Sentido Sandy Beach

SENTIDO Sandy Beach is a modern resort hotel that's popular with families and couples, primarily from the United Kingdom, Russia, and Germany. This seven-story whitewashed hotel was built back in 1983 and most recently refurbished in 2013. The lobby is sleek and modern, with tile floors and recessed lighting, but still retains a Greek feel, with ample use of brown stone in columns and archways, carved wood detailing running the length of the reception desk, and lots of white furniture with blue cushions that gives it a slight Aegean vibe. The grounds at this beachfront property are airy and calm, with lots of grassy areas and a large terrace just off the lobby that gets less foot traffic than the busy pool/beach area. While there may be noisy kids here during school holidays, it's fairly quiet when kids are back in school, and guests tend to be a tad older. However, there is a caveat -- if your visit coincides with the Cypriot wedding season in September and October, you may be in for a noisy surprise in the form of a big fat local wedding. During our visit, a huge wedding was taking place on the property, complete with nightclub-loud music and fireworks that kept going for hours past midnight. Note that like many Cyprus hotels, this property closes every year, usually from around the end of November through the middle of March (though exact dates vary). 

SENTIDO Sandy Beach is located in the northern outskirts of Larnaca, right on the beach. It's flanked by other resort hotels on both sides (namely the Lordos Beach Hotel and Golden Bay Beach Hotel), and there's a small mini-market/souvenir shop across the street. There's not much in terms of attractions in the immediate area, but there are plenty of restaurants and small shops within walking distance. Travelers can get down to the heart of Larnaca on the local public bus, which stops in front of the hotel every 30 minutes -- the journey takes about a half-hour. Further afield, it's about a 45-minute drive to Lefkara, a traditional village known for its lace and filigree silver work. The party hub of Ayia Napa is a 25-minute drive from the hotel. Larnaca International Airport is a 20- to 25-minute drive away.

Most of the rooms at this hotel are 25 square meters (269 square feet), and decor and amenities are virtually the same across most categories. Hallways are oriented perpendicularly to the sea so that all rooms have at least a side sea view (that might involve a bit of neck craning). Views get progressively better (i.e., closer to the sea) as categories go from Standard to Superior to Deluxe. Decor is simple and bright with light-wood furniture, off-white tile floors or wood floors, plush beds made with white linens and striped throw cushions. Beige curtains hung over sliding-glass balcony doors do a good job of blocking out light. All rooms feature king beds or two queen beds plus flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, free safes, and medium-sized bathrooms with shower/tub combos. Executive Rooms add coffee- and tea-making facilities (kettles), slippers, and bathrobes. Executive Suites consist of two end units and feature separate living rooms and bedrooms (with king-size beds). Marble bathrooms with glass windows look into the bedrooms and there are second smaller water closets in the living rooms. Family Sea View units have a similar layout, but without the coffeemakers or bathrobes, and have pull-out sofas. Cots and extra beds for children can be arranged on request.

This hotel has a good selection of features aimed at vacationers who don't want to venture off the property. Bed-and-breakfast, half-board, full-board, and all-inclusive packages are available and offered at half off for kids under the age of 12. Dining options include Elia Restaurant, with indoor and outdoor seating. Buffets at all three meals feature a good mix of Cypriot and international food, plus a show kitchen with pasta and a fresh-squeezed orange juice machine. There's also a seasonal a la carte restaurant, Nissaki Tavern, that serves Cypriot food. Other options include the poolside Aqua Bar & Restaurant, with snacks and drinks, a swell as Meltemi Lounge, an indoor/outdoor bar and coffee shop. Leisure and wellness facilities here include a lovely spa with Elemis facials and massages along with steam, sauna, and a whirlpool. There's an adjacent fitness center with treadmills and weights, and an outdoor turf tennis court. While the hotel offers a small heated indoor pool, the best swimming options are in the central pool area, a massive ground-floor deck with two huge lagoon pools surrounded by lush greenery and palm trees and two shallow kids' pool. Just beyond the pool area is a large grassy space with lounge chairs and a small sandy beach with a swimming area sectioned in with a stone wall. The hotel also offers free Wi-Fi, water sports, and a seasonal kids' club with activities for young ones. Indoor and outdoor wedding and conference facilities are available, including two meeting rooms and an art gallery on the ground floor that can be rented out for events for up to 120 people. Parking is free, but the lot can get crowded when local weddings are being held on the property.