately, it didn't let me down. I booked my holiday as a package tour through Direct Holidays. ... ~~RECEPTION/CHECKING IN~~ My husband and I arrived at this hotel, by coach transfer from Paphos airport. We were the among several other guests, to be dropped off at our hotel, the last of about five other drop-offs, although all were at hotels close by, and so the drive only took about thirty minutes. On entering through its glass doors, we were greeted by friendly and polite staff manning the twenty four hour reception. Check in was quick and efficient. Our information pack was handed to us. A waiter appeared with cold drinks, which we drank gratefully, as we completed a short registration form. Looking at the spacious area I noticed marble floors and well-furnished seating areas , and away from the reception desk itself, the Fontana Bar with its outside terrace and sea view. I also noticed that three lifts were close by. We were handed our key and directed to our room on the third floor. A porter appeared, placed our cases on a trolley and delivered them to our room. During our two week stay we passed reception often. It was always manned. If we had any enquiry, such as which bus to get to a certain destination, staff were always helpful, knowledgeable and quick to speak to guests. I think a sign of a good hotel is whether its reception staff provides an efficient and polite service. The speedy check in was definitely a good start to our holiday. ~~ROOMS~~ ~A Room With A View Please~ Although our flight was a pleasant one, and the transfer to hotel, was quick , it was still a relief, after a day's travelling, to unlock the door to our room. I hadn't wished to pay fifteen Euros a day for a sea view room but, when booking, the agent said she would request a sea view room and we might be lucky. Remembering this, I went to the balcony, opened the patio doors and was disappointed. In hindsight I will say there wasn't anything wrong with the scene- a typical view of a built up area of Paphos, but sea view it certainly wasn't. I could see a hotel car park, streets, some greenery, a restaurant or two and distant mountains. Later on, I saw it was quite atmospheric when the sun had set and everywhere was lit up, but never the less I was disappointed and said to my husband, "Don't unpack, I'm going to see if we can change our room!" He groaned; he doesn't like fuss and thought fuss was about to happen. We went to reception and asked if there were rooms with nicer views available. I was told (politely) that I hadn't booked a sea view room and they were fully booked, but if I returned in the morning the reservations manager would speak to us. Next morning we saw the reservations manager who said he was very sorry we were disappointed with our room and as they were fully booked offered to arrange a sea view room in our choice of several hotels in the vicinity. He named some and they were known to us as good standard hotels. We left him, wishing, in a way, we hadn't said anything as, now we had a dilemma-did we move to the Ledra Beach where we knew the rooms had lovely sea views and we had had a thoroughly enjoyable holiday two years before or stay where we were but in an inland room? We decided to stay as first impressions had been very good. We unpacked then informed the reservations manager of our decision. A short while later, on returning to our room, we saw a card had been posted under the door asking that we again see the manager about a room change. We were given the key to a room on the first floor and of course went straight to the balcony.''' Wow! Beautiful! I had to have this room'''. The corner balcony looked out one way to a view of the coastline, part of the hotel, tennis courts and the sea. In the other direction was an abundance of greenery, and blue Mediterranean Sea. My holiday was now going to be perfect; I was sure. ~~INLAND VIEW ROOMS~~ This hotel offers inland facing, sea view rooms, and larger family rooms. Some rooms are inter-connecting. Rooms are on the first, second and third floors. The hotel has 239 rooms. The room was of a good size for two people. Two large twin beds were pushed together. One dipped slightly in the middle although the positioning of it meant it didn't compromise comfort but was looking as if it had seen better days. Each bed had a bedside table next to it with storage although one had a drawer and the other had the radio within. A reading lamp was positioned above each bed. The room was carpeted which isn't to everyone's liking, but I prefer it as cannot comfortably walk on hard floors. I also think it helps to provide some muffling of sound. A large two drawer dressing table had a mirror hanging above it and two lamps. A further chest consisted of four drawers. Rooms contain a safe (payable). For all inclusive guests the fridge (mini bar) was filled daily with two each of bottled water, tonic, soda, cola and sprite. There was a full length mirror outside the bathroom and further lighting. The television was free-standing. It showed international news channels. Upgrades were available if required. Towards the balcony's sliding doors was a round table with two chairs. On the balcony were two chairs and a table. The balcony was pleasant, although compact in size. However, it was large enough for us to stand and look out, or even to sit at the table. The room had a telephone and two electrical sockets. Tea and coffee making facilities were interesting as the electric kettle was housed on a plastic matching tray which plugged into the electricity supply and had sections for tea/coffee, milk and cups. It kept things a little neater. Drink making supplies were replenished every day or so. We requested extra pillows; these were quickly delivered. Surprisingly there was a good supply of clothes hangers. Heating and air conditioning was individually controlled in each room (free in summer to all inclusive guests) and came from a point high on the wall. It cooled the bedroom well. ~BATHROOM~ The bathroom was continental in style with a suite which included a bidet. The floor was tiled. The basin was inset in a marble surround providing ample space for toiletries. On the wall there was a shaving point and a hairdryer. The hairdryer worked quite well but I prefer an item such as this to be in the bedroom rather than bathroom and so often used my own travel hairdryer. The bath had an over bath shower which was easy to operate. I found the shower in the third floor room didn't work as well as the one in the first floor room and so wonder if this was to do with the water pressure being better in a room not so high up. There was a telephone in the bathroom which I didn't use! Seeing it did make me think of the song, 'Oh dear what can the matter be...' Could be handy! Towels were placed on the chrome shelf at the end of the bath. Hair and body wash were supplied as was cream hand wash. Shower caps were also supplied, although these are a thing I very rarely use. Clean towels were supplied every day if they were placed on the floor or in the bathtub. If, in the interests of energy conservation, you wished to use them again then a small sign in the bathroom advised that you hang them up. ~SEA VIEW ROOM~ This room was similar to the inland facing room except, of course, for its outlook. The balcony was angled with views over a large area of the locality, showing the sea, greenery, parts of the hotel and... more sea. We could see the outside area, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, where wedding ceremonies were held. Beds in this room were comfortable and looked superior to those in our first room. The balcony was fully furnished. We enjoyed a glass of sparkling wine or two out here, while admiring the panoramic views. This room was slightly smaller, than the room we'd just left, owing to its angle. It probably wouldn't have been suitable for three beds. In the large wardrobe there stood an extra four drawer chest. I would say this hotel was one of the better hotels I have stayed in in terms off storage. One thing which I especially like about the rooms in this hotel was that the door was unlocked with a traditional key on a large brass key ring. I preferred this method to a card finding it more reliable and it also meant that the electricity stayed on in the room without the need to keep a card in a slot. ~CLEANLINESS