Olympic Lagoon Resort Paphos

Olympic Lagoon Resort Paphos is a large all-inclusive resort that attracts a primarily (but not exclusively) British clientele. It first opened its doors back in June 2015, so it has a fresh appearance, and at the time of writing is closed annually in December and January (though it may become a year-round property in the future). The property appears unassuming at first glance, housed in a modern structure with smooth white exteriors and terra-cotta roofs. The entryway is equally low-key, with a few seating areas and a reception desk. Stairs lead down into the main part of the resort, with huge glass windows that lead out to the lively main pool area, around which most of the restaurants are situated. Just beyond is a grassy beach, that's publicly owned (like all beaches in Cyprus), with some lounge chairs to rent from an outside vendor. The vibe throughout the resort is generally busy, but not hectic, and the property gets a good mix of families with kids and couples (many of whom stay in the dedicated adults-only wing). The resort also plays host to plenty of destination wedding parties (up to two a day, with a maximum attendance of around 80 guests in most cases). 

Olympic Lagoon Resort Paphos is on the beach, with only a boardwalk separating it from the shoreline. Note that like all beaches in Cyprus, the beach here is public, and guests can rent lounge chairs and umbrellas from a third-party provider 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 about 90 minutes to reach.

The 276 rooms at this resort are spread out across two wings: an adult-only section and a separate section geared toward families. All rooms are bright and have private balconies or terraces (with inland, pool, or side sea views), free safes, coffee- and tea-making facilities, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, and 32-inch flat-screen TVs. Welcome boxes of loukoumi (Turkish delight) are a lovely touch. 

Decor is relatively consistent across room types, with eggshell-blue accent walls, light parquet floors, and light-wood furniture, though the adult-only Fisherman's Rooms have lovely canopy beds with wispy curtains. Each of the four White Rose Honeymoon Suites offers a white-and-red decor scheme. Family Junior Suites add separate sleeping areas for children, each with two single beds or a bunk bed, plus a second TV. Bathrooms are large, even in lower-category units. They come with white-and-gray marble walls and floors, dark granite countertops with double vanities, and big shower/tub combos with rainfall showerheads. Bathrooms in the adult-only units have windows that look out into the main sleeping areas. 

This resort has a ton of features, and is set up so that guests could easily spend their whole vacation here without having to venture off-site for dining or entertainment. The main hub of activity here is at the expansive outdoor pool area at the back of the hotel, with five themed lagoon pools that all face out over the sea. The main Blue Lagoons area has two huge lagoon pools with massage jets and waterfall features plus a smaller kids' pool for younger guests. There's also a Mayan Temple pool with a huge replica of Chichen Itza and an enormous waterslide. For guests staying in the adult-only wing, there's a quieter Serenity Oasis pool with a swim-up bar and hydrotherapy jets. Note that adults who stay in the family wing don't have access to this pool, even while their kids are in the kids' club.

Because there's a solid mix of couples and families here, the property offers a ton of amenities for both. For younger guests, there's a kids' club, The Little Monsters, with a nursery room for toddlers under the age of 3 and a separate section for kids ages 3 to 12, complete with a playground and all sorts of activities, including arts and crafts and a daily mini-disco. Parents can leave their kids here and are given pagers so that staff can get in touch with them in case of emergencies. For older children, there's a separate Teenz Club offering virtual reality and video games, but it costs extra to access. For adults, evening entertainment takes place at the Xperience Arena, with everything from mini versions of Broadway musicals to live guitar performances. There are also occasional disco-style nightclub events here. 

Other hotel features include a decent-sized gym with LifeFitness equipment, though it's not open 24 hours. There's also a lovely spa with facials, massages, and treatments along with an attached heated indoor pool. Other facilities include a salon for hair and makeup, a small gift shop, and extensive wedding planning services. Ironing facilities are available (though not in the rooms due to safety regulations) Though the hotel isn't much of a business property, there is a boardroom for up to 16 guests along with a business center with printers for printing out boarding passes. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Parking is free in the hotel's underground lot. 

All guests here are on all-inclusive packages, with different wristbands for adults based on whether they are staying in the adult-only versus family sections of the hotel (those in the latter are restricted from accessing some of the adult-only facilities). Separate green wristbands are given to children under the legal drinking age of 18. All guests get access to dining at the hotel's six restaurants, but room service costs extra. 

The main restaurant here, Royal Olympic Restaurant, offers huge buffets for all three meals with a rotating selection of hot items (with a few Cypriot specialties always available) along with two large salad bar stations, a kids' buffet, and a good selection of dessert items, including ice cream. Reservations are not required, and guests are allowed to have lunch here even if they've already checked out. Right next to the Royal Olympic, the Rock n Roll Diner is modeled after a 1950s American diner, complete with a jukebox and menu of burgers, fries, and shakes. Again, reservations are not required -- just note that the diner is only open for lunch and dinner during  the April-October busy season; in November, February, and March it's only open in the evening. Other a la carte restaurants include Seven Orchids, which offers pan-Asian items ranging from sushi to Thai curry; Garibaldi for Italian fine dining; and the traditional Captain's Deck for Cyprus's signature mezze (small plates). Snackeria is open all day long, where guests can have their fill of salads, pastries, and coffee drinks. 

Bars and cafes include the poolside Blue Lagoon, a swim-up bar at the main pool, and the adult-only Serenity Pool Bar, with a swim-up bar and poolside service. There's also a bar on the lower level of the lobby, Grand Lobby and Terrace, with coffee, cocktails, and a decent wine and beer menu. Note that day passes are available, which give non-resident guests access to all the facilities and to the buffet restaurant.