Louis Phaethon Beach

This was the best holiday I ever had! My boyfriend and I went to this hotel for 2 weeks and got back yesterday just before half term and I really wish we could have stayed! There's a reason why I only gave this hotel 7/10 which I will come onto later, mainly safety around the pool.
But first on to the best bits:
Food - out of this world, never tasted such delicious food, and so much variety at every meal. Usually when I eat at restaurants who cater for so many guests the veg and potatoes are rock hard, but not here, they were cooked to perfection. The only thing we found with the food was it was a bit samey after the first week, but hey there's only so many varieties of food they can do. Also breakfast was a bit hit and miss though, could be cold sometimes and the scrambled eggs were more 'do you like eggs with your salt' rather than the other way around. There was so much variety at every meal, they even had 2 separate vegetarian dishes at every evening meal, so I can't understand the reviews I have seen previously stating that there was not enough choice for vegetarians. Desserts were amazing! And I've never known an all inclusive hotel which includes ice cream for adults as well as children - I pigged out on loads of ice cream. The snacks - again lots of variety.
Room - I heard from another couple staying at the same time as us that their room was really tired and in need of a facelift as paint was peeling off the walls and doors. But we didn't have any problems at all, it was all tidy and in good shape, no paint peeling or anything like that (room 2011). Bit small, but we didn't stay in there for very long when the weather was 30 degrees every day! Maid service was great - special thanks to Marina our maid, she was so friendly and did a great job. Clean towels every day if we left our towels in the bath and sheets changed regularly.
Entertainment - What a riot! I still laugh now thinking of Dido's 'in da pool in da pool in da pool' chanting (sort of singing to the Engerland Engerland Engerland tune) around the pool every day threatening (jokingly) to throw people in the pool if they were losing at the fun and games at midday. The evening entertainment was good too, although the shows never started at 10 even though it was advertised as such, more like 10.30pm. The hypnotist was hilarious, and the lion king and aladdin shows were fantastic. All the animation team worked so hard to keep everyone entertained from morning til night. I'll never understand the obsession with singing ridiculous songs when calling the bingo numbers, for example singing 'quack quack' song when '2' and '22' were called - very tacky and somewhat annoying, no wonder the shows never started on time!
Location - out of the way of Paphos centre and closest to the airport so first drop off from the coach - ideal for us! Only 1Euro 50cents on the bus to anywhere (1 way). The bus stop is outside the hotel on the main road and go to the harbour and Coral Bay.
Day trips - if you do only one trip, make it the Akamas 4WD - it's hilarious and great fun, and the drivers film an outrageous DVD of your day trip and sell it to you for 20 Euros, which we felt was worth it and can't wait to settle down this afternoon to watch it.
Now down to the downsides:
Pool - nice and big, although the sea was warmer - the pool was like a bucket of ice, although very refreshing when you're baking in the heat. BUT - and it's a BIG but - the safety around the pool area is a complete joke. In the first week alone there were 5 accidents, one involving an ambulance being called out. The pool area floor is VERY slippery, and even walking slowly and carefully you still feel your feet slipping beneath you. I really can't understand how the hotel skimps on sorting this out - how about a slip resistant surface? Also there were lifeguards who were endlessly telling people to stop 'water bombing' and throwing each other in the pool and diving in, but then the animation team were advocating on a very regular basis pushing each other in the pool! The problem with such entries in to the pool is that it creates such a splash it floods the area surrounding the already very slippery pool. The pool area is a smoking area too which makes sunbathing unpleasant if you're not a smoker.
Beach - huh! call that a beach? There's a few rocks leading down into the sea. Children screaming and crying because they had hurt themselves falling over around the pool was a regular occurrence, usually 2-3 times a day, but one day a girl came back from the 'beach' screaming and crying, she'd fallen over on the slippery rocks into the sea and scraped and bruised all her back, and had bashed her head. It looked really nasty. After seeing that I would suggest to any parent not allowing any child of any age down to the 'beach' by themselves.
Shop - over priced goods. There's a little shop/mini market just down the road which is cheaper. Turn left out of the hotel and walk along the main road for about ten minutes and it's on the right hand side of the road outside the Aliathon holiday village. Cigarettes are cheaper there than in the hotel shop (about 5 Euros cheaper for 200 cigarettes).
Overall - fantastic holiday, loved every minute of it, but the safety aspect seems to really let this hotel down. Look forward to going next year. If you want a very quiet holiday don't go to this hotel as there's always noise everywhere, with music playing around the pool (not excessively loud), and weddings going on at the hotel on a daily basis.
Oh, one final point- the food and drinks are outrageously expensive - 2.05 Euros for a small cup of fizzy drink, and 1.60 Euros for a plate of fries, so if you can then book all inclusive before you go, because to upgrade at the hotel from half board is about 17 Euros a day.
Have a great time, we did! :-)

