Evalena Apartments

We stayed here in June this year and had a great time, mostly due to the great location, its brill to wake up and just take a 2 minute stroll to the beach, however if you don't have a sea view room your stuck with grass, the balcony wasn't that great to sit out on anyway. The rooms were basic but very roomy, clean kitchen area and towels and sheets were changed everyday, although the bathroom sink was not cleaned once thoughout the whole week, should have complained but you shouldn't have to ask! Also the bathroom floor was not cleaned every day which is not nice when you are getting in and out of the shower, the lighting in the bathroom was also very poor, only one light above the sink. The pool was very small and basic and the sun lounger area was very small so we tended to go to the beach as it was so close and so beautiful, in fact we didn't even go in the pool once, although we did get told off for tesing the temperature of the pool by the owner (he said we had sand on our feet and told us not to do it!) We stayed self catering so didn't need to eat in the hotel, we had breakfast there once and I am glad we didn't stay half board, very bland. On to the resort, as I said the beach was great, lovely clear blue sea and soft sand, was plenty of bars a long the sea front too and you could walk with your feet in the sea all the way to fig tree bay (about 15 mins) the road way would take a lot longer, be careful though, we had trouble getting loungers at fig tree and we went at the start of the season. The restuarants were nice, but please do not visit the china house, looks great from the outside but the food was very dry and not much taste! There are no fun pubs and disco bars all karaoke so is definately not the resort for young groups or couples who like a good night out, we tended to have a meal a few drinks and be back in the room for around 1am. It took about 10 mins to get to the main strip, although there are plenty of bars and restuarants on the way for a pitstop! Overall we would visit this resort again but would not stay in the evalena unless it had a big makeover - like I say location was great!

We booked our holiday using Teletext Holidays a month before we went. We knew the hotel was 2* and had little expectation. The flights/ transfers were great and the hotel was lovely. It is a family ran hotel, very clean and the food was great. We had no problems getting sun loungers and the pool was right beside the sea. The beds were comfortable enough, although the living space doesnt have air conditioning, which I'm sure will be hot in July/August. Make sure you bring an eye mask for sleeping as the curtains are not black out, we brought ours and slept until 9am. Nice place, would recommend it and stay there again.

Just returned from two weeks at the Evalena Apartments and although the rooms are basic, could do with a chopping board and toaster, they were very spacious and the maid came in 6 days a week, towels and sheets were changed 3 times a week. Enjoyed the location, the staff were very friendly as was the Olympic rep, did not try to push the trips, she was very helpful. Would definately go back.

Location excellent, right on the sea front but apartments very basic. We stayed half board and were very disappointed! We had a 1bed apartment for 3 adults with one sleeping in the living area, there was no side lamp if one wished to read in bed. The apartment was cleaned regularly but not to a high standard, the hand basin in the bathroom was barely cleaned with black gunge left around the taps and overflow. The only light in the bathroom was above the basin and was very dim so cannot say if shower was cleaned. The food was supposedly "a la carte" but certainly was not to that standard. Choices were very limited with 3 choices each day for 2 weeks, no fresh fruit or vegetables only salad. We have been to Cyprus before and had a high standard of accommodation and food so were thoroughly disappointed. The staff however were very friendly and helpful, especially the barman/waiter, probably the best part of the holiday. We would definitely not recommend this hotel as you can far better.

