Louis Imperial Beach

Louis Imperial Beach is a four-story, whitewashed hotel right next to the beach. The contemporary and naturally lit lobby here is often busy with guests checking in and out, and it has a few plush blue couches, though it's not the number-one place to linger (that honor goes to the massive pool area out back or to the beach beyond). Unlike many properties in Paphos, this hotel is open throughout the year, but bed-and-breakfast and half-board options are only offered during the winter low season (around mid-October through April). The rest of the year, all guests have to sign up for all-inclusive rates. Like many area hotels, it's difficult to book directly or through an online travel agency, and the vast majority of guests -- which includes a mix of families and couples of all ages -- come here through a UK-based tour operator. 

As the name suggests, this hotel 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. Guests can rent lounge chairs and umbrellas for a nominal fee. It's about a 10-minute drive north to the UNESCO World Heritage listed Tomb of the Kings and to the Paphos Archaeological Park, home to ancient attractions such as the Paphos Mosaics. Alternatively, the archaeological park can be accessed on foot via the boardwalk, but the journey takes a good 45 minutes. The Adonis Baths waterfalls are a 45-minute drive from the hotel. 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 an hour-and-a-half to reach.

Louis Imperial Beach offers Standard Rooms (with two twin beds or one double bed) and Family Rooms, all of which are around the same size and come with flat-screen TVs, kettles, mini-fridges (stocked for all-inclusive guests), safes (for a fee), and Wi-Fi (again, for a fee). All rooms were remodeled in 2012 and feature tile floors and almost all feature light-taupe bed runners and furniture, plus pale grayish-blue accent cushions. Family Rooms add sofa beds and all have furnished balconies, some with ocean and pool views. Rooms with "mountain views" look out on mountains in the distance, but the views are realistically of other buildings. Small bathrooms feature hairdryers and wall-mounted soap dispensers, and all but six rooms come with shower/tub combos; the rest are with walk-in showers. There are also six designated Honeymoon Rooms (though these can be booked by non-honeymooning guests), all with queen beds, crushed-velvet rose-colored day beds, and whirlpool jets in shower/tub combos. 

Louis Imperial Beach has plenty of amenities to keep guests busy. There's a main pool at the center of the property with lots of lounge chairs and ample room to move around. It's popular with families, as is the small adjacent splash park, playground, and toddler-friendly wading pool. On one side of the resort is a much quieter adult-only pool, which sits next to a pair of floodlit tennis courts. There's yet another indoor pool for those who want a shaded alternative (with nice views of the grounds) as well as a whirlpool hot tub. There's also a spa, but all the facilities costs extra as it's managed by an outside company. Other features include a reasonably well-equipped fitness center (with limited hours), a video game room, a hair salon, and a gift shop. Animation for kids and adults is provided six days a week. There's also a huge conference room for up to 500 guests. Wi-Fi is free in the lobby but costs extra in rooms. Parking is free and ample. Dining takes place either at the main Amorosa Restaurant, which offers buffets for all three meals or at Mura, the Japanese a la carte option, open for dinner four times a week. The latter is free (with reservations) for all-inclusive and half-board guests, who can dine there as frequently as they wish. There are also three bars, the main lobby bar (Fontana), a second seasonal pool bar (Rotonda), and Empire, which opens in the winter season when Rotonda closes.