Golden Tulip Golden Bay Beach Hotel

The very good aspect of this hotel is the nice pool/beach area. The breakfast was OK, but not great. The service was OK, but they bungled our room on arrival and we had to change rooms. The room was average, particularly for the price. The beautician was not available on the weekend, which I would assume would be the busiest time. We were wise enough not to eat at the restaurants at the hotel or near the hotel. A hire car is essential if staying there. But a word of warning, finding good places to eat in the Larnaca area was impossible (well we searched but found nowhere). Quite a contrast compared to Greece where the opposite we found to be the case.

Avoid this hotel at all costs. It is the most appalling 5 star hotel I have ever come across. These reviews do not scratch the surface of how bad it is. locked fire exits, crumbling pools, no activities that are advertised, appalling food, the dangerous play ground for the children, dirty rooms.One of the pools has an island castle, which is a foot deep in stagnant water, full of mosquitoes I went to complain to the manager, and he dismissed me with a wave of his hand without saying a word. Is this really the attitude of a 5 star hotel? These people are only after your money, and do not give a hoot about you once they have it. On the Saturday we were there, they roped off all the best bits of the hotel for a wedding, and we were not aloud to use them.We only had access to the balcony, which was extremely cramped. The only entertainment that they laid on was the same guy playing his organ ever night. This music was not fit for an elevator. the only good point of this place was two of the bar men, who kept apologizing for the hotel. they had worked there 7 years ago and had just come back. They said it was deeply embarrassing, as it had been so good before!!!!

We went to the Golden Bay in April this year for an early family holiday for a week. This was our first visit to Cyprus and this hotel was a major disappointment to us. There is no way this hotel is of 5 star standard. The indoor pool in need of refurbishment. The rooms are awful. We had interconnecting rooms and had to be moved after the first night because of noise from the road directly outside the hotel. The decoration and furnishings of the rooms are of 3 star standard only. The bathroom shower was rusty and we had ants in one the bathrooms. The carpet was filthy. The beds are uncomfortable. We stayed on a bed and breakfast basis. There was a buffet breakfast which was was pretty basic. We ate lunch by the pool when the weather was nice enough. The food was awful, the club sandwich came cold! The area nearby the hotel seems pretty rundown. We walked up the beach to find derelect buildings including "Studio 54" and the nearby Army Barracks. Nearby the hotel are a handful of restaurants (choose carefully) we would recommend only one from the ones we tried , La Veranda, we ended up going back to La Veranda for four nights as we didn't hire a car (should have done) and felt there was nowhere else to go.

My wife and I stayed at Golden Bay Beach hotel Larnaca for 10 days in March 06 and thought the hotel was very good. We paid for a Mini Suite but as these were being refurbished we were upgraded to a Grand Suite which was excellent, funny thing was that we were never told of the upgrade and just guessed it was so until we got the bill which showed the room type,would have expected to be told this at reception on check in seeing as it was better rooms at the same rate. We had a large lounge,separate bedroom and large bathroom,also two balconies,one facing the sea and the other facing the country. Nice bar on ground floor called Shakespear but prices twice or more than just across the road, probably explains why it was always empty. Breakfast was very good with plenty hot and cold choices but they could have done with an "egg chef" as the pre cooked ones were usually a bit hard. We used the restaurants opposite the hotel and the best two we thought were Daniel which served good food in nice surroundings and La Veranda which was the more expensive one but was excellent both in quality and ambience. There was a bar called the London Pub, (under the Japanese restaurant) that we frequented and was a friendly place to drink. March is out of season but there was still a bus every 30 minutes to and from Larnaca costing 70 cents each way, (it may be more frequent in season) only problem was the last bus was about 5 pm. Taxi stands are all round the hotel including 1 in the hotel car park. We booked a taxi on the internet to pick us up on arrival and return us to the airport for departure, cost was CYP 26 for return trip but the taxi fare from the hotel car park company and others across the street to the airport was only CYP 8. So seems it would have been cheaper to just get a normal taxi both ways. Indoor pool was a bit jaded and could do with some refurbishment, outdoor pools looked good but a bit cold in March. There is an agency across the road called A.A.Andreou for car hire and arranging tours etc. The lady who works there is English and extremely helpful. All in all a good trip and we would stay at the Golden Bay Beach again if we ever went back to Larnaca.