One of the best hotels in Cyprus. Food and drink great. Very clean. Staff second to none. Well managed and all staff from the top Manager to cleaners all friendly and genuine. HIGHLY RECOMMEND FOR COUPLES AND FAMILYS WITH CHILDREN.

We booked this holiday on the basis it was a 4 star hotel. What a dump. This hotel is not worth 2 stars to be honest. Bathroom was vile. Bedroom wasn't too bad. the breakfast wasnt too bad but nothing special. Hotel is supposed to be on the a beach but the beach was non existant. The swimming pool smelt like drains. We booked for our wedding anniversary which was ruined.
We checked out early (after a day) and booked into a lovely hotel - Coral Beach Hotel and Resort. We were also really annoyed as we had to pay a cancellation fee of 170euros!! we argued with the hotel saying we had paid for our stay upfront but they said it was their policy. what a rip off!! do not stay at this hotel!! it was really tacky and so dated.

Just returned from a 2 week vacation at this wonderful hotel with my wife and 2 children (3 & 11). On arrival we were dissapointed by the small room especially for a familly of four, howerver this dissapointment was soon masked by the exceptional positives.
The hotel was maintained to a high level with towels replaced daily and bedding every other day. Air conditioning provided that much appreciated comfort during the 2 weeks of 37-40 Deg C.
Food choice and quailty was fantastic for us adults and children. The children have thier own self service area where they can enjoy typical european treats or even explore other local dishes.
The pool bar area provides typical dishes: pizza,pastas,salads,burgers, etc and also a range of chinese dishes in the chinese chinx bar.
Fully inclusive is well recommended and many families were upgrading on a daily basis to enjoy the benefits on free unlimited food,drinks.. great for kids who like ice cream!
There's a super indoor pool, hot tub,sauna,steam room,gym etc.
Entertainment for children is 24/7. There are daily acivities run by the entertainments team, archery,darts,table tennis,football,volleyball,pool fun games/water polo,shuffleboard,music quizes,french boules,air rifle shooting etc.
Evening enterntainment has many activites starting with kiddies disco,bingo,fun games and then shows normally starting at 10 pm.
The staff are very pleasant and helpful and always on call if required.
The pool is large,well maintained with support of lifeguards.
Sunbathing for sunworshipers is a pleasure arround the pool or gardens as there are plenty of sunbeds. Sunbeds do get reserved by towels after 7 am onwards therefore dont expect prime positions at 9-10 am unless reserved.
Watersports- at the rear of the hotel is the beach where a local company is set up provding water sports (jet skies,canoes,paragliding,wind surfing ect).
Beaches- very dissapointing! This was the downside for our stay. A small beach is 5-10 mins walk from the hotel. The sand is somewhat a mix of dust and sand. The sea is clean and ideal for kids as its shallow water.
We took a ride out to Coral Beach 30 mins journey (bus) which was much more attractive.
All in all a great hotel, petty about the local beaches though.

