Aquamare Beach Hotel & Spa

This three-and-a-half-pearl resort hotel is housed in a lovely modern off-white building with an arched doorway and plenty of shrubs and trees in front, which gives it a bit of Mediterranean flare. The lobby is quiet and cool, with with red- and bronze-hued plush furniture and an upper-level mezzanine terrace area. The most happening part of the hotel is a level below the lobby, where most of the resort's main facilities -- including the pools and playground -- are located. Although there are a few meeting rooms, most of the guests are vacationers, and it attracts lots of Russians and Germans, including plenty of families. Note that the resort is usually open year-round, but will be closed for refurbishments until May of 2018. 

Aquamare Beach Hotel & Spa is right on the beach, with only a boardwalk separating it from the shoreline. Note that like all beaches in Cyprus, the beach here is public, but guests can rent lounge chairs and umbrellas for a nominal fee. This hotel is located about a 10-minute drive south of both the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Tomb of the Kings and the Paphos Archaeological Park, home to crumbling ruins and ancient mosaics. Alternatively, the archaeological park can be accessed on foot via the boardwalk, but the journey takes a good 45 minutes and can be a bit much in the hot sun. The Adonis Baths waterfalls are a 45-minute drive from the hotel and it takes about 90 minutes to reach Mount Olympos. Nicosia is also a two-hour drive away. Paphos International Airport is just under 20 minutes from the hotel. The larger Larnaca International Airport takes 90 minutes to reach.

Aquamare Beach Hotel & Spa offers Standard and Superior Rooms along with Family Suites (with sofa beds for two kids) and Royal Executive Suites, which have separate living rooms and bedrooms along with two bathrooms. Decor is simple, with light carpets and wooden furniture plus off-white walls and white bedspreads spruced up with throws and cushions in hues of blue, green, or orange. Wispy curtains let plenty of light in, though all rooms have heavier drapes for blacking out sunlight. All rooms and suites have furnished balconies and come with coffee- and tea-making facilities (including Nespresso coffeemakers in suites), mini-fridges with stocked minibar services available for a fee, free safes, and flat-screen TVs with cable. Wi-Fi, while free in the lobby, costs extra to access in the rooms. Bathrooms are simple, with tile floors and walls, marble countertops, and basic toiletries. All have either shower/tub combos or walk-in showers, so guests with a specific preference should make request ahead of time. 

This hotel has great amenities for kids and adults alike. The hotel sits right on the beach and there are a few lounge chairs for guests, though many end up sunning in front of the outdoor pool, a lovely space flanked by palm trees with a pool bar offering lounge chair drink service. There's also a small kids' splash pool with a little slide and a mushroom fountain feature. Behind the pool area is a fun outdoor playground area with a small patch for playing soccer along with a few play structures. The hotel also has an indoor game room with table tennis, air hockey, billiards, and a handful of arcade-style video games. L'Aqua Spa is a huge draw for many guests, with 24 individually decorated treatment rooms and all sorts of facials, massages, wraps, and rituals. There's also a steam room, and beauty services such as manicures and hair styling are available. Other wellness facilities include a large fitness center with a good selection of cardio machines and free weights, plus a lovely indoor pool. Dining options abound and the property offers packages ranging from breakfast-only to all-inclusive. Breakfast and lunch are served buffet style in the main Kirke Restaurant, which includes both international and quintessentially Cypriot items. Dinner is served buffet style at Ambrosia, with a nightly rotation of themed nights. Bar options include the lobby bar, Nektor, open in the evenings. The Tavernaki Beach Bar serves cocktails and traditional meze. For business travelers and conference groups there are three function rooms, the largest of which has a capacity of 300. Parking is free on the property. While Wi-Fi is free in the lobby, it costs extra in rooms.