OF ROOM~ Our room was cleaned every day, including Sundays. The carpet was vacuumed every day and bed linen changed every few days. As already mentioned, fresh towels were supplied when required. ~~ALL INCLUSIVE~~ On checking in to the hotel we were surprised, and pleased, to be told we didn't have to wear a wrist band, as is usually the case when staying at a hotel on an all-inclusive basis. Instead we were given a plastic card of credit card size, which showed we were staying as A/I guests. We were advised to show this card when using A/I facilities so that we weren't charged, or to inform staff that we were all inclusive and then to supply our room number. My husband was impressed that local bottled beer was available on the all-inclusive tariff; he likes a change from the draught beer. The beer supplied was the local Cypriot brand of KEO... this seems to be popular with most guests. Usual spirits, soft drinks, tea, coffee chocolates, red, white rose and sparkling wine was available and this was served in the Fontana Bar (near to reception) The Rodonda Bar (pool bar) and to the outside entertainment area by waiting staff. It was appreciated by us that drinks were served in 'proper' glasses rather than the often found plastic variety. Plastic containers were used, during the day, around the pool, but were of the strong rigid type which was recyclable. In all bars and restaurant glass was used. Almost all long drinks and cocktails were available on the A/I menu and a good selection was there to be had such as Tequila Sunrise, Pina Colada and, of course, sex on the beach. Well, it wouldn't be a holiday without that joke being bandied about now would it? The All Inclusive at this hotel was excellent with drinks being available from restaurants, pool bar, cocktail/coffee bar. Three meals a day were served from the restaurant and snacks s and light bites provided all day in between meal times. Food and drink isavailable, if required, from morning through until midnight. After twelve a pay bar operates until one a.m. I didn't witness people at this hotel appearing to be overly excessive; I think sometimes if the food and drink is so readily available people relax more and eat when they want to rather than going too mad. I suppose most over indulge a little more than they would at home but then, they are on holiday after all. But this hotel had a good atmosphere with guests enjoying their holiday whilst being polite, well-mannered and well behaved; this isn't always the way. ~~ENTERTAINMENT~~ ~DAYTIME~ The members of the entertainment staff were a lovely team from: Tunisia, Hungary, Poland, England, and Holland. The team consisted of: Sandro (team leader), Christina (great aqua aerobics and entertaining quizmaster), Kashia who ran the very busy Kid's Club, Dominik, Frank and last but not least, Sarah Jane. Entertainment took place around the pool and in several areas of the hotel grounds and beach. Activities consisted of water volleyball, water polo, pool games and aqua aerobics, fun pool games, table tennis, quizzes, shuffleboard, French boules, beach volleyball, killer darts, table tennis and daily quiz. I liked the way the animation team worked as they made a good attempt to invite all guests to participate and were welcoming without being pushy. They accepted that not everyone wants to engage in activities and if one felt like chilling out they were easy to say no to. ~EVENING~ For most of the year evening entertainment takes please in an area near to the Rodonda Bar. There are plenty of tables and chairs; we always found one. There was a slight breeze here which made the evenings pleasant. The hotels resident entertainment staff provided most of the evening entertainment. Kashia and Dominik's Latin dancing was superb and Sarah Jane was a great dancer too. Versatile Christina danced and did much of the choreography. Sandro was entertaining always, as was Frank...and all animators were politeness itself. We usually dined during the children's disco. This was followed by the handing out of certificates and prizes, then bingo and a show, Often the show was performed by the team with great hilarity and sometimes an outside act was brought in, such as the George Michael tribute act which turned out (fortunately) not to be so much a tribute act (and bore little resemblance to George) but a singer/comedian who did a great take off of Vanilla Ice. ~~TERRACES/GROUNDS~~ I was impressed with the grounds and its many areas for sunbathing. In the morning the pool area was the first to have its sun loungers reserved but there seemed to be plenty around and they were supplied with comfortable mattresses. There were also lots of parasols and small plastic tables. The lawn area alongside the open doors to the indoor pool provided a further sunbathing area which was pleasant, with trees providing shade. A further grassed area with the shade of trees was available. This sloped gently down to the next area which faced the sea and the small beach. Because the grounds were extensive the hotel had plenty of areas to sunbathe and there was a good supply of sun loungers and parasols available. ~~SWIMMING POOLS~~ I liked the main outdoor pool with its easy access into the water, owing to the two sets of steps with handrails. As it was a relatively easy pool to enter I thought it a bonus for some with mobility problems. This was the pool used for activities such as water aerobics, water polo and water volleyball. Another advantage was the angled shape meant pool games could be enjoyed without taking over the whole pool. The children's pool looked very welcoming for toddlers. Parents could place sunbeds near to this pool to watch their children splash about. There was room around the pool for buggies and pushchairs without making access difficult for others trying to move around this area. The Indoor pool was refreshing as its water was cooler than in the outdoor pool so it provided a welcome place for a cooling dip. The pool was for adult use only in the summer season. This rule was mainly adhered to. The pool could be reached by three different entrances; one being the whole side of the building it was in, as the glass doors which ran the full length were open all day. This meant one could swim and look out at the outside area. The pool itself was entered by steps with a rail, unless you wanted to jump straight in! At the end of the pool was a large Jacuzzi which again, like both pools, was easy to enter with its graduated steps and handrail. ~~RESTAURANT/FOOD~~ A dress code applies with gentlemen required to wear long trousers at dinner. The rules were relaxed for lunch. If the dress code isn't to a guests liking then there is a section of the restaurant where guests can be more casual. For lunch guests could also eat outside where there were parasols and fans. A dress code didn't apply at this time. On entering the restaurant you can find your own table staff will always find one for you. Dinner started at seven in the evening and lasted until nine thirty. A couple of times we ate late and there was still a good choice of food to be had. Once seated, a waiter would appear to take drink orders. As an all-inclusive guest one could choose from bottled mineral water, soft drinks, and red, white or rose wine, or beer. The waiter/waitress would ask for your room number and that you sign a receipt. Drinks were usually brought out very quickly. Alternatively, a drinks menu offered French champagnes and bottles of both international and local wines. Some of the local wines seemed to be a lot better value in the hotel than in local restaurants. The dining here was a serve yourself from the buffet. Food was well set out on a large circular food station with two sections, each containing food in labelled lidded containers, to keep it warm. These consisted of approximately two or three meat options, one or two fish, potato dishes, rice and choices of seasonal vegetables. I never once had more than two people in front of me and I feel this was due to the good positioning of the food. There was a Carvery section where a chef carved from one or two choices of roasted meat and there was a tureen of gravy; you could help yourself to this. A further section contained pasta choices and vegetarian dishes. Salad sections were impressive with cold meats, tuna, plus all types of salad, sauces