Having not long returned from the Golden Bay, with two family members going there upon our return, I must say I was worried about them enjoying their holiday. The reception is so basic you would think you were in a staff canteen. The breakfast was always only luke warm. However, if you wanted an omelette you could order one and that came up hot. Staff were miserable although obliging. Rooms ok but that is all. I've stayed in better rooms in struggling 4 star hotels. View from room was lovely but we payed a fortune for the sea front. Sun bed reservation great. No rush to get your towels down and the hotel was full when we stayed. Gardens abysmal. Their idea of keeping the grass green was a hose pipe left on a slight incline. Together with the two hotels adjoining, you are most definitely in the middle of nowhere. With the exception of a few supermarkets and restaurants - that is it. Larnaca centre is a CY£6 taxi ride away and is ok if you like Burger King, Pizza Hut and KFC. All in all, I wouldn't recommend this hotel and would certainly never return myself.

We chose this hotel purely on it's 5 star status and the write up. However, we were disappointed when we got there. The hotel isn't bad but it's not a 5 star. We had a few issues like, broken toilet that was reported twice but never fixed in the two weeks that we were there. Torn bed linen, something you wouldn't expect from a 5 star, mould all around the bath, broken balcony door. All of these things were reported and they only managed to fix the linen and mould. Due to the location you do need a car if you want to get out and about as there isn't anything around the hotel except a few restaurants and a couple of shops. It is on the main road but you don't have any vehicle noise. The restaurant guide is very misleading. We pictured sitting down to some wonderful meals instead we got a buffet style that was repeated most nights but under a different theme night. The food wasn't bad but very limited. We found some good local restaurants and yes most of them do only serve your ususal tourist food but you have to choose carefully. There is one restaurant called The Verandha across the road from the hotel. Excellent food, staff great and you have to go there. The busy tables speak for themselves. The pool area is clean and the reserving of sunbeds for your duration is a great idea. The beach is well organised and the watersports available are varied and very well priced. Entertainment is very limited. Considering the hotel was full when we went the hotel was somewhat empty of an evening. We never did find out where they all went to. Nothing for younger or older children unless they want snooker or a computer, yippee! They could really do with a good entertainment programme, it's not as if they don't have the room. I'm sure this would keep most people at the hotel and get people to mix. Staff are great and really helpful and try really hard to please. Not a bad hotel, just not what we were expecting.

I just returned from a one week stay at the Golden Bay Hotel at Larnaca Bay, Cyprus. Booking one week in advance and not really having too much time to read reviews and stuff, I was kinda shocked at the beginning when I got out of the bus and saw my luggage being packed onto a trolly by the concierge. Entering the lobby I definitely started to feel sick:)..... Expecting to stay in a nice hotel for some vacation, we ended up in a magnificient 5***** hotel. Standing there in shorts, being greeted by the reception clerk, I just felt sooo misplaced. However, the girl who did all the check-in formality was very kind so after being brought to our room we almost felt confortable. (all the people walking around in suits and evening dresses in the lobby turned out to belong to a wedding:) ). Okay, after the first shock, we realized that the hotel isnt' that stiff style. All the staff is just unbelievable friendly! They do everything to make life confortable for you! When we arrived, my girlfriend had some trouble with her stomach (maybe the heat or the food on the flight).... so the reception girls where so helpful in providing us with good tips, how to alleviate the misery. uncounted times we got the room service with tea and rice and the best, they never charged us anything??!! Ya, after 2days and a doctor visit in the hotel later (which of course was organized by the hotel) we started to enjoy beach-life! The beach just in front of the hotel is very nice. Small and almost privat with just a few people (even in august) lying there on sunbeds (most of the other guests prefered to stay at the pool area) you really have a quiet sleep in the sun! The water is very clean and still not too warm to cool down a little. We just had bed n'breakfast arrangement, so I don't know how dinner's at the several restaurants. Most of the time we visited one of the small restaurants on the other side of the road. Food there isn't that expensive buuuuuut.... hummm... tourist food only:(. don't even think about getting some island meals. just fries and co. that's what you get! However, breakfast at the hotel was great! They've a large buffet and the best: eating on the patio with sea-view, yeahh. If you're looking for other things to do, than lying at the beach, it starts to get difficult. The hotel is about 10km away from larnaca, which is the next big city. Since we're there only for one week, we decided upon a rental car and headed direction Ayia Napa. Woah... quite some life there:). If you wanna see some people and have some fun after quiet days at the Golden Bay, you HAVE to go there. And even tough it's much too expensive, try the Aqua Park, Waterworld next to Ayia Napa. That's quite some fun! So, to sum up, it's an excellent hotel for a quiet stay. Very friendly staff and marvellous public space, like the lobby and the pool area. However, to be quite honest, the rooms, although having an amazing sea view, are not of 5***** standart. They're nice and clean, just not what you expect after entering the lobby. (Still, to point out is the A/C which you can control yourself and get whatever temperature you whish in your room). And, make sure you rent a car to see some more of the country!