Firstly let me say I have stayed in Portaras many times since 1992 and went back with fond memories, perhaps too fond -rose tinted glasses would be more appropriate, as it has changed too much for my liking! It is extremely tacky and brits abroad. Ladies as you do the majority of bookings please take note: In this resort there is football on everywhere and I do mean everywhere. Do not think you can escape because you really can't - there is no bar or restaurant that does not have football on if there is a match on, so be warned. I went with my husband and we could not stand it and the atmosphere sometimes was not pleasant so one night when it was particularly bad we just drank on our balcony. Now for the apartments I will give the good first then the bad. Excellent central location if you like Protaras as a resort. (the hill is not too steep as some have said in fact I did not even notice there was a hill!). These apartments could also be accessed by someone who uses a wheelchair althoguh the ramps are a bit too steep in places we thought. The sheets were clean and smell fresh, the bed linen was changed once in the week we stayed. 10 euros got us a safety deposit box. It was hot but not hot enough for air conditioning. There was a nice shower considering we could hardly see in the bathroom due to the 25 watt bulb. It helped though that you couldn't see the rust or whatever it was down the side of the bath. The hotel provided soap and a kettle - a nice touch. Sunbeds were easy to get at any time of day when we stayed, pool not large but reasonable. It was a lot better than some apartments we have had in Greece to be fair! However the Evalena was here the first time I came in 1992 so it is old and it really showed - it does need updating I feel. Our room was full of ants and positioned directly over the reception hence our balcony was not great. The ants were everywhere and I got sick of this by the end. The room was cleaned a few times during our stay but it was more of a quick wipe down to show willing than anything else. I noticed a ball of hair and some crisps left from the last guests which the ants were busy fighting over! The room wasn't that clean, but still not the worst I have had and for what we paid last minute it was what more or less what I had expected. The bed was tiny my husbands feet were sticking out of the bottom end (and he's not that tall!) also as it was on wheels he got sick of it moving.The balcony light had no bulb neither did one or two of the inside lights and it was dark inside as they only had 25 watt bulbs.We did not have a TV which I thought they all had. The restaurants are a lot better than the bars. Great restaurant are Chi Chi's on the high street (Chilli con carne is to die for!)and the Parko. Also Zizzis just off the high street is really nice. You'll need to go to a nice restaurant however as the bars are absolutely pants- really grim and cheesy generally. However the Eden Garden and the Molti have a more sophisticated atmosphere that the other hideous bars all around you which are all full of terrible Karoke as well paid acts including Elvis and Robbie Williams impersonators (it was hard to tell who was getting paid for singing and who wasn't and the music is so loud you can hear it in the next bar, its not relaxing just annoying). I will give the apartments 6/10 but only because we got the holiday cheap. Lastly I did not find Protaras that expensive despite them changing to the Euro.I was told it was extremely expensive since changing to the euro but I think this was an exaggeration - it was no more expensive than my last holiday in Greece to eat out. We spend about £425 on food all week and ate out twice a day with cocktails before and afterwards most nights, so that should give you an idea of how much things cost now, but we did not go on any trips as we'd been before.A bottle of Coke or orange juice cost about £2 in a supermarket so the supermarkets are pretty pricey. Personally I'd but unlikely to visit Protaras again, and if I did I would not stay here again. It might suit some people though, I just like sophistication and a bit choice. I did not pay much for this holiday thankfully and would have felt really cheated if I had not got it on a last minute deal. The real plus side is the central location.

Stayed there for a week, self catering in October. Rooms are basic, quite large and very clean. The kitchen area had every thing you required. The public area's of the hotel were kept very clean at all times and the staff were always polite and helpful. The pool was great, clean with plenty of loungers. Where this hotel scores high is it's location!! It's at the end of the beach. Has a great sea view and is a 5 minute walk away from the centre. There is no noise from the centre, only the sound of the sea! As to the cats you may have read about I think there were 3 of them. They did not go near you unless you showed them some attention! Infact they appear to be part of the hotel staff keeping unwanted visitors out of the hotel grounds:-) Anyway Protaras is full of cats. So to sum up:- A cheap 2 star hotel with a great location, very clean with great staff has to be a 5!!!

Stayed in this hotel in october, Beach dirty, rooms could really do with a make over, never any hot water for showers. Nice distance away from the main area, nice to be in sea front location. Cats every where, jumping on you whilst laying on your sun loungers!

The room was booked as a last minute break. i had asked for a sea view, but when we arrived after a long flight & journey was allocated a room to the back. After negotiating with staff the next morning & paying for an upgrade we were then given a room with sea view. The staff in the main were helpful and the hotel facilites were Ok. It is definately only a 2/3* facility - but this is reflected in the price we paid. The location (if you can get a sea view) is excellent as it is directly overlooking the sandy beach and only 5 mins walk from the main strip of shops & restaurants. The view of the sunrise (if you can be up to see it) is superb. The balconies are sufficient to catch the morning rays and the pool has plenty of loungers around it at the time of year we went - start of the season. It may be too busy in the height of the season for some people. Rooms to the back of the hotel look over fields and have sun on them late afternoon.

The Evalena Apartments were ideally situated for us two minutes walk from the beach with amazing sea views from our balcony. All the staff were friendly and the facilities i.e sun terrace, swimming pool and apartments were kept very clean. The air con did not work in our room when we arrived but this was repaired the following day, this is paid for locally at £3.45 per night and is essential. Also the safety deposit boxes are paid for locally and cost £10. There is a wide choice of restaurants in Protaras, together with a plethera of themed bars along the main strip. Aa very relaxing holiday - roll on next year!

We stayed here for 3 weeks. It has a fantastic view of Protaras bay and is only a 6 minute walk to the main strip. The hotel staff are very friendly and the food is excellent. We booked directly with the hotel which cost us 30.00 per night for an apartment which slept 3 people with a sea view and air conditioning. The pool area is good, average size with plenty of sunbeds. The room had single beds was cleaned regularly and they gave us fresh towels daily. This is an ideal hotel for location and views. It has 3 floors and a lift and a 2 minute walk to the beach.