and dips. There was a selection of cheese and biscuits, a wonderful choice of fruits, ice creams and Cypriot style cakes, and sometimes more English type desserts such as fruit pies and custard. I occasionally ate dessert although not often but, when I did, I thought the cheesecake desserts were very good, although I often chose the healthier fruit salad. It was usual to find at least one fish dish, often two. A children's section was available. The food served in the restaurant was very good and I would say probably the best of the hotels I have stayed in in this region. The excellent quality of food was definitely a very positive feature of this hotel. Breakfast was tasty, and again, no queuing for eggs, which were prepared while you waited. Although the hotel was full it was refreshing to not see queues, even for pancakes. Breakfast choices were continental or full English: bacon, sausage, grilled tomatoes, often mushrooms, potato choices such as hash browns, potato croquettes or fried potato pieces, scrambled eggs, toast, rolls, boiled eggs, fried eggs, and pancakes. Really, there was no excuse at all to be hungry at this hotel and everything was hot. Juices, tea and coffee were available from dispensers. ~~VEGETARIAN GUESTS~~ I don't eat meat, although do eat fish. My husband does eat meat. I find it's often difficult to find food options whilst on holiday but, as yet, this was the best in the way of vegetarian choices.'''I was particularly impressed that the vegetarian options actually tied in with the evening's theme''' at dinner so, for instance on Italian night one of the choices was spinach and ricotta cheese cannelloni. Even my husband said this was very tasty. On Cyprus night there was a local lentil dish. There were usually enough options so that I wasn't forced into having salad more than I wanted to. For lunch there were always two pizza choices available, one being vegetarian. ~PACKED LUNCHES~ One day we decided to visit the beach at Coral Bay and thought we would ask (evening before) for a packed lunch. This service is free to all inclusive- guests. Our two lunches were available from reception after breakfast and consisted of two packs of sandwiches in each- ham and also chicken in one and cheese, and cheese and cucumber in another, a bottle of water, carton of juice, cake, an apple and an orange. ~~SERVICE/STAFF~~ On our second day here we were lying by the pool feeling a little too hot, when a waiter and a waitress could be seen walking around the pool area carrying trays of ice cold small towels. One could smell these towels had been newly laundered then placed in a freezer. I thought this a simple but nice touch to the service at The Louis Imperial Beach. My husband and I considered the service at this hotel exceptional; it exceeded our expectations and was the most positive feature of an excellent hotel. It felt as if staff around the hotel took pride in this hotel and wanted guests to have a lovely stay. As well as the high calibre of Cypriot staff many came from Eastern Europe and were friendly, polite and hardworking, showing a high standard of customer care. This hotel reminded me in regards to service of The Ledra Beach, another Louis Hotel, which is fairly close by. Both were very impressive in quick, efficient, polite service. If anything needed doing such as a light bulb needed replacing, it was quickly seen to. ~~CLEANLINESS/MAINTENANCE~~ Pool areas were kept clean, bins regularly emptied, grounds maintenance could be seen to be an on-going task. Gardeners and handy men were regularly engaged in upkeep of the grounds, cutting grass, tending flower beds etc. Upkeep generally seemed very good. Tablecloths and napkins in the restaurant were spotless. All indoor and outdoor areas seemed to be thoroughly cleaned every day. ~~FACILITIES~~ A well-equipped games room had, as well as video games, two pool tables, air hockey, and a table tennis table. I don't think this was over used during the daytime but some children played in here of an evening. Younger children chose to join in with''' Kids Club''' in the care of Kashia, or had fun in their shady playground, or enjoyed the beach or pool. The gift shop sold a range of items from gifts to toiletries, confectionary, beachwear, newspapers, etc. ~~JUST A FEW MORE OF THE FACILITIES AVAILABLE~~ *Gymnasium and sauna. *Hairdressing salon. *Indoor television room *Tennis courts *Luggage room *Late rooms are available (from noon until eight p.m. I was quoted 42 Euros. *Towels for use around pool and beach available (deposit required) *Near to reception there was an internet corner with WIFI. *Courtesty Room-This is a good idea, I thought. A room can be booked for a half hour slot free of charge. You can freshen up before leaving for the airport. We didn't need to use this facility as check out was twelve noon and, as we were leaving for the airport at around three in the afternoon, asked if we could keep our room until two o'clock. Once the rooms had been allocated we were told we could do this as the room wasn't needed until after three p.m. This made the last day much more enjoyable as we had breakfast and enjoyed a swim before showering in our room before leaving the hotel. *Meeting room *Childrens playground ~~BEACH~~ On the coastal side of the hotel is the beach. Although not the best beach in Cyprus the sea is accessible. I would advise pool or beach shoes to walk into the sea and then, once in, it is quite easy to walk out a little and see where to walk or swim owing to the clear waters. Actually it is a quite safe and pleasant spot by the hotel as there seems to be a natural inlet making a pool type feature. In places the rocks clear and the waves crash in and stronger swimmers enjoy bathing here. The sea is warm. Water sports are available. All along this area one can walk past the different hotels and their grounds and the beach areas vary, although most are a mixture of sand, pebbles, and rocks, although these can be avoided. In all honesty the best beaches in Cyprus aren't really in the west, although Coral Bay is an exception as it is very sandy and calm. ~~LOCATION~~ The Louis Imperial Beach Hotel is in a good location only about 11 km from Paphos International Airport and situated on Poseidonos Avenue. Many hotels line this long road and on the inland side of the hotel there are several shops, bars, restaurants and pharmacies. I have stayed in Paphos several times and like this location above others I have stayed in. There's an abundance of things to do in Papho: water sports, boat trips, restaurants, bars, shops, markets, beaches, Go-Kart track, small funfair, horse riding and golf. History is on hand with The Tombs of The Kings, Paphos Harbour and fort, It is about a twenty minute walk to Paphos Harbour from the hotel if walking along the well paved (and lit in the evening) walkway. We went to the harbour several times by bus or taxi. But there isn't any need to go to Paphos Harbour for a meal (apart from it being pleasant) as there's a good choice of places to dine close to the hotel and one can choose from Cypriot/Greek fayre, French, Chinese, Indian, Italian, African, Mexican and Japanese, probably more. Buses stop close to the hotel and usually come along every ten to fifteen minutes. From the hotel it's a short bus ride to the harbour and buses run late, even on Sunday evening. Busses also run to the Aphrodite Water Park which is nearby. Buses are air conditioned; most drivers are friendly and speak excellent English. They will tell you where you need to get off the bus if asked. Taxis will often stop as you walk along or wait at a bus stop and offer deals on fares. Sometimes a people carrier or mini bus type of licensed taxi will offer to take everyone to the harbour for a price that works out as cheap, or sometimes slightly cheaper, if there are enough people to share. ~~WHO STAYS AT THIS HOTEL?