This is my sixth visit to Cyprus (I travel a lot, so I tried many hotels in many countries). I was very happy with Grecian Bay in Agia Napa, quite happy in Pafos Coral Beach, but this time I stay in Larnaca, Golden Bay 5* hotel. That was the wrong move... On checkin they requested my credit card and told that they will block a "security deposit". Just in case. If I escape without paying my bills. I tried to argue (I fully prepaid my stay, there was no information on security deposit). Ok, I agreed to pay the deposit (they asked for CYP100 (US$220)). Later I found that they blocked twice more!! They blocked $450 on my credit card! This is a plain fraud! I WILL NEVER stay in this hotel, NEVER! Furthemore, airconditioning is really poor, it is too hot in the room. I contacted reception but they failed to do anything about it (they simply save electricity). The beach is also much worse than in Agia Napa. Even worse, Golden Bay is about 10 kilometers from Larnaca, so if you are looking for any night life you have to hire taxi... Try Grecian Bay - much better value for the same money!!!

My husband and I have just returned from a weeks stay at the Golden Bay Hotel in Larnaca along with another couple of friends. We were very anxious prior to our holiday because of one particular bad review we read on the internet. All I can say is that they must have been staying in a different hotel. We had a fantastic time. The hotel was lovely. Tastefully decorated reception and lounge area. Staff were very friendly throughout our stay and would go out of their way to ensure you had a relaxing and enjoyable holiday. The accomodation was fantastic. We were in a superior room overlooking the pool and sea. Room facilities were first class. Every early evening we would receive a room visit from housekeeper (Elena) checking everything was ok and offering sweets to all guests. She was so "sweet". The breakfasts were plentiful with a huge choice. We dined at the hotel "Les Etioles" restaurant on 2 occasions. The food was mouthwatering and of a very high standard "Compliments to the chefs". The pool area was very clean and well maintained. You also kept the same sun lounger for the duration of your stay, saving you having to rush down in the morning to grab a sun lounger. Although this would not have been necessary at this time of year. The beach area was also well maintained with access to jet skiing, water skiing, wind surfing etc. The hotel was quiet at the beginning of week getting busier as week progressed but the service never faltered. There is a local bus service into Larnaca centre every half hour during the day from outside the hotel. Now that journey is a culture shock but has to be experienced. There are many bars and restaurants within the vicinity. I would recommend a visit to the "La Veranda" restaurant directly opposite the hotel. There is also a new ten pin bowling complex just 5 minutes walk away. Overall we had a fantastic time in a 5 star hotel and would definetly return to the Golden Bay Hotel

Stayed here for the Easter weekend. Hotel 5 stars (why?) only about 40% full. Very well maintained and clean. However indoor pool was not much warmer than outdoors. Nice grounds and excellent staff. Breakfast good quality and variety. Hotel seemed dead in evening, but selection of tavernas opposite ( Daniels for the mousakka). You need a car as the local area has little to offer and buses infrequent. Probably an OK place in the warmer weather for family holidays but I can think of better only 2 hours flying time from London.