just returned from a week stay at this hotel. lovely holiday, food very nice with a wide range of dishes which also caters for vegetarians . we also witnessed the catering manager checking the temperature and quality of the food on a regular basis. staff very friendly and helpful,pool brilliant ( again water sample taken throughout the day )even have a lifeguard on duty. indoor pool is great to cool off in after a day in the lovely cyprus sun. although the room was a bit small would return to this hotel and recommend it to my family and friends. the only downfall i would say is the evenings entertainment for the little ones desperately needs boogie baz and faymondo from protaras to liven it up. the current crew were chronic and need to be out like a brussell sprout

lovely hotel,foood excellent.drinks were good prices as we were half board.rooms slightly small but how long are u in them!maids came daily with clean towels and in our experience were large enough easily,also they thourghly cleaned room daily.bearing in mind we were there in july hight of season poool wasnt 2 crowded and we always got 3 sunbeds easily.my son of 6 years was never bored as plenty 2 do day and night.paphos is a lovely resort and waterpark is good approx 55 pound for 2adults n 1 child but whatvw ould u spend at a theme park here!all inc hotels are full of familys usualyy and busy so please dont book one if u want a quite holiday as reading some comments some people are never pleased.this is our 2nd time at this hotel and standards are still high well done to all staff especially the maids.

We have just arrived back from a fantastic holiday.There is nothing we can really fault.The staff were very friendly from reception to waiters and cleaners.The food was fantastic and the hotel very clean.The animation team were brilliant entertaining throughout the day and evening both for children and adaults.Special mention for DIDO who was head of the animation team who was absolutely superb all the way through and very well assissted by Daniella, Sylvia and the rest of the team.I really would have loved to have sayed longer and did not want my holiday to end.This is a definite must holiday.Dont miss it. Without a doubt 10/10.

Stayed here for six nights on All inclusive basis. The food here is excellent. Very good choice every evening and they really cater here for the brits. Soft and alcoholic drinks (draught or bottle) is an excellent deal which stops at midnight but is not a problem as you can order extras before this deadline and drink till whenever. Entertainment was of a very good standard bingo with prizes of £100, cabaret and disco and the staff work very hard.
Must admit that the staff at this hotel are the most polite I have come across and we have stayed at many across europe. Also the whole layout of the hotel is excellent.
Willing to answer any questions about this great hotel via email - rrdmj00@berffro.fsnet.co.uk

absolute s--t,booked in and given room that smelled of urine,scond room was supposed to have been refurbed!dirty carpet,draws that didnt fit ,doors fell off cupboard,curtains hanging off,no tea making facilities, small uncomfortable bed.
pool area was overcrowded with families making the most of all inclusive,very loud and kids running a mock.
beach looked like a dump,sunbeds falling apart.
i will say restaurant was fine ,with good selection of food.
management admitted that this is only 3*,and didnt cause a fuss when we booked straight out!!!!!!!!
dont trust website or our tour operator.
went to imperial beach,proper 4*

this hotel is fantastic cant fault anything with it.if i was to pick one fault its the location.but that was good thing in one respect,on leaving the hotel premises it is so quiet.if anyone does go here and you are on half board,try and upgrade your board basis to all inclusive.if you decide to do this whilst out there it works out very expensive to do and it must be for a miniumum of four days.as the euro is so weak at the moment buying your drinks at the hotel cost you nearly £2 for a small coke.upgrading your board basis from half board to all inclusive works out at £20 a day.mor e if you are on a lower bord basis.if anyone is reading this go to your travel agent and upgrade asap.make sure you get your euros before you leave as the euro in the hotel is 1.1 to the pound.very good holiday plenty of sun loungers available despite the fact many put towels on them to reserve them.there are still plenty available all day.watch out for the tiles around the pool they get very slippy.take mosquito repellent as there are plenty around.your rep will tell you this when you arrive.recommend you book the wave dancer trip.