~~ We found there was several groups of families and friends who were in a wedding party (Cyprus is a popular place for weddings) and other guests seemed to be made up of smaller family groups and couples, but no rowdy groups or singles. Guests behaved well and there was a polite friendly atmosphere. We made several friends who we expect to keep in touch with. British guests were in the majority but there was a good enough mix of nationalities to make things interesting. As the animators used to ask in the evening where guests were from and I remember these places being called out: Poland, Moldova, Germany, Russia, and Holland, Poland and, of course, Cypriot guests. ~~DISABLED GUESTS~~ Public areas had ramps which helped with wheelchair and pushchair access. The ground seemed pretty even and the hotel grounds had paved areas leading to the beach, and the road to the front of the hotel. I think many areas around Pahos are probably more suitable for those with mobility difficulties than, perhaps Protaras, for instance, as the ground is often flatter. The hotel had three lifts and so access was generally good. Pools are well designed from an easy entry aspect. I did notice there were at least two wheelchair users staying here and a couple of guests used walking sticks and one was on crutches. Guest bedrooms are situated on floors one, two and three but I wouldn't expect this poses a problem as there are three lifts. I also noticed waiters making room for wheelchair users at mealtimes. ~~OVERALL~~ I loved this hotel and had a great holiday. I felt it had all I needed for an enjoyable and memorable holiday. I didn't hear anyone speak badly of it and, in fact, many guests said they preferred it to more expensive hotels they had stayed at in Cyprus. Read the complete review |
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Atlantica Bay Hotel (Cyprus)
by k2705 I have recently returned from my honeymoon in Cyprus, we have visited the country once before and stayed in Paphos, however this time we decided to stay in a different location, we chose to stay in the town of Limassol. The hotel we decided on was the Atlantica Bay Hotel, it is situated just outside of the main town which is about a 10 ... 15 minute bus drive away. The main reason we chose this hotel was due to it being an adult only hotel and described as being ideal for honeymoons, the actual holiday we took was part of a the Thompson Couples Holidays, although you do not have to be a couple to stay there, the hotel was also rated as a 4satr plus so we thought it had got to be of an excellent quality. The hotel was perfect and we really enjoyed the relaxed feel to it. Location As I have said the Atlantica Bay Hotel it situated in Limassol about 10 to 15 minutes away from the main town where you can find a variety of shops, both small local shops and large department stores, including a Debenhams which I was quite surprised at, there are also bars and clubs if you are looking for that sort of thing, the main street of the town is situated opposite the beach where you can take part in various water sport activities. The area where the Atlantica Bay Hotel is positioned is kind of in the middle of no where, there are no actual shops within walking distance (well we didn't see any) although there are several other hotels in the area, the hotel is positioned along the main road, however it is set well back up a long sloping drive so you cannot hear the traffic going by. On the other side of the road from the hotel is the beach, this is not visible from the road, however the hotel is set at the top of a slope so when in the hotel grounds the sea can be seen, there is an underpass which takes you from the hotel to the beach so you do not have to cross the main road, however we did not use this and simply crossed the road to access the beach. If you do wish to get away from the hotel there is a bus stop directly opposite the hotel where buses run every 15 minutes into the main town, this is where you also catch any buses to take you on pre arranged trips, we used this when we went to the water park for the day, all of the bus drivers speak very good English so communication is not a problem. So although the area where the hotel is positioned is rather quiet with not a lot to do in the area, getting out and about is very easy. The Hotel The hotel as I have mentioned is situated up a long sloping drive well away from the main road, the drive takes you directly to the large glass fronted reception, upon entering the cool air of the air conditioning instantly hit you which was a relief considering it was nearly 40 degrees outside, the majority of the hotels communal areas was very well air conditioned at all times, the only areas where there was no air conditioning were the stair wells and also the corridors leading to the rooms, however personally I do not feel these areas need to be air conditioned. The reception was situated in a large lounge area, the reception desk was up one end and was manned 24 hours a day, again all of the staff spoke excellent English, in the same area were large arm chairs and sofas for those who wished to rest inside out of the heat, a variety of newspapers were also available. There were also a selection s of tables and chairs designed for those who wished to have a drink inside during the evening, although these could be used all day, the bar was positioned opposite the reception desk and directly in the middle of the lounge seating and bar seating, this sold a variety of drinks, both soft and alcoholic as well as snacks. Directly in the middle of the lounge/ reception area was a large wrought iron and marble stair case which spiralled down to the ground floor of the hotel, this is where the restaurant, spa, gym and ball room were located, it was also the area that our holiday reps set up should we require them. You could also access the pool area from various doors on this level, with the public toilets being nearby. Located just outside of the reception/ lounge area was the terrace balcony, part of this area was under cover to provide a bit of shade with the rest of it being open, there were a variety of wicker tables and chairs, sofas and arm chairs on the balcony, this over looked the pool as well as the beach in the distance, spiral stair cases lead from the balcony down to the pool area for convenience so you did not have to go back into the hotel to get down to the pool. The hotel was quite ornately decorated with statues set in alcoves in the wall, large chandeliers hanging from the ceiling as well as a variety of water features including a large waterfall type feature on one wall of the reception. The Rooms We opted for a regular double room rather than one of the large suits, it was made up of one large room which doubled up as the bedroom and seating area and a large bathroom. The rooms were perfectly decorated in what I call natural colours, the bed was positioned in the middle of the room and was massive if you laid either side of the bed you felt like you were miles away from each other, it was also covered in cushions of all different sizes, although it had a duvet on it there was also sheets and a throw which we decided to use instead of the duvet as it was much cooler. There was a small beside cabinet next to either side of the bed and a large dressing table at the bottom of it with a big mirror on the wall. Just as you came into the room were large built in wardrobes with sliding doors, these contained extra blankets and sheets if you required them, not that we needed extra blankets in that kind of heat. The room also contained a large flat screen plasma TV fixed to the wall at the bottom of the bed, this had a variety of channels including Sky News, there was also a small fridge (useful for me as I have to keep medication in the fridge) as well as tea and coffee making facilities, although we did not use this. One wall of the room was made up of large sliding glass doors which opened out onto the balcony, positioned just in front of these were 2 white wicker chairs and a small table, ours contained a bottle of champagne and fruit as a gift from the hotel as it was our honeymoon. The balcony was not overly large but big enough to contain a table and 2 chairs as well as drying racks for your towels and swim wear, again we did not really use the balcony apart from a couple of nights when we returned to our room. The floor of the room was tiled all the way through which helped to keep it cool although you did have to be careful if you spilt anything on it as it made it slippery. The bathroom was big containing a large bath with a shower over it, obviously a toilet and a large marble worktop with built in sink, the wall above the sink was totally covered in a mirror, the staff supplied shower gel, shampoo and body lotion in a small rack for your use, this was refilled once you had used one bottle of it. The room was air conditioned, this could be altered or turned on and off using a switch and dial on the wall located near the bed, we found this useful as it meant we could have the air conditioning on low during the night (although it did get cold with it on all night) and then turn it up higher after returning from sitting by the pool all day. The room was very comfortable with plenty of storage space, although we did not spend much time in our room it was ideal for what we wanted, there was plenty of room for the 2 of us and it was very well equipped with all the facilities you could need. The Pool Area The pool was situated at the front of the hotel but because the hotel was set well back from the main road traffic noise was not a problem at all. The hotel has 2 pools, one smaller which is heated and covered in the winter, although we did not go in this pool, and then there was the main lagoon style pool, this was a large oval shape with an island in the middle and a bridge going over it, this provided a bit of shade in the pool, but you were not allowed to dive off of it into the water. The pool was an ideal size as a couple of times a day there would be a water polo game, or volley ball and in the mornings water aerobics, the large pool meant if you did not want to join in (which we didn't) you could still have a swim and keep well away from the activities. We spent quite a lot of time in the pool cooling down from the heat, however getting into the pool was a bit like getting into the bath, the water was really quite warm. Next to the shallow end of the pool was a large stone Jacuzzi, this had a couple of steps up to it and was situated between the main pool and bar, we used this a few times, however I did find the seat and the floor of the Jacuzzi quite rough, you wouldn't want to slip over in it, you would definitely skin your knees. Before entering the pool and Jacuzzi they did encourage you to clean your feet by stepping into a large stone bowl of disinfectant, however they only had one of these at the shallow end of the pool, if you were at the other end of the pool and got in using the steps at the deep end there was no where to clean your feet at all unless you walked around the whole of the pool to get in. There were out door showers next to the pool if you required them, again we did not use these and preferred to go straight to our room for a shower after swimming, but it was useful to know they were there if you needed them. Both of the pools were surrounded by sun beds and umbrellas, you could not save the sun beds before 8:30 in the morning, although we did go down early to get a couple of beds there were always plenty to go around, we mainly did this to get a good position, there were also small plastic tables which you could use for drinks if you wished. The beds around the smaller pool were on concrete with the majority of the beds around the main pool being on grass, now both of these surfaces had their good and bad points. The concrete was good as it meant you didn't get 'bits' stuck to your feet however it got so hot in the sun once off your bed you had to run to the pool so that you did not burn your feet. On the other hand on the grass surface you didn't get burnt feet going to the pool, but after coming out of the pool walking on grass with wet feet did get a bit messy and meant you had to wipe the grass off them with a towel once you reached your bed, most of the time we got 2 beds on the grass as we preferred to be near the main pool. The pool was exceptionally clean and the whole area around the pool was well maintained as were the beds, umbrellas and tables, none of the equipment was broken despite constant use every day. Bars There were 2 bars in the hotel, one in the lounge area which I mentioned earlier and one outside by the pools, located between the 2 for easy access. Now 2 bars for the whole of the hotel does not sound very much, however I think in the whole of the time we were there we went to the bar to order a drink twice, where ever you choose to sit in he hotel, in the lounge bar, on the sun beds during the day or at the tables and chairs set out for the evening entertainment there is waiter service, as soon as you sit down a member of staff appears to take a drinks order from you. We were all inclusive so did not have to pay for anything we literally had to give our room number and sign the order sheet, however even if you were half board and paid for drinks you still did not have to move to the bar, everyone was served at their table or sun bed, of course you could go to the bar yourself if you wised. I was very impressed with this service as there were always plenty of staff about to take orders meaning your did not have to wait long to get a drink despite the fact that the hotel was very busy. The bars sold all the drinks you could want including lager, a variety or spirits, wines and cocktails as well as many different soft drinks and bottles of water, if you were all inclusive as we were all drinks were free of charge including the cocktails which I was quite surprised at, other hotels I have stayed in have always charged for cocktails so I was very impressed with this. The lounge bar staff covered the balcony over looking the pool as well and with your drinks you were served a bowl of nuts and popcorn which could be refilled as and when you wanted, we only sat up here one night but took advantage of the free popcorn!!! One thing I did notice with the drinks was how strong they made them, I nearly always drink vodka and diet coke when I go out but here they were so strong I had to have vodka with orange juice as I felt this toned it down a bit and made it drinkable. I cannot comment on whether the drinks were expensive or not as we did not pay for a single drink, however we found that going for the all inclusive option worked best for us as we definitely got our moneys worth, and that was just with bottles of water. Other Facilities Other facilities in the hotel included a spa with all the latest treatments including Hammam, massages, a sauna and a beauty salon, as well as a variety of other treatments, these were not included in the price of the hotel and all treatments were chargeable. Again I am not sure on the prices as we did not use this facility, however the hotel did have a full price list of all the treatments you could have and informed you of exactly what these included. There was also a gym in the hotel, we did not go in here but did walk past, from what I could see if contained all the regular gym equipment such as bikes, treadmills and a variety of weights, this was fully air conditioned, although I don't think I actually saw anyone using it which I cannot blame them as it was in the late 30's early 40's temperature wise. As well as the gym the hotel also had its own tennis courts, needless to say we did not use them, however we could see these from our balcony and most nights there was someone having a game. There were also computers available and Wifi if you wished to use it, there was a small charge for this, however I am not sure how much this was as we did not use this service. Entertainment Apart from the games played throughout the day in the pool, they also had a daily quiz during the afternoon, we did not take part in these much preferring to keep ourselves to ourselves by the pool. In the evenings there was entertainment every night outside by the pool where they had a stage and tables and chairs set out. Every night they had their resident singers on stage for about an hours which I have to say were very good, followed by a guest act, these consisted of comedians and a variety of singers and musicians, we sat outside and watched the entertainment every night and most nights we were very impressed with the acts, obviously some were better than others but there was something for everyone. The entertainment went on until between 12 and 1am although we didn't actually stay until the end. Overall we were very impressed with the hotels entertainment and did not feel the need to go out of the hotel and into the main town for the night. Restaurant There were 3 restaurants within the hotel 2 of which you had to pay for, there was the a la carte restaurant which you had to book at the reception and also the Stone Grill restaurant again you had to pay separate for this. The main restaurant you did not have to pay for and this was where you had all of your meals throughout the day whether you were all inclusive like us or half board. The restaurant was a large room with a variety of sized tables and cream leather chairs and large chandlers hanging from the ceiling, there was also an area where you could eat outside which we did most evenings. The tables and chairs were set out around the whole of the room with the food being located in the middle. All of the meals were self serve and you could go up for food as many times as you like helping your self to what ever you wanted. The main courses were positioned in heated trays throughout he middle of the room with deserts, breads and so on, in separate areas nearby. I was particularly impressed as they actually had a separate vegetarian area, usually when I go on holiday abroad I have to make up a meal with whatever I can out of the bits I like, however with there being actual vegetarian foods available I could have a proper meal, the foods ranged from pasta dishes, to curries or vegetable pies and then I would have the potato and vegetables that were available to everyone. All of the food was of an excellent quality and there really was something for everyone, they even had a large area set aside for fresh fruit. I can honestly say there was something for both me and Mark every day, there wasn't a day where we didn't like anything. Again all drinks were served at the table with orders being taken as soon as you sat down, as soon as you had finished the dirty plates were taken away, there was not a single dirty plate on show when you walked into the restaurant . The Beach The hotel is located just opposite the beach with an underpass from the hotel to the beach itself, alternatively you can walk down the drive and across the road which is what we did. We didn't actually spend any time on the beach and preferred to stay by the pool, however the beach was always busy, there were plenty of sun beds for everyone as well as umbrellas and tables. There was also a food and drinks bar located along the beach opposite the hotel, this was actually part of the hotel and if you were all inclusive and wanted to go to the beach you could get free food and drinks from here by showing your hotel wrist band however you did have to return to the hotel for your evening meal. I thought this was an excellent idea as it meant you did not have to return to the hotel every time you wanted a drink or snack. The Staff The staff throughout the restaurant were extremely helpful, they were always on hand to help, as soon as we got there we were taken for a drink and a welcome speech whilst all of our luggage was taken up to our room. All of the staff spoke extremely good English so there were no communication problems at all. The staff were very friendly and ready to serve you at all times They were never short staffed and there were always enough to cope with the amount of guests staying in the hotel. The Shop The hotel had its own shop, to start with I thought this was going to be the regular hotel gift shop, however after having a look around we discovered that it was actually very well stocked. They sold the regular gifts although these seemed to be aimed at children which is strange for an adult only hotel. They also sold a variety of pool toys, we actually purchased a pink lilo for me and a large rubber ring for Mark. As well as pool toys you could buy swimming costumes, shorts, sun glasses and hats. But what I was most impressed with was the grocery side of the shop, you could buy a variety of foods and drinks as well as toiletries, if you had forgotten anything you could buy it in the shop. It probably wasn't as cheap as shopping in your local supermarket, however it was not too badly priced although we did find the newspapers a bit on he expensive side but Mark needed to keep up to date with the horse racing!!!! Again the shop staff were very helpful and friendly, the shop was always well stocked and I never saw empty spaces on the shelves. The shop opening times were 10:00 until about 6:00 from what I can remember so it gave you plenty of time to buy anything you required. I would definitely recommend the Atlantica Bay Hotel, it definitely lives up to its 4 star plus rating that First Choice have given it. The rooms are comfortable and extremely well equipped as is the rest of the hotel and most importantly everywhere is very clean. It really is the perfect hotel for your honeymoon you do not have to do anything yourself and can just sit back and relax. The whole place has a relaxed atmosphere, however it is not so quiet that there is no atmosphere at all. I would highly recommend going all inclusive at this hotel as we really benefited from doing this and certainly got our moneys worth. The food is excellent and there really is something for everyone. The hotel is ideal for couples of all ages, most of the guests whilst we were there were couples, some on honeymoons others were not, however there were a few families there too, obviously where the children are grown up. The staff really do make your stay comfortable. I would definitely consider going back to this hotel if we were to go to this area in the future. Read the complete review |
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Tsokkos Odessa Hotel (Protaras, Cyprus)
by lak11 TSOKKOS ODESSA HOTEL, PROTARAS, CYPRUS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I have holidayed twice at the Odessa, but the second time I did not find it twice as nice! I stayed at this hotel in the summer of 2007 and 2008. We were here, on both occasions, for two weeks on an All-inclusive basis. Our party was made up of, ... me, my husband and our youngest offspring, two teenagers (aged fourteen and seventeen in 2007). This was our first visit to the island of Cyprus and we have all returned since. I chose the Odessa hotel after much research, not knowing much about Cyprus. In fact prior to this holiday, I hadn't really fancied Cyprus as a holiday destination, preferring the Greek islands. However I had two teenagers to consider. In 2006 we had been to Halkidiki in Greece and whilst we had all enjoyed it, especially my husband and I, it wasn't the type of place easy for teenagers to make many friends. It was beautiful, but our hotel wasn't the friendliest place that I've been to. Cyprus has its party spot, Ayia Napa, though from what I hear you can still have good family holiday, but generally it seemed to be a good place for British holiday makers of all ages. I looked up all the resorts as best as I could and, reading between the lines of holiday reviews (after all we all want different things from our holiday) I felt that Protaras would be the best place for us to spend our two weeks in the sun. I was a bit worried that it would be like Southend-On-Sea, in Essex, though. No offence to South- end but I wouldn't want to holiday there for a fortnight. On both occasions of going to Protaras and the'''Odessa Hotel''', I booked with Olympic holidays, as I felt that the price was reasonable. I would now, after discovering, Holidays Direct, and having two holidays in Paphos, Cyprus, with this company, expect to find a better deal with them. But I always shop around, looking g for a good price but decent flight times. When choosing a holiday some seem well priced until taking into account flight times and nights in the hotel. I always try to get morning flights out and early afternoon returns. This also means you don't have to obtain a late room on your departure day, or worse trusting your belongings to a luggage room. I prefer to breakfast and leave soon after, still fresh from a morning shower. If travelling to the Protaras area, you are much better served by Larnaka Airport. Larnaka is alright but we have found it very crowded if there are delays and it's difficult to find seats. I prefer the smaller Pahos airport but, I think it takes too long to transfer to the hotel from here so would always choose Larnaca for Protaras and Ayia Napa areas. On our first visit to the Odessa we enjoyed our holiday from start to finish TRANSFER TO HOTEL ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ About an hour and a half was spent on the coach from the airport but as it was comfortably air conditioned, and this was our first sight of this island. We sat back and enjoyed it. We holidayed towards the end of July and it was unbelievably hot. Be well prepared for sun, sun, sun if you holiday in the summer months. Take plenty of sunscreen and light coloured shirts to cover up with. I have been to other Mediterranean resorts but found this the hottest. CHECK IN/RECEPTION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The twenty-four hour reception reception area is well manned. Staff vary in their level of helpfulness, but we found they were at good to very good. Check in was efficient. We were fitted with our all-inclusive wrist band and given instructions as to where we could eat, dining times etc. and informed that a safe hire service was available, which we took use of. We were given a swipe card for our room (which also worked the electric) and instructions as to the room's location (we had booked two rooms). Our cases were taken to our rooms by a porter. The rooms were on the second floor and, although lifts could be a little slow at times, I would say they were adequate. There are 209 rooms in this hotel. SUITABILITY FOR DISABLED GUESTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The hotel has three lifts but there probably are easier hotels for those in wheelchairs. Also access to the beach would not be the best, or to the main strip as there is an incline which might prove difficult to push a chair up, especially bearing in mind the heat. There are some hotels in this location built on more level ground and with easier access to the beach. I wouldn't say it's the worst though but best to give careful consideration in this respect, or seek expert advice. ROOMS ~~~~~~~~~~ The rooms weren't brilliant but about what was expected. As usual the storage, particularly drawer space, wasn't enough. The wardrobe was quite large but, why oh why don't they give more drawers and shelving, or even hooks? We needed more clothes hangers, which arrived fairly quickly, along with the requested extra pillows. The rooms were carpeted. They had been cleaned but, as I usually find not that well. Bathroom and balcony floors are mopped every day and beds made, towels and sheets regularly changed, surfaces wiped, in a fashion but, the maids seem to ignore the dusting! However, I will say that the maids here worked exceptionally hard and for very long hours. They were friendly and a, 'kalimera' was always forthcoming. We had two beds, large singles, pushed together. These were fairly comfortable but well used. When a third bed is put into these rooms it is often a camp bed and not comfortable (so I am told) and the space is then limited. On the first occasion we had side sea -view rooms, which gave us a good view of the sea when actually out on the balcony (one couldn't see this from the room) and a pool view. The view was very pleasant but the following year I requested a full sea view room (paying a supplement) and this was marvellous. I could see the vista from the room.This hotel is very close to a lively beach so it was nice to see the water sports taking place. The room had a small table and two chairs in it but I would rather have had the extra space. Bedside lamps, one large wardrobe, drawer space and a television, fridge and safe were contained in this room. Bottled water could be got at the hotels bars (free for all inclusive guests) and kept in the fridge. Tea making facilities were supplied. The furnished balcony was pleasant with the lovely view. The air conditioning worked well. Bathroom The Bathroom was of a good size with over bath shower. The shower was a little erratic at busy times but not a real problem. The basin was set in a work surface which provided plenty of storage space. Some toiletries and a welcome pack of things such as a comb, sewing kit, shower cap, small soap tablets was provided, along with shower gel and tiny bottles of shampoo. Toilet paper was regularly supplied and bins emptied every day. Maid service was good although, as they were overworked, sometimes the room would be undergoing its cleaning at four in the afternoon when many were ready for a rest and respite from the heat. Towels were changed when required (by placing used towels in the bath tub) and were of a decent quality and not too bad in size. A hairdryer was supplied. POOL AREA ~~~~~~~~~~~ This was a nice area, although I feel it needed some maintenance. There were tiles missing from the pool and the grilling around it was broken in places. I ruined a bikini on this and it was almost embarrassing. Thank goodness my bikini was lined! I used the sewing kit! The shaped pool was very warm but too small for the amount of guests staying here. But many a friendship was struck up by being in this pool and chatting. Sunbeds These were not in good enough supply and one (hubby or son!) had to get up very early to secure them. As our holiday ran in to August, hubby found as the holiday progressed he had to get up earlier and earlier. Seven o'clock was too late. However if one hadn't been able to find sun beds around the pool, there were some often available around the grass areas. The pool bar This also supplied the evening drinks, had a good supply of all inclusive beer and spirits. The beer supplied was Carlsberg and Keo, which my husband prefers. Many spirits and cocktails were available, and international spirits could be paid for. The service, in the bar and all bars was efficient and extremely friendly. Drinks were served at your table in the evening by friendly staff, mainly Eastern Europeans, or if you wished, you could queue at the bar. Drinks in outside areas were served in rigid plastic cups. Around the bar was an area with tables and chairs with large parasols, providing a cooler spot to sit and have a refreshing drink. RESTAURANT ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Near to the pool area was the restaurant where you could go for lunch and help yourself to a three course or a four course, buffet style meal. Not for me, I always lose my appetite when it's so hot but there's always something to pick at. No swimwear permitted here and decent attire was expected. Alternatively one could remain outside and be waited upon either before or after lunch, remaining in beachwear, seated at tables with overhead ceiling type fans. The food was quite good, offering snacks such as toasted sandwiches, jacket potatoes with choices of fillings, omelettes with salad and chips or spaghetti Napolitano, or Bolognese. I think the menu was very good. MAIN RESTAURANT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This was uncomfortably hot. I did like the fact that when you entered the restaurant you were greeted politely and shown to you table. Your order for drinks was taken and you were free to serve yourself to a good choice of food. I do find though, that the food in these hotels gets very samey on the second week and I feel that by the end of the holiday I've had my fill of aubergines and stiffed peppers. For meat eaters, I am told, the selection of meats was usually good and very tender. There should be more options for vegetarians. The choice of fish was quite good, often serving sea bass and swordfish, as well as fried fish in batter. Breakfast was always good, although my daughter and I often had an extra half hour in bed and ate from the snack bar a little later, or had an early lunch. Hubby and son had breakfast every day, without fail. FACILITIES ~~~~~~~~~~~ There was a tennis court but we didn't use this. It was much too hot for this--even in the evening. *An average gym, and massage room was available. My daughter used the gym a few times. My son always intends to use the gym but seems to run out of time with all the other activities available. *A table tennis table was placed in the outside area.Equipment was poor. It was easier to buy quite cheaply form the many local shops your one bats and ping pong balls, rather than wait for these almost useless ones supplied on request by the hotel. *There is a small video games area but the machines were not in a good state of repair. *Internet is available by purchasing a card from reception for varying amounts of time. *This hotel advertises a souvenir shop but it wasn't in use on either of our visits although both took place in the high season. It was there, but empty and closed. This was a shame as, although the shops were near, one didn't want to .leave the hotel for a pen, or batteries or items wanted immediately. It is worth mentioning that many of the hotels in this area are owned by the Tsokkos hotel group, and some share facilities. The Odessa hotel would compete against nearby Tskokos hotels in games, such as water polo and water volleyball. A bar, in pub style, called, The Victoria Bar, is available for the use of hotel guests, but it is not included in the all-inclusive tariff. There are two, good quality pool tables in here. The bar stays open until about one a.m. (all-inclusive option ends about midnight) but if many guests are using it will often remain open longer. ENTERTAINMENT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Daytime Although I felt this hotel was fairly good value for money and it had some very good points, our second visit, and that of other guests that we befriended, was spoiled by the entertainment staff. On the first visit we found two of the team, working for Premiere animation, to be exceptionally nice and friendly to all guests they had left by the time of our second visit. The team leader and another female entertainer were still there, along with two new members, on our second visit. We found on the first occasion that the leader, Johnny had a large ego but he wasn't too bad as he had other good staff to help out. He found him a little amusing at first, until we realised that he got his laughs at the expense of others, and inappropriately. He made careful friendships with certain guests, mainly those that returned year after year. When he wasn't entertaining we found him sullen and unprofessional. On our second visit he now some sort of entertainments co-ordinator,and spent much time talking on his mobile phone. This effectively left only three staff to entertain guests. When one had their day off it was then only two. These three members also ran the kids club so entertainment staffing was far from adequate. There were several complaints. This would definitely deter us from returning to the Odessa, and I know we are not alone in this. It is a shame, as the two newer members of this team worked very hard. I would holiday in other Tsokkos hotels if I knew that the entertainment staff would be different. Premiere entertain at several hotels in this area. Games around, or in the pool, took place during the morning and afternoon. The amount of time given to activities wasn't anything like as good as for instance The Ledra Beach in Paphos, Cyprus. The table tennis was often abandoned because they didn't have ping pong balls. They could have nipped up to a nearby shop and bought a couple! Water polo was played with a ball we had purchased and let them use. Darts was postponed for four days due to them misplacing their darts. When the darts turned up the Killer darts seemed to be run by the holiday makers, my son often taking scores as Johnny was, of course, busy. Just call it a D.I.Y. holiday on the daytime entertainment front. Although my son enjoyed the organising and scoring, I don't think this is right for a four star hotel. They really got away with a lot. Evening Entertainment The evening entertainment started with kids club which seemed very prolonged, followed by prize bingo and then, sometimes a show performed by Premiere staff. Much of it was mimed but the dancing was quite good. Occasionally an outside act was brought in but it was usually of a poor standard and would be a tribute act or performing parrots or a magician, who certainly wasn't magical! We entered a quiz, which was the entertainment for one evening. The same quiz took place the next week with the same questions! We won but were told we couldn't win as we took part the week before and knew the answers! That didn't matter much as the prize was a cocktail from the bar, which we, along with most guests could get free from the bar, being all-inclusive. Much of the entertainment was repeated the next week. I think this is very lazy. I found myself quite bored at night and if we weren't too hot we would have a walk around Protaras main strip, or find a different spot to chat to friends. LOCATION ~~~~~~~~~~ For my family the location of this hotel was excellent. It's about a two minute walk to the beach, although a bit dusty and sometimes gravelly, along the way. The beach has everything in the way of water sports and bars, but it isn't too crowded. There are banana boats and all sorts of fun inflatables as well as jet skis. Budget for this though, as water sports are expensive. I would advise some haggling too. The sea is a little rocky on entry but is clear enough to pick your way in and keep to the sandy parts. I used pool shoes though. Once in, it's gorgeous, and a pleasure to swim around here. A short walk away and boat trips leave to go to different places of interest. Glass bottomed boats are popular, as is an interesting trip, sailing past, Varosha, Famagusta, the ghost town left as it was when the Turkish invaded in 1974. The Greek Cypriots evacuated leaving everything in limbo. With binoculars, from the boats, one can see tables set in restaurants, awaiting the guest who never come. This dispute hasn't been settled. Going the other way from the beach and slightly uphill, you come to the main strip of Protaras, a very short walk away. Here, there is an abundance of gift shops, bars, mini marts, restaurants and karaoke bars. It isn't like Southend, but it's lively. I love the bustling atmosphere of Protaras at night. It's friendly and buzzing with atmosphere, yet in the two times that we holidayed here I haven't witnessed bad behaviour or anything threatening. We felt that our teenagers were safe going out with their friends to the main Protaras strip. Buses stopped conveniently close to the hotel and take you to many places, one being the fantastic wate park at Ayia Napa. Taxis can be ordered by reception and there is a nearby taxi rank, although we found the wait for a taxi long at certain times. I would say the area is very family friendly and ideal for children of all ages, through to teenagers. It's also good for couples but, fortunately, we didn't see any groups of lager louts! HOLIDAY OVERALL ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I think it's a terrible shame about the entertainment side, as, although, I wouldn't call this hotel perfect it still had plenty to offer and at a cheaper price than many comparable hotels in the Protaras region. Nevertheless, we did have a great holiday at The Odessa, and made many friends. I have never seen so many teenagers make friends as at this hotel. Everyone seemed to be included, like an Odessa friendship club They seemed pretty harmonious too, and many kept in contact. Based upon other Cyprus hotels I would rate this as a three or three star plus. I would recommend to a friend if the entertainment was improved. Edit your review Read the complete review |
Cyprus Hotel International |
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Hotel International / Address: 26 Nissi Ave, Ayia Napa 5343, Cyprus |
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Hotel International / |
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1 review Hotel International / Address: PO.Box 30221, 5341 Ayia Napa, Cyprus |
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1 review Brand: Louis Hotels / Hotel International / Type: Hotel |
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3 reviews Hotel International / Coral Bay, P.O.Box 2422, P.C 8099, Paphos. Tel: +357 06 621711 |
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Address: Nissi Avenue / Hotel International / P.O.Box 30615 / 5343 Ayia Napa / Cyprus / Tel: +357 23721411 |
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Address: Po Box 52001, Limassol 4060, Cyprus / Hotel International / Tel: + 357 25 883 500 |
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1 review Tsokkos Odessa Hotel / Hotel International / Odessa Hotel, Protaras, Cyprus. |
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Address: Peyia Road Paphos / Hotel International / Paphos / Cyprus / Tel: +357 / 268 44000 |
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Hotel International / Located 7km from the Paphos city centre. Tel: +357-26